- UCAS Code: I20F
- Level: Foundation
- Starting: September 2018
- Study mode: Full Time (4 years)
- Location: City Centre
Want to keep the wheels of commerce turning? Our BSc Business Information Technology degree will equip you to support the computing needs of commerce and industry.
While studying our course, you’ll use dedicated facilities as well as work with tutors, researchers and businesses to apply information technology in business. Theory will be combined with practical skills which you can exercise in case studies and live projects, ensuring you graduate with sound understanding of business analysis.
A Business Information Technology degree is your passport to an absorbing, well-paid career in some of the world's biggest, most exciting companies.
About the Foundation Year
The Foundation Year course option enables you to study for our BSc (Hons) degree over an extended full-time duration of four years by including a Foundation Certificate (year one of four). The Foundation Certificate provides a broad study programme that underpins the follow-on degree. In order to progress to the next year of your degree, it is necessary to achieve a pass in all of the modules of the Foundation Certificate.
What's covered in the course?
The efficient and effective management of information, IT, people and processes is critical in the digital corporate arena. You will work collaboratively with tutors, researchers and businesses, applying practical skills to real-life case study materials and live project briefs.
We cover the design, development and use of IT systems, enabling you to gain key skills in database design and application development, as well as understanding how organisations can harness the data being captured through the Internet of Things.
You'll gain technical, research, design and organisational skills that will make you employable in a wide range of industries, and you’ll co-operate with others, planning and undertaking tasks and projects, and communicating effectively through writing and presentations.
“When I first joined Birmingham City University, I became a student ambassador. It was a great feeling to show prospective students the fantastic equipment and technology that's on offer at this campus.”
— Jenny Powell
Why Choose Us?
-
You will work in advanced software development and computer programming labs, using dedicated facilities for systems analysis, networking, e-commerce and business intelligence – all of which reflect advanced professional practice.
-
You will have the option of a sandwich year, enabling you to undertake valuable work experience.
-
You will gain experience in working in multidisciplinary teams and understand how to apply your skills within a range of industries.
-
You’ll get to work in our £260 million City Centre Campus, using state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge technologies.
-
In 2017, we spent £6.5 million on improvements to our Millennium Point facilities so you’ll have even more access to dedicated, industry-standard equipment.
-
Graduates have gone on to work at companies and organisations such as IBM, Mercedes-Benz and Microsoft.
-
You will benefit from the expertise of our academic staff, who have a wealth of industry experience.
Where our students go
Our students have gone on to work with companies such as:
- Deutsche Bank
- IBM
- John lewis
And in jobs such as:
- Service Management Analyst
- Web Designer / Developer
- Technical Consultant
* Please note this course has changed name for 2017/18. The KIS data below relates to the previous course title.
This course is open to International students

Discover the School of Computing and Digital Technology
Visit our School site for more student work and extra information.
We are members of:

Course Accreditations

Subject to approval
This course is in the final stages of approval to ensure it meets the very highest standards of quality, creativity and applied learning.
Entry Requirements
We accept a range of qualifications, the most popular of which are detailed below.
UK students
Essential | ||
---|---|---|
At the point of application, you must have GCSE at Grade 4 (C) or above in English Language and Mathematics. Equivalent qualifications can be considered in lieu of GCSE subjects as long as the required subjects are covered. |
||
BB or 80 UCAS tariff points from A/AS Level with a minimum of 2 A Levels |
||
Typical Offers | ||
UK Qualification | Requirements 2019/20 | |
GCE A Level/ AS Level | BB or 80 UCAS tariff points from A/AS Level with a minimum of 2 A Levels | |
Access to Higher Education Diploma | 60 credits overall. Minimum of 45 credits at level 3. Including 12 technical credits at Merit or Distinction. Must already hold GCSE Mathematics and English Language Grade C or higher or the equivalent at application point. | |
BTEC National Diploma (12-units not including early years)/ Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma | D*D or combined with other level 3 qualifications to achieve a minimum total of 80 UCAS points | |
BTEC Extended Diploma (18-units not including early years)/ Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma | MMP - 80 UCAS points | |
BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/ Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate | Combined with other level 3 qualifications to achieve a minimum total of 80 UCAS points | |
BTEC Diploma in Foundation Studies in Art and Design | Distinction | |
International Baccalaureate Diploma |
Obtain a minimum of 24 points overall. Students who do not complete the IB Diploma and who achieve the minimum of 11 points from two High Level subjects, will be considered on the basis of their IB Certificates. For students who do not already hold a GCSE in Mathematics at Grade C/4 or above grade 5 in Maths (Standard Level) from the IB Diploma will be accepted. For students who do not already hold a GCSE in English Language at Grade C/4 or above Standard Level English Language (not literature) Group A English Group A - Grade 4 or above, OR English Group B Grade 5 from the IB will be accepted. A combination of GCSEs, A-levels and IB certificates will be considered on a case by case basis. |
|
Irish Leaving Certificate |
Pass the Irish Leaving Certificate with a minimum of 80 tariff points, achieved in four Higher level subjects. This must include Maths and English Language taken at either Ordinary level (minimum grade O1-O4 (or A-C/A1-C3)) or Higher level (minimum H3/D1 taken from three subjects). Must be from Technology, Science, or Computing related subjects. Higher levels to include Mathematics at Higher levels. |
|
Scottish Higher/ Advanced Higher |
Achieve a minimum of 80 tariff points achieved in either three Advanced Highers or from a combination of two Advanced Highers plus two Highers. Where three Advanced Highers have been taken achieve a minimum of grades CDD. Where a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers have been taken you must achieve (grades of DD in two Advanced Highers plus grades of DD in two Highers). Must be from Technology, Science, or Computing related subjects |
|
Welsh Baccalaureate (core plus options) | Combined with other level 3 qualifications to achieve a minimum total of 80 UCAS points | |
Other qualifications | ||
If you have a qualification that is not listed in the table please refer to our full entry requirements on UCAS. Further guidance on tariff points can be found on the UCAS website. |
EU/International students
Essential | ||
---|---|---|
EU/Non-EU (International) Qualifications | Requirements 2019/20 | |
IELTS | 6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum in all bands | |
International Baccalaureate Diploma (or equivalent, including internationally accredited Foundation courses). |
Obtain a minimum of 24 points overall. Students who do not complete the IB Diploma and who achieve the minimum of 11 points from two High Level subjects, will be considered on the basis of their IB Certificates. For students who do not already hold a GCSE in Mathematics at Grade C/4 or above grade 5 in Maths (Standard Level) from the IB Diploma will be accepted. For students who do not already hold a GCSE in English Language at Grade C/4 or above Standard Level English Language (not literature) Group A English Group A - Grade 4 or above, OR English Group B Grade 5 from the IB will be accepted. A combination of GCSEs, A-levels and IB certificates will be considered on a case by case basis. Country-specific entry requirements and qualifications. |
International students who cannot meet the direct entry requirements can begin their degree studies at Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC).
From A/AS Level with a minimum of 2 A Levels
- UK students
- International students
The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.
Guidance for UK students

UK students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.
Applying through UCAS
Register with UCAS
Login to UCAS
Complete your details
Select your course
Write a personal statement
Get a reference
Pay your application fee
Send UCAS your application
Additional costs
There are no compulsory additional costs or charges associated with studying on this course. While you may choose to purchase personal copies of text books, all our key text books are available from our library or online (subject to normal library loan and online access arrangements). If your course includes a residential study session, the accommodation costs for this are already included in your course fee.
Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £50 for each year of your studies for stationery and study materials. All our students are provided with 100 free pages of printing each year to a maximum total value of £15.
Accommodation and living costs
The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.
Foundation year
Year one
Year two
Year three
You will experience a wide variety of subjects and methods, all reinforced by practical, hands-on learning activities. You will be encouraged to undertake self-directed study, enhancing your organisational and management skills.
Our teaching philosophy revolves around you both learning by doing and transferring acquired knowledge to others by teaching others. Activities will occur both individually and in teams, with tutors providing leadership and mentoring aimed at supporting your transition into independent learners. In this partnership we will be encouraging you to become proactive, so that you can develop your confidence to undertake a range of progressively complex and challenging tasks.
You will demonstrate acquisition of these work-related skills by using an assessment strategy that is reflective of industry needs. Assessments will be varied and include knowledge and skills tests. However, the focus will predominantly be on the use of coursework. Here you will learn to present your ideas and showcase your work to a variety of audiences, both as members of a team or individually. You will also learn to present your ideas through written pieces of work for example by formulating proposals and reports.
Attendance requirements
There are 30 attendance weeks in each academic year.
A typical week on this course will include 12 hours of contact time over three or four days, plus self study time.
Professional Accreditation
Some of the course modules will provide the taught element of professional accreditations like SAS (business intelligence), Oracle, Microsoft, Cisco and CompTIA. This preparation will allow you to extend the learning outside the classroom, to a possible qualification.
Student stories

Jaspreet Phagura
Our students also use their skills to develop commercial applications. Jaspreet Phagura launched a new application that allowed users to buy tickets to local events via their mobile phone.
The ‘iRaver’ application was designed to save students time when searching for upcoming events in their local area. Once registered, users can book tickets for events in a few simple steps, use the ‘call a taxi’ function, which instantly identifies local taxi companies in the surrounding area, and identify public houses, bars and nightclubs in a specified area via its ‘near me’ function.

Jenny Powell
Dedicated student Jenny Powell has surprised herself with her own success. She didn’t expect to find herself at university – now she’s planning her postgraduate studies! Jenny’s “thoroughly enjoying” her time here, making use of the great support on offer to give her studies everything she’s got.
Jenny’s aiming high – and putting in the hard work to achieve her goals, alongside 21 hours a week of part-time work. "I am shocked, as I wouldn't have expected to get here when I was at school, “ she admits. Now, she’s aiming for a first. “I love learning and studying,” she says. “I would like to get a job at the end as a business analyst or web development.”
Trips and Visits
We continually organise student trips to various external events and organisations. In the past, trips have been organised for our students to careers events, to help engage our students with their future employers and increase their employability.
Trips have included a visit to ‘The Gadget Show’, a television series which focuses on consumer technology which is broadcast on Channel 5, and Bletchley Park, the home of British code breaking and the birthplace of modern IT.
International Opportunities
Our Erasmus scheme will allow you to undertake part of your studies abroad, allowing you to experience life and studying in another EU country.
It is open to undergraduates in their second year (or above) and offers a unique opportunity to enhance a student’s CV and experience new cultures.

SAS Certification
The SAS Student Academy at Birmingham City University enables our students to acquire core skills in both SAS Base Programming and SAS Enterprise Guide, plus statistics and data mining using SAS tools.
Students who belong to our SAS Student Academy can take SAS Certified Base Programmer for SAS 9 exam. This is the ideal pathway for those relatively new to SAS programming or new to SAS certification. It is also the principle certification for other advanced certifications available from SAS.
Academy students take the exam through the Pearson Vue test centre.Academy students get 50% off the advertised price, although students will need to ask their academy for the discount code before booking. Use exam ID A00-211; required when registering with Pearson VUE.
To gain the SAS certificate students must achieve a score of 70% correct answers to pass.
Further Study
At course completion, there is a high level of interest for further study. This relates to the need to continue to research and practice, as a core activity, but also recognises statistical evidence in 2014 from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills which noted that someone with a Master’s degree earns on average £9,000 more per year than someone with a degree qualification, which, when coupled with the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (2014) observation that one in seven jobs will require a postgraduate qualification by 2022, indicates that postgraduate study is increasingly significant for employability.
Student stories Aliya Ladha
Award for ICT Web Design
I chose to study at the University because it was the course which interested me most out of all the others I considered. I also thought Birmingham would be a great city for studying and exploring.
I’ve always had a passion for learning more about computers and how they work. What started out as a hobby, surfing the internet after school, soon became a real interest in how the internet worked and how websites were created. As a result, I ended up studying both business and ICT at college.
I wanted to continue to learn more about ICT while keeping my options open by also studying business, so the course at Birmingham City University was a natural choice.
Enhancing your employability skills
You will be given the practical, technical and academic skills that will help you to stand out when you step onto the job ladder.
When you study with us you’ll learn all the key aspects of business information technology that will help you to get a job, from underlying concepts and principles to the relationship between theory and practice.
You’ll use advanced software development and computer programming labs, as well as dedicated facilities for systems analysis, database design and development, e-commerce, and business intelligence.
You will also benefit from our strong links with companies such as SAS, SAP, Oracle, Microsoft, Samsung and IBM, which keep your course relevant, real-life, and respected by employers.
We ensure that you’ll graduate with the skills, creativity and experience needed to succeed in employment.
Placements
We aim to have you employer-ready by the time you graduate and as part of this commitment we encourage you to further enhance your career prospects by including an industrial placement in your course.
You will do your placement after the second year of study, which will extend the duration of your course to four years.
Thanks to our excellent partnerships and strong relationships with industry, you could join the ranks of our students who have gained exceptionally high quality work experience at companies including Cisco Systems, IBM, 3M, and Airbus.
Placements provide the workplace experience that many employers look for and give you an invaluable opportunity to develop your practical expertise, earn money and try out a potential career path.
The Faculty's placements team will give you every support throughout the placement process.
OpportUNIty

OpportUNIty: Student Jobs on Campus ensures that our students are given a first opportunity to fill many part-time temporary positions within the University. This allows you to work while you study with us, fitting the job around your course commitments. By taking part in the scheme, you will gain valuable experiences and employability skills, enhancing your prospects in the job market.
It will also allow you to become more involved in University life by delivering, leading and supporting many aspects of the learning experience, from administration to research and mentoring roles.
Graduate jobs
Graduates have gone on to work at companies and organisations such as:
- Britvic
- Capgemini
- ConsultCRM
- eBECS
- Interserve
- Legal and General
- nPower
- Pythagoras
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here.
- Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies.
- Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country.
- Learn where to find financial support for your studies.
Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC)
International students who have a serious interest in studying with us but who perhaps cannot meet the direct entry requirements, academic or English, or who have been out of education for some time, can enter Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC) and begin their degree studies.

BCUIC is part of the global Navitas Group, an internationally recognised education provider, and the partnership allows students to access the University’s facilities and services and move seamlessly through to achieving a Bachelor’s degree from Birmingham City University.

Our Facilities
We are constantly investing in our estate and are currently in the process of spending £340 million on new learning facilities. This course will be taught at Millennium Point at the City Centre Campus.
As a student at the School of Computing and Digital Technology, you have access to networked laboratories equipped to industry standards and running the latest software, giving you the best possible introduction to the technologies you will encounter in the world of work.
Dedicated facilities are provided for systems analysis, computer networks, programming in a wide range of languages, artificial intelligence, modelling and visual programming, e-commerce and .net environments, and business intelligence, as well as supporting the application areas of mechatronics, games technology, electronics and computer forensics.

Computer networking
The laboratories are well-equipped for all our computer networking courses, as well as specialist areas for practical work such as voice-over internet protocol (VoIP), forensic and ethical hacking technologies, wireless and mobile technologies and radio frequency identification technologies to name but a few.

Software development and computer programming
There are a number of open access, software development and computer programming
laboratories that can be used to develop systems and programmes, including database management systems such as MySQL, to name but a few.

Systems laboratories
Our embedded systems laboratories are used to develop real-time systems, such as specialist hardware training and development resources, and industrial-standard software development and simulation tools. These include microcontroller software and robotics design and development, to name but a few.

Electronic systems
To underpin the basic principles of electronic systems, we have a well-equipped laboratory of general and specialist test and measurement kits, including powered prototyping development boards, dual power supplies, frequency generators and counters and digital multi-meters to name but a few.Forensic computing
Our successful development of forensic computing has led to a specialist forensics laboratory that is fully equipped with essential hardware and software for this sensitive area of study. The laboratory includes high-spec PC’s with built-in multi interface Tableau write blockers, EnCase and FTK computer forensic software and steganography detection and analysis software, to name but a few.
More on our facilities
Professor Sharon Cox
Professor of Information Systems
Professor Sharon Cox’s research in information systems and information management is based on her industrial experience. While developing the corporate data model at Jaguar Cars, Sharon was offered a fully funded studentship from Aston University to embark on doctoral research. Her research focused on developing models to explore the information and information systems needed by organisations to achieve their strategic objectives. With an established industry background, Sharon was committed to engaging in research that had direct practical benefits to industry. She therefore undertook action research with a number of organizations in the manufacturing, construction and motorsport industries. This resulted in the development of the Information Systems Development Aligned with Business Strategy (ISDABS) methodology.
Sharon joined the University in 1995 and was keen to maintain links with industry. She therefore completed a four year part-time secondment to Britvic Soft Drinks in the role of Corporate Data Manager. In this role she developed and implemented strategies, policies and processes to improve management of the organisation’s data resource. This included addressing the data management challenges of collaborative e-business systems in the supply chain. Sharon has continued to work with industry through research, consultancy and knowledge transfer partnership projects.
Prior to receiving a research Professorship, Sharon was awarded a University Teaching Fellowship for her innovations in the learning and teaching of postgraduate research methods. In her current role of Associate Head (Research) for the School of Computing, Telecommunications and Networks Sharon supports the development of research in the School as a means to enhance the design and delivery of the curriculum. The School focuses on applied research that has direct benefits to industry and ensures graduates are aware of the latest techniques in their specialist areas.

Deborah Evans
Associate Professor
Deb Evans is an Associate Professor in the Centre for Digital Transformation at Birmingham City University. She is the Academic Lead for the Digital Systems and Change Team within the Centre for Digital Transformation. She teaches Strategic Information Systems Planning, Enterprise Systems, IT Innovation, Business intelligence and Technology Entrepreneurship, and Digital Change Management at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
She has worked extensively with senior management of businesses throughout the UK on a range of innovation projects, including academic supervision of KTPs focussing on the creation, development, and implementation of transformative change in traditional artisan SME companies.

George Squires
Associate Professor
George is an Associate Professor in the School of Computing and Digital Technology.
From 2009 until 2015, George was the Associate Head of the School of Digital Media Technology (DMT), responsible for academic matters.
His responsibilities included managing the student experience for the School and new curriculum development. In collaboration with the BBC, he helped to develop new undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Digital Broadcast Technology.
From 1998 until 2009, he was the manager of the eBusiness Centre in the Technology Innovation Centre (TIC), responsible for the University’s Microsoft IT Academy, developing training courses and embedding Microsoft Operating Systems technologies including Microsoft Groove Virtual Office in the Faculty's undergraduate curriculum. He also set up a Pearson Vue testing centre to provide a complete training and certification service.
He has extensive experience of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships as lead academic, supervisor and consultant. He has been involved in projects to do with the implementation of IT systems to improve business processes. Examples include forecasting software, eCommerce capability, Customer Relationship Management, design and manufacturing capability, river water monitoring, and integrating stock control and order processing.
George was a member of the Accredit UK Advisory Board from 2005-2009, which develops standards for suppliers and purchasers of IT products and services.
Prior to joining Birmingham City University, George was a Training Manager for British Telecom, responsible for a team designing, developing and delivering training courses in IT and business management related subjects.
Ash Mahmood
Programme Leader
Ash Mahmood has been the Programme Leader for a group of postgraduate courses in the School of Computing and Digital Technology.
He has also been involved with the delivery and project management of industry based projects through the whole lifecycle from initiation to closure. He works with web technologies which include web standards and protocols, security, databases and management, client /server side technologies, personalisation architectures and management.

Mr Chris Maguire
Programme Leader
Chris’s previous experience includes extensive work in web development as well working as a trainer in Microsoft technologies, carrying out professional training for many years across a multitude of programs as part of the Microsoft Academy.

Dr Kathleen Maitland
Senior Lecturer in Computing, Director SAS Student Academy United Kingdom and Ireland
Kathleen has worked for Birmingham City University since 2001, when she completed her doctorate in Information Systems Evolution, and during that time has developed many courses and held many course directorships.
Kathleen developed the SAS Student Academy for UK and Ireland at Birmingham City University, which she now runs. Initially, Kathy took the SAS technical lead role, where she installed as well as taught SAS as part of the Master's curriculum before extending this role to academic lead.

Dr Cain Evans
Senior Lecturer Computer Science, Programme Leader MSc Advanced Computer Science
Dr Evans is a Senior Lecturer in Computer Science. He has been working in higher education since 1999 and at Birmingham City University since 2001. He has published articles on E-business, mobile computing and smart-care-space and been published in journals, conferences and edited books. More recently, he has been focusing on Open Big Data and Smart City.

Dr Jagdev Bhogal
Acting Head of Computing & Data Science Department; Associate Professor Database Systems
Jagdev is an experienced lecturer whose main teaching area is Database Systems. She is the Course Leader for MSc Business Intelligence and the MSc Big Data Analytics courses. Jagdev has published conference and journal papers on relational/object/nosql database systems, ontologies, text mining and cloud computing.

Karim Visram
Senior Lecturer in Computing
Karim initially worked as a trainee analyst and programmer for The Wellcome Foundation (now part of GlaxoSmithKline). He then worked as an analyst/programmer and also a development engineer for Midlands Electricity PLC (this is now part of Western Power Distribution) for fourteen years.
Karim was a (part-time) Visiting Lecturer in Computing Science at the University of Birmingham for five years. He is now currently a (full-time) Senior Lecturer in Computing at Birmingham City University. He is also a (part-time) Associate Lecturer for The Open University.