Program Overview

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Business, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (with Foundation Year)

Overview

The Business, Enterprise, and Entrepreneurship course with a Foundation Year is delivered by people who’ve walked the walk and can bust through the myths to get you on track. Studying with us, you’ll experience a unique combination of application, practice and theory as you learn how to create jobs and growth in all kinds of businesses, from small family companies to not-for-profits to big corporations.

Why Oxford Brookes University?

• Funding network: We have strong ties to start-up and entrepreneur networks with about 1000 entrepreneurs and active investors and the University's extra curricular Brookes Enterprise Support Team.
• Perfect preparation: Build essential study skills with an integrated foundation year. Gain academic confidence, improve critical thinking, and strengthen subject knowledge for your degree journey.
• Thriving start-up community: Find collaborators, funding and partners at events for start-ups and entrepreneurs almost every night of the week in the Oxfordshire business scene.
• Get noticed: You’ll be able to present your business idea at an investor panel event, this panel will be composed of successful business owners and Business School Alumni.
• Access to EiR and VIF: Our Entrepreneurs in Residence and Visiting Industrial Fellows deliver lectures, lead Business School projects and mentor students on career options.
• Learn a language: Our university-wide language programme is available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.
• Study abroad: You may be able to go on a European or international study exchange while you are at Brookes. Most exchanges take place in the second year. Although we will help as much as we can with your plans, ultimately you are responsible for organising and funding this study abroad.
• Accreditation(s): Chartered Management Institute

Course details

Course structure

Throughout the course, you’ll analyse all kinds of businesses from not-for-profits and charities to corporations and family firms, study entrepreneurship in serious growth unicorns, traditional companies in disrupted industries and everything in between.

In your foundation year, you’ll study a foundation in business, building confidence and academic skills. The first year of your degree is a whistle-stop tour around entrepreneurship, its historical roots and future direction. You’ll look at all the core phases of enterprise, from creativity and innovation to business planning and growth strategies.

Year 2 explores the idea of entrepreneurialism within an established business and the practical Creativity and Innovation module. Optional modules include sustainability in business and supply chains. In addition you can choose a paid placement year.

In your final year, you study the capstone modules Entrepreneurial Business Management (or Entrepreneurial Business Ideation & Entrepreneurial Business Launch) in which you develop a business from idea to investment.

Learning and teaching

We want you to enjoy developing the skills you will need to succeed in the competitive business world. Your learning experience will be exciting as well as challenging. You will have the opportunity to take part in:

• problem-solving classes
• assessments in virtual teams
• sessions with local employers
• workshops to develop presentation skills.

You will also have the chance to work with business professionals and on live business cases.

Assessment

We use a variety of assessment methods, including:

• written exams
• practical exams
• coursework.

We pay particular attention to when and how feedback is given to support your learning. Our feedback methods include:

• audio
• face-to-face
• written feedback.

The majority of teaching and assessment activities take place between Mondays and Fridays, 9am to 7pm. There may be occasions when such activities may fall outside of these hours.

Study modules

Teaching for this course takes place face-to-face. In your foundation year, you can expect around fourteen hours of contact time per week. In addition to this, you should also anticipate a workload of 1,200 hours per year. When you begin your degree programme, you can expect around nine hours of contact time per week. In addition to this, you should also anticipate a workload of 1,200 hours per year. Teaching usually takes place Monday to Friday, between 9.00am and 7.00pm.

Foundation Year

Compulsory modules

• University Study Skills: This is your introduction to the institutional culture, practices, norms and expectations of British higher education and will help you to develop effective academic research and communication skills both written and oral.
• Culture and Communication: Study the basic concepts, theories and importance of culture and communication in a globalised world.
• Business Fundamentals: Explore business studies, including some of the core areas and concepts associated with the study of business.
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: This module will introduce you to the transferable skills and techniques used in environmentally and socially critical thinking through the exploration of issues of local and global concern.
• Extended Research Essay: Plan, research and submit an original paper on an interdisciplinary topic of sufficient depth to demonstrate your understanding of the conventions governing the presentations and submissions of academic papers in British Higher Education.
• Economics for Business: real-world situations facing businesses and consumers in the UK and elsewhere.

Optional modules

• Development Studies: Explore some of the key issues (e.g. urbanisation, poverty and social exclusion, environmental concerns and gender issues) within the field of Development Studies and in particular to identify the factors causing poverty in countries defined as less developed.
• Ideas and Ideologies: You’ll examine the major thinkers, theories and movements of the modern era (Enlightenment to modern day).
• Global Issues: You’ll look at current global issues, question their causes and impacts and reflect on how to drive the changes so urgently needed for a more equitable and sustainable future.
• English Law: Build your foundational understanding of the basic characteristics of the English legal system such as the function of the courts, and key aspects of: Criminal law, Contract Law, and Tort Law.
• Tourism and Hospitality: Build your understanding and knowledge of the nature and function of the Travel and Tourism and Hospitality industries.
• Maths and Statistics for University Study [Compulsory for Foundation in Business students who have not met the GCSE Maths entry requirements for their undergraduate programme]: On this module you will study the knowledge, skills and understanding required to interpret mathematical information and carry out the mathematical and statistical activity necessary for your future studies.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Finance for Managers: This module demonstrates the importance of accounting and finance in the context of new and small businesses.
• Exploring International Business: In this module, you’ll be actively engaged with the study of Business and Management, through exploring essential characteristics of organisations in a global context, while assessing the role of management within this.
• The Entrepreneur: This module develops your entrepreneurial mindset and skills essential for success in the modern business world.
• Business in Society: This module is designed to provide an introduction to the ideas of personal corporate responsibility, sustainability, diversity and criticality that will underpin your professional career.
• Work, Employment and Globalisation: To give you an understanding of the complex and dynamic challenges of contemporary global labour markets, you’ll explore contemporary issues about work, employment and global labour markets throughout this module.
• Professional Practice 1: In this module you will start to develop the personal and professional skills and mindsets to help you transition into your studies and life at Oxford Brookes.
• Creativity and Innovation: This module aims to provide the underpinning theory, concepts and some basic skills to understand and engage in the processes of creativity and innovation.

Year 2

Compulsory modules

• International Business Strategy: In this module, you’ll delve into the social issues and opportunities associated with international business, and the challenges associated with a dynamic business environment.
• Environmentally Sustainable Business: You’ll look at the environmental sustainability challenges facing society and businesses.
• Enterprise and Entrepreneurship: The module has been designed to help develop the knowledge and understanding as well as the related skills and capabilities associated with enterprise in its broadest sense.
• Organisational Behaviour and Management: This module focuses on contemporary debates in the field of organisational studies, enhancing your ability to understand and apply organisational behaviour concepts to real-world problems.
• Professional Practice 2: This module will help you develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for making effective career decisions and managing your future career development, including transitions into graduate employment, self-employment or further study (including professional training courses) whether in the UK or overseas.
• Applied Start-Up: Develop the practical options for a core business concept.
• Responsible Marketing Management: While this module addresses a broad range of concepts that fall under the marketing management umbrella, it will be delivered via an extremely practical task structure that facilitates an engaged and productive academic journey.

Optional modules

• Accounting for Managers: This module will be your introduction to accounting and financial information.
• Introduction to People Management: This module is designed to introduce you to the operational role and functions of people management and how it supports organisations to manage their diverse workforce in an international context.
• Leading with Purpose: Lessons from the Nonprofit Sector: The module covers various non-profit organisations such as charities and social enterprises, and emphasises the unique aspects of the third sector, which relies heavily on a volunteer workforce.
• Family and Society in Business: Through this module you will build a comprehensive understanding of the impact of family businesses and social economy organisations (SEO’s) on the business landscape.
• Design Thinking and Project Management: You will start to build your project management experience and apply a design thinking framework to identify, develop and refine an idea.
• Operations and Supply Chain Management: Supply chain management is concerned with managing and controlling the activities along a chain of supply, from procuring materials to delivering finished goods that satisfy customer orders.
• Business Analytics and Decision Making: This module concentrates on developing an understanding of the wider strategic and tactical aspects of analysing corporate performance.
• International Markets and Competition: In this module, you’ll consider the different exchange rate regimes, both in theory and in practice.

Optional Placement Year

Compulsory modules

• CHOOSE ONE MODULE FROM:
  • Placement: On this placement you will be able to access a 40-52 week work-based learning / placement opportunity to help develop your employability and enterprise skills.
  • Full Year International Study Abroad: In this module you will start to develop the personal and professional skills and mindsets to help you transition into your studies and life at Oxford Brookes.
• OR CHOOSE THESE TWO OPTIONS:
  • Short Placement: This 24-week placement is your opportunity to develop your employability and enterprise skills.
  • Work-based Learning: This module is also a 24-week work-based learning opportunity for you to develop your employability and enterprise skills.

Final Year

Compulsory modules

• Entrepreneurial Business Management: This module provides you with an in-depth focus on the skills involved in evaluating business ideas, the practical steps involved in launching a business and the necessary processes of winning the finance.
• Social Enterprise and Social Innovation: The module covers a multi-disciplinary approach to contemporary issues in entrepreneurship allowing you to develop a well-rounded skill set.
• Business Governance and Human Rights: It is becoming increasingly accepted for businesses to be socially responsible.
• Business Strategy and Futures in Disrupted Environments: This module will equip you with the necessary skills to appreciate, understand, and cope with a fast paced, and changing business environment.
• Business Ethics: This module is designed to address our changing world that is facing social and environmental challenges.

Optional modules

• Entrepreneurial Business Management: This module provides you with an in-depth focus on the skills involved in evaluating business ideas, the practical steps involved in launching a business and the necessary processes of winning the finance.
• Entrepreneurial Business Ideation: This module provides you with an in-depth focus on the skills involved in evaluating business ideas, the practical steps involved in launching a business and the necessary processes of winning the finance.
• Entrepreneurial Business Launch: On this module, you will be able to apply appropriate analytical concepts to provide support for untried venture proposals, understand the range of technical issues faced by those in start-up ventures and reflect on application of entrepreneurship theory, based on experience in a practical setting.
• Leading and Managing Change: After completing this module, you will have an understanding of the nature of change and key theories, frameworks, principles and practices relevant for the management and leadership of change.
• Contemporary issues in International HRM: This module enables you to review and develop disciplinary knowledge and research skills within a contemporary global context.
• Critical Management: This module is designed to provide you with a range of benefits to support your development as a successful corporate leader.
• Business and Artificial Intelligence: Gain and further a basic knowledge about Artificial Intelligence, with a focus on machine learning technologies (supervised and unsupervised learning), to highlight its role in disrupting business practices in both manufacturing and services sectors.
• Responsible Leadership: The module aims to develop critical thinking in evaluating the application of change management theory and normative practices to challenges taking place in organisations and wider society.
• Business Law: In this module, you’ll gain a strong understanding of International Business Law.
• Contemporary Issues in Finance: This module provides an opportunity for students to investigate the forces shaping the contemporary financial system.
• International Marketing: International businesses need to understand international marketing strategy to create sustainable competitive advantage.

Careers

Graduate from Business, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship ready to set up a business and create job opportunities for yourself and others. Your entrepreneurial skill set is also ideal for a consultancy career and KPMG has named Oxford Brookes University the 3rd most significant supplier of graduates to the Big 4 accountancy firms.

During your third year, we encourage you to do a year in industry. We offer placements at early-stage businesses, start-ups like Purple Frog and Cogeco, and enterprise organisations. Many placements lead to roles after graduation with OBBS alumni at IBM, Aldi, BMW, Dyson, Ernst & Young, GlaxoSmithKline, Nestlé and PayPal.

Your leadership, strategy, management, marketing, social enterprise and innovation skills can also open the door to international companies like Virgin Mobile, Intel, Dell, Hewlett Packard, and Oxford Biomedica.

Alternatively, growing numbers of students now go on to pursue a higher degree and we offer a 10% discount to those who stay for our MSc in Enterprise and Innovation.

Entry requirements

Standard offer

• UCAS Tariff Points: 48
• A Level: DD
• IB Points: 24
• BTEC: PPP or MP

Contextual offer

• What is a contextual offer?

Further offer details

• Applications are also welcomed for consideration from applicants with European qualifications, international qualifications or recognised foundation courses.
• For advice on eligibility please contact Admissions:

Specific entry requirements

• Please also see the University's general entry requirements.

English language requirements

• Please see the University's standard English language requirements.

Pathways courses for international and EU students

• If you do not meet the entry requirements for this degree, or if you would like more preparation before you start, you can take an international foundation course.
• Once you enrol, you will have a guaranteed pathway to this degree if you pass your foundation course with the required grades.
• If you only need to meet the language requirements, you can take our pre-sessional English course.
• You will develop key language and study skills for academic success and you will not need to take an external language test to progress to your degree.

Credit transfer

• Many of our courses consider applications for entry part-way through the course for students who have credit from previous learning or relevant professional experience.
• Find out more about transferring to Brookes.
• If you'd like to talk through your options, please contact our Admissions team.

How to apply

Application process

• Full time Home (UK) applicants: Apply through UCAS
• Part time Home (UK) applicants: Apply direct to the University
• International applicants: Apply direct to the University
• Full time international applicants can also apply through UCAS

Tuition fees

2025 / 26

• Home (UK) full time: £5,760 (Foundation); £9,535 (Degree)
• Home (UK) part time: £720 per single module (Foundation); £1,190 per single module (Degree)
• International full time: £17,100

2026 / 27

• Home (UK) full time: £5,760 (Foundation); £9,535 (Degree)*
• Home (UK) part time: £720 per single module (Foundation); £1,190 per single module (Degree)*
• International full time: £19,700

Questions about fees?

• Contact Student Finance on: +44 (0)

Funding your studies

Financial support and scholarships

• Oxford Brookes Bursary for Continuing Students
• Undergraduate maintenance loans for part-time UK students
• Undergraduate maintenance loans for full-time UK students
• Undergraduate tuition fee loans for UK students
• Oxford Brookes Bursary for New Students

All financial support and scholarships

• View all funding opportunities for this course

Information from Discover Uni

Full-time study

Part-time study

• Programme changes: On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website.
• For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.