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.

Economics and Politics
What makes some countries richer than others? How does society fund social care? Why are footballers paid so much? An understanding of economics gets to the heart of how the world works. It’s also highly pri

How do you encourage an economy to grow? Should governments intervene in the market? What impact does war have on the global economy? An understanding of economics, politics and international relations gets to the heart of how the world works. It’s also highly prized by employers in the private and public sectors.

With a focus on China, Russia and India, you will learn from some of the fields top academics. Economics modules are taught in the Department of Economics while all Politics and International Relations modules are taught within the Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion.  Both of these departments strongly believe in using research throughout their teaching.

All first years study Principles of Economics, Politics in the Modern World and International Relations: Theory and Practice.

In both years 2 and 3 one-half of your modules will be Economics courses and one-half will be from the Politics and International Relations suite of modules. In terms of the Politics and International Relations courses, the degree offers you the flexibility to focus on one of these areas, or to take forward your studies combining both. 

In your second year, you’ll be able to choose whether you take modules with a more intuitive approach, or those that are focused more on analysis, mathematics and statistics. Subjects could include Microeconomic Analysis, Macroeconomics Analysis, Game Theory, Modern Political Thought, Applied Economics, Economic Policy and Chinas International Relations.

In the second and third year you will also able to choose from a broad range of politics options, such as Politics and History of the Middle East; International Relations, Security and Sustainability; Politics of Development and Global Changes; Understanding Key Economic Concepts; Issues in Contemporary Politics and Philosophy. For more details and options, please see the PPR department website.

Your final year could include options such as Islamic Politics, Health Economics, Economic Development, International Economics, and Human Rights. High-performing students also have the opportunity to write a dissertation.

By looking at theories and real-world issues, you will gain analytical skills and an international perspective to make you stand out in the job market. Former graduates now work in the civil service and local government. A large number opt for private sector roles in industries such as finance, accountancy and law.