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?
This course is subject to validation
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.