Program Overview

An International Foundation Year at our International Study Centre prepares you for your degree at Lancaster University. You will focus on English language, university-level study skills, and academic modules that relate to your degree subject.

Supporting your progression to the University
At the International Study Centre, we take every measure to ensure you are supported in your academic journey. Our programmes allow for increased time spent learning, researching and developing your skills. By studying with us, you will benefit from:

• Formal assessments at the end of each term.
• An improved English language module, Academic English Skills, providing greater opportunity for informal assessments and feedback.
• Combining and reducing the number of module assessments allowing more time to prepare.
• A personal tutorial system with a focus on your academic progress at key points of the academic year, creating action plans based on your performance and progession options.

Business and Management Studies
An International Foundation Year in Business and Management Studies leads to a choice of degrees at Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) – one of the top 100 business schools in the world. To prepare for your degree, you will study subject modules and core English language modules. Degree options include Accounting, Business Studies, and International Business Management.
You will learn how businesses operate, and how to prepare and interpret financial accounts. Other areas of study include economic policies, and international trade. Throughout the course, you will develop analysis and evaluation skills, and apply your knowledge to real-world situations.

Business Analytics (Industry)
How can analysing data solve real-life problems? What does it mean to think statistically? If you’re numerate and analytically minded, this degree can help launch your career in industry, finance, the public sector, government or consulting. In fact, in any data-rich and technology-dependent organisation.

This is a four-year industry degree. You will learn techniques and approaches that help organisations plan and improve their decision-making process. We will teach you how to make forecasts and use data to understand complex behaviour. You’ll be introduced to operational and strategic business contexts. As part of a team, you will work on a project for an actual client in the Lancaster area.

In your second and final years you will study a set of compulsory project management modules, which will act as a ‘core' to help you put ideas into practice, gain employee support during organisational change initiatives, and improve your consultancy skills. You will also choose modules from specialist ‘tracks' if you wish. The Business Analytics track delivers the mathematical tools to develop practical, numerate and computer-based modelling. 

The Operations, Logistics and Supply Chain Management track explores the problems faced by operations managers. It covers topics such as purchasing, inventory planning and risk analysis. Perhaps you want to learn more about designing and managing the computer-based systems of our digital economy. If so, the Information Systems specialism track is for you.

Your third year consists of a supervised placement in industry, with previous students joining companies such as IBM and Bosch. Roles in finance, support or operations allow you to see how processes and theories are used. This experience also provides valuable insight for your final year academic studies.

Truly modern organisations rely on sophisticated analysis and technology to perform effectively. We are proud to produce creative, technically competent and skilled graduates who can deliver these skills and more.

The University will use all reasonable effort to support you to find a suitable placement for your studies. While a placement role may not be available in a field or organisation that is directly related to your academic studies or career aspirations, all placement roles offer valuable experience of working at a graduate level and gaining a range of professional skills.

If you are unsuccessful in securing a suitable placement for your third year, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent non-placement degree scheme and would continue with your studies at Lancaster, finishing your degree after your third year. The University offers a range of shorter placement and internship opportunities for which you would be welcome to apply.