BSc (Hons) Business with International Business Management with Foundation Year
- Entry year:
- 2026/27
- Start date:
- September
- Study mode:
- Full-time
- Course duration:
- 5 years Placement year, 4 years FullTime
- Campus:
- Mount Pleasant
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
- 100% of students surveyed said the teaching staff on our business courses were good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2025)
- 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
- Winner! Business School of the Year, Educate North Awards 2025
- Winner! Business School of the Year, Times Higher Education Awards 2025
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).
Cleo's story
Business Clinic student experience
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
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
30 credits
This module provides you with an understanding of the fundamental principles of marketing and consumer behaviour
Financial Accounting Techniques
30 credits
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
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
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
20 credits
Understand the underlying principles of marketing, including the range of specific marketing activities and their influence on organisations.
Economics
20 credits
20 credits
Introduces students to economic ideas and their relevance to business decisions.
Accounting and Finance
20 credits
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
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
20 credits
Introduces, defines, places and provides practical applications of the communication and media management functions in organisations
Core modules
Business Analytics
20 credits
20 credits
Students will learn and use valuable analytics skills, and understand the need for analytics in the modern workplace.
Business Research
10 credits
10 credits
You will develop a detailed understanding of the design and process of research in business and management.
International Trade
20 credits
20 credits
This module provides you with the knowledge and skills to understand key issues in international trade.
Business in Emerging Markets
20 credits
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
20 credits
This module provides you with the skills and knowledge to succeed in the graduate employment market.
Optional modules
Managing People and Organisations
10 credits
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.
Practical Digital Marketing Skills
20 credits
20 credits
You will develop a practical understanding of the key areas of digital marketing, including current digital marketing tools and website development.
Modern Language for Business
10 credits
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
20 credits
Provides an introduction to international finance.
Study Semester Abroad - Business with
60 credits
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
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
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
Strategic Management
20 credits
20 credits
Recognise and evaluate the wider importance of strategic decision-making and the competitive advantage to business.
Sustainable Futures
20 credits
20 credits
Recognise and critically evaluate the global challenges we face and the role of business and organisations in addressing them.
Global Marketing
20 credits
20 credits
Analyse the leading issues in global marketing.
Business Consultancy
20 credits
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
20 credits
Provides students with the knowledge and skills to understand key issues in the Global Business Environment.
Cross-Cultural Management
20 credits
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 café and a roof terrace with far reaching views of the cityscape and Welsh hills. It is only a short walk from LJMU's Mount Pleasant Campus Library, which contains all the resources you will require for your studies, and is open seven days a week.
Course tutors
Katies’ career began with roles in sales and marketing. Katie then made the move to academia, working internationally as a lecturer and researcher in Austria. Katie has been at LJMU since 2020, first as Senior Lecturer and more recently as Principal Lecturer and Programme Leader. Katies' aim is to ensure that courses are engaging and relevant and equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to build exciting and rewarding careers.
“It’s really exciting to be able to offer students such a great range of opportunities. In addition to engaging and relevant teaching, we encourage all of our students to take advantage of the fantastic possibilities outside of the classroom. Whether it be a placement in industry, an internship, or some time spent abroad – we will help you make the most of your time at Liverpool Business School”
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:
- £9,790
- Placement year:
- £1,955
Fees
Tuition fees for home students beginning their studies in September 2026 will be £9,790 for the 2026/27 academic year, subject to Parliamentary approval.
In England and Wales, tuition fees for home undergraduate students are set in accordance with the Government’s regulated fee cap. The Government has confirmed that this cap will be £9,790 for 2026/27 and £10,050 for 2027/28, in both cases subject to Parliamentary approval.
The Government has also stated that from the 2028/29 academic year onwards, the fee cap will be adjusted annually in line with inflation. As a result, tuition fees in future years may increase accordingly. We will provide confirmation of any changes as early as possible in advance of each academic year.
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
- Full-time per year:
- £17,750
- Placement year:
- £3,910
International Scholarships and payment plans
Liverpool John Moores University is committed to supporting international students by providing a range of scholarships and flexible payment plans to help students manage their tuition fees.
Scholarships
LJMU provides a variety of undergraduate scholarships to support international students. Scholarships are available to self-funded students who have accepted their offer and met all the conditions outlined in their offer letter. Students must also demonstrate that they can cover living costs, travel, and other expenses associated to studying at the university.
All self-funded international students are eligible for an automatic scholarship worth up to £3,000. For more details and to view our full list of scholarships, visit the international scholarship webpages.
Deposit
All students must pay a £5,000 deposit before they can receive their CAS letter.
For more information view our deposit page.
Tuition Fee Payment Plan
After paying their £5,000 deposit, students have the option to pay their fees in full or in three equal instalments minus any internal scholarships and discounts. There are two payment options available for international students. You can either pay your tuition fees in full before enrolment or opt for a payment plan. With the payment plan, you can pay your fees in three instalments after making your £5,000 deposit. The first instalment is due before enrolment.
All payments should be made through Flywire. Full details can be found in the How to Pay Guide.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Grades/points required from qualifications: DDD (72)
Work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth by visiting the UCAS Tariff Calculator.
Qualification requirements
GCSEs and equivalents
A levels
DDD
Minimum Number of A Levels: 2
Maximum AS UCAS Points: 20
BTECs
Extended Diploma: MMP
Access awards
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
Further information
-
Contextual Offers
At LJMU, we are dedicated to widening participation in education. We understand that academic potential isn't always accurately represented by grades alone. Therefore, we consider additional information included in your application. If you meet certain eligibility criteria, we may make an offer lower than our typical entry requirements.
International requirements
IELTS
Further information
Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
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
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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.