Program Overview

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BA (Honours) International Business with French with Foundation Year

Course summary

Prepare to thrive in global business environments by developing a stand-out combination of international business expertise, French proficiency and cross-cultural communication, with a foundation year at the start of the degree.

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

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.

Modules

Year 1

• Going Global
• People, Decisions And Behaviours
• Preparing For Success
• Sustainable Innovation

Year 2

• Business & Culture In French-Speaking Societies
• Contemporary International Business
• Foreign Language (French)
• Foundations Of Business

Year 3

• Foreign Language (French)
• Global Entrepreneurship
• Managing Across Borders
• Study Abroad - Languages
• Work & Life In French-Speaking Societies

Year 4

• Placement Year

Final year

• Advanced International Business
• Consultancy Project In International Business
• Contemporary Debates In French-Speaking Societies
• Foreign Language (French)

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

Equipment 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

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.

Entry requirements

• All students
• Additional information for EU/International students

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'.

Fees and funding

• Home students
• International students

Home students

Our tuition fee for UK students on this course in 2025/26 is £5,760 for the foundation year and £9,535 per year for the degree (capped at a maximum of 20% of this during your placement year). These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years.

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 (capped at a maximum of 20% of this during your placement year)

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, 255.6KB)

International Business with French at Sheffield Hallam University

To see official information about this course and others visit Discover Uni.

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Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.