Business Information Systems with Foundation Year
BSc
Undergraduate with Foundation Year
September 2025
Overview
A degree in Business Information Systems will help you develop the skills to design and develop IT systems to solve real-world problems.
You'll learn how to analyse the requirements for new or replacement systems and gain hands-on experience in designing and implementing them. Alongside practical elements you'll learn about legal requirements and ethical questions associated with the profession.
During the course, you'll develop your understanding of how an organisation, its people and its technology can improve business sustainability. As you learn about these three areas, you'll your put your knowledge into practice through project work.
Group projects, typically sourced from industry or akin to problems in industry will develop your practical agile problem-solving abilities, enabling you to create IT solutions to real-world challenges.
We know employers are looking for dynamic, open-minded graduates who can adapt, innovate, and collaborate. This is why we have designed a new way of teaching and learning to ensure that you are work-ready for when you graduate. Our 2026 course will reflect this new approach. The 2026 course page will be made live shortly.
The thing I really love about Business Information Systems is how you get an insight into the workings of a successful business but from a IT perspective.Ellie, Business Information Systems student
Entry requirements
112
UCAS Tariff Points
Accepted qualifications
We accept a wide range of general qualifications that attract UCAS Tariff points either on their own or in combination with others. Below are some common examples.
| Qualification | Grades |
|---|---|
| A Levels | BBC |
| BTEC | DMM |
| Access | 15 Distinctions and 30 Merits |
| International Baccalaureate | 29 Points |
The grades in this table provide an indication of what is required to study this course. If you have qualifications that are not present in the table or want to tell us more about you specific situation then please contact our friendly Course Enquiry Team.
Don’t meet these entry requirements?
If you do not meet these entry requirements, a foundation year is a great way of beginning your university journey. We recommend you speak to our Course Enquiries team who will advise on a route to study that fits you.
More information
Contact us
Module information
As well as the core modules, you may also have the opportunity to study a number of option modules in your second and third year. Option modules will not be pre-selected for you. We provide examples of option modules. The availability of specific option modules may vary from year to year. The offer of an option will be subject to a minimum number of students choosing the module to ensure the appropriate student experience. The offer of option modules may also be affected by staff availability. It means we cannot guarantee the availability of a particular optional module. However, we will ensure you have a choice of option modules.
Core/optional modules
How you’ll learn
You'll be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and practical labs. You'll typically have around 12 contact hours per week (exact contact hours depending on the option modules you select).
Lab work typically involves working in small groups to enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures and to put theory into practice.
You'll also have regular scheduled meetings with an assigned Personal Academic Tutor, who will be your first point of contact for assistance and will be there to support you thoughtout your personal learning journey.
All courses are informed by the University’s Learning and Teaching Strategy 2015-2022.
One of the main aims of studying a degree is to enable you learn how to learn. When not attending lectures, seminars, workshops or other timetabled sessions you'll be expected to continue learning through self-study. Typically, this will involve completing hands-on practical activities, reading journal articles and books, undertaking research in the library, working on projects, coursework assignments/examination, and preparing for workshops and seminars.
Your overall workload typically consists of 12 contact hours per week and an additional 30 hours of independent learning per week. In addition, there may be field trips.
For each 20 credit module, your study time will about 10 hours a week plus work on assessments or preparation for examinations. Assessments would normally be expected to take approximately 50 hours for an assignment worth 50% of a 20 credit module. A similar amount of preparation and revision time would be expected for an examination worth 50% of a 20 credit module.
The team consists of highly qualified academics. They have a range of expertise and experience.
All our team members hold Doctoral or professional qualifications (e.g. Member of the British Computer Society or Eur. Ing.). You can find out more about our current teaching activities on our webpage. You should note members of the teaching team might change.
Postgraduate students assist in some teaching and assessing some modules. However, experienced academics teach the majority of lectures and seminars.
Our aim is to help you to understand how the worlds of IT and Business work together, enabling you to gain employment upon graduation in roles where you will have the expertise to bridge organisational gaps.Gareth WardCourse Director
How you’ll be assessed
You will be assessed largely by coursework, though some modules will also have examinations or class tests.
Coursework is mainly practically-oriented with appropriate theoretical elements to ensure a well-rounded education. Assessments are generally individual, with group work in some modules where this matches the approaches used in industry.
We use coursework assessment methods based on their suitability for specific modules. Formative feedback is provided formally in Year 1 and during the Year 3 individual study, and informally throughout the degree in workshops and seminars.
Methods of assessment used include production of software artefacts, project plans and diaries, essays, reports, ‘investigation-based’ presentations, oral presentations, individual studies/projects, poster presentations, online assessment, logs, examinations and time constrained assignments.
Your future career
Successfully completing this degree would naturally lead on to working in the business environment either for a consulting company working with many businesses or within one organisation. You would use your skills you have learned on your degree and also develop new skills as technology changes to support those businesses. You may specialise in one of the areas you have learned and feel passionate about, or keep a broad-based approach to using these skills.
There are also opportunities that you could take in further formal education at Master’s level, for example in human-computer interaction, digital media or software development, or you could go on to do research at MPhil or PhD level.
Related courses
Fees
The 2025/26 annual tuition fees for this course are:
| UK | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | £9,535 | £15,500 |
Tuition fees for all courses are payable on an annual basis, except where stated. The fees represented here are for study with Canterbury Christ Church University. If you are looking to study at a partner institution, please visit their website for fees information.
Please read the 2025/26 Tuition Fee Statement for further information regarding tuition fees and year on year fee increases.
Home (UK) Fees
The Government has announced that it will increase the tuition fee cap by 3.1%, in line with inflation, for the 2025/26 academic cycle. Subject to parliamentary approval, the University intends to increase our tuition fees in line with this and as per our terms and conditions. This means that from September 2025 our undergraduate home tuition fees are expected to be £9,535.
Overseas/International Fees
Undergraduate / PGCE tuition fees for international students are not set by the UK Government.
- Read advice about funding your degree
- See information about the financial support available for undergraduate studies
- If you would like information about paying your fees, please contact accounts.receivable@canterbury.ac.uk
- For specific fee queries, please contact fees@canterbury.ac.uk
Specialist facilities
We have a “Makerspace” lab open to computing students that contains PC Computers, Arduino and Raspberry Pi microcomputer development systems and a 3D printer. Students can use these technologies on week days, evenings and weekends. A networking and server room will also be available for use during certain modules for student operations.
Out of hours access is available to some computing labs specifically for computing students.
In 2020, we will open a major new facility for science, engineering, health and medicine, part of our £150m vision to transform our Canterbury Campus. The new building will be the main base for our Kent and Medway Engineering, Design, Growth and Enterprise (EDGE) Hub, with specialist centres across the region located alongside Engineering and Technology businesses.
Industry links
Several of the academic staff are members of the British Computer Society (BCS) and some staff are also linked to the Engineering Council through Chartered Engineering status (CEng, or Eur. Ing.).
Regulated by the Office for Students
The Office for Students (OfS) regulates Canterbury Christ Church University. The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education in England. It aims to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers. Further details about its work are available on the OfS website.
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Duration:
3 yearsUCAS code:
GN41Location(s):
CanterburyAny questions?
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