The University Foundation

This highly-regarded programme is designed for those who need a solid year’s academic study in the English Language in order to prepare them fully for UK university entry. Our course in Business Management provides the core elements supported by Business English, IELTS preparation and UCAS advice. Upon successful completion the UFC provides fast track entry on to University College Plymouth St Mark & St John BA Hons courses. Students may apply to other UK universities through UCAS. The University College Plymouth St Mark & St John is regarded as one of the finest teaching centres in the UK and it is ranked at Number 10 out of ALL of the UK Universities for the quality of its teaching, and Number 3 in the top five education colleges (Sunday Times University Guide 2006).

The course’s academic content:

Module 1– The Foundation and Organisation of Companies:Production Methods and Quality Management

• The Legal Foundation of Business: Sole traders, partnerships, private limited companies, and public limited companies.
• Organisational Structures, functional organisation, span of control, tall and hierarchical organisations and “flat” companies.
• Management Styles: Autocratic, democratic and consultative. Management by objectives, matrix working.
• Business Cultures: Customer driven, dynamic, risk averse, competitive, person and culture.
• Communication within Business: Formal and informal communication.
• Added value: Methods of adding value, just in time production, lean production, quality control, quality assurance and total quality management.

Module 2 – Market Structures, Supply and Demand and Globalisation

• Specific Business English vocabulary
• Understanding the contemporary business environment • Competitive markets, monopolies, oligopolies, competitive advantage, price competition and pricing strategies.
• How supply and demand affects markets.
• Types of good, consumer products, services, capital and industrial products, commodities, goods and services.
• Government policy and markets, supply and demand side policies, fiscal and monetary policy and other policies affecting business environment.
• Globalisation and International Competition international/multinational companies, trading blocks, WTO, GATT, exports, quotas tariffs, Single European currency

Module 3 – Marketing, Market Research and Marketing Strategy

• Business English vocabulary for marketing strategy
• Understanding the contemporary business environment
• Anticipating market trends, integrative function of marketing, product mix, SWOT and ANSOFF analysis, Boston matrix
• Market research, primary and secondary research
• Promotion and advertising
• Marketing strategy – new product strategy, new market strategy, existing market penetration, product diversification, forecasting

Module 4 – Human Resource Management

• Business English vocabulary for HRM skills base.
• Understanding the contemporary business with reference to Human Resource Management environment.
• Labour market analysis.
• Recruitment and selection.
• Employment legislation.
• Performance Management

Module 5 – Business Management

• Business English Vocabulary for Business management, Functional management, formal and informal organisation.
• Functions of management, concepts and theories: systems theory and contingency theory.
• Forecasting and planning: Techniques of forecasting, kinds of planning and levels of activity.
• Management skills, leadership styles and business cultures
• Meetings, decision making and delegation.
• Students will look at case studies of different types of business start-ups.

Entry Requirements 4.5 IELTS, 18 by 31st August of the year of entry to university; Good high school grades

Automatic entry on to University College Plymouth BA Hons degrees upon completion

• Business Management – based
• Excellent value • Residential – single and twin rooms
• Social activities programme
• Specialised IELTS tuition
• Expert UCAS advice
• Ratified by the University College Plymouth St. Mark & St. John

Why St George’s ?