BSc (Hons) Business with International Business Management with Foundation Year

Entry year:
2025/26
Start date:
September
Study mode:
Full-time
Course duration:
5 years Placement year, 4 years FullTime
Campus:
Mount Pleasant
UCAS Code:
N125
Grades/points required:
DDD-CDD (72-80)

Why study this course with LJMU?

  • Prepares students for multiple business roles through the use of business simulation tools and live projects
  • Gain technical business skills through practical application of business theory
  • 91% of students surveyed said the teaching staff on our business courses were good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2024)
  • Spend a year on work placement if you take the sandwich year option
  • Study abroad opportunities in China, the USA and across Europe during your second year of study
  • Shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Awards 2024 Business School of the Year

About your course

The BSc (Hons) Business with International Business Management at Liverpool John Moores University is an exciting degree course which places global business skills development at the heart of your learning.

This exciting applied business course is designed to offer a diverse and well-rounded education, mixed with the opportunity to undertake a year's work placement to prepare you for the national or international graduate job market.

The carefully designed suite of tried-and-tested modules will enable you to become competent in managing people, money, markets and products, and you will develop your analytical, planning and information management skills within a business context, so that by the time you graduate you will be fully prepared to tackle the challenges of the real business world.

This programme is part of the 'Business with' suite, which allows students to transfer to a different specialism, such Finance, Media Communications or Digital Marketing, at the end of level 4 year of study.

Another advantage of this degree is the optional sandwich year in which you spend 48 weeks on a paid work placement in the UK or overseas. This will enable you to put into practice many of the concepts and techniques developed in years one and two as well as developing your personal skills and enhancing your CV.

Students who complete the placement year in the School's more established degrees tend to experience a significant improvement in their academic performance and many go on to gain first class honours degrees, often returning to work for their placement company after graduation.

Liverpool Business School has partnerships with business schools at universities and colleges across Europe, in the USA and in China. Students on this programme are able to spend a semester in their second year at a partner university abroad as part of their studies. Students can also choose to spend an additional year of study at one of our partner universities between the second and third years. All study abroad opportunities are in English. There are also many supported opportunities for activities at partner universities during summer vacations and Liverpool Business School provides places on language skills courses.

Live Consultancy Project

Through LJMU's Liverpool Business Clinic, students have a unique opportunity to work on real client briefs with local organisations putting academic theory into real world practice. This live consultancy projects is an optional module to a traditional final-year dissertation. 

Foundation Year (Level 3)

The Foundation Year is ideal if you have the interest and ability to study for a degree, but do not have the qualifications to enter directly onto the Business with International Business Management honours degree programme yet.

Once you pass the Foundation Year (level 3) you will progress directly onto the first year (level 4) of the honours degree. If you are a full-time UK student, you will qualify for student financial support for the full duration of your course (subject to eligibility criteria).

Course modules

What you will study on this degree

Further guidance on modules

Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.

Core modules

Business Foundations & Operations
30 credits

This module provides you with an introduction to the world of business, including various business types and structures, key functional areas, fundamental management theories, and the contemporary challenges faced by businesses today.

Introduction to Marketing
30 credits

This module provides you with an understanding of the fundamental principles of marketing and consumer behaviour

Financial Accounting Techniques
30 credits

A combination of weekly workshops and IT practicals. Module Canvas site will be utilised to support private study requirements.

Ethical Leadership & Professional Development
30 credits

This module provides you with an understanding of ethical leadership, professional and personal development and, the role of business in the society.

Core modules

Academic Skills and Digital Literacy
20 credits

Introduces students to aspects of career management and the skills necessary to be effective learners at university, applying academic and digital skills in their academic study.

Foundation of Marketing
20 credits

Understand the underlying principles of marketing, including the range of specific marketing activities and their influence on organisations.

Economics
20 credits

Introduces students to economic ideas and their relevance to business decisions.

Accounting and Finance
20 credits

Provides students with an understanding of essential finance and accounting terminology and methods to enable them to perform effectively and efficiently within their future workplace. Using practical examples, students will gain confidence to be able to financial modelling skills using Excel.

Global Business Management
20 credits

Provides the essential frameworks to understand current issues in global business and management and their impact on companies and society.

Media Communications
20 credits

Introduces, defines, places and provides practical applications of the communication and media management functions in organisations

Core modules

Business Research
10 credits

You will develop a detailed understanding of the design and process of research in business and management.

Business Analytics
20 credits

Students will learn and use valuable analytics skills, and understand the need for analytics in the modern workplace.

International Trade
20 credits

This module provides you with the knowledge and skills to understand key issues in international trade.

Business in Emerging Markets
20 credits

This module enables students to develop an understanding of how to do business in emerging markets and build partnerships with emerging country firms.

Employability Skills
20 credits

This module provides you with the skills and knowledge to succeed in the graduate employment market.

Optional modules

Practical Digital Marketing Skills
20 credits

You will develop a practical understanding of the key areas of digital marketing, including current digital marketing tools and website development.

Managing People and Organisations
10 credits

Develop a critical understanding of key factors relating to the effective management of people and processes in order to achieve positive organisational outcomes.

Modern Language for Business
10 credits

Develop a very basic competence in reading, writing, listening and speaking a modern foreign language as well as develop an understanding of basic foreign language grammar.

International Crises
20 credits

Provides an introduction to international finance.

Study Semester Abroad - Business with
60 credits

This module will provide you the opportunity to spend a semester of study at an approved overseas partner that will replace one semester of your LJMU programme at level 5.

Study Year Abroad - Business with
120 credits

This module will provide you the opportunity to spend an additional year of study at an approved overseas partner that will complement your programme at LJMU.

Sandwich Year - Business with
120 credits

This module will provide you with an extended period of work experience at an approved partner that will complement your programme of study at LJMU. This will give you the opportunity to develop professional skills relevant to your programme of study as well as the attitude and behaviours necessary for employment in a diverse and changing environment.

Core modules

Sustainable Futures
20 credits

Recognise and critically evaluate the global challenges we face and the role of business and organizations in addressing them.

Global Marketing
20 credits

Analyse the leading issues in global marketing.

Strategic Management
20 credits

Recognise and evaluate the wider importance of strategic decision making and the competitive advantage to business.

Business Consultancy
20 credits

Develop an understanding of business problems and issues and provide students with the opportunity to apply key academic theories and models in the development of a solution that meets the client's needs. In addition students will reflect on their personal development and consider next steps post-graduation.

Global Business Environment
20 credits

Provides students with the knowledge and skills to understand key issues in the Global Business Environment.

Cross Cultural Management
20 credits

Provides students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to manage and lead across cultures.

Your Learning Experience

Excellent facilities and learning resources

We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.

Teaching is delivered via lectures, workshops and seminars to discuss ideas and issues more informally.

Work-related Learning

Early in level 5 you can decide whether to undertake a paid 48-week work placement in the UK or overseas. You would do this placement between level 5 and 6.

Placements give you invaluable experience of what it's really like to work in the finance sector as well as giving you a chance to put skills and knowledge you have learnt in the first two years into practice. Not only that, but the experience helps you develop personal skills, enhances your CV and gives you a year's break from academic study.

Liverpool Business School's Placement Support Unit will then help you find suitable vacancies, advise on the application process and help you to arrange interviews. This support continues while you are on placement, and one of your tutors will visit you in your workplace twice during the year.

LJMU's excellent business connections mean that our students have completed placements with companies and organisations as diverse as IBM, Intel, Airbus, Morgan Stanley, Vauxhall, Kellogg's, the NHS, The Ministry of Defence and Pfizer.

Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support

The Liverpool Business School is a supportive environment in which to study and the 'student-centred approach' of your tutors will ensure that you are given the support and guidance you need.

When you start your studies, you will be assigned a personal tutor. They will set up one-to-one tutorials with you to discuss a piece of coursework or to work with you on your personal development plan.

Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.

We understand that students perform differently depending on the type of assessment they are given and so a range of assessment methods are used on the programme. These include written assignments (essays/reports, individual/group), exams (closed book), practical assessments, individual and group presentations, portfolios, reflective logs and a dissertation. There could be up to three assessments per module, for example a presentation, report and exam.

Written feedback is provided within 15 working days of submission, but you can also get face-to-face feedback from your tutor. We believe that constructive feedback is vital in helping you identify your strengths as well as the areas where you may need to develop further.

Where you will study

The School is based in the Redmonds Building, in the heart of the bustling Mount Pleasant Campus and Liverpool 's growing Knowledge Quarter. The building is home to high quality lecture theatres and seminar rooms, social spaces, a cafe and a roof terrace with far reaching views of the cityscape and welsh hills. It is only a short walk from LJMU 's Aldham Robarts Library, which contains all the resources you will require for your studies, and is open seven days a week.

Course tutors

LJMU provided my internship opportunity with Pulse Systems Ltd - it's literally changed my life. It has given me valuable work experience, and also a graduate job. The degree is so relevant to what I want to pursue in the future. It's opened my eyes to a career in marketing.

Career paths

The Business School has a great reputation for helping graduates secure professional employment

Liverpool Business School has historically had an excellent employment record with graduates securing graduate-level positions with leading employers in public and private sectors. These include Everton Football Club, Kellogg company, Santander and Deloitte. In the last Destination of Leavers in HE survey (2016/17 data), 95.2% of our graduates had secured employment or were in further study within 6 months of graduating.

This degree will open up a huge range of potential careers because the success or failure of an organisation is ultimately determined by its financial performance. You will have the option to extend your studies to four years, with the third year spent on work placement. You will receive support and advice from the Business School's Employability Support Unit when looking for a placement opportunity, including presentations from employers offering placement schemes, a dedicated placement fair, and opportunities to apply for paid internships with leading local, national and international firms.

Thanks for its broad core modules and the more focused financially focused pathway modules in levels 5/6, this qualification will give you a solid platform from which to build your career, and once you qualify, there will be plenty of opportunities to move between different roles and industries in the UK and abroad.

Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service

A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.

Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website.

Tuition fees and funding

Foundation first year:
£5,760
Second and subsequent years:
£9,535
Placement year:
£1,905

Fees

The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources including programme-appropriate software and on campus Wi-Fi.

Financial Support

The University offers a range of scholarships to support students through their studies. You'll find all the information you need on our specialist funding pages, including details of the Student Support Fund and other activities to support with the cost of living.

Additional Costs

In addition to fees, students should also keep in mind the cost of:

  • Accommodation
  • Travel costs including those for placements, visas and travel for studying abroad and field trips unless paid for by LJMU
  • Stationery, IT equipment, professional body membership and graduation gown hire

The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in accordance with any changes to the maximum allowable fees set by the UK Parliament. In the event of such a change, any fee increase will be subject to a maximum cap of 10% of the total course cost as originally stated at the time of your offer.

Entry requirements

Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements

Grades/points required from qualifications: DDD-CDD (72-80)

Work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth by visiting the UCAS Tariff Calculator.

Qualification requirements

GCSEs and equivalents

Grade 4 or grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics/ Numeracy.
 
GCSE Equivalences accepted:
• Key Skills Level 2 in English/Maths
• NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
• Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
• Higher Diploma in Maths/English
• Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
• Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number

A levels

DDD-CDD
Minimum Number of A Levels: 2
Maximum AS UCAS Points: 20

BTECs

Extended Diploma: MMP

Access awards

Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
 
Pass overall with a minimum of 72 points

International Baccalaureate

Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications

OCR Cambridge Technical

Extended Diploma: MMP

Irish awards

Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.

T levels

Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.
 
You need to obtain the required UCAS points from a related subject area.

How to apply

Securing your place at LJMU

UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.

We are looking for students with the potential to:

Understand and critically evaluate the theory, concepts and principles that underpin the practical techniques of business.

Demonstrate their understanding by communicating effectively, both orally and in their written work.

Possess the self-discipline to manage their time and tasks effectively throughout their time here at LJMU.

Your university life

From accommodation and academic support to clubs and societies. Find out what LJMU has to offer.

Talk to our students

Connect with a current LJMU student for advice and guidance on university life, courses and more.

See what our students are saying

At LJMU we want you to know you're making the right choice by studying with us. You can see what our students are saying about their experience with us through their reviews on the following websites:

The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.