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BSc (Hons)

Business and Finance with Foundation Year

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Why study this course

Finance with commercial thinking – understand finance within the wider context of strategy, customers, operations and growth.

Business, finance and technology combined – develop financial, analytical, digital and leadership capability.

AI-enabled decision-making – explore how data and emerging technologies are changing business and finance.

Designed for career flexibility – prepare for opportunities across finance, business, consultancy, management and commercial roles.

Course summary

The BSc (Hons) Business and Finance combines financial knowledge with broader business and management capability. It is designed for students who want to understand not only the numbers behind an organisation but also the commercial decisions, strategies and people that determine performance.

You will develop knowledge of finance alongside business strategy, management, analytics, leadership and consultancy. This combination provides a broad foundation for careers where financial information needs to be interpreted and translated into practical business decisions.

The course also reflects the changing business environment. Digital transformation, AI and data analytics are influencing how organisations monitor performance, identify opportunities and make decisions. You will therefore develop confidence in using financial and business information in increasingly technology-enabled environments.

Through practical learning and applied assessment, you will develop the ability to analyse situations, evaluate options and communicate recommendations. The degree is designed to prepare you for commercial environments where finance and business strategy increasingly overlap.

Please note, this course is currently going through validation.

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Key facts

Award	BSc (Hons)
UCAS code	N16F
Duration	3 years
Mode of study	Full time
Start date	September 2026
Award	Lincoln Bishop University
Institution code	B38

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About this course

Finance does not operate in isolation. A business may have strong financial results, but understanding why those results have occurred and what should happen next requires broader commercial insight.
This degree develops that perspective.

You will explore how financial information connects to strategy, operations, marketing, people and organisational performance. You will develop financial knowledge while also learning how organisations make decisions, manage resources and pursue growth.

Digital capability is embedded within the wider business context. You will explore how data, analytics and AI can support decision-making and how technology is changing the finance function and wider commercial environment.

The course also develops communication and leadership capabilities. Modern finance and business professionals increasingly need to explain complex information to non-specialists, influence decisions and work across organisational boundaries.

Responsible business is an important part of understanding modern finance and commercial decision-making. You will explore ethical leadership, sustainability and responsible business alongside financial performance, considering how organisations create long-term value. You will also engage with themes connected to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and consider how business and finance can contribute to addressing social, economic and environmental challenges.

The degree combines a strong connection to Lincolnshire's business community with an understanding of international business. You will explore how organisations make financial and commercial decisions in different markets and how global trends affect local businesses.

Examples from Lincolnshire's agriculture and food, manufacturing, tourism, retail and professional services sectors provide opportunities to understand local business challenges while recognising the increasingly international nature of supply chains, investment, trade and competition.

The result is a degree that keeps your career options broad while giving you a clear foundation in finance and commercial decision-making.

Scheduled Teaching Hours

The Foundation Year is the first year of a four-year undergraduate degree and provides a pathway to undergraduate study for students who do not have the typical qualifications required for direct entry to Level 4. As an integrated Foundation Year it does not carry credits, as the purpose of the year is to facilitate students’ progression to Level 4 of their chosen undergraduate degree programme [see Undergraduate].

The delivery of the scheduled hours for the programme includes taught and independent study and is designed to support the needs of learners on Foundation Year programmes as they transition to the requirements of Higher Education study. Material is delivered in both face-to-face and asynchronous formats, totalling 176 hours of taught input, and includes both core academic skills training and additional input from subject specialists. Contact hours in taught sessions are complemented by an extensive support curriculum that operates through the year, typically comprising, but not limited to, additional tutorials, catch-up sessions, study groups, and personal support.

Entry requirements

Application for this course is via UCAS, although there is no formal requirement for UCAS points to access the course (normally GCSE English or equivalent is desirable). As part of your application you will have the opportunity to speak with a member of Lincoln Bishop Admissions staff to resolve any questions or queries you may have.

Are you a parent or carer supporting someone starting university? Visit our Parents’ Information page for advice, guidance, and reassurance.

Further information

Click here for key information for all undergraduate students.

Click here for all programme specifications.

The Foundation Year syllabus does not include any specific element of upskilling in English language and you are not entitled to apply for Accredited Prior Learning, AP(C)L into a Foundation Year.

How you will be taught

Learning combines interactive lectures, workshops, financial and business simulations, consultancy projects and employer challenges.

You will work with financial information and business scenarios, exploring how organisations use evidence to understand performance and make decisions. Practical activities will help you develop confidence in financial analysis and commercial problem-solving.

Digital learning will introduce you to the role of data and emerging technologies in business and finance. You will also work collaboratively, developing the communication and interpersonal capabilities needed in commercial environments.

You may have the opportunity to undertake a one-week work placement, giving you valuable experience of applying business and financial knowledge in a professional environment.

The degree also incorporates employer-informed challenges, consultancy projects and applied business activities. These opportunities can help you develop practical experience, build confidence and demonstrate your ability to use financial and commercial information to support organisational decisions.

Consultancy projects and applied business activities will give you opportunities to consider problems from an organisational perspective and develop recommendations.

Academic staff

Assessment

Assessment is designed around application and commercial relevance. You may complete consultancy reports, presentations, financial modelling, dashboards, investment analysis, strategy reports, portfolios and reflective activities.

These assessments allow you to demonstrate financial knowledge while also developing broader skills in analysis, communication, problem-solving and decision-making.

You may be asked to evaluate a business situation, interpret financial evidence, assess options and make recommendations to an appropriate audience. This reflects the way finance and business professionals increasingly contribute to organisational decisions.

Feedback is incorporated throughout the programme to help you develop progressively and understand how to improve your academic and professional practice.

Careers & Further study

The degree can support careers across both finance and broader business functions. Potential roles include financial analyst, commercial analyst, management accountant, business consultant, corporate banking professional, business development executive, financial planner, operations manager and graduate management trainee.

The combination of finance and business knowledge can also be valuable for roles where professionals need to understand financial performance while working across other functions.

Entrepreneurship is another potential pathway, with financial understanding providing an important foundation for evaluating opportunities, managing resources and planning growth.

Further study could include postgraduate programmes such as an MBA, MSc in Accounting and Finance, MSc Management, business analytics or related subjects.

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Fees & Funding

A lot of student finance information is available from numerous sources, but it is sometimes confusing and contradictory. That’s why at Lincoln Bishop we try to give you all the information and support we can to help to throughout the process. Our Student Advice team are experts in helping you sort out the funding arrangements for your studies, offering a range of services to guide you through all aspects of student finance step by step.

Click here to find information about fees, loans and support which will help to make the whole process a little easier to understand.

Undergraduate course applicants should apply via UCAS using the relevant UCAS code. For 2026 entry, the application fee is £28.95, and you can make a maximum of 5 choices.

For 2027/28 entry the UCAS fee is £34.50.

For all applicants, there are full instructions at UCAS to make it as easy as possible for you to fill in your online application, plus help text where appropriate. Full details of all tuition fees can be found here.