BA (Honours) Business with Foundation Year

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BA (Honours)

Business with Foundation Year

Develop your business skills to lead innovative and fast-evolving organisations – enhancing your knowledge of sustainable, responsible management practice.

Everything you need to know...

  • Pound sign

    What is the fee?

    Home: See fees section below
    International/EU: £17,155 per year (£1,200 for placement year)

  • Time

    How long will I study?

    4/5 Years

  • Location

    Where will I study?

    City Campus

  • Bookmark

    What are the entry requirements?

    64 UCAS Points

  • Checkmark

    What is the UCAS code?

    BB10

  • Date

    When do I start?

    September 2025

  • Avatar

    Placement year available?

    Yes


Course summary

  • Gain knowledge of core business areas, such as strategy, leadership, management and financial performance.
  • Develop the skills you need for the business career you want.
  • Learn how to lead change and innovation ethically and responsibly.
  • Gain real-world experience in a diverse and exciting range of roles and sectors. 
  • Join a global community where business leaders, researchers and students network and collaborate.

Our course produces talented business leaders, influencers and organisational change agents who can make a real difference in organisations. You will study at one of the few UK Universities with direct links to the Institute of Leadership and Management. Not only can you access a vast range of learning resources, but you will also gain Professional Membership status on top of your degree.

If you don't meet the entry requirements for our BA (Hons) course, or you’d like extra preparation before starting degree-level study, we recommend you join the foundation course – which has been designed to encourage exploration and experimentation.


Sheffield Business School accreditation

Sheffield Business School is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and has been awarded the Business School Impact System label by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD).

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Visit us to learn more about our gold-rated teaching and why we were awarded the highest possible rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.

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How you learn

At Sheffield Hallam, all our courses are designed to engage you with the world and challenge you to think in new ways. You’ll get to collaborate with others, and you’ll be taught in a supportive environment where you can thrive.

The course is delivered by a combination of experienced and active professionals and researchers. They create a rich, supportive and inclusive learning environment. 

You can access placements, volunteering opportunities, training schemes, internships and work experience through our network of industry professionals and business leaders, such as IBM.

You learn through: 

  • On campus lectures and interactive seminars
  • One-to-one tutor support
  • Experiential learning in industry
  • Real-world business change and consultancy projects
  • Reflective practice and career planning
  • Digital platforms and resources
  • Opportunities for work-based placements and projects

Key Themes

Learn how to adapt quickly to dynamic, versatile, and fast-paced working environments. Find out what it means to instil a culture of innovation and creativity within teams. And understand what it means to launch and maintain a successful enterprise. 

We will explore the significance of ethical, sustainable and responsible management practices to help us respond to contemporary business challenges. You will be encouraged to develop your network in our global community – where business leaders, researchers and students come together to solve problems. 

As the course progresses, you will have the opportunity to choose your own learning pathway, picking from a range of modules to shape your future. These will help you develop the skills you’re interested in and prepare for a career that’s right for you. 

Course Support

Throughout your learning journey, you will experience a range of dedicated support, such as:

  • Access to our unique student support triangle to help with your personal, academic and career development.
  • Access to our Skills Centre with one-to-ones, webinars and online resources.
  • Industry-specific employability activities such as live projects, learning in simulated environments and networking opportunities.
  • Our thriving student society and extra-curricular activities.

Course leaders and tutors

Felicity Mendoza
Felicity Mendoza
Lecturer

Research Fellow and lecturer at the Department of Management and Sheffield Business School.

Applied learning

We think the best way to learn something is to do it in the real world. That means putting learning into practice through placements, internships and consultancy projects through our global network of leading businesses.

Placements

You can undertake a year-long placement nationally or internationally – preparing you for your future career while gaining industry contacts and an applied professional diploma to add to your CV. Previous placement years have taken place at organisations such as Microsoft, Enterprise Cars, Bosch, 3M and E-on.

You can also study a language and potentially study at a European University for one semester – through the Turing Scheme. 

Live Projects

A range of projects, business simulations and client-led tasks mean you can apply your knowledge to real-life scenarios, improving your analytical mindset, learning agility and critical thinking.

You’ll also experience what it’s really like to collaborate with others and solve complex challenges with our workplace simulation activities. Here you’ll learn how to lead, manage resources and develop project plans.

Networking Opportunities

You’ll engage and interact with business leaders and professionals. 

Working with others, you’ll improve your interpersonal skills and learn to build relationships. You’ll collaborate on projects with other students and academic staff –  presenting, publishing and championing your work.  

Field Trips

You’ll have the opportunity to visit leading local businesses and global brands, with industry field trips throughout your course. You can also hear exclusive talks from global brands and local businesses – first-hand insights on how to create, lead and manage an effective business.

Entrepreneurial Support

We offer award-winning support for entrepreneurs – from free offices and studio space to expert workshops, freelance opportunities, and a vast business network ready for you to tap into.

With the support of the Hallam i-Lab business hub, you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with creatives, entrepreneurs and investors across Sheffield. Here, you can form lucrative business networks, brainstorm entrepreneurial ideas and even launch your own venture.

Competitions

Previous students’ work has been shared on local, national and international news. Others have won national or been runners-up in a national sustainable business essay competition.


Future careers

In private, public and third-sector organisations, this course prepares you for a career in:

  • Business management
  • Business consultancy
  • Change and project leadership
  • Supply chain and operations direction

Previous graduates have gone on to work for:

  • Aston Martin
  • Honda 
  • Gripple (UK) 
  • GlaxoSmithKline 
  • IBM UK 
  • LinkedIn
  • Local councils
  • Microsoft
  • Mina
  • NHS
  • Tesco
  • Vodafone

Where will I study?

You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

City Campus

City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.

City Campus map | City Campus tour 


City Campus map
Location

Howard Street
Sheffield
S1 1WB

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Adsetts library

Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.

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Equipment and facilities

You’ll study in world-class learning facilities, such as specialist labs, design studios, practice facilities, simulation environments, our iLab enterprise hub and a 24/7 library. 

You’ll have access to specialist equipment and resources, such as:

  • Video-making hardware and software via the library and AppsAnywhere 
  • Business gamification simulation equipment 
  • Networks to develop a business idea or start your own business

As part of our campus masterplan, we’re developing a brand new, net-zero-ready building right at the heart of the city centre.

You’ll benefit from dedicated business facilities such as a business lounge, trading floor and languages hub, plus plenty of room to study in social learning spaces, seminar rooms and PC labs – all set in 400 square metres of stunning green space, where you can socialise, eat, relax and study.

360 tour - i-Lab

Entry requirements

All students

UCAS points

  • 64

This must include at least 32 points from one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications excluding general studies For example:

  • CC at A Level
  • MPP in BTEC Extended Diploma.
  • Pass overall from a T level qualification with D or E from core
  • A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels and EPQ.

You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.

GCSE

  • English Language at grade C or 4 or equivalent
  • Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalent

ACCESS

  • Access to HE Diploma, with at least 45 level 3 credits.

If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.

Additional information for EU/International students

If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.

For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.


Modules

Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page. .

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Going Global
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
People, Decisions And Behaviours
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Preparing For Success
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Sustainable Innovation
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Year 2

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Business Innovation And Creativity
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Contemporary Business
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Foundations Of Business
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(80%) , Practical(20%)
Understanding People And Cultures
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Year 3

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Developing Your Impact As A Business Leader
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Leading And Managing Organisational Change
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Managing Business And Financial Performance
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)

Elective modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Business In Emerging Markets
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Developing Your Business Idea
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Experiential Marketing Events
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Foreign Language (French, Spanish, Italian)
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(50%) , Practical(50%)
Managing And Developing People In Diverse Contexts
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Managing Operations And The Supply Chain
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Responsible Human Resource Management
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Study Abroad - Sheffield Business School
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
The Corporate Customer
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
The Digital Customer Experience
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Year 4

Optional modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Placement Year
Credits -
Assessment
Final year

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Consultancy Project In Business Studies
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Responsible And Ethical Business Practice
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Strategy In The Global And Digital Environment
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)

Elective modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Consumer Psychology 
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Contemporary Leadership In Context
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Dynamic Issues In International Business
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Employment Relations And Law
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Global, Ethical And Responsible Management Approaches
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Marketing In A Global Context
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)

Fees and funding

Home students

Our tuition fees for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2025/26 are regulated by the UK government and are yet to be confirmed. For an indication, our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2024/25 is £9,250 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.

International students

Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,155 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

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Financial support for home/EU students

How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.

Learn more

Additional course costs

The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

General course additional costs

Additional costs for Sheffield Business School (PDF, 142KB)

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.

 

How do I apply?

Apply now via UCAS

Not ready to apply just yet?

Why not come to our next open day? Open days are the perfect place to talk to staff and students, visit our campuses and get all the information you need. Alternatively, feel free to ask us a question.

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Why choose us?

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Teaching

We are Gold rated in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) for the outstanding quality of our teaching and student outcomes

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Employment

94% of our management graduates are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating

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Excellence

Graduate from Sheffield Business School – rated in the top 6% globally for excellence in teaching and research

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