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.

Management and Information Technology (Industry)
How does Amazon work? How do you develop technology to make organisations more productive? If you’re interested in both computer science and business, this flexible degree plays to your strengths.

It is an accredited Tech Industry Gold four-year degree run by our Management School and Computer Science departments. It integrates industry-relevant academic learning with the technical, business and interpersonal skills to meet standards defined by employers.

We use real-world examples to question the role of Information Technology in business. You will learn how to manage teams and projects in IT-related business scenarios, apply IT solutions and evaluate technical knowledge.

Your first year provides a strong foundation in Information Systems, Business Analytics, Software Development and key debates in Management, Organisations and Work. You can also study areas such as Creative Technology, Entrepreneurship, Design, Marketing and Operations Management.

In your second year, you’ll move on to areas such as Financial Accounting, Managing Business Information Systems, Knowledge and Data, Project Management and Software Design. You can choose from options ranging from Business Ethics to Human Resource Management. You will also learn how to conduct a piece of business research before you prepare for your placement.

You’ll spend your third year on industry placement, and The Tech Partnership Degrees supports us in finding placements. Throughout your degree you can attend Tech Partnership Degrees events, conferences and their networking opportunities with employers.

In your final year you will look at how to develop Business Information Systems and Psychological Approaches to Managing Change plus study options such as Security and Risk and Ethical Responsibility in Business.

This degree provides a thorough knowledge of change management, project management, information technology management and information systems development. It can lead to further study. It also helps you stand out in the job market and opens up opportunities with our sponsor organisations.

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.