FdSc Business and Enterprise

UCAS Code

328B

Location

RAU Swindon

Duration

2 years (Full-time) or 4 years (Part-time)

Academic Year

29 September 2025 to 22 May 2026

This course will equip you with the knowledge, understanding and much sought after business management skills required to succeed in industry. In today’s changing economic landscape, you will study on a course designed to meet the needs of the future.

Course overview

You will explore core business disciplines and develop practical and academic expertise in creativity and leadership. You will learn about sustainable business management by examining finance, marketing and business strategy as well as benefiting from access to a host of CV-enhancing activities such as our Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Programme, business plan competitions, careers fairs and mentoring activities.

You will visit entrepreneurs and their businesses with a view to learn the character traits of successful entrepreneurs.

We also offer you the additional opportunity of progressing on to the final year of our BSc (Hons) Business Management. Progression opportunities will also be available to appropriate honours conversion programmes at other HEIs in the UK.

Work placement

You will complete a period of required work experience during the second year. This will allow you to put the knowledge and skills that you have gained in the first year into practice in the workplace and gain industry contacts before you graduate.

A transcript of the course video can be found here.

Course content

You will gain the fundamentals in your first year through core modules and teaching based on practical and work- related situations. In your second year you will develop broader business and management skills and there will be many opportunities to engage with individual entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial businesses to gain valuable, hands-on experience. You will be assessed through a wide range of techniques including research projects, case studies, business plans, portfolios, presentations and practical skills.

**Course available from September 2025**

Timetables

Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week. Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and societies activities.

Modules*

Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Each credit equates to 10 hours of total study time. Total study time includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity.

Full-time students normally take modules worth 60 credits per 15 week semester but this can vary depending on your elective choice. Part-time students taking proportionally fewer credits per semester. All students take a total of 120 credits per level and 240 credits for the foundation degree as a whole. The overall grade for your foundation degree is based on marks obtained for modules taken at level 4 and level 5 (weighted 30:70) accordingly.

The modules available for this degree are shown below. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Year one

  • 1236 Entrepreneur in Action: Understand and assess the characteristics of an entrepreneurial mindset 
  • 1440 Academic and Practical Skills: Learn and try out a range of practical skills used in the land and farming sectors
  • 1414 Principles of Marketing: Explore the theories which underpin marketing and learn how to put these into practice
  • 1415 Global Business Environment: Gain an understanding of the economic, political and cultural factors which constitute the Global Business Environment
  • 1416 Business Idea Development and Validation: Introduce students to tools that they can use to validate a business idea, concept or a product
  • 1418 People and Organisation: Discover the theories behind organisational behaviour
  • 1443 Business Finance and Accounts: Learn the fundamentals of accountancy and use software to create and clearly present financial information 
  • 1556 Business Informatics: Analyse business data for a range of business types

Year two

  • 2023 Financial Management: Explore how business finance affects the corporate planning process
  • 2027 International Business: Explore the alternative theories of internationalisation and gain a detailed knowledge of international trade
  • 2032 Marketing Management: Identify and interpret relevant market research data to recommend future strategic directions for a company
  • 2258 Intrapreneurship and Small Business Development in Urban and Rural Context: Analyse the challenges faced by small & medium-sized businesses in urban and rural contexts
  • 2378 Research and Evidence: Explore the wide range of research methodologies available, and learn how to select the optimal approach for a given scenario
  • 2500 Professional Sales Practice: Examine the role of the salesperson and the skills required for effective sales activity within the business context
  • 2505 Work Based Learning Project: Provide opportunities for students to apply what they learned from their academic modules to their work experience
  • 2507 Business Strategy: Examine how organisations analyse their competitive environment, formulate objectives, determine their competitive strengths and weaknesses, generate and select appropriate strategies, determine the necessary organisational structures, and implement their corporate plan

Disclaimer information

The University has established various rules and regulations that you must agree to and follow if you accept an offer to study with us. View our full disclaimer notice.

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Careers and graduate destinations

The Royal Agricultural University has a strong reputation for developing highly-skilled, sought-after, employable graduates from a diverse range of backgrounds.

This course will equip you with the skills to follow careers within companies in roles such as:

  • Project Manager
  • Business Owner
  • Entrepreneur
  • Sales Manager
  • Supply Chain Manager
  • Operations Manager

We have links with a wide range of businesses, through our professional contacts, local Growth Hub, Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise partnership and over 175 years of successful Alumni.

Read More about Careers and graduate destinations

Entry requirements

Typical offers

Required: GCSE minimum five GCSEs at Grade C/4 including English Language and Mathematics (or Maths Numeracy for Welsh applicants) plus satisfactory level 3 qualifications:

  • A-Level: (example grades CD) – minimum of 56 UCAS tariff points (applicants should have either two A-levels or one A-level and two AS level subjects or equivalent qualifications)
  • C&G Advanced Technical/BTEC - Level 3 Extended Diploma (1080) at Merit-Pass-Pass
  • International Baccalaureate: 24 points
  • Access to Higher Education: 45 credits at level 3 of which minimum of 15 must be awarded at Merit or higher. (Pass in Functional Skills level 2 are accepted in lieu of GCSE English & Mathematics)

Other level 3 qualifications will be considered.

Visit the UCAS website to calculate your UCAS Tariff points from the qualifications and grades achieved.

Flexible entry

The University welcomes interest from applicants who may not have the standard entry requirements. A wide range of qualifications and experience are accepted in order to join University degree programmes. The University always considers evidence of personal, professional (APL) and educational experience, (APEL), which show an ability to meet the demands of their intended programme of study.

Further information

Alternative entry routes are available for a range of other qualifications. Prior experience is also considered, subject to approval by the programme manager and admissions staff.

Read more general information about our entry requirements.

International students will also need to achieve IELTS Academic or equivalent at the appropriate level for your programme of study. English language requirements for international students.

For any further help, please contact our admissions team:  

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Fees

Tuition fees cover the cost of a student’s academic studies. This usually includes teaching costs, registration and examination fees (not repeat or trailing modules, re-sit fees or coursework resubmission). Any costs associated with work placements will be the student's responsibility.

2024-25 Applicants

For the academic year 2024-25 the tuition fees for this course are: 

  UK International
Full-time £9,250 per year £15,300 per year

For part-time study, please contact admissions@rau.ac.uk for further information.

Please also refer to the funding your time at university page.

Tuition fees may be subject to an inflationary increase each year as set out in our Access and Participation Plan 2019/20.

If you are an Irish national you can check if you meet the requirements for Home Fees. Please visit the UKCISA website and consult the pdf guide “England HE – who pays Home Fees”. First check category ‘3 years in Republic of Ireland/UK/Islands, settled in UK’ or ‘Brexit temporary offer for courses starting before 2028: Irish citizens with residence in Europe or overseas territories’. You will possibly need to be fee assessed when you submit an application for study to the RAU.

Scholarships

The University offers a wide range of generous fee waivers and bursaries. To find out more about the these, please visit the bursaries, awards and scholarships page.

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Ready to take the plunge? Apply now

Applications to study at the Royal Agricultural University must be made through the UCAS system. This applies to all undergraduate courses.

Applications should be made by the UCAS deadline to ensure we are able to offer you a place on your first choice course. However, if you have missed the deadline please contact Admissions@rau.ac.uk as there are usually places available.

If you would like to apply during UCAS Extra or Clearing, please check that we have places available.

Applicants wishing to study on a course on a part-time basis will need to apply directly to the RAU.

Please contact admissions@rau.ac.uk to discuss your requirements and obtain an application form.