Business and Supply Chain Management with Foundation Year

Business and supply chain management combines the broad strategic and organisational knowledge of a business degree with the specialist operational focus of supply chain studies. Understanding how businesses source, make, move, and deliver goods and services is fundamental to commercial success, and the pressure to do this more efficiently, more sustainably, and more resiliently has made supply chain expertise one of the most sought-after capabilities in modern organisations.

University of Portsmouth's four-year full-time Business and Supply Chain Management with Foundation Year programme is designed for students who want a thorough grounding in both business principles and supply chain practice. The foundation year prepares you for degree-level study by building the academic skills and subject knowledge you will need, making the programme accessible to those who may not have followed a traditional route to higher education or whose qualifications are in different areas. From there, you will progress through core business topics including marketing, finance, strategy, and organisational behaviour, alongside dedicated study of procurement, logistics, inventory management, and global supply chain design.

The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement, which together give you substantial experience in professional and international settings before graduation. These structured opportunities are central to what Portsmouth offers: you will not simply learn about business, you will practise it in real contexts, building the commercial judgement and adaptability that employers consistently value.

Digital tools, data analysis, and the emerging role of technology in supply chain management are woven through the curriculum, preparing you for a sector that is changing rapidly.

Graduates pursue careers in operations management, procurement, logistics, business development, and consulting across sectors including retail, manufacturing, healthcare, food and drink, and e-commerce. Postgraduate study in supply chain management, business analytics, or an MBA is a natural further step.