Business Management (Operations and Supply Management) with a Foundation Year, BSc (Hons)

Early studies give you a solid foundation in accounting, finance, statistics, strategy and management. In later years you can focus your studies by selecting from different specialist module choices according to your chosen career, as detailed below.

UK / EU Students
A foundation year is available for students who do not achieve the grades necessary for their chosen degree programme.

If you don’t think you meet our standard entry requirements and want more information, please email study@swansea.ac.uk to understand how a degree with a Foundation Year may be suitable for you.

International Students
Please visit The College website for course information and entry requirements.

You will find the required qualifications to begin the three year undergraduate degree of your choice here. If you don’t meet these requirements, you can enrol onto the four year programme which includes a Foundation Year.

Teaching
Once enrolled, you will spend your first year attending lectures and seminars at The College, Bay Campus. The College’s brand-new, purpose built building with state-of-the-art facilities is located on the beachfront. With space for social and academic activities, it provides the optimum learning environment with specialised teaching methods for students studying pathway programmes that lead directly into Swansea University degrees.

Your Foundation Year will be followed by three years of study at the School of Management, located a stone’s throw away from The College.

The School of Management boasts world class facilities; an impressive Atrium, dynamic teaching spaces, state-of-the-art IT equipment and unrivalled access to top quality careers and student support teams.

The School of Management uses a variety of teaching methods through weekly lectures and seminars. 

From the start of your degree, you will be immersed in our cutting-edge research and industry led teaching, having every opportunity to develop key transferable skills whilst meeting the learning outcomes set out in the module syllabus.

The Final Year project in the Business department involves working with a real business on an industry research assignment.

Assessment
A range of different assessment methods is used including individual assignments, group work, presentations, business reports and exams.

This course offers some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.

There are opportunities for Welsh speakers to study this subject through the medium of Welsh and our dedicated academy, Academi Hywel Teifi, is here to support you throughout your time at Swansea University. We offer you:

• An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
• The option to receive your personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually - we will then communicate with you in your language of choice.
• Access to generous Welsh-language study scholarships or bursaries.
• Access to modules taught wholly or partly in Welsh.
• The option to write and submit your coursework or exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be marked in Welsh.
• A Welsh-speaking academic tutor.
• One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
• An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.

To see further details about the level of provision delivered in Welsh on this particular degree scheme, please see the Welsh-language course page for further information.

Since 2011, there has been a 40% increase in the number of students studying through the medium of Welsh at Swansea University and our TEF* data over the last two years shows that Welsh-medium students are high achievers in regards to employability (*Swansea University TEF return 2017 and 2018).

The years following your Foundation Year are accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).*
_{*subject to module selections}

What is an accredited course?
One that has been approved by a relevant professional body as meeting its quality standards. It highlights a close link between industry and your course, bringing cutting-edge real-world practice into your studies. Counting towards professional qualifications and registrations, accredited courses can help fast-track you in your chosen career path.

What are the benefits of Professional Accreditations?
- Get a head start: Professionally accredited degrees will exempt you from specific early-stage professional exams/qualifications meaning you get a kick-start in your career.
- Support: Sign up for a student membership and start taking advantage of professional body career support as well as connections with peers and experts. It looks good on your CV and helps prepare you for employment.

NOTE:
For many professions, studying an accredited course is only the first step to becoming fully qualified.
You can check with the relevant professional bodies for other specific requirements.

For more information see our Professional Accreditation page.

You will be taught by a team of experienced academics from research, academic and industry backgrounds. Their wide-ranging knowledge and expertise is linked closely with the module content you are taught, ensuring you learn the most relevant and up to date information and develop skills required for a career in business management or operations management.

Annual tuition fees for entry in the academic year 2020/21 are as follows:

Fees for full time Undergraduate UK/EU students may be increased in subsequent years of study by an inflationary amount determined by Welsh Government.

Fees for full time Undergraduate International students will increase by 3% for each subsequent year of study.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but are not limited to):

• Parking and travel to and from campus
• Printing, photocopying, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
• Purchase of books or texts
• Printing and binding
• Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

• Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
• Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
• Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
• Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
• Advice and guidance on postgraduate study and funding
• Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

The School of Management also has a dedicated in-house Employability team offering additional support.
During your time with us, you’ll have the chance to:

• Join our Employability Mentoring scheme and get mentored by an employer who can help you with the transition from student to working professional
• Get the opportunity to speak to our growing Alumni Community
• Work and network with employers from a range of national and multi-national companies through our seminars and events
• Boost your skills and meet employers during our Employability Module, which is run twice a year
• Get supported in opportunities to work a year in industry or to study abroad.
• Participate in our Business in the Bay competition and compete against other university students
• Complete the Swansea Employability Award

Discover how our in-house Careers Service can support you

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal academic mentor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

• Academic writing
• Maths and statistics
• Critical thinking
• Time management
• Digital skills
• Presentation skills
• Note taking
• Revision, memory and exam techniques
• English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

Your degree programme may already give you an option to study or work abroad but in addition to this you can also consider an international summer programme.

These programmes are open to all our undergraduate students and include culture and study tours, volunteering programmes and internships across destinations such as China, Zambia, South Korea, Japan, Europe and Canada. Programmes are typically 2 – 6 weeks long and funding is available. See our Summer Programmes for further information.

Apply now – UK, EU and international students.

For further guidance please visit our how to apply pages.

You can study on our Year Abroad variant, which includes a year studying at one of our international partner institutions. Choosing this option allows you to develop your communication skills, enhance your cultural awareness and you can even gain proficiency in a foreign language prior to graduation.

For students studying a Foundation programme, a transfer to selected Year Abroad scheme is possible at the end of Year 2. Talk to our in-house Placements Team about your options and whether our Year Abroad is the right choice for you.

Study abroad opportunities are managed in conjunction with Swansea University's Go Global Team. Find out more about your study abroad opportunities.

You can undertake our Year in Industry degree variant, which includes a year’s work placement in a chosen industry. Gain real-world industry experience, network and collaborate with leading business thinkers, and practically apply your theoretical knowledge in the workplace.

For students studying a Foundation programme, a transfer to selected Year in Industry scheme is possible at the end of Year 2.

Talk to our in-house Placements Team about your options and whether our Year in Industry is the right choice for you.