Management with Foundation Year

Management as an academic discipline is concerned with how organisations work and how they can be made to work better. It encompasses the study of strategy, leadership, finance, marketing, operations and human behaviour, providing a broad analytical toolkit for understanding the decisions that organisations make and the contexts in which they operate. For those who want to build careers in business or the public sector, a management degree provides both conceptual foundations and practical frameworks that are applicable across a wide range of roles and industries.

At Birkbeck College, this four-year programme is structured to build in employability from the outset. The degree introduces you to the key functions of business, allowing you to develop a broad understanding before choosing areas to specialise in. You will study topics including organisational behaviour, strategic management, marketing, finance, economics and business analytics, developing the knowledge and skills that employers across many sectors recognise and value.

Birkbeck's distinctive position as a university focused on widening participation and evening study is reflected in a programme that takes seriously the different backgrounds and ambitions that students bring.

The four-year duration includes a supported entry pathway giving you time to consolidate your analytical and academic skills before progressing to the main degree-level curriculum. Throughout the programme you will develop your ability to interpret data, construct arguments, work in teams and communicate professionally, all of which are directly applicable in management roles.

Graduates go on to careers in management, consultancy, marketing, finance, human resources, operations and entrepreneurship across private, public and voluntary sector organisations. Many enter graduate training schemes, while others move directly into roles that use the analytical and organisational capabilities the degree develops. Further study in management, business administration or specialist areas such as finance or marketing is also a common route.