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Southampton Solent University logo

FoundationBusiness and Law Foundation Year

Starting in: 2026
Register your interest
Campus: Southampton City CentreView on Google Maps

Why study a business and law foundation year?

Whether you're interested in business, law, finance, or marketing - gain new skills, build confidence, and develop your capabilities before moving on to your undergraduate degree.

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    in the sector for graduate start-ups (HESA 2023)
  • Top0%
    for teaching quality, out of 131 institutions (Times Good University Guide, 2025)
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    best student city (StudentCrowd, 2024)
  • Gain a solid introduction to the foundations of business and law for a variety of careers and build the knowledge and skills you need to progress to higher-level study.
  • Gain hands-on experience through real-world projects, live briefs, and case studies.
  • Every module prepares you for real-world challenges, from ethical decision-making to global market impact.
  • Benefit from links with local businesses, national brands, and guest speakers who share real insights.
  • Learn using the Bloomberg Suite for financial tools and our Law Court for legal practice.
  • Many of the academic team on the foundation year also teach on the degree-level courses.

Course overview

The Foundation in Business and Law offers an engaging introduction to the world of business, law, and finance. Designed as a supportive entry point into higher education, the course provides you with the essential skills and knowledge needed to succeed in professional management pathways, while building the confidence to progress seamlessly to your chosen degree.

Through practice-led teaching, you'll gain hands-on experience that bridges theory with real-world application. Industry connections and guest speakers enrich the learning journey, ensuring you are exposed to current trends, challenges, and opportunities in the business and legal sectors. This practical approach helps you develop both academic ability and workplace readiness.

A key strength of the programme is its focus on transferable skills. From critical thinking and problem-solving to communication and teamwork, you are equipped with competencies that are highly valued across industries. By embedding these skills early, the course empowers you to approach your future studies and careers with assurance and adaptability.

The foundation year also provides a supportive environment for personal growth. With tailored guidance and mentoring, you'll build resilience and self-belief, gaining the confidence to take the next step in your academic journey. Whether progressing into business management, law, finance, or related professional fields, graduates of this foundation year are well-prepared to thrive.

Any questions?

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Who this course is for

Solent’s Business and Law Foundation Year is ideal for ambitious learners who want to build a strong academic and practical base before progressing to a degree. This course is perfect if you're eager to understand how modern commerce and legal frameworks shape today’s organisations. You’ll develop strong academic and organisational skills and prepare yourself for a successful career in a range of business industries – studying a curriculum that is not just about theory but also real-world application.

  • Foundation years are designed to help prepare you for undergraduate study and are ideal for gaining an introduction into your chosen subject area.
  • If you've been out of education for a while, a foundation year provides a supportive environment for returning to studying.
  • Foundation year students have access to the same facilities, and academic and student support as students on undergraduate degrees.

What you'll study

Find your degree

To get a complete list of modules you'll be studying in your undergraduate degree, click on the course you'll apply for in the 'Find your degree' section below.

Meet the team

The teaching team for the foundation year is made up of lecturers who also teach on the degree courses.

Entry requirements

48 UCAS tariff points

  • A minimum of two completed A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma at PPP or BTEC Diploma at MP, T-level Pass (D or E) or equivalent.
  • We will consider mature students who haven't recently undertaken a formalised course of study at A-level or equivalent, but who can demonstrate relevant workplace or voluntary experience, indicating their ability to complete the course successfully.

For international and EU students

  • As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
  • If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
  • For further information about qualifications, please contact admissions.
Two business students working on a project

Contextual offers

Solent endeavours to offer learning opportunities to students from all backgrounds. When we receive and review an application, we take into consideration the context and personal circumstances of applicants when making a decision, which means our advertised entry tariff could be reduced.

Find out more about Solent's contextual offers

Language requirements

Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:

  • IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each individual component, or equivalent.

Qualifications

Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.

The University also offers a pre-sessional English programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.

Find your degree

Our foundation years are designed to offer a broad range of academic skills alongside a taste of the wider industry before you start your chosen specialist undergraduate degree. Some degrees also include a year in industry, meaning you can gain valuable first-hand work experience with a year-long full-time work placement between the second and third years of your degree.

Applying is simple, just:

  • 1

    Find the undergraduate degree you’re interested in studying, and explore the course page – this is also where you’ll find the modules you will study throughout your degree.

  • 2

    Make sure you’ve selected a ‘foundation year’ (or foundation year and year in industry) variant; you’ll find this under ‘Course length’, near the top of the relevant course page.

  • 3

    Click the ‘Apply on UCAS’ button, and check the UCAS summary mentions ‘foundation year’ under ‘Study mode’.

And don’t worry if you discover a new skill or subject you love during your foundation year, it’s easy to switch to another linked degree!