Business

Business Foundation Programme

Business student presenting his work

Programme Structure
Progression
Teaching and Learning Methods
Lectures
Seminars
Tutorials
Core Modules
Business Specific Modules
Business Studies
Quantitative Methods for Business
Introduction to Management
Introduction to Economics
Opportunities for Undergraduate Study at Cardiff Business School
Undergraduate Study
Cardiff Business School

Programme Structure

We have designed this programme to give you a solid grounding in Business as well as to give you the best possible information and assistance that you will need for your time as a student in the UK. The International Foundation Programme is a modular programme, divided into two main parts:

• Core Modules
• Business Specific Modules

You will take a total of twelve modules, six in each semester.

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Progression

All students who achieve a merit in each module of the programme are guaranteed entry to their chosen degree scheme.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The course employs several teaching methods, all chosen to deliver the tuition you need in the best possible way.

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Lectures

Lectures allow you to gain a comprehensive base of knowledge. Lecturers make use of a range of resources and facilities to provide the information you need. During lectures you will be given written material (handouts), information about exams and essays, and multi-media presentations. You may even find that you are invited to give your own presentation.

Seminars

These are smaller discussion groups of three to ten students, led by tutors. This is an ideal time to discuss any questions after lectures, and an opportunity to fully understand the subjects you are studying.

Tutorials

You can arrange to meet any tutor to discuss any aspect of the course. For example, if there is something you did not understand in a lecture or seminar, or if you want to discuss the progress of your project or essay - or any other topic you want to talk about.
All students are encouraged to speak individually to their tutors if they have any questions or problems; your tutor will always be pleased to see you and happy to help.

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Core Modules

• English Language & Study Skills
• English for Academic Purposes

One of the most important aims of the Foundation Programme is to provide the ideal preparation for you to do well in an academic course taught in English. The course will review your knowledge of English grammar and vocabulary and help you to improve so that you can develop a solid foundation for academic use. You will practise reading, writing, listening and speaking to develop accuracy and fluency. The course will include different written and spoken formats to help develop academic style. You will also receive specialist classes to prepare you for the technical vocabulary of your chosen degree.

Study of the culture and requirements of British higher education will prepare you for different teaching and learning methods, such as presenting a seminar or writing an extended essay. By the end of the course you should feel confident enough with your English ability to be able to contribute fully to class discussions, complete written assignments and get the most out of your studies here.

• Integrated Study Skills

This module combines the study skills taught in the core modules. You are encouraged to practise these skills in practical everyday university situations, for example, by giving a presentation using ‘Powerpoint’.  You will learn about the specific computing systems and software used at Cardiff University.  We want to ensure that you have the minimum IT skill level required for Higher Education, that you are able to use the Internet as a resource for further study and use it to communicate with your tutors and classmates. This module will provide you with an opportunity for written self-reflection and give you the opportunity to set personal targets (Personal Development Planning).

Cardiff is one of the UK's most progressive and well equipped universities in the UK and has several well stocked libraries and resource centres. Printed reference materials are located in ten Resource Centres close to the departments they serve. All the Resource Centres are equipped with computers, photocopiers and quiet study places. There are also staff available to provide advice and assistance.

As a Foundation student you will have access to the University's extensive library and computing facilities. You will be given a username and password to enable you to use the computer stations situated all around the University. You can access the computers 24 hours a day and all the computing services are free of charge, including email and internet access. You will learn all the basic skills such as following software tutorials and knowing how to seek help from the University Computing Advisory Service when necessary.

By the end of the course, you will know how to use the University workstations for word-processing, e-mail and internet and you will have used them to produce academic work, such as essays and reports. You will also be confident enough to easily locate written material in the libraries as well as locating information from our wide range of journals and CD-ROMs.

• British Social and Cultural Environment

We will introduce you to British institutions, traditions, habits and cultural diversity to help you to understand the British life way of life and to fulfil your potential at university.

You will learn about British systems, such as education, government, healthcare and the media, and visit places of cultural interest. The course will explore issues associated with cultural identity such as the use of humour and colloquial language.

A significant part of the course will examine Cardiff's cultural identity and give context to your geographical location within an emerging European capital city. There will be a mixture of lectures, discussions and visits to nearby locations including Cardiff Castle, the National Museum of Welsh Life and the National Assembly for Wales.

There will also be an introduction to everyday life skills, such as finding your way around, opening a bank account and using a cheque book, travelling on public transport, shopping, and registering with the police, doctor and dentist. By the end of the course, you will be familiar with the social and cultural background to the education system in the UK.

If you have any questions about any of these practical matters at any time there are fully trained staff at hand to help guide you through all of these situations.

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Business Specific Modules

The International Foundation Programme in Business is intended to provide access to undergraduate study on business-related degree schemes.

The modular programme includes the following elements:

• Business Studies
• Quantitative Methods for Business
• Introduction to Management
• Introduction to Economics
  

Business Studies

This area of the course is aimed at developing an appreciation of the main disciplines of business studies. You will gain knowledge of key business topics and an understanding of the fundamental concepts of business studies. Topics for study include business planning, human resource management, marketing, organisational behaviour and business communications skills.  Business Plan students get the chance to apply all the subjects that they are studying for the IFP into real life situations.  They also make presentations for their fellow students, lecturers and staff from the foundation office. 

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Quantitative Methods for Business

On completion of this section of the course you will have developed competence in the relevant mathematical and statistical methods. You will be able to carry out appropriate calculations and manipulations, and will also have an understanding of the underlying principles. There will be emphasis on problem solving and on interpretation of results in a business context.

Introduction to Management

This section aims to provide an understanding of the activities of people within work organisations. It will cover a wide range of issues including the role of individual and groups behaviour in organisations, the significance of managerial control and the influence of wider society in organisational life.

Introduction To Economics

This area of the course aims to provide an understanding of the principles and tools of microeconomics and macroeconomics. Topics include supply and demand, theory of price, basic consumer theory, modern banking, monetary policy and unemployment, amongst other things and show how they relate to economic policy and its implementation. 

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Opportunities for Undergraduate Study at Cardiff Business School

• • BSc in Accounting
  • BSc Econ in Accounting and Economics
  • BSc in Accounting and Finance
  • BSc Econ in Accounting and Management
  • BSc in Business and Management (General Route)
  • BSc in Business and Management (Human Resources)
  • BSc in Business Management (International Management)
  • BSc in Business Management (Logistics and Operations)
  • BSc in Business Management (Marketing)
  • BSc Econ in Banking and Finance
  • BSc Econ in Business Economics
  • BSc Econ in Economics
  • BSc Econ in Economics and Finance
  • BSc Econ in Economics and Management Studies

A range of joint honours options are also available to suitably qualified students.

Undergraduate Study

Cardiff Business School offers a wide range of module subjects in each degree scheme, allowing you to tailor your degree as it progresses to suit your own specific interests. The degree schemes are all vocationally relevant and give students the best preparation for finding challenging and rewarding employment. Teaching incorporates both practical and theoretical examples and aims to provoke debate and independent thinking among students.

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Cardiff Business School

Cardiff Business School is one of the UK's largest and most successful business schools and is regularly placed in the top 10 of the 100 or so business schools in the country. 

The School prides itself on its global outlook:staff at the School come from 28 countries and often have direct experience of working within industries and commerce outside the UK. The School’s alumni come from 120 countries and there are currently 60 countries represented within the School’s student body. The School ensures that an international perspective is incorporated into the teaching at the School, helping to equip students for a dynamic, global business environment.

The School has an excellent reputation for research: The school was ranked 4th from over 90 Business Schools in the UK government’s
most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). In addition, more than 550 research publications a year are produced by the School. The research produced by the School directly informs the programmes it delivers, giving our graduates a cutting-edge insight into the business world. There is a long tradition of providing high quality teaching to which the faculty contribute both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. In the latest Teaching Quality Assessment, teaching at the School was assessed as ‘Excellent’.

The School contains a wealth of expertise which is reflected in the range of programmes it can offer, all of which are regularly reviewed and updated. All programmes have significant vocational and professional content designed to satisfy the needs of employers within industry, commerce and government. Cardiff Business School has an undergraduate community of 1800 students. In addition to all the facilities offered by Cardiff University, there is a number of School-based clubs and societies, such as CBS Rugby and Netball and Cardiff Business Society, to name a few.

Despite the large number of undergraduates, the School prides itself on maintaining good staff/student relationships. Students are assigned a faculty member to act as their personal tutor before they arrive to provide academic guidance throughout the programme. The Business School also has its own Student Support and Disability Officer and on-site Careers Advisor.Students are taught in purpose-built facilities with plentiful access to computer resources and the Aberconway library, which houses over 60,000 books. Our online facilities provide extra resources such as specialist computer software and study materials available off campus as well as through computer terminals
on the University campus.

Cardiff Business School's new state-of-the-art Trading Room provides students with the opportunity to gain practical experience of the financial markets 
The Trading Room allows students to test their academic knowledge by simulating a day's trading, acting as buyers, sellers and day traders. Students get an insight into trading and risk management and develop skills which are sought after by employers. Students are also offered the opportunity to undertake the Thomson Reuters Certification qualification, an industry qualification to prove their ability in using the platform to access all the information they need. The Trading Room
gives students the opportunity to become attractive potential graduates in the City, where the job market is becoming ever more competitive.

Cardiff Business School students are in high demand and the School is regularly targeted for recruitment purposes by major global companies. Graduates have quickly progressed to high profile positions within accountancy, personnel management, marketing, banking and other business-related fields.

The School’s programmes are flexible: if you choose a degree programme and later discover that another programme would be better suited to your needs and ambitions, you may be able to change programme, right up until the start of the second year of your studies.

www.cardiff.ac.uk/carbs

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