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, Politics and International Relations (Industry)
Technology, organisation and work all help shape modern society. How do businesses set their direction over the next 30 years? How do we create stronger economies and better societies? How do we respond to political and global change?

This four-year interdisciplinary degree is unique to the UK. We step away from idealised business models. Instead we offer you the chance to dive deeper into politics, international relations and the management of institutions regionally and globally. Our aim is to develop leaders capable of reshaping the economy and business.

Where would you invest £5 million? Why? Will that investment protect the money? Or add to it? These are the types of questions asked in this degree. You will learn about areas of management such as Organisation, Work and Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Marketing. You will also study Politics and International Relations to better understand the global business world.

If you’re going to be a future business leader, you need to earn the right to be heard. Challenges include asking you to identify the most important story on the front page of the Financial Times or Newsweek. You will spend your third year within an organisation here in the UK or overseas to help you to apply your knowledge to a real-world situation.

Previous students have worked with companies such as Hyundai, Deloitte, Irdeto, PwC, Sony and RES4MED in roles across business development, marketing, recruitment, PR and management.

As a graduate of this degree, you will be better able to decipher political situations and their impact on business. Every organisation needs people who think about and understand how the world works. This degree will help you be one of them.

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.