FDA Business Enterprise Foundation degree at University College Birmingham
FDA Business Enterprise at UCB is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute and received a Silver rating for teaching quality in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework 2023.
About this course
FDA Business Enterprise is a Foundation degree (FDA) at UCB. It runs 2 years, studied full-time.
For Business and management graduates from this provider, 75% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 0% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £23,500. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Business & Management, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 75% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 70% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 6 modules
- Entrepreneurial Thinking and BehaviourCore
Module details
Introduces entrepreneur's thinking (mindset) and subsequent behaviour. Explores how these can be replicated by anyone in any field to support them in creating value and solving problems. Focuses on developing knowledge and understanding of enterprising and entrepreneurial activities and ability to apply these in different contexts. Covers similarities, differences and relationships between enterprise, intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship.
- The People PerspectiveCore
Module details
Teaches the challenges facing businesses today by focusing on the people perspective and enhancing knowledge of leadership and management within current agile business environments. Working successfully within teams and on projects will determine career achievements and help achieve business goals.
- Digital InnovationsCore
Module details
Considers the process of innovation by which entrepreneurs might continually exploit the ever-changing market conditions and environments driven by the digital revolution.
- Finance for ManagersCore
Module details
Introduction to different branches of accounts, key financial terminology and financial statements that business owners and managers employ. Construct, interpret and analyse data to assess financial performance of a business or project. Explores how financial data can be utilised to inform business decisions in a dynamic environment.
- Market Research and Consumer ProfilingCore
Module details
Explores types of research vital to businesses and how research findings shape practices, policies and overall performance in dynamic business environments. Develops skills in conducting research, analysing data and creating customer profiles. Covers market research for insights on wider marketplace, competitors, consumer demand and customer perceptions of business, products and brand.
- Venture I – Idea GenerationCore
Module details
Part of the series of Venture I, II and III delivered over levels 4, 5 and 6 of the programme. Gives knowledge and understanding of creative and business behaviours necessary for developing a product/service enterprise. Focuses on exploring idea generation, opportunity identification and recognition and problem framing to enable development of a range of business ideas for potential development of a start-up business.
Year 2 7 modules
- Personal Effectiveness, Impact and ReputationCore
Module details
Focuses on developing understanding of own personality and social identity, ambition, motivation and goals. Explores resilience, tolerance of ambiguity, risk and failure, social capital and its application to the individual. Developing personal effectiveness and maintaining personal presence in collaborative setting are key features. Investigates power of networking to develop powerful partnerships. Builds on understanding of entrepreneurial mindset, behaviours, attributes and competencies and h
- Social EnterpriseCore
Module details
Develops practical understanding of the role of social enterprise. Covers the Third Sector and Fourth Sector. Social enterprises are set up for social good and to trade to fulfil that impact – businesses that trade for people and the planet, not personal profit of shareholders. Recognition of the need to generate profit to create the impact.
- Brand and Media ManagementCore
Module details
Offers exploration of how digital brands are viewed, built, managed and measured to ensure firms' superiority and sustainability in profits. Focuses on development of industry-based knowledge and practical skills required to succeed in management. Analyses importance of digital media in communication of brands to key stakeholders.
- Intellectual Property, Law and Business PracticesCore
Module details
Provides key legal and regulatory requirements for early stages of setting up and running a business. Covers legal structure decisions, implications for legal structure, responsibilities and duties of personnel. Covers practicalities of establishing the business, administration, compliance and regulatory issues, tax implications. Covers intellectual property law to protect ideas such as new product designs, apps or brand names. Examines key legal issues such as online agreements and data protect
- Venture II – Concept and Prototype DevelopmentCore
Module details
Progression from level 4 module Venture I – Idea Generation, focusing on determining feasibility of one idea over another thereby progressing to concept development and testing. Focuses on core processes of testing and prototyping and their critical role in successful commercialisation of ideas. One idea selected for development of an MVP or prototype and taken forward to final year module Venture III – Creation and Launch.
- Big Data for Business InsightsOptional
Module details
Focuses on development of strategic priorities to deliver business at speed in an environment where digital technology has reshaped traditional revenue and business models. Features exploration of innovation and digital technologies and their impact on organisations and how their application can inform organisational improvement and development. Critiques innovation and digital technology's impact on data and knowledge management for analysing business decision-making. Develops awareness of inte
- Developing Collaborative RelationshipsOptional
Module details
Module on managing variety of stakeholders and networks which need to be engaged with and managed either as a business owner, manager or an employee.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
You'll study core business disciplines: foundations in management, organisations and economics in Year 1, moving through marketing principles and data skills for analysis. Year 2 builds into operations, supply chain management, organisational behaviour and strategy. A course like this typically progresses from these fundamentals towards specialist options in areas such as entrepreneurship, international business, digital business, consulting, marketing, and people & HR. You'll usually complete a final capstone or consultancy project that draws together your learning through a real-world brief or dissertation.
Who it's for
This course suits students with A-level qualifications or equivalent, typically holding a UCAS tariff below 48 points. It's designed for those seeking practical business knowledge and professional credentials without committing to a full three-year honours degree. The CMI accreditation means your qualification carries professional recognition in the business sector. Check the university's funding pages for bursaries and scholarships.
Careers & job market
Across Business & Management courses nationally, 87% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating. Starting salaries typically range from £24,000 to £32,000, rising to £26,350–£37,200 after five years. Around 60% of working graduates progress into highly skilled roles or further study. These figures reflect national Graduate Outcomes and Labour Force data, not individual guarantees. Retention rates show 81% of students continue past their first year, indicating strong course completion.
University & format
This FDA Business Enterprise is studied full-time at University College Birmingham, a university in Birmingham, over 2 years. Instruction is in English. The award is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and recognised as a nationally recognised UK degree. The university holds a Silver award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework (2023).
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Names detected beside accreditation or recognition copy on the provider course page; verify the route and intake.
Work placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 100% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code N190). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at UCB →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Business & Management graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £23,500 | £22,000 – £27,000 | 15 |
| 3 years after | £18,500 | £14,500 – £22,500 | 195 |
| 5 years after | £22,000 | £17,000 – £27,500 | 230 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate / AnalystOn a scheme or first role · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / ManagerOwning an area, marketing, finance, ops · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / Head ofLeading a function and a team · 5–10 yrs
- 4Director / FounderRunning a business unit or your own company · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Business & Management nationally
National figures for Business & Management graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Business & Management courses at the same study level.
Compared with 3,421 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
- Skilled trades occupationsSOC 2020 5 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £34,241
- Process, plant and machine operativesDiscover Uni category · 20% of published destinations
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
- Customer service occupationsDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 25; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Business & Management graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine reporting and data pulls
- First-draft decks and copy
- Standard forecasts and reconciliations
- Scheduling and admin workflows
More human than ever
- Strategy and judgement under uncertainty
- Leading, negotiating and selling
- Sense-checking and owning what AI produces
- Relationships with clients and teams
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Business & Management graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Consultancies
- Corporate graduate schemes
- Retail & FMCG
- Startups & scale-ups
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Business & Management graduates.
Business Director, Marketing ScienceXcedeBusiness ManagerLGPS CentralBusiness Change ManagerIGA Talent SolutionsBusiness Case ManagerPeregrineBusiness DirectorMedialab GroupBusiness Rates SurveyorW TalentIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
75% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £23,500. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 7.4 out of 10: NSS 77.9% · in work or study 75% · continued 70%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University College Birmingham
Business and management across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around University College Birmingham
5,216 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Business & Management right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to UCB from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by UCB; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check UCB’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with UCB and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at UCB
Business & Management at other universities
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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