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.

Marketing Management (Study Abroad)
Continuous changes in global markets and technology mean that marketing managers need the skills to be able to adapt to a marketing landscape that’s in constant flux. Today’s Chief Marketing Officers need to develop not just the short term marketing plans but the longer term future strategies for their organisations.

This four-year degree helps shape and build you as a future marketing leader, with a year in industry and new challenges overseas being central to your learning experience.

This degree provides an all-round understanding of marketing and includes a study of key areas including Consumer Behaviour, Marketing Communications and Global Markets. You will also study all aspects of Market Research, and gain a practical understanding of how marketing and advertising work in an organisational context. In addition to this you will have the option of studying various modules from other departments in the Management School to develop your wider management knowledge and acumen.

During the course of this degree, you will experience a broad range of learning opportunities, with a strong emphasis on collaborative working, that support your personal development as well as your academic skills. In addition to your academic modules, you will also take modules which are specifically designed to help prepare for and later reflect on your year’s placement in industry.

You will spend the second year of your degree at a partner university usually in North America or Australasia. There are many advantages to studying abroad, including personal and educational development, experiencing a new culture, and enhanced employability.

Your industry placement in your third year is designed to improve your understanding of marketing and management in practice. Previous students have spent this year working with multinational companies such as The Walt Disney company, Boots and Nike, whereas others have secured roles with marketing agencies, charities and local organisations.

Lancaster University will make reasonable endeavours to place students at an approved overseas partner university that offers appropriate modules which contribute credit to your Lancaster degree.  Occasionally places overseas may not be available for all students who want to study abroad or the place at the partner university may be withdrawn if core modules are unavailable. If you are not offered a place to study overseas, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent standard degree scheme and would complete your studies at Lancaster.

Lancaster University cannot accept responsibility for any financial aspects of the year or term abroad.

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.