Business Economics with Foundation Year, BSc

Welcome to Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) - we look forward to meeting your during Welcome Week.

During this week, you'll attend essential sessions that will help you settle into university life, understand what to expect from your studies, and meet the people who will support you throughout your time here.

We strongly encourage you to attend all Welcome Week activities—they're designed to help you feel confident and prepared for the exciting year ahead.

​Our lecturers will guide you academically through in-class interactions and activities, and you will be assigned and meet with your personal academic tutor (PAT) in your first few weeks of study. Our aim is to support you to develop both personally and academically and to offer you a sense of community and belonging that helps you to succeed.​

The Foundation Year is a great opportunity for you to develop your skills in order to succeed in your chosen degree, within a supportive environment. Here, you will learn and acquire essential knowledge and skills to succeed in your degree programme, such as academic writing, research, critical thinking, and time management. It also provides an excellent opportunity for you to bridge the gap between your current educational background and the demands of undergraduate studies.

Your Course

In your first semester, you will study two core Foundation Year modules:

The Big Picture

This module introduces you to the interconnected nature of contemporary global challenges and helps you develop critical thinking skills essential for university-level study.

Understanding the Business World

This module provides a foundation in business concepts and economic thinking, preparing you for your future studies.

Your Module leads will be confirmed during Welcome Week, and you'll have the opportunity to meet them during your induction sessions.

Your teaching will consist of weekly lectures and seminars.

Lectures introduce key concepts and theories, while seminars provide opportunities for discussion, group work, and applying what you've learned.

Both are essential components of your learning, and attendance is expected at all sessions.

During your first few weeks, we'll focus on helping you transition to university-level study. You'll develop academic skills such as critical reading, note-taking, referencing, and academic writing.

Don't worry if these feel challenging at first, that's exactly what the Foundation Year is designed to help you with.

Blackboard

All your learning materials, lecture slides, reading lists, and assignment briefs will be available on Blackboard, our virtual learning environment. You'll be able to access Blackboard when you have set up your computing account and you will receive an introduction to Blackboard during Welcome Week. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the platform early—it will be your primary resource throughout your studies.

To help you prepare

We strongly recommend completing courses from the Learning Skills Hub, particularly those on academic writing, time management, and effective note-taking. These will give you a head start and build your confidence.

Before you arrive, it might also be helpful to:

• Familiarize yourself with current economic news and business headlines

• Practice your time management and organizational skills

• Reflect on why you're interested in Business Economics and what you hope to achieve.

You don't need any specialist equipment for this course, just a laptop or device for accessing Blackboard and completing assignments.

​​To help you prepare for your studies, we recommend the following resources. Please note: there is no expectation to purchase every item listed—university libraries and online resources will provide access to most materials.

​Recommended Reading:

• ​Sloman, J., Garratt, D., and Guest, J. (latest edition) Economics. Harlow: Pearson Education
  A comprehensive and accessible introduction to economic principles that will support your learning throughout the Foundation Year and beyond.

• ​Begg, D. and Ward, D. (latest edition) Economics for Business. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill
  Provides a business-focused perspective on economics, ideal for understanding how economic theory applies in real-world business contexts.

• ​The Economist (magazine) or FT.com (Financial Times online)
  Regular reading of quality business and economics journalism will help you understand current issues and develop critical thinking skills.

• ​Learning Skills Hub online courses (free via CCCU)
  Particularly recommended: Academic Writing, Critical Reading, and Referencing courses

​Optional wider reading:

• ​Harford, T. (2017) The Undercover Economist. London: Little, Brown
  An engaging introduction to economic thinking in everyday life—perfect for developing your economic intuition.

​Remember, your module reading lists will be available on Blackboard and will guide you to the most relevant resources for each topic you study.