BA (Hons) Business & Management (with International Foundation Year)

What you will study

YEAR 1 (INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION YEAR)

You will be enrolled in the International Foundation Year programme that will be co-taught alongside home students, fostering an inclusive and collaborative learning environment. This integration allows students to benefit from diverse perspectives, enhance your cultural awareness, and build strong academic and social connections within the university community.

MODULES

• English for Academic Purposes (Core): Strengthen your academic English skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. This module supports IELTS preparation, helping you meet English language requirements for degree entry while building confidence for university-level study.
• Study Skills for Success (Core): Develop the essential academic, digital, and organisational skills you will need to thrive at university. From managing your time and structuring assignments to researching and referencing, you will build the confidence to study independently and successfully.
• Resilience in Higher Education and Beyond (Core): Personal development and resilience are as important as academic skills in the accomplishment on your journey towards graduation, and this exciting module will equip you with the attributes needed for this.
• Numeracy (Core): Develop practical numeracy skills for business, accounting, and finance. Learn to interpret data, calculate financial metrics, and apply numerical reasoning essential for success in Business and Management or Accounting and Finance degree programmes.
• Professional Communication in the Workplace (Core): Enhance your written, verbal, and digital communication skills for professional settings, while developing confidence in workplace interactions, teamwork, and cross-cultural communication.
• Fundamentals of Business and Finance (Core): Gain a solid introduction to key business and finance concepts. Explore how organisations operate, make financial decisions, and respond to economic challenges building a strong foundation for further study in business, management, or finance.

Students entering the programmes with an IELTS score of 5.5 with no skills score below 5.0 will be required to undertake the non-credit bearing English for Academic Support module alongside English for Academic Purpose.

• English for Academic Support (Core): Enhance your academic English throughout your studies. This module supports continued development in reading, writing, speaking, and listening, with a focus on IELTS improvement and meeting the language demands of your degree.

YEAR 2 (LEVEL 4)

MODULES

• Introduction to Management & Business: This module will introduce students to some of the fundamentals of business, including organisational structure and the nature of the modern business practices. It will also provide opportunities for the student to acquire a broad understanding of management by exploring the skills and characteristics of effective managers and leaders, and techniques to successfully manage a team.
• Introduction to Business Finance & Accounting: This module aims to introduce the contemporary concepts and principles of accounting and finance so as to enhance the abilities of the students, by applying relevant management accounting, financial accounting and financial management techniques, to determine thenmost appropriate operational financial decisions, and analyse the effects of those decisions on a firm’s performance and financial position.
• Business Communication Skills: The module aim is to recognize the importance of effective integrated internal and external communications in building sustainable relationships and delivering customer value.bStudents will also learn how to communicate effectively in a business and academic settings understanding the fundamentals of presentation skills, written communication and professional communication.
• Understanding Human Resource Management: This module provides a comprehensive understanding of the role of human resource management (HRM) in organisations. The module covers the following HRM fundamentals:

- Types of organisation prevalent in the business world
- The importance of human resource management and the role of HR practitioners
- HR activities in organisations
- Impact of technology on human resource management

• Marketing Essentials: This module is about recognising the importance of marketing’s role in driving success and delivering results. Students will learn about the different functions of marketing in the 21st century and will study how an appreciation of consumer behaviour and the marketing environment can enable effective targeting and planning. By the end of this module students will have gained an awareness of the various tools available to the modern day marketer, and be capable of recognising their strengths and weaknesses, enabling them to use them both creatively and effectively in an operational context including commercial and non-profit sector organisations.
• Business Analytics: This module aims to develop a critical and practical understanding of the concepts and principles of analytics and the ability to apply these concepts to the systematic analysis of data within the contemporary business world.

YEAR 3 (LEVEL 5)

MODULES

• Managing Corporate Risk and Crime: This module aims to develop a critical understanding of the concepts and principles of the management of corporate risk and crime and the ability to apply these concepts to the business world. Risk is an inherent part of business, and as part of this module you will explore the risk management process including the identification of organisational risk, analysis of the likely effect of those risks, design and selection of control measures and the monitoring and evaluation of these measures. You will investigate risk as it relates to finances, health and safety, corporate manslaughter, workplace theft, among others. You will also consider recent/topical business scandals, and of latest and forthcoming developments in corporate governance and responsibility.
• Digital Business Strategy: This module aims to equip students with the skills needed to build digital competitive advantage in a rapidly changing world. The rules of business have changed and why it is no longer enough for firms to be better or cheaper to gain competitive advantage. These new rules make it essential for companies to re-examine four fundamental aspects of their business to thrive in the digital era—their strategy, value chain, customer engagement, and organization structure.
• Agile Leadership: This module aims to develop a critical and practical understanding of the concepts and principles of agile leadership and the ability to apply these concepts within the contemporary business world, to create the right environment for agile teams to succeed within an organisation.
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation: This module aims to provide students with the opportunity to discover how ideas are developed, how entrepreneurship operates and an understanding of Innovation and entrepreneurship theories within a business context. It will enable students to enhance their employment prospects in the workplace by providing them with an understanding of the sought-after traits of entrepreneurship and innovation and how to express them.
• International Business and Trade: This module aims to develop a critical and practical understanding of the concepts and principles of international business and trade and the ability to apply these concepts to the contemporary international business world. The module explains the main concepts, principles and functions of international business and globalisation and applies the challenges of international business culture to realistic commercial situations. This includes a practical understanding of the global financial system and an evaluation of theories of international trade in terms of its commercial consequences. International business strategy will also be assessed and applied in terms of its commercial consequences.
• Professional Behaviours and Valuing People: This module provides a platform for students to develop and enhance their core professional behaviours and skills, including ethics, values and professionalism, that will help to build positive relations at workplace and improve employee performance, participation and wellbeing. The module will also enable students to understand continuing professional development and identify developmental needs.
• Optional Industry Placement: The module aims to provide students with the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the workplace, specifically related to the student’s specialism, via first-hand experience. This module allows students to undertake a sustained period, embedded with a host employer, to work on one or more defined projects or goals. The student will be expected to find and secure a suitable placement opportunity in collaboration with NWBS. The Industry Placement will typically take place during the normal academic year, over the two normal university semesters. However, where necessary, it may start earlier and finish earlier where required by industry. As such its duration should normally be in the region of 40 weeks dependent on working hours

YEAR 4 (LEVEL 6)

MODULES

• Strategic Management: This module presents a systematic approach to the study of strategic management, building upon an array of ideas and theories ranging from industrial organization theory to institutional economics. This unit outlines the fundamentals of strategic management and gives students an introduction in this important area of business management. Students will gain an awareness of the issues involved and the techniques that managers adopt. The tools and techniques will help students understand how organisations achieve sustainable competitive advantage.
• Employment Law: This module will give students a critical understanding of the increasingly complex area of UK employment law. Students will learn how the law affects employers and workers from the initial stages of recruitment right through to dismissal and redundancy. The module will investigate key pieces of UK and EU legislation and codes of practice, presented alongside case studies that demonstrate the importance of employment law in the workplace. This module will provide students not only with a better understanding of their rights as an employee or worker within the workplace, but it will also be invaluable if they employ staff or work within a HR department. It will also be useful to those considering working as trade union representatives.
• Strategic Marketing: This module aims to build on the marketing foundations studied previously and provides a staged approach to the nature of strategic marketing which contribute to the achievement of a competitive advantage. It will introduce the broader aspects of strategic marketing that reflect contemporary developments in advocacy and ethics.
• Managing People in an International Context: This module provides comprehensive knowledge and understanding of managing people in an international context. The impact of national and cultural contexts, international human resource management approaches (IHRM) and the future of IHRM will be covered as part of this module.
• Dissertation: The aim of the dissertation module is for students to demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills gained during the undergraduate programme of study in all programme routes in an independent, self-motivated, enquiring and problem-solving manner. This serves to extend, underpin and enhance learning through the identification of a business/management problem in either business, accounting & finance, HTEM, HRM, Marketing and any other business related area which requires theoretical research, structured data collection, subsequent analysis leading to conclusions and recommendations.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

Entry requirements & applying

The International Foundation Year (IFY) programme is aimed at international applicants who normally be aged 17 or over before 31 December in the year of registration, will have completed a 12-year school system, and reached at least AS level at the appropriate grade as defined by Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC), in their respective relevant discipline.

Applicants will fulfil the English language requirements for the respective programme entry, via possession of a UKVI approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved Centre.

Depending on the applicant’s IELTS score the following programme options are available: 

IELTS 5.5 With No Skill Score Below 5.0

Applicants with IELTS score of 5.5 with no skills score below 5.0 are only eligible to apply for the 1-year standalone International Foundation Year. If applicants hold an alternative SELT, acceptance maybe granted subject to Wrexham University admissions assessment on eligibility. Once accepted on to the International Foundation Year, applicants will be issued a one-year confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

Students will initially apply for a subject specialism (e.g. International Foundation Year Engineering) with the intention of progressing to a subject specific honours degree route (e.g. BEng (Hons) Aeronautical & Mechanical Engineering), subject to the successful completion of the International Foundation Year.

Students are required to sit an approved UKVI SELT at the end of Semester 1 to apply for their chosen bachelor’s degree programme at Wrexham University or any other higher education institution (HEI) requiring a second CAS.

Support and guidance from the international team will be provided, and applications will be assessed based on individual merit, entry requirements, and programme availability.

IELTS 5.5 With No Skill Score Below 5.5

Applicants with an IELTS score of 5.5 with no skills score below 5.5 are to apply for the 4-year integrated International Foundation Year pathway. In some cases, acceptance of alternative English language proficiency certificates with an equivalent of IELTS 5.5 with no skill score below 5.5, can be accepted subject to Wrexham University admissions assessment on eligibility.

Once accepted on to the International Foundation Year, applicants will be issued with a four-year Confirmation of Acceptable for Studies (CAS). This CAS will cover the full duration of the programme. 

During the International Foundation Year, the chosen undergraduate course pathway can be changed, subject to approval from the academic department and in accordance with UKVI regulations, e.g. from Aeronautical & Mechanical Engineering to Electrical & Electronic Engineering.

Any course transfer would need to be completed within time limits set by the academic admissions tutors, usually before the end of semester 2 of the International Foundation Year at the latest.

Non-Standard Entry Criteria

Students who have successfully completed a pre-sessional programme at Wrexham University with an IELTS Academic overall score of 5.5 with no skill score below 5.5 will be eligible to apply for the International Foundation Year. Applications will be evaluated based on individual merit and programme

Teaching & Assessment

Students are assessed in a variety of ways over the course of their undergraduate studies. The balance between the different forms of assessment is determined by the different aims and learning outcomes of the core and option modules. Assessment methods include academic essays, presentations, reports, simulation exercises and examinations.  

TEACHING AND LEARNING

Teaching methods include workshop-based core skills modules, lectures by practitioners, student-led seminars and guided research.

Independent learning is an important aspect of all modules, as it enables students to develop both their subject specific and key skills. Independent learning is promoted through the feedback given to students, which takes several forms including small group and one-to-one discussions.

Wrexham University is committed to supporting our students to maximise their academic potential.

We offer workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-making and preparing for assignments. Students can book appointments with academic skills tutors dedicated to helping deal with the practicalities of university work. Our student support section has more information on the help available.

In terms of particular needs, the University’s Inclusion Services can provide appropriate guidance and support should any students require reasonable adjustments to be made because of a recognised prevailing disability, medical condition, or specific learning difference.

Career prospects

Our Careers and Employability service is there to help you make decisions and plan the next steps towards a bright future. From finding work or further study to working out your interests, skills and aspirations, they can provide you with the expert information, advice and guidance you need.

Business careers are available in pretty much every sector you can think of; all industries need strong leaders, managers, financial advisors and market-savvy decision-makers. For many of our Business & Management graduates, however, the traditional pathways still hold a strong appeal – including careers in the banking and financial sectors, consultancy, human resources and marketing roles.

Fees & funding

You do not have to pay your tuition fees upfront.

The fees you pay and the support available will depend on a number of different factors. Full information can be found on our fees & finance pages. You will also find information about what your fees include in the fee FAQs.

All fees are subject to any changes in government policy, view our undergraduate fees.

Programme specification

Accommodation

At Wrexham University, we offer on-campus en-suite rooms within our Wrexham Student Village. These private, fully furnished spaces are conveniently located, providing easy access to campus facilities, study areas, and social spaces. Plus, you’re just a 10-minute walk from the city centre!

With all bills included, free Wi-Fi, 24/7 security, and large social areas, you’ll find everything you need for a great student experience.

Explore our student accommodation options to find your perfect home away from home.

Subject to validation

Courses shown as “subject to validation” are new courses which are in development and the details of these courses are in the process of being finalised through the approval cycle, known as the ‘validation’ process. As soon as the programmes are validated the details of the course will be confirmed. The majority of new courses that are still ‘subject to validation’ are approved by the validation process; however, this is not guaranteed and should the course not go ahead as planned, or be significantly amended, you will be informed by the university and assistance will be provided to those who have been offered a place to find a suitable alternative course either at Wrexham University or at another provider.