Foundation Year Business (Year Zero)

Teaching

You are taught through a combination of lectures and practical sessions. In addition, you have timetabled meetings with your personal tutor. You will have access to computer labs and library facilities throughout your course.

Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars and other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities, including the library, the Undergraduate Centre, and our computer laboratories.

Assessment

The course provides you with opportunities to test your understanding of the subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Assessment methods include written assignments and a range of coursework assessments such as assignment reports, online tests, presentations and written tests/examinations. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark;

All assessments are spread across the year to make the workload manageable.

Overall workload

Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning, and assessment activity, the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each level of the course.

Academic support

Our Academic Support Team provides help in the following areas:

• study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills)
• written English (including punctuation and grammatical accuracy)
• academic writing (including how to reference)
• research skills (in conjunction with the library)
• critical thinking and understanding arguments
• revision, assessment and examination skills (including time management).

Our Student Support Services help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities such as sensory impairment or learning difficulties such as dyslexia. Link

Teaching staff

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes senior academics, professional practitioners with industry experience.

Students will study the following Level 3 core modules:

• Professional and Personal Skills for Business (Core, 30 credits): This module provides students with a strong foundation of academic and transferable skills for their further studies at Kingston University. Learners will consider their future careers and how to build their employability skills. Students also have the opportunity to apply their learning in a capstone project where they will research a topic of particular interest.
• Applying Business and Numerical Concepts (Core, 30 credits): This module provides students with the basics of mathematics, statistics and finance relating to business. There is usage of spreadsheets (microsoft excel) and an understanding of some basic accounting concepts is also developed.  A problem-centric approach is taken to allow students to apply mathematical techniques and accounting concepts.
• Introduction to Business Law (Core, 30 credits): The main aim of this module is to give students a general understanding of the principal areas of English Law that may be encountered in business. Key topics include business liabilities under criminal and civil law; methods of resolving business disputes; enforceable contracts; basic principles of employment law; and the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees in the workplace.
• Marketing and Customer Care (Core, 30 credits): This module will allow students to consider the role of marketing and customer service within different types of organisations (both non-profit and profit-making).  Learners will consider the application of the extended marketing mix, the importance of customer satisfaction and retention, as well as key concepts such as segmentation in customer relationship management.