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International Foundation Year in Business, Economics, Accounting and Finance

The International Foundation Year prepares you for university with English language and study skills practice, as well as subject-specific teaching. When you complete the programme, you will progress to the first year of your undergraduate degree. This pathway allows you to progress to degrees in subjects including accounting, business management, financial mathematics and many more. You choose a route depending on which undergraduate degree you plan to study. There are three routes: Accounting and Finance, Business, and Economics. Which route you choose impacts the modules you will study.

Key facts

*This intake is not available for progression to Optometry, Dental Surgery, Medicine, Medical Pharmacology or Pharmacy

  • Length: Two semesters
  • Study mode: On campus

Entry requirements

Check our academic and English language entry requirements

Fees

Visit the Fees page for full details.

The best preparation for your career in business

Cardiff University International Study Centre puts you on the path to an exciting future in business. Our International Foundation Year develops your subject knowledge and English language skills, ready for your undergraduate degree. All undergraduate degrees have the option of a professional placement year, giving you the chance to apply your knowledge in a practical setting.

What will I study?

As a student on the this pathway of the International Foundation Year, you will study all of the 'core' modules as well as additional modules depending on which subject route you choose.

Core modules

The Academic English Skills course teaches students the specific academic language skills they need to develop for success at Cardiff University. The course focuses on the receptive (listening and reading) and productive (speaking and writing) skills through practice in semi and authentic task-based activities which build a strong foundation in preparation for each student's future studies. This critical module places particular emphasis on developing academic reading and research skills; research-based writing along with presentation and seminar speaking skills.

This module will improve the student's knowledge and understanding of organisations and their environment. It aims to further the student's understanding of the nature of organisations as well as the internal and external environments in which they exist. Students will explore a range of business concepts and theories which will enable them to understand the nature of this relationship and prepare them for further study at undergraduate level.

This module will improve your knowledge and understanding of contemporary business issues as well as some of the relevant business and management theories which underpin these. It will provide students with an insight into a range of business and management issues and concepts which undergraduates will require to study these topics in greater depth.

The overall aim of the module is to provide students with a foundation in core statistical concepts. The module supports students to recall principles and concepts in statistics and develop the mathematical and statistical background, required for their studies at Higher Education in the UK.

Accounting, Finance and Financial Mathematics modules

This module aims to provide students with an introduction to the basic principles of accounting and finance, facilitate an appreciation of the way in which the characteristics and principles of accounting are applied and develop an understanding of the need for financial information. This broad introduction to accounting and finance will provide students with the knowledge, understanding and skills that business, economics and accounting and finance undergraduates will need to study these topics in greater depth.

The aim of the module is to provide students with a foundation in core statistical concepts. The module supports students to recall principles and concepts in statistics and develop the mathematical and statistical background, required for their studies at Higher Education in the UK.

Business Management modules

The module is suitable for students with or without A-level economics or equivalent and is designed to equip them with an understanding of the basic economic concepts and theories that undergraduates will require to study these topics in greater depth.

This module aims to provide students with an introduction to the basic principles of accounting and finance, facilitate an appreciation of the way in which the characteristics and principles of accounting are applied and develop an understanding of the need for financial information. This broad introduction to accounting and finance will provide students with the knowledge, understanding and skills that business, economics and accounting and finance undergraduates will need to study these topics in greater depth.

Economics modules

This is a designated module for students on the international foundation pathway in Business, Economics, Accounting and Finance. The module is suitable for students with or without A-level economics or equivalent and is designed to equip them with an understanding of the basic economic concepts and theories that undergraduates will require to study these topics in greater depth.

The aim of the module is to provide students with a foundation in core statistical concepts. The module supports students to recall principles and concepts in statistics and develop the mathematical and statistical background, required for their studies at Higher Education in the UK.

Financial Mathematics modules

The aim of the module is to provide students with a foundation in core statistical concepts. The module supports students to recall principles and concepts in statistics and develop the mathematical and statistical background, required for their studies at Higher Education in the UK.

This module aims to provide students with an introduction to the basic principles of accounting and finance, facilitate an appreciation of the way in which the characteristics and principles of accounting are applied and develop an understanding of the need for financial information. This broad introduction to accounting and finance will provide students with the knowledge, understanding and skills that business, economics and accounting and finance undergraduates will need to study these topics in greater depth.

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Professionally accredited

AACSB accredited business school

Progress to your degree

After completing your International Foundation Year and achieving the necessary grades, you can transition to your chosen undergraduate degree.

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Join us today

We're here to support you throughout the application process. Use our online application form and our student enrolment advisors will be available to answer your questions.