Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £9,535 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
International/EU: £17,155 per year (£1,200 for placement year) -
How long will I study?
4/5 Years
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Where will I study?
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What are the entry requirements?
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What is the UCAS code?
A064
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When do I start?
September 2025
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Placement year available?
Yes
Teaching Quality
Sheffield Hallam University is ranked 5th amongst UK providers for languages and linguistics in the Guardian University Guide 2023 league table.
Course summary
- Gain practical experience with study and work opportunities in France.
- Develop the skills to succeed in a dynamic global business environment.
- Explore cross-cultural management, global supply and market entry strategies.
- Develop fluency in French through a holistic language programme.
- Complete a work placement in France and gain an Applied Professional Diploma.
- Prepare for the full degree with an extra foundation year at the start.
Study at Sheffield Business School and become a multilingual business professional. Master fluency in French, explore global cultures and engage in real-world scenarios. You’ll be joining a vibrant language community, with access to specialised learning spaces and experienced experts, preparing you for a dynamic career.
This foundation year course is for those who don't meet the entry requirements for our BA (Hons) International Business with French course, or would like extra preparation before starting degree-level study.
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).
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
You’ll be taught by teachers who are active in their field. Industry specialists have helped to shape the design of your course – helping you graduate with the skills employers are looking for. Our teaching strategies are grounded in contemporary academic research, with a strong emphasis on addressing the practical challenges faced by global, cross-cultural organisations.
At every level of this course, you’ll have the opportunity to acquire and apply an array of knowledge relating to international business. You’ll develop your French language skills and cultural awareness to a high level. You’ll also engage in applied project work set by industry partners – collaborating with peers, and engage with external clients, organisations, business practitioners, academics and students in partner institutions overseas.
You learn through:
- Sessions with French language specialists
- Simulations and learning games
- Case study discussions
- Individual and group presentations
- Small group supervision meetings
- Individual drop-in meetings
- Lectures and seminars with guest speakers
- Problem-solving exercises
Course topics
You’ll explore international trade, cross-border investment, international entrepreneurship, global sourcing, offshoring and international marketing. These aspects are often associated with multinationals, but also involve smaller firms and entrepreneurial ventures. You’ll study the changing nature of the international business environment and how this impacts business processes, transactions and leadership.
You’ll also develop fluency in French through a holistic language programme of speaking, reading, writing and comprehension. Through the language curriculum you’ll develop your employability – understanding the skills you’ll need to be successful in the international business arena, and focusing on how you might prepare to work constructively with colleagues across cultures.
Several modules offer opportunities to tailor your learning experience, including the flexibility to choose assessment tasks that align with your preferences and goals.
Course support
Throughout your learning journey you’ll experience a range of dedicated support, such as:
- Access to specialist support services to help with your personal, academic and career development
- Access to our Skills Centre with one-to-ones, webinars and online resources
- Free office and studio space, expert workshops and freelance opportunities
- A vast business network ready for you to tap into
- Career support for up to five years after graduating
Course leaders and tutors
Tilahun Mekonnen
Senior LecturerCurrently working as a Senior Lecturer in Business Economics and the International Business Development Manager for Sub Saharan African Countries
Applied learning
Work placement
At the start of the course we’ll give you the language skills and cultural knowledge you’ll need to operate and excel in an international work context.
As part of your course, you’ll have the option to spend at least 24 weeks on a paid work placement in a relevant organisation in France.
This gives you valuable work experience to prepare you for your future career – and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV. We have a dedicated support team who will help you arrange your work placement, obtain appropriate permissions and support you while you’re abroad.
Semester abroad
We’ll encourage and support you to study abroad in French at a partner institution in France – helping you to embed and expand your understanding in a real-world context. You’ll also be able to develop your confidence in living, studying and working in an international environment.
Live projects
Through our partnerships with leading businesses and industry experts, we’ll offer you valuable opportunities to gain hands-on work experience, build your network and acquire the essential skills demanded in the workplace. In your final year, you’ll enhance your skills further through a live consultancy project.
Alongside your course, you can also take part in specialist training on export management from the International Trade Centre.
Field trips
We offer trips to a variety of organisations, including local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and multinationals with operations in the UK. These are great chances to see the types of environments you may be working within in the future.
Networking opportunities
We have regular guest lecturers to give you practical insights into the issues facing real-world companies.
You can connect with employers through Careers Days and guest lectures – gaining valuable insights into the challenges that real-world businesses are facing. You may also be able to network with previous graduates who share their experiences while empathising with the stage you’re at in your career.
And we’ll encourage you to take part in competitions, with prizes available for strong projects and inspirational students.
Future careers
Graduates of this course are highly sought after by employers. Many businesses will value your understanding of language, cross-cultural communication and international business practice.
This course prepares you for a career in:
- Business and market development
- International management
- International enterprise
- International strategy
- Marketing communications and advertising
- Purchasing and export coordination
- Global supply chain management
- Consultancy
- Account management
- Brand management
- Product management
- Project management
Previous graduates have gone to work for a wide variety of firms, including:
- Allianz
- Aviva
- Bloomberg
- Centrica
- Cisco
- Experian
- Fujitsu
- GE Money
- GlaxoSmithKline
- IBM UK
- Janssen Pharmaceuticals
- O2 (Telefónica UK)
- Pirelli
- Rolls-Royce
- Royal Bank of Scotland
- SAP
- SSE
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
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
At our Sheffield Business School, you’ll study in world-class learning facilities, such as specialist labs, design studios, practice facilities, simulation environments, our award-winning enterprise centre and a 24/7 library. You’ll benefit from dedicated business facilities set in 400 sq metres of stunning green space, where you can socialise, eat, relax and study.
You’ll have access to specialist equipment and resources, such as:
- A business lounge, trading floor and languages hub
- Software to develop entrepreneurial ideas, such as Sandpit
- Business gamification simulation equipment
- Social learning spaces, seminar rooms and PC labs
- Space to collaborate with the wider multi-language-speaking community
- A brand new, net-zero-ready building in the heart of the city centre
Media Gallery
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 64
This must include at least 32 points from one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. For example:
- CC at A Level
- MPP in BTEC Extended Diploma.
- A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels, EPQ and general studies.
You should also have at least an AS-Level (Grade C) or A-Level E in French for entry onto this course.
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 D or 3 or equivalent
• Access - an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above, from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate plus.
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
Going Global
People, Decisions And Behaviours
Preparing For Success
Sustainable Innovation
Year 2
Compulsory modules
Business & Culture In French-Speaking Societies
Contemporary International Business
Foreign Language (French)
Foundations Of Business
Year 3
Compulsory modules
Foreign Language (French)
Global Entrepreneurship
Managing Across Borders
Study Abroad - Languages
Work & Life In French-Speaking Societies
Year 4
Compulsory modules
Placement Year
Final year
Compulsory modules
Advanced International Business
Consultancy Project In International Business
Contemporary Debates In French-Speaking Societies
Foreign Language (French)
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate degree courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
We are currently reviewing our tuition fees for the foundation year stage of this course following the Government announcement of fee changes for some foundation year courses and will confirm fees as soon as possible.
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.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
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.
