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.
Gain practical experience with study and work opportunities in France.
Develop the skills to succeed in a dynamic global business environment.  
Explore cross-cultural management, global supply and market entry strategies.
Develop fluency in French through a holistic language programme.
Complete a work placement in France and gain an Applied Professional Diploma.
Prepare for the full degree with an extra foundation year at the start.

Study at Sheffield Business School and become a multilingual business professional. Master fluency in French, explore global cultures and engage in real-world scenarios. You’ll be joining a vibrant language community, with access to specialised learning spaces and experienced experts, preparing you for a dynamic career.

This foundation year course is for those who don't meet the entry requirements for our BA (Hons) International Business with French course, or would like extra preparation before starting degree-level study.

Work placements

As part of your course you spend six months of your third year at one of our partner universities and 12 months on placement in an organisation based in a French-speaking country.

Your work placement is a great opportunity to gain valuable international business experience. It helps you develop your skills and language ability and significantly enhances your employability. You can apply for placements with international companies such as Orange Business Services, France and France Telecom.

If you study abroad, or do your work placement, in another European country there may be funding available through the Erasmus+ programme (until 2023) or the Turing Scheme.  

Live projects

Some modules allow you to participate in projects in collaboration with companies or experienced professionals from a variety of sectors.

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

The course is suitable if you don't meet the entry requirements for our BA (Hons) International Business with French course, or you want extra preparation before starting degree-level study. You share the first year with other Sheffield Business School foundation year students, then move on to the degree.

This diverse course employs a variety of innovative learning and teaching methods within the vibrant, dynamic setting of Sheffield Business School, an internationally-recognised centre of teaching excellence attracting students and academics from all over the world.

You learn through

• lectures and seminars
• lessons in your target languages
• debates and problem-solving exercises
• individual and group work and presentations
• formal and informal language practice, including support from a Foreign Language Assistant
• case studies
• international work placement (additional costs apply)
• a semester at a European university (additional costs apply)
• guided readings and electronic resources

In the foundation year, you'll study wider business topics, while specialising in your chosen subject area. You'll learn useful skills such as academic writing, work in diverse teams and learn to utilise a wide variety of data sources. In doing so, you'll fully prepare yourself for undergraduate study.

This course prepares you for a career in

• international management
• foreign direct investment
• international enterprise
• international strategy
• regional integration
• global supply chain management

 

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.

Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.

Important notice:

The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

Your third year will be spent on placement.

Year 1 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Going Global	20	Coursework
People, Decisions And Behaviours	40	Coursework
Preparing For Success	20	Practical
Sustainable Innovation	40	Coursework

 

Year 2 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Business & Culture In French-Speaking Societies	20	Coursework
Contemporary International Business	40	Coursework
Foreign Language (French)	20	Coursework Practical
Foundations Of Business	40	Coursework Practical

 

 

Year 3 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Foreign Language (French)	20	Coursework Practical
Global Entrepreneurship	40	Coursework
Global Entrepreneurship Abroad	40	Coursework
Managing Across Borders	40	Coursework
Work & Life In French-Speaking Societies	20	Coursework Practical

 

Year 4 Optional modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Placement Year

 

Final Year Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Advanced International Business	40	Coursework
Consultancy Project In International Business	40	Coursework
Contemporary Debates In French-Speaking Societies	20	Practical
Foreign Language (French)	20	Coursework Practical