Business Management with Integrated Foundation Year BSc
About This Programme
The BSc Business Management with Integrated Foundation Year adds a foundation year in Dubai to the University of Birmingham Dubai's business management degree, for students who need a foundation year before first-year university entry. Taught in one of the world's business hubs, it combines academic study with practical knowledge of how organisations work, and develops analytical, critical and communication skills that lead to careers from banking and finance to management consulting and entrepreneurship. Studying in Dubai places students in a multicultural community, useful preparation for global business. Broad, current knowledge of business operations prepares graduates to run their own businesses or to work across a range of careers.
Course Highlights
- A demanding academic programme shaped with input from industry, drawing on links with global employers such as HSBC, IBM and Dell.
- Practical skills for modern business, including business strategy in emerging economies, managing financial resources and responsible business.
- A degree from the University of Birmingham, a founder member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities.
- Taught within a business school holding triple-crown accreditation from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS, a status held by the top 1% of business schools.
What You'll Study
Classes are small, students have one-to-one sessions with their tutor, and teaching comes from academics in both the UK and Dubai. Students have 30 hours of contact time a week, plus independent study set by the degree and each module. Small-group seminars are for discussion and working with peers; practical workshops apply theory to real-world problems. Assessment is by coursework and exams. Coursework includes reports, essays, group presentations, class essays and computer assignments. Satisfactory results are needed to move on to the next year, and the final degree is based on marks from the third and fourth years of study plus the credits built up across the programme.
Foundation Year
A supported first year in Dubai that prepares students for undergraduate study, covering academic skills, quantitative methods for business and economics and more. Students who complete it with at least 100 credits are guaranteed progression.
- Introduction to Business and Management20 credits
- Business and the Market20 credits
- Introduction to Global Environmental Issues20 credits
- Quantitative Methods for Business and Economics20 credits
Students are also enrolled on one of these English modules, depending on their IELTS score.
- Academic English and Study Skills40 credits
- Advanced Academic English and Study Skills40 credits
- Advanced Academic Skills (SSBL)40 credits
Year 1
The second year of study: core modules and compulsory Ministry of Education modules build a foundation in business management suited to the UAE region and to international business.
- Economics for Business20 credits
- Introduction to Marketing and Communications20 credits
- Accounting, Accountability and Financial Decision-making20 credits
- Organisations, Management and Entrepreneurship20 credits
- Discover Management Education and Learning20 credits
- Quantitative Skills for Business20 credits
Year 2
The third year of study: real-world challenges, management skills and responsible business, human resource management at national and international level, and business practice and retail strategy in modern organisations.
- Business Strategy20 credits
- Consumer Behaviour20 credits
- Responsible Business: Theory and Practice20 credits
- Human Resource Management20 credits
- Services and Retail Strategy20 credits
Choose 1 module from the following options.
- Accounting, Management and Accountability20 credits
- Project Management20 credits
Year 3
The final year: specialised modules in business strategy, crisis management, and small business and entrepreneurship, an optional module, and a dissertation on a topic of the student's choice.
- Business Strategies in Emerging Economies20 credits
- Crisis Management20 credits
- Small Business and Entrepreneurship20 credits
- Dissertation40 credits
Choose 1 module from the following options. Optional modules are indicative and can vary from year to year.
- Responsible Marketing and Society20 credits
- Data Management Strategies and Technologies20 credits
- Services and Retail Strategy20 credits
Entry Requirements
The foundation pathway suits students who finished high school to a high standard but would normally need a foundation year before first-year undergraduate entry to UK universities. Applicants must meet both the University's general entry requirements and the course's own criteria, and each application is reviewed by the course's Admissions Tutor, who decides whether to make an offer.
Careers
Business Management graduates leave with the critical, analytical and communication skills that leading employers look for. Graduates of the programme have gone on to work in advertising, banking, law, accounting, marketing, consulting and communications. On-campus careers support helps students plan a career strategy, whether they want to start their own business or work in the UAE or elsewhere, and the Careers Network Dubai offers information, advice and guidance to identify options, build skills and reach opportunities before graduation.
Accreditation & Professional Recognition
Accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and listed as Active on the Commission for Academic Accreditation register as the Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Birmingham Business School holds triple-crown accreditation (AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS).
Programme Details
Award
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
Start Date
September 2026 (applications closed; September 2027 details to follow)
Duration
4 academic years (including the foundation year)
Qualification
Bachelors
Subject Area
Business & Finance
Campus
Dubai
Course Type
Integrated foundation year, Single honours
Study Pattern
Full time
Delivery Format
In person
Tuition Fee
AED 123,506/yr
AED 123,506 for the foundation year, full-time, as published for September 2026 and January 2027 entry; each later year costs AED 134,922. The fee covers tuition, examinations and graduation, is charged for each year of study, and can be paid in full or in three instalments a year. Applications for September 2026 entry to this programme are closed, and details for September 2027 entry will be published later. Applications are made directly through the University of Birmingham Dubai Admissions portal (not UCAS), with no application fee, and are usually decided within 10 working days of all documents arriving. A non-returnable AED 5,000 deposit, deducted from tuition, is paid on accepting an offer. Scholarships of up to 30% are assessed from the application itself, with no separate form.