Business Management with Integrated Foundation Year and Industrial Placement BSc
About This Programme
The BSc Business Management with Integrated Foundation Year and Industrial Placement adds a foundation year in Dubai to the University of Birmingham Dubai's placement degree in business management, for students who need a foundation year before first-year university entry. The degree prepares students to lead change and to understand business at national and international level, combining academic theory with hands-on industry experience through two work placements and modules chosen to match career goals. 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. Placements are tailored to each student, approved by the University of Birmingham and arranged with guidance from the Careers Team. 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. The two placements together are worth 120 credits and make up 12.5% of the final degree classification.
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. Completing it with at least 100 credits guarantees progression to the BSc Business Management with Placement.
- 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
2026/27 session. Core modules and compulsory Ministry of Education modules build a foundation in business management suited to the UAE region and to international business. The first placement takes place in the summer vacation at the end of this year.
- 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
2027/28 session. 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. The year in industry is made up of two placements of at least 3 months each: the first in the summer vacation at the end of Year 1, the second in the summer vacation at the end of Year 2. Together they form the 120-credit Industrial Placement.
- Business Strategy20 credits
- Consumer Behaviour20 credits
- Responsible Business: Theory and Practice20 credits
- Human Resource Management20 credits
- Services and Retail Strategy20 credits
- Industrial Placement120 credits
Choose 20 credits from the following list.
- Accounting, Management and Accountability20 credits
- Project Management20 credits
Year 3
2028/29 session. Specialised modules in marketing, crisis management, business strategy in emerging economies and entrepreneurship, and a dissertation on a topic of the student's choice. Students who complete summer work experience can take the Professional Development module in place of one of the third-year taught modules.
- 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.
Careers
Graduates leave with the critical, analytical and communication skills that leading employers look for, plus two placements of work experience. Business Management graduates 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 with Industrial Placement. 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 years (foundation year plus three degree years, with two summer placements)
Qualification
Bachelors
Subject Area
Business & Finance
Campus
Dubai
Course Type
Integrated year in industry, 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.