Everything you need to know...
January 2023
Course summary
• Concentrate on improving your English alongside an introduction to Business, Law and the Social Sciences.
• Develop the language skills required to study the subject modules.
• Receive regular feedback throughout the course to support your personal development.
Aimed at international students, this foundation course prepares students for a range of degrees including Business, Law, Hospitality, Tourism, Finance, Built Environment and Psychology. The programme ends in late July, meaning you can stay in the UK as you prepare to begin your undergraduate course in September, with advice given about obtaining a visa.
If necessary for you, from September to December, there is a single module running from Monday to Friday, for 21 hours per week. The module focuses on improving your English skills to the minimum required for January entry.
All language classes are limited to a maximum of sixteen students.
Sheffield Business School accreditation
Sheffield Business School is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), placing us in the top 5% of business schools globally.
How you learn
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
Build your confidence and knowledge through the same assessment methods you will encounter on your undergraudate course, providing you with valuable experience of the assessment process. You are assessed at the end of each module.
You learn through
- lectures
- seminars
- coursework, such as essays and presentations
- language examinations
Course leaders and tutors

Brett Clifton
Senior Lecturer In TesolI've been teaching English for academic purposes for many years, first in China, and now here at Sheffield Hallam. I've recently been working cross-college on course … Read more
Applied learning
Field trips
In addition to the core modules, social and cultural activities are available to help you adjust to studying at Sheffield Hallam and living in the UK. Activities include visits and events organised by our International Experience Team, the opportunity to participate in our mentoring support scheme, career talks and subject-specific peer study group meetings. This helps you to build your confidence, improves your use of English and is a great opportunity to make friends. To help you develop a sound understanding of the discipline, we arrange visits to local companies wherever possible.
Future careers
The Business, Law and Social Sciences route allows you to progress to over 50 undergraduate degrees at Hallam. Please specify your chosen undergraduate degree when you submit your application.
IFP business, law, and social science
BA (Honours) Accounting and Finance
BA (Honours) Applied Social Sciences
BSc (Honours) Architectural Technology
BSc (Honours) Building Surveying
BA (Honours) Business and Enterprise Management
BA (Honours) Business and Financial Management
BA (Honours) Business and Human Resource Management
BA (Honours) Business and Marketing
BA (Honours) Business Economics
BA (Honours) Business Studies
BA (Honours) Childhood Studies
BSc (Honours) Construction Project Management
BA (Honours) Criminology
BSc (Honours) Criminology and Psychology
BA (Honours) Criminology and Sociology
BA (Honours) Early Childhood Studies
BA (Honours) Education Studies
BA (Honours) Education with Psychology and Counselling
BSc (Honours) Environmental Science
BA (Honours) Film Studies
BSc (Honours) Food and Nutrition
BA (Honours) Forensic Accounting
BSc (Honours) International Events Management
BSc (Honours) International Events Management with Arts and Entertainment
BSc (Honours) International Events Management with Tourism
BA (Honours) Finance and Banking
BA (Honours) Finance and Economics
BA (Honours) Finance and Investment
BSc (Honours) International Hospitality Business Management
BSc (Honours) International Tourism Management
BA (Honours) Journalism
LLB Law
LLB Law with Criminology
BA (Honours) Marketing
BA (Honours) Marketing Communications and Advertising
BA (Honours) Media
BSc (Honours) Nutrition, Diet and Lifestyle
BA (Honours) Politics
BSc (Honours) Psychology
BA (Honours) Public Relations
BA (Honours) Public Relations and Media
BSc (Honours) Quantity Surveying
BSc (Honours) Real Estate
BA (Honours) Sociology
BSc (Honours) Sports Business Management
BSc (Honours) Sport Development with Coaching
BA (Honours) Sports Studies
Accreditation
This course is accredited by the British Council.
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | Campus facilities | Keeping safe on Campus

Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEntry requirements
All students
English language requirements
To enrol on the course, you are required to have an IELTS for UKVI certificate from an approved centre. You can apply for the IFP while you are waiting for your results.
For September entry, an overall IELTS for UKVI 4.5 is required, with a minimum of 4.0 in all skills.
For January entry, a minimum IELTS for UKVI 5.0 is needed, with a minimum of 4.5 in all skills.
Academic entry requirements
Good high school graduation grades which includes Maths.
Find out which qualifications we accept from your home country.
You may be required to provide examples of creative work to support your application.
You must be 18 years old when you enrol on the course. September applicants must be 18 years old by 1st September and January applicants by 1st January.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page. You can also watch a video guide on how to apply.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. If you're starting in September due to your English language skills, you will study from Monday to Friday for 21 hours per week on a module called Academic English and Skills.
Modules studied may differ depending on when you start your course.
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Academic Skills For University | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: English For Your Subject | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Introduction To Business Studies | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Practical |
Module: Introduction To Law | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Introduction To Social Sciences | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Developing Your Academic English | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: English For University | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Exam |
Fees and funding
International students
For the three-term programme starting in September the tuition fee in 2022/23 will be £13,060. For the two-term programme starting in January the tuition fee in 2022/23 will be £10,880.

Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Additional costs for Business, management and enterprise courses (PDF, 273.5KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.