Foundation Studies Business and Innovation (FdA)

Foundation Studies Business and Innovation (FdA)

Summary

Study level
Full time
2 years
Location
Birmingham, Leeds, London, Manchester, Nottingham

What makes Arden University special?

Education
Education for everyone, everywhere
Whether you're constrained by location, cost, time, or other life commitments, we're passionate about giving you access to higher education that fits into your busy, modern life.
Where to study
You decide how and where to study
We offer a wide range of flexible undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in both our online and blended study modes.
Support
Full support both online and on-site
We're also proud to offer non-standard entry, meaning your work experience and previous qualifications are taken into account when assessing your application.
Employability
Strong focus on employability
You will gain in-depth subject knowledge and transferable skills that employers from a huge range of industries will value. Many of our courses at Arden are also accredited by leading professional bodies in the UK.

Course Overview

Launch your career with confidence

Arden University’s FdA Business and Innovation foundation degree equips you with the core knowledge and real-world skills needed to thrive in today’s fast-moving business world. This two-year Level 5 qualification builds a strong base in areas like finance, digital marketing, innovation, and people management—giving you the tools to make a real impact from day one.

Whether you want to move up in your current role, start your own business, or continue on to a full undergraduate degree, this course is designed to help you plan, achieve, and accelerate your next step.

You’ll also benefit from modules designed to boost your academic confidence and career development—ensuring you’re ready to succeed at university and in your career.

Why study this course?

  • Designed to develop entrepreneurial thinking and innovation skills to help you stand out
  • Learn key business functions including digital marketing, project and supply chain management, and people leadership
  • Gain the skills to take on early management roles across a range of industries
  • Dedicated academic skills module helps you succeed, no matter your education background
  • No exams—only practical assessments, with many based on real-world business scenarios
  • Work-based project module to apply what you’ve learned in your workplace or a real organisation

This course is subject to validation

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Course details and modules

Build your business skills with a 2-year foundation degree

This FdA course gives you a solid grounding in business fundamentals while exploring how today’s organisations operate. You’ll develop practical management and leadership skills, and gain a well-rounded understanding of the core areas that drive business success.

Flexible study with support

Delivered full-time through blended learning, this course has been carefully structured to help you balance your studies with your other responsibilities. You’ll attend all in-person classes on just one day per week, giving you the flexibility to continue working or managing other priorities alongside your education.

Pathway to a full degree

After completing your FdA, you will be eligible to study the final year (Level 6) of a related undergraduate degree—many of which are accredited by professional bodies such as CMI and ILM—giving you a full BA qualification and boosting your career potential.

Martin Scahill

The course gave me the confidence and skills to go for senior jobs that I wouldn’t have previously. I have been promoted several times since.

Martin Scahill
BSc (Hons) Business & Computing (Top-Up)

What you’ll learn

You’ll study two modules at a time. Most are delivered in a single study block, while your Learning for Life: Skills for Study and Work (Level 4) and Workplace Impact Project (Level 5) span across three blocks to support deeper learning and application.

Modules

  • Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation
  • Learning for Life: Skills for Study and Work (Business)
  • Principles of Business
  • Sustainable Business Practice
  • Digital Marketing
  • Managing People and Organisations
  • Project and Supply Chain Management
  • Workplace Impact Project - Applied Work-Based Learning for Innovation and Impact

Study options

Full-time blended learning

How does it work?

Our blended learning model combines the structure of in-person teaching with the flexibility of online learning. You’ll attend eight hours of timetabled classes in person one day per week at your chosen Arden campus—designed to free up the rest of your week for work or other responsibilities.

You’ll also engage in around 25 hours of independent study each week via iLearn, our virtual learning environment. iLearn gives you access to all the resources you need, including recorded lectures, learning materials, and our Library Portal—an extensive digital library with thousands of journals, eBooks, and academic databases.

Blended learning is the best option for students who prefer the structure of regular face to face classes with their tutor and fellow classmates, and is particularly suited to students who live within commuting or driving distance of one of our UK campuses.

If you're a student from England who is enrolling on a blended learning course with Arden (based in one of our UK campuses) then you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan to help pay for your living expenses. You can find more information on our fees and funding page. If you're a student from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland you can find information about obtaining a student loan to cover your costs from your student finance body.

This course is also available to study full-time at our campus in Berlin, Germany, where you’ll have the opportunity to experience life as an international student in the heart of one of Europe’s most dynamic and historic cities.

Learn more about blended learning

Entry requirements

At Arden University we consider applications on a case by case basis. If you have significant work experience, have qualifications you have gained elsewhere, or a degree or qualification that isn't a clear pathway to this degree - we are more than happy to discuss your application.

What you need to study with us

Our aim is to make learning as accessible as possible by ensuring that you can study in a flexible and convenient way. That's why we keep our requirements simple. All you need is a laptop or desktop PC (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good internet connection. Through ilearn, our online university campus in the cloud, you'll be able to access your course calendar, support services, learning materials, and our online library containing thousands of ebooks, as well as tools for creating assignments, keeping notes, and collaborating with other students on your course.

Entry Requirements

We welcome motivated learners from all backgrounds. Whether you're returning to education or just starting out, we’ll support you every step of the way.

Standard entry:

  • Minimum 60 credits from Level 2/3 qualification (e.g., GCSE, A-Levels, BTECs, Access to HE, or equivalent) with a minimum of 15 credits at level 3)
  • Current professional C.V.
  • English proficiency - IELTS 6.0 (no less than 5.5 in any element); or TOEFL iBT 80; or equivalent) 

Non-standard entry:

  • 2 years’ work experience in a relevant role (industry specific work experience or professional certificates) of which some must have been completed in the last 12 months.
  • English proficiency - IELTS 6.0 (no less than 5.5 in any element); or TOEFL iBT 80; or equivalent) 

English language proficiency:

  • IELTS 6.0 (no less than 5.5 in any component) or equivalent
  • Previous study in English may also be accepted

Course fees and funding

Find your country

Use the dropdown above to find course fees and funding information for your country. If you can’t find information for your country in the dropdown, visit our International support page.

Meet the faculty

Dr. Lucy Atkinson, PhD, MA, BSc, FHEA, AFBALEAP

Lucy is the Director of the Centre of Academic Persistence at Arden University. Qualified with Bachelors, Masters and Doctor of Philosophy, Lucy is also an avid conference presenter, guest speaker and sharer of practice in the HE community. Lucy is an experienced senior leader of foundation year provision in a HE context working with different sizes of provision and subject-areas and previous award-winning ‘Lecturer of the Year’ at the University of Northampton in 2019.

Lucy’s understanding of the diverse student needs allows her to implement relevant interventions when needed as well as offering suitable pastoral support.

Dr. Lucy Atkinson, PhD, MA, BSc, FHEA, AFBALEAP
Director of the Centre of Academic Persistence

Career prospects

Prepare to lead, grow, and innovate

The FdA Business and Innovation is more than just a stepping stone—it’s a launchpad for a wide range of business and management careers.

This qualification covers essential business functions and gives you the confidence and practical skills to take on early management roles or specialist positions. Whether you want to:

  • Move into a leadership position
  • Start your own venture
  • Progress in your current role
  • Or top-up to a full BA degree

You’ll be in a strong position to succeed.

By combining academic learning with real-world business applications, this course gives you the competitive edge needed to thrive in today’s evolving job market.

Industry skills

  

Go beyond your degree with professional skills training

You’ll have access to optional micro-credentials designed to boost both your academic performance and career readiness.

Pass First Time

A short, practical series of workshops delivered in your first semester to maximise your study success:

  • Getting Started
  • Integrity Matters and Research Strategies
  • Academic Writing Success Strategies
  • Learning Success Strategies

Unlock Your Potential Career

This career-focused micro-credential will help you develop key professional skills, including digital literacy, communication, and career management—giving you the tools to build a confident and sustainable career path.