Accelerated International Foundation Year in Business, Economics, Accounting, and Finance​

Academic English Skills aims to provide thorough training in the language and related academic skills which will enable international students to best achieve their academic potential at university. Our Academic English programme is validated by UK ENIC, the UK government agency responsible for providing information and expert opinion on qualifications and skills worldwide.

You will develop awareness and competency in a range of language-related academic skills, including the processes of academic writing, effective and extensive reading strategies, effective participation in seminars and delivery of presentations, and listening to and recording information effectively from lectures. You will also develop the accuracy and range of written and spoken language required to use language effectively and appropriately, with clarity and confidence in an academic context.

Alongside your classes, your studies will be supported by an online learning platform, providing you with a range of tasks and activities specifically designed to develop and extend your language and academic skills outside the classroom and to give you more control over your own learning.

Students will be assessed in all four skills areas: listening, reading, speaking and writing, this is assessed through examinations, coursework, seminars and presentations.

The recommended text for this module is Academic Writing Skills for International Students by Read and English for Academic Study: Reading Course Book by Slaght.

This module aims to introduce and develop key academic skills such as writing, referencing, research skills and critical analysis. Students will undertake a research project selecting a topic of their own interest related to business. Students will work with tutors on a 1-2-1 basis in order to conduct research and complete the project.

This module is assessed by an artefact which can be in the form of a written report or poster presentation.

Recommended texts for this module include Pearson’s Research Methods for Business Students (by Saunders et al.).

Foundations of Business

This module will support students to develop a critical understanding of organisations and the markets they serve, taking into account the internal workings and management of organisations. It will also work to raise awareness of the diversity of perspectives on business behaviour (customer, manager, creditor, owner, employee, etc). Students can expect to have outlined some of the economic, environmental, ethical, governmental, legal, social and technological issues surrounding business activity. There will also be a focus on exploring the current structure of business and business practice. Students will acquire a range of key skills, including decision making and problem-solving.

This module is assessed by a written business report, an examination and a podcast.

Recommended texts for this module include Pearson's Edexcel AS and A level Business (by Dave Hall et al.) and AQA’s Business for A-Level (by Ian Marcouse et al.).

Foundation of Statistics

This module covers some fundamental techniques in statistics. Students will be given an opportunity to apply the skills studied to create a report by analysing a large data set. The module content includes sampling techniques, data exploration, correlation and regression, probability distributions and hypothesis testing.

This module is assessed by an invigilated examination and a statistical report. Recommended texts for this module include:

• Attwood, G., Bettison, I., Clegg, A., Dyer, J., Hooker, S., Littlewood, J., Moran, B., Nicholson, J., Nicholson, S., Pateman, L., Pledger, K., Smith, H., Gallick, K. and Dyer, G. (2017). Edexcel AS and A Level Mathematics – Statistics & Mechanics Year 1. London: Pearson.
• Attwood, G., Bettison, I., Clegg, A., Dyer, J., Dyer, G., Gallick, K., Hooker, S., Jennings, M., Ladal, M., Littlewood, J., Moran, B., Nicholson, S., Pateman, L., Pledger, K. and Smith, H. (2017). Edexcel AS and A Level Mathematics – Statistics & Mechanics Year 2. London: Pearson.

Core Foundation Mathematics

This module reviews and builds on many of the topics typically studied in mathematics in the latter years of high school. This module hopes to improve confidence in algebraic manipulation through the study of mathematical techniques and development of investigative skills. It will introduce and develop a knowledge of logarithms and their uses. The module also seeks to introduce and develop a knowledge of a range of standard techniques for differentiation and integration. This module is assessed by an invigilated examination. Recommended texts for this module include:

• Attwood, G., Barraclough, J., Bettison, I., Macpherson, A., Moran, B., Nicholson, S., Pledger, K., Smith, H., Staley, G., Ward-Penny, R., Wilkins, D., Oliver, D. and Petran, J. (2017). Edexcel AS and A level Mathematics, Pure Mathematics Year 1. London: Pearson.
• Attwood, G., Barraclough, J., Bettison, I., Goldberg, D., Macpherson, A., Petran, J., Pledger, K., Smith, H., Staley, G., Wilkins, D., Moran, B., Gallick, K., McAteer, A. and San, C. (2017). Edexcel AS and A level Mathematics, Pure Mathematics Year 2. London: Pearson

Foundation of Statistics

This module covers some fundamental techniques in statistics. Students will be given an opportunity to apply the skills studied to create a report by analysing a large data set. The module content includes sampling techniques, data exploration, correlation and regression, probability distributions and hypothesis testing.

This module is assessed by an invigilated examination and a statistical report. Recommended texts for this module include:

• Attwood, G., Bettison, I., Clegg, A., Dyer, J., Hooker, S., Littlewood, J., Moran, B., Nicholson, J., Nicholson, S., Pateman, L., Pledger, K., Smith, H., Gallick, K. and Dyer, G. (2017). Edexcel AS and A Level Mathematics – Statistics & Mechanics Year 1. London: Pearson.
• Attwood, G., Bettison, I., Clegg, A., Dyer, J., Dyer, G., Gallick, K., Hooker, S., Jennings, M., Ladal, M., Littlewood, J., Moran, B., Nicholson, S., Pateman, L., Pledger, K. and Smith, H. (2017). Edexcel AS and A Level Mathematics – Statistics & Mechanics Year 2. London: Pearson.

Economics

This module seeks to introduce students to the fundamentals of economics in order to prepare them for further study in this subject. It will develop students’ theoretical and practical skills in economics, equip students with the ability to evaluate different forms of economic policies and enable students to correctly interpret economic data. This module is assessed by an examination. Recommended texts for this module include Pearson Edexcel’s A and AS Level Economics (by Alain Anderton).

Pure and Strategic Mathematics

This module seeks to introduce students to both pure and strategic maths. Pure mathematics explores the boundary of mathematics and pure reason. It has been described as "that part of mathematical activity that is done without explicit or immediate consideration of direct application," although what is "pure" in one era often becomes applied later. Strategic mathematics involves applying analytical methods to help make better decisions. The approach often involves constructing and using mathematical models and problem structuring methods to represent the wide range of problems encountered in the real world. The results of these models allow decisions that are more informed. The module content includes calculus, trigonometry, complex numbers, linear programming, game theory, and critical path analysis. This module is assessed by two invigilated examinations. Recommended texts for this module include:

• Attwood, G., Barraclough, J., Bettison, I., Goldberg, D., Macpherson, A., Petran, J., Pledger, K., Smith, H., Staley, G., Wilkins, D., Moran, B., Gallick, K., McAteer, A. and San, C. (2017). Edexcel AS and A level Mathematics, Pure Mathematics Year 2. London: Pearson.
• Jameson, S., Sherran, P., Pledger, K. and Smith, H. (2017). Edexcel AS and A Level Further Mathematics – Decision Mathematics 1. London: Pearson.