Business, Economics, Law and Politics

The Business, Economics, Law and Politics foundation route forms the first year of a number of extended degree programmes. Read about the degree options available to you by clicking here.

Below is more information about exactly what you will study in your first year.

Core modules

Foundation English Skills 1
Develop your ability to read academic texts, write extended texts, write subjective notes, listen effectively in class and participate in classroom debate.

Foundation English Skills 2
Improve all your abilities developed in part 1 with greater accuracy, speed, coherence, organisation and presentation.

Foundation English Skills 3
Improve all your abilities developed in Part 2 with greater accuracy, speed, coherence, organisation and presentation.

Project Study
Complete a self-study project on a topic that you will take, in consultation with your tutor, from the academic discipline that you plan to study in the next three years of your degree.

Core Mathematics for Business
Containing both algebra and statistics. Develop your knowledge and understanding of mathematical terms and techniques and apply these to solving problems, frequently drawn from practical and real-life situations.

Route modules

Principles of Economics 1
Understand economic systems, types of goods, allocation of resources, elasticity, price controls, types of markets, cost and revenue, economies of scale and market failure.

Principles of Economics 2
Learn about aggregate demand and aggregate supply, economic policies, inflation, unemployment, international trade and development economics.

Introduction to Business Studies
Develop your understanding of the operational and strategic problems facing business people in the modern market economy. The module will focus on a wide range of issues, such as management, human resource practice, marketing and ethical aspects.

Business Law
An introduction to the English Legal System, business organisations, contract law and consumer protection.

Introduction to Financial Accounting
Learn about double entry book-keeping, preparation of trial balances, profit and loss statements, depreciation, limited companies, manufacturing accounts and interpretation of accounts.

Students who want to access Law degrees will need to take a Law 1 module instead of the Introduction to Financial Accounting: 

Law 1
Learn about the concepts of law, the relationship between law, justice and morality; the sources of law, including British and European Union (EU) legislation and the doctrine of precedent; the Civil and Criminal Courts and the role of the Judiciary.   

Assessment

End of module/term: A combination of examinations, coursework, presentations and extended essays

Continuous: A mixture of lecture classes, small group seminar work and directed self-study