Business and Human Resource Management with Foundation Year BA (Hons)
Begin your journey to a Bachelor's degree in business and human resource management on this foundation year course, paving the way to to a guaranteed place on BA (Hons) Business and Human Resource Management when you successfully finish.
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Key information
UCAS code:
NN10
Typical offer:
32 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent
Showing content for section Overview
Overview
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On this foundation year course, you'll learn the skills and knowledge you need to launch your career in human resources. Whether you don't yet meet the entry requirements of our undergraduate degree, you're returning to study after a break away, or you need a bit of extra support to get uni-ready, this foundation year course is designed to give you the confidence to move on to the next stage of your studies.
You'll spend a year studying with us on campus, through ICP. You'll get the knowledge and academic skills needed to take on a bachelor's degree, learning how to analyse information, do research, and improve your academic writing.
The skills you'll learn will help you work in teams as well as on your own in culturally diverse workplaces. You'll develop your understanding of new workplaces and environments, and how to adapt to new environments.
When you've finished, you'll be ready to move onto the first year of BA (Hons) Business and Human Resource Management.
A guaranteed place
Once you’ve successfully completed your foundation year, you'll be ready to progress onto BA (Hons) Business and Human Resource Management with a guaranteed place.
Course highlights
- ICP is based on the University of Portsmouth campus so you'll have access to all facilities, support and societies
- When you finish your foundation year successfully, you get a guaranteed place on BSc (Hons) Sport Management
- Get used to how lectures, seminars and tutorials work, so you can move onto your degree ready for success
- Learn how to meet the demands of taking on a bachelor's at university.
Contact information
Contact AdmissionsClearing is open
This course is available through Clearing.
Apply now through Clearing
If you have your results, you can apply directly to us now to start in September 2024.
Guaranteed accommodation
Apply now and you'll be offered a guaranteed room in halls if you accept your offer within 48 hours of receiving it.
Connected Degrees®
Only at Portsmouth you have the choice to take a traditional sandwich placement before your third year, or to take your placement after your final year.
Upbeat music plays over information about Connected Degrees® from the University of Portsmouth.
Discover how Clearing works
Clearing 2024 opens on 5 July and closes on 21 October
Every year thousands of students find their ideal undergraduate course through Clearing. Clearing matches students who are looking for a different course or university from their original choice, or who are applying for the very first time after 30 June, to courses that universities still have places on.
The majority of people apply through Clearing once they receive their exam results on A level / T level results day (15 August 2024).
You can apply through Clearing if:
- You don't meet the conditions of your offer for your firm (first) or insurance (second) choice courses
- Your exam results are better than you expected and you want to change your course or university
- You don't hold any offers
- You've accepted an offer but changed your mind about the course you want to do
- You're applying for the first time after 30 June 2024
Yes, we welcome Clearing applications from international students and you can apply in exactly the same way as UK students do.
The majority of UK students apply through Clearing once they receive their A level / T level results in August 2024, so as an international student if you already have your exam results you can apply when Clearing opens.
Make sure that you have time to get your visa, funding, and English language certification sorted out before the beginning of term.
If you would like further information or guidance, please contact our international office for advice.
The entry requirements for courses can change in Clearing but if you want an idea of what grades we usually accept, take a look at our undergraduate course pages.
Even if you don't quite meet the entry requirements, we'd still encourage you to apply as you could still get a place.
Book your place at our summer Open Day
Yes, join us on campus Saturday 6 July 2024, 8.30am-4pm
Clearing Hotline: 023 9284 8074
Entry requirements
Business and Human Resource Management entry requirements
Typical offers
- UCAS points - 32 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent. Other qualifications such as Vocational A levels (AVCE), BTECs and Access courses will also be considered (calculate your UCAS points)
You may need to have studied specific subjects – find full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept.
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 5.5 with no component score below 5.5.
See alternative English language qualifications.
We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Typical offers
- UCAS points - 32 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent. Other qualifications such as Vocational A levels (AVCE), BTECs and Access courses will also be considered (calculate your UCAS points)
You may need to have studied specific subjects – find full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept.
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 5.5 with no component score below 5.5.
See alternative English language qualifications.
We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
We look at more than just your grades
While we consider your grades when making an offer, we also carefully look at your circumstances and other factors to assess your potential. These include whether you live and work in the region and your personal and family circumstances which we assess using established data.
Facilities and specialist equipment
On your foundation year, you'll have access to all of the incredible facilities and equipment used by students at the University of Portsmouth.
Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) room
Our technology enhanced active learning space promotes social learning.
Business Simulation Suite
Experience the boardroom in our replica business suite.
Careers and opportunities
As a human resource manager you can work in any sector that you're passionate about, whether that's sport, charities, manufacturing, or maybe the arts; all sorts of different businesses need effective workforce management. It's also a role that could take you overseas.
Best of all is that this qualification opens up many possible career routes. You might want to specialise in workplace training and development, become an expert in employment law, or lead on business development. As you progress you'll be able to map a career to your interests.
Why study Business and Human Resource Management?
Discover why studying Business and Human Resource Management will give you a head start in your career.
Read the blog
Placement year opportunities
Once you've completed your foundation year and moved on to your full Bachelor's degree, you'll have the chance to do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry.
Taking a placement year will give you the experience you need to increase your chances of landing your perfect role after graduation.
We'll give you all the support you need to find a placement that prepares you for your career, and we'll continue to mentor you throughout your placement.
Previous students on this course have had placements in organisations such as:
- IBM
- Samsung
Sarah's story
Sarah graduated in 2019 with a degree in BA (Hons) Business and Human Resource Management. She is now Transformation Workstream Lead at the Cabinet Office. Discover how Sarah benefited from a placement year at IBM and how she’s applying the skills she learned during her time at Portsmouth.
Before I started uni I didn't really know what I wanted to do. When I was speaking to people when I was applying for uni, they were like actually you're really good with people, have you thought about HR?
I wanted to do something that I was passionate about, and I thought I am passionate about working with people, and I'm going to enjoy it.
During my time at University I did a placement year at IBM. It was putting what I'd learned into practice, and actually made it kind of make sense. That was my light bulb moment where I was like, this is the career for me.
The biggest impact the University of Portsmouth has had on me is personal growth in myself. I learned so much while I was there.
I did access the Careers and Employability Service. They helped me to look at CVs and interviews, they're so helpful and so beneficial.
Once I graduated I got a job on the Civil Service File Streams — it's the Times number one graduate program. I'm actually working on reforming The Graduate scheme I'm on.
What I'm doing, I feel like it really does make a difference.
And being in the cabinet office is the centre of government so it does have that wider impact.
The advice I give people at the start of their career if they're not really sure what they want to do, is just see what you're passionate about, see what you enjoy doing — it can really take you anywhere.
It's quite amazing, sometimes I have to pinch myself. I'm here doing this and I've come a long way.
The University of Portsmouth really has kind of changed my life.
Modules
Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.
In each year, you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. In year 1, each module is worth 20 credits.
What you'll study
Foundation year
In your foundation year, you'll gain the knowledge you need to move on to the first year of BA (Hons) Business and Human Resource Management. It will bridge the gap to uni, with the knowledge and academic skills you'll need to start.
Throughout the year, you'll learn to critically engage with information, undertake literature reviews, enhance your academic writing, and gain awareness of different types of research.
When you successfully complete this year, you'll get a guaranteed place on the first year of the BA (Hons) Business and Human Resource Management degree.
The module introduces candidates to the interesting challenges that ICT presents today and covers many anchor points that may serve as a bridge to their interests and lifestyles.
It also means you understand the value of scholarships, allowing you to move on to postgraduate programs at the University of Portsmouth.
You'll get the foundational knowledge and skills to get your ready to advance onto the first year of a degree at the University of Portsmouth. You'll gain an appreciation for the knowledge and skills required to effectively manage and operate a business.
These include approximation and substitution, estimation and percentages, applications of percentages in financial contexts, ratio and proportion, rules of indices, basic algebra, graphs, and quadratic equations.
Topics covered include the history and fundamental importance of economics, the demand and supply model, elasticity and its applications, different market structures such as perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition, and oligopoly. Additionally, you'll explore the circular flow model involving households, firms, the financial sector, governments, and the foreign sector. The module also covers concepts like the business cycle, unemployment, economic growth, inflation, and international trade.
You'll gain an appreciation for the knowledge and skills required to effectively manage and operate a business. Topics covered include core concepts in business studies, understanding the business environment, different forms of business structures, business strategy and planning, enterprise, innovation, and entrepreneurship. You'll also delve into basic financial statements, key financial ratios, costs, budgeting, an introduction to marketing concepts, and creating marketing plans.
Topics covered include an overview of accounting and financial reporting, basic numerical techniques for accounting, introduction to trading accounts and profit and loss accounts (income statements), understanding the cost of sales, balance sheets, and current assets and liabilities.
You'll recognise the legal aspects and requirements of companies, recall and define the basic principles of contract formation, and become familiar with the content of commercial and consumer contracts, including the use of exclusion clauses. The module will also enable you to define the law regarding the rights of individual employees.
Years 2, 3 and 4
After your first year, you will transfer to BA (Hons) Business and Human Resource Management. The modules you study in years 2, 3 and 4 (and year 5 if you do a placement year) can be found on the relevant course page.
Explore modules on BA (Hons) Business and Human Resource Management
Optional placement year
When you transfer to BA (Hons) Business and Human Resource Management, you could do an optional work placement year between your 2nd and 3rd years, or after your final year of study. This allows you to get valuable experience working in the industry.
We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your situation and ambitions. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year.
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
How you're assessed
You’ll be assessed through:
- coursework
- examinations
- presentations
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
Teaching
Teaching methods on this foundation course include:
- lectures
- seminars
- tutorials
- workshops
You'll be taught by experts that have both industry and research experience.
You can access all teaching resources on Moodle, our virtual learning environment, from anywhere with a Web connection.
How you'll spend your time
One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.
We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies. As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.
A typical week
We recommend you spend at least 35 hours a week studying for your degree. In your first year, you’ll be in timetabled teaching activities such as lectures, seminars and practical classes for about 15 hours a week. The rest of the time you’ll do independent study such as research, reading, coursework and project work, alone or in a group with others from your course. You'll probably do more independent study and have less scheduled teaching in further years.
Most timetabled teaching takes place during the day, Monday to Friday. You may occasionally need to go to University and course events in the evenings and at weekends.
Term dates
The academic year runs from September to June. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter.
Supporting you
The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:
Types of support
Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.
As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.
In addition to the support you get from your personal tutor, you'll also have access to our student engagement officers. They can give you confidential, impartial advice on anything to do with your studies and personal wellbeing, and refer you to specialist support services if you need extra help or support.
The Maths Cafe offers free advice and help with maths skills in a friendly, informal environment. You can come to our daily drop-in sessions, develop your maths skills at a workshop, or use our online resources.
You'll have help from a team of study support tutors. Based within the Faculty of Business and Law, these tutors are familiar with the specific requirements your assignments and work closely with faculty academics. This means they can give you focused support with the specific study skills you need to be successful on your course. They're available face-to-face, by phone, email, and by video call.
They can help with:
- academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations, projects and literature reviews)
- reflective writing skills
- critical thinking skills
- delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
- understanding and using assignment feedback
- managing your time and workload
- revision and exam techniques
If you're a mature student, specialist support to help you return to learning is available.
As well as support from faculty staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University's Academic Skills Unit (ASK).
ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:
- academic writing
- note taking
- time management
- critical thinking
- presentation skills
- referencing
- working in groups
- revision, memory and exam techniques
Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.
The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.
Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.
You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.
If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.
They'll help you to
- discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
- liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
- access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
- liaise with external services
If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees
- UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
This course isn't currently open to EU or International students.
- UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
This course isn't currently open to EU or International students.
Funding your studies
Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
Apply
How to apply
To start this course in 2024, apply through UCAS. You'll need:
- the UCAS course code – NN10
- our institution code – P80
If you'd prefer to apply directly, use our online application form:
You can also sign up to an Open Day to:
- Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
- Speak with lecturers and chat with our students
- Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join
If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.
To start this course in 2025, apply through UCAS. You'll need:
- the UCAS course code – NN10
- our institution code – P80
If you'd prefer to apply directly, use our online application form:
You can also sign up to an Open Day to:
- Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
- Speak with lecturers and chat with our students
- Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join
If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.
This course isn't currently open to EU or International students.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.