Foundation Year
BSc (Hons) Business and Tourism Management with Foundation Year
Finance AvailableView Details
AEC Consultant Courses
Business Management Courses
AEC Consultant helps you find and apply to business management courses from Level 4 to Level 7, covering finance, marketing, HR and entrepreneurship. Every course is eligible for Student Finance England, and our admissions support is completely free.
Level 4 to Level 7
1 to 4 years
Jan, Jun & Sep intakes
Student Finance eligible
Free admissions guidance
At a Glance
What Is a Business Management Course?
A business management course teaches how organisations are planned, financed and run, covering areas such as finance, marketing, human resources, strategy and operations. It prepares you for management, administrative and analytical roles across almost any industry, from retail and banking to the public sector or your own business.
| Levels | Durations | Start Dates | Funding | Entry Routes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 4 to Level 7 | 1 to 4 years | January, June, September | Student Finance England | Standard, no A-Levels, or mature entry |
Course Options
Business Management Courses We Can Help You Apply For
| Course | Level | Duration | Entry Route | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HND in Business | 4–5 | 2 years | No A-Levels needed | A hands-on, practical start |
| CertHE Business Studies with Foundation | 3–4 | 2 years | No A-Levels needed | Extra academic preparation |
| BA (Hons) Global Business & Entrepreneurship with FY | 3–6 | 4 years | No A-Levels needed | Starting your own business |
| BA (Hons) Global Business (Business Management) with FY | 3–6 | 4 years | No A-Levels needed | A general management career |
| BSc (Hons) Business and Tourism Management with FY | 3–6 | 4 years | No A-Levels needed | Tourism & hospitality careers |
| BSc (Hons) Project Management with FY | 3–6 | 4 years | No A-Levels needed | Project delivery careers |
| BA (Hons) Business and Management (Level 6 Top-Up) | 6 | 1 year | Hold an HND or equivalent | Fast-track to an honours degree |
| MSc Global Business | 7 | 1 year | Hold a relevant degree | Postgraduate career progression |
| MSc Project Management | 7 | 1 year | Hold a relevant degree | Postgraduate project leadership |
Pathways
Study Routes and Progression
However you start, there's a route forward: a Foundation Year leads into the honours years of a degree, an HND can be topped up to a full degree in one further year, and a degree can lead into a one-year postgraduate MSc.
Route
Degree With Foundation Year
How long will it take?
Full-time: 4 years
BA / BSc With Foundation Year
Credit totals follow the standard UK higher education framework (120 credits per full-time year). Confirm exact module credits for your chosen course with your AEC Consultant advisor.
What You'll Study
What Will You Study?
Most business management degrees build a broad base in the core functions of running an organisation: finance, marketing and human resources, alongside the wider environment a business operates in, such as business law, economics and ethics. Year one is usually broad and required, giving everyone the same grounding before the course opens up. From there, you choose a direction, whether that's entrepreneurship, project management, tourism management or general management, depending on which course you join.
Strategy
Leadership
Marketing
Finance
Human Resources
Entrepreneurship
Operations
Alongside subject knowledge, these courses build hard skills such as financial analysis, data interpretation and business planning, plus soft skills like leadership, communication, teamwork and negotiation, all of which transfer directly into graduate employment.
BA & BSc Business Degrees
Three different specialisms within the same broad subject: general global business, entrepreneurship-focused business, and a tourism and hospitality management route. Each includes a Foundation Year for students who need an extra year of academic preparation before the honours degree begins.
Foundation Year
BA (Hons) Global Business & Entrepreneurship with Foundation Year
Finance AvailableView Details
Foundation Year
BA (Hons) Global Business (Business Management) with Foundation Year
Finance AvailableView Details
Already Have Some Experience? Start With an HND
The HND in Business is a two-year, Level 4-5 vocational qualification, shorter and more hands-on than a full degree, and a common route for students who want to start working sooner or aren't sure a three-year commitment is right yet. It qualifies for Student Finance England in its own right.
Already Hold an HND? Top It Up to a Full Degree
If you already hold an HND or an equivalent Level 5 qualification, you don't need to start a degree from scratch. A Level 6 Top-Up converts that qualification into a full BA (Hons) in a single further year of study.
HND
HND in Business
Finance AvailableView Details
Level 6 Top-up
BA (Hons) Business and Management (Level 6 Top-Up)
Finance AvailableView Details
Foundation + Top-up
Certificate in Higher Education Business Studies with Foundation
Finance AvailableView Details
Project Management & Postgraduate Study
Project management sits apart from general business management. It's more process- and delivery-focused, covering planning, budgeting, risk and resourcing rather than broader organisational theory. We offer it at both undergraduate and one-year postgraduate level, alongside a general postgraduate business route.
Foundation Year
BSc (Hons) Project Management with Foundation Year
Finance AvailableView Details
MSc
MSc Project Management
Finance AvailableView Details
MSc
MSc Global Business
Finance AvailableView Details
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
Standard Entry
Most of our partner courses assess you on your background and a short interview rather than a fixed UCAS tariff, since the majority are applied for directly to the university.
No A-Levels
Our Foundation Year degrees and the HND in Business are built for students without A-Levels or with lower grades than standard entry requirements.
Mature Entry
Applicants aged 21 and over are often assessed through an interview and a short literacy and numeracy check instead of formal qualifications, with relevant work experience counting toward your application.
International applicants: you'll typically need to demonstrate English language proficiency, usually through an IELTS test or equivalent. Your AEC Consultant advisor will confirm the exact requirement for your chosen university.
Eligible residency statuses: British Citizenship, Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), EU Settled Status, Refugee Status, or Humanitarian Protection.
Funding
Fees and Student Finance
| Support | 2026/27 Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fee Loan (Foundation Year) | Up to £5,760 |
| Tuition Fee Loan (following years) | Up to £9,790 per year |
| Maintenance Loan (living away, London) | Up to £14,135 per year |
| Maintenance Loan (living away, outside London) | Up to £10,830 per year |
| Maintenance Loan (living at home) | Up to £9,118 per year |
Repayments are made under Plan 5, at 9% of your income above £25,000 a year, and only start once you are earning above that threshold. The Foundation Year rate above applies to business courses as classroom-based study; visit our Student Finance guide for full details, or speak to an AEC Consultant advisor for a free assessment of your eligibility.
Where It Leads
Careers With a Business Management Degree
Because the degree spans multiple business functions rather than one narrow specialism, graduates spread across a wide range of destinations. According to the National Careers Service, UK salary ranges for common destinations include management consultant (£27,000 to £60,000), marketing executive (£23,000 to £50,000) and HR officer (£24,000 to £40,000). Many graduates start on a graduate scheme or in a generalist role and specialise from there, while the Global Business & Entrepreneurship route in particular suits those planning to start their own venture rather than join someone else's.
If project management is more your interest, that route leads more directly into project coordination, delivery and operations roles across almost any industry, since every sector needs people who can run a project to time and budget.
Salary source: National Careers Service. Figures are national ranges and will vary by employer, location and experience. Professional bodies relevant to these career paths include the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) for HR roles, and the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) for marketing roles.
Why AEC Consultant
Why Apply With AEC Consultant?
5,000+
Students helped
98.4%
Success rate
40+
Partner universities
48h
Offer turnaround
Founded in 2015 and British Council Certified, AEC Consultant has processed over £60 million in Student Finance applications. Our support is completely free, funded by partner universities rather than by students.
Next Steps
How to Apply in Four Steps
1
Quick Enquire
Fill out our online form or send us a WhatsApp message.
2
Free Assessment
An advisor reviews your background and confirms your eligibility within 24 hours.
3
University Placement
We handle the entire university application process for you.
4
Funding Guidance
We guide you step-by-step through your Student Finance application.
Business Course Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about studying business management with AEC Consultant.
Free Application Support
Ready to Start Your Business Degree?
Send us your background and goals. An AEC Consultant advisor will recommend suitable business management courses, check your Student Finance eligibility and guide your application from start to finish.
No application fee. No obligation. Confidential advice.