Home > Courses > BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis

Make sense of business analysis

BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis

Learn the core language, concepts and techniques behind business analysis, so you can see where you fit, understand how the work connects and approach it with more clarity.

See upcoming dates
Ask a question

BCS-accredited and IIBA-endorsed training, delivered by experienced business analysis practitioners.

BCA Course Page 20251022

Format

Live online

Duration

3 days

Pathway

BCS International Diploma

Modules

Knowledge specialism

Exams

BCS exam included

IIBA

21 PD hours/CDUs

Next public class

Foundation in Business Analysis

Mon 15 — Wed 17 February 2027

Live online · 3 days · BCS exam included

R15750

Book this class

4.8 average learner rating

A clear introduction to business analysis

Business analysis can feel broad when you first encounter it. There are roles, techniques, stakeholders, processes, requirements, business cases and change activities — and it is not always obvious how they fit together in real work.

The BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis provides a structured introduction to the discipline, helping you understand what Business Analysts do, where the main techniques fit, and how good analysis supports better decisions and business change.

Live, expert-led learning

Learn live online with practising business analysis professionals, using clear explanations, guided walkthroughs and focused practical exercises.

Small, interactive classes

Ask questions, check your understanding and get direct feedback in a supportive, small-group learning environment capped at 12 learners.

Recognised certification

Aligned to the BCS syllabus, with clear exam guidance to support you towards the BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis.

Is this course right for you?

This course is designed for people who want a clear, structured starting point in business analysis — whether you are new to the discipline or already doing analysis-type work without formal training.

You do not need prior business analysis experience. Come ready to learn the fundamentals properly, take part in discussion, and connect the ideas to the work you do — or the role you want to move into.

You are starting out in business analysis

You want a clear first step and a practical understanding of the Business Analyst role.

You want to formalise work you already do

You already do analysis-type work and want clearer language, better structure, and greater confidence.

You have related experience to build on

You want to connect your project, change, operations, product, QA, UX, data, support or IT experience to business analysis.

What you'll learn

The BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis covers the core areas of the syllabus and helps you connect them to practical business analysis work. You’ll develop a clearer understanding of the role, the main techniques and how they fit together across the business change lifecycle.

Understand the Business Analyst role

Learn what Business Analysts do, how the role varies, and which competencies support effective business analysis work.

See the strategic context

Understand how business analysis connects to strategy, business objectives and the wider change lifecycle.

Investigate business situations

Explore techniques for understanding business situations, stakeholder perspectives and opportunities for improvement.

Define solutions and business cases

Understand how solutions are identified, evaluated and supported by a clear business case.

Work with requirements

Understand how requirements are elicited, analysed, documented, validated and managed through change.

Support solution delivery

Describe how business analysis contributes during design, development, testing, implementation and benefits realisation.

Course outline

This course covers the fourteen areas of the BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis syllabus, taking you from understanding the Business Analyst role and strategic context through to requirements, solution delivery and business change.

Business analysis foundations

Start with the bigger picture: what business analysis is, why it matters, and how the Business Analyst role supports useful change across different organisations.

Topics include:

  • Business change lifecycle
  • Business analysis principles
  • Role variations
  • Holistic thinking
  • Business improvement focus

Business Analyst competencies

Understand the mix of personal qualities, business knowledge and professional techniques that help Business Analysts work effectively in different situations.

Topics include:

  • T-shaped professional
  • Personal qualities
  • Business knowledge
  • Professional techniques

Strategic context

Explore how business analysis connects to strategy, performance and organisational direction, so change work is linked to real business needs.

Topics include:

  • PESTLE
  • VMOST
  • SWOT
  • CSFs and KPIs
  • POPIT
  • Business model canvas

Business analysis services

See how business analysis work can be organised into service areas, from investigating situations to defining requirements and supporting change deployment.

Topics include:

  • Situation investigation
  • Feasibility assessment
  • Business process improvement
  • Requirements definition
  • Business acceptance testing
  • Change deployment
  • Stakeholder engagement

Investigating business situations

Become familiar with ways to explore business situations, gather useful information and build a clearer picture of what is happening now.

Topics include:

  • Workshops
  • Observation
  • Interviews
  • Scenarios
  • Prototyping
  • User role analysis
  • Rich pictures
  • Mind maps

Stakeholders and responsibilities

Understand how to identify stakeholders, consider their influence and clarify responsibilities so the right people are involved in the right way.

Topics include:

  • Stakeholder identification
  • Stakeholder wheel
  • Power/interest grid
  • Stakeholder strategies
  • RACI charts

Business processes and improvement

Learn how processes show the way work happens, how problems appear, and how process models can support better business improvement conversations.

Topics include:

  • Process hierarchy
  • SIPOC
  • Value chain
  • Business events
  • As-is models
  • Improvement approaches
  • Customer journey maps

Defining the solution

Understand how Business Analysts compare current and target states, identify gaps and help shape possible options before a solution is chosen.

Topics include:

  • Gap analysis
  • POPIT
  • Option development
  • Design thinking

Making the business case

Recognise how a business case supports decision-making by setting out options, feasibility, costs, benefits, risks and recommendations.

Topics include:

  • Business case lifecycle
  • Feasibility assessment
  • Business case structure
  • Agile business cases
  • CARDI log
  • Investment appraisal

Establishing requirements

Understand how requirements are discovered, structured, and checked so they remain aligned with business objectives and stakeholder needs.

Topics include:

  • Requirements framework
  • Requirements actors
  • Requirement types
  • Requirements hierarchy
  • Elicitation techniques
  • Requirements analysis

Documenting and modelling requirements

Become familiar with common ways to record and model requirements so they are easier to understand, review and manage.

Topics include:

  • Requirements catalogue
  • User stories
  • Use case diagrams
  • Class models
  • Product backlog
  • Business requirements document

Validating and managing requirements

Understand how requirements are agreed, traced, and controlled so they remain clear and useful as work progresses.

Topics include:

  • Requirements validation
  • Agile validation
  • Baselined requirements
  • Traceability
  • Change control

Delivering the requirements

Recognise how requirements are used across different delivery lifecycles, and why clarity matters as solutions are designed and developed.

Topics include:

  • Waterfall lifecycle
  • V model
  • Incremental lifecycle
  • Agile lifecycle
  • Lifecycle advantages

Delivering the business solution

See how business analysis continues through design, development, testing, implementation and benefits realisation, not just early investigation and requirements work.

Topics include:

  • Design support
  • Development support
  • Acceptance testing
  • Business readiness
  • Transition and migration
  • People’s response to change
  • Benefits realisation

What learners say

“In the past, it was difficult to see where and how to use techniques in my work. The way the course flowed made complete sense and helped me understand how each part of the Business Analyst’s work contributes to the next. It was amazing to see how it all comes together.”

Dijon Mendes

Business Analyst at IoT.nxt

“The course introduced me to a number of tools I hadn’t used before and showed me how effective they can be. I particularly valued the investigation techniques and business case content. It gave me a stronger grounding in the basics and useful approaches I could take back into my work.”

Petrus Morobi

Senior Business Analyst at Old Mutual Insure

What’s included with this course

Your course fee includes the live training, course materials and BCS Foundation exam, with clear preparation support built in.

Live, expert-led training

Join a live online class led by an experienced business analysis trainer, with practical discussion and guided exercises.

Materials and resources

You receive a printed course manual, 12-month electronic manual access, self-assessment questions and sample exam papers.

BCS exam and support

Your booking includes the BCS exam fee and clear preparation guidance, so you know what to expect and how to prepare.

Upcoming course dates

Choose an upcoming public class below and book your place.

Standard public class time: 09:00–17:00 SAST.

Course fee includes: live online training, course materials and the BCS Foundation exam.

Mon 15 — Wed 17 February 2027

Live online · 3 days · BCS exam included

R15750

Book this class

Need help before booking? Ask a question

Training a team?

We can run this course privately for your organisation — live online, at your premises, or at another agreed venue — with dates arranged around your team.

Get this for your team

Trusted by 1,407 learners from 402 organisations

How we approach your learning

The course is designed to make the Foundation syllabus feel clear, manageable and connected. We use guided explanation, class discussion, examples and exercises to help you understand the ideas and see how they work together in practice.

Clear explanations first

We introduce each major idea in plain language, so you can understand what it means, where it fits and why it matters in business analysis work.

Examples that make it real

We use simple examples and class discussion to connect the concepts to situations you may recognise from projects, operations, systems, services or change work.

See how it connects

You’ll see how the main concepts and techniques fit together across the business change lifecycle, rather than treating them as separate topics.

Build your confidence as you learn

Questions, exercises and discussion give you opportunities to work with the ideas, check your understanding and clarify anything that is not yet clear.

Delivery format and what to expect

This Foundation course runs live online in a structured virtual classroom, with your trainer and class group working through the material together in real time. Before the course, we’ll send joining information covering how to join, what to have ready and the resources included.

Live online delivery

Public classes run live online, from 09:00–17:00 SAST. You attend in real time with your trainer and class group, so you can ask questions, join discussions and work through the material as it is taught.

What the sessions are like

Sessions are structured and participative, using Microsoft Teams for live delivery and Mural for collaborative exercises and whiteboard activities. You’ll have time to ask questions, test your thinking and work through activities with the trainer and class group.

Materials and resources

Your course includes a printed manual, 12-month access to the electronic manual, self-assessment questions and sample exam papers. These resources support the live sessions and give you material to review and work with after the course.

What you should have ready

Have a reliable internet connection, a laptop or desktop computer, and a quiet space where you can participate comfortably. Please join with your webcam on and your microphone available so you can take part fully in discussion, exercises and class interaction.

Exam and certification

This Foundation course prepares you for the BCS exam as part of the learning. You’ll build your understanding as you go, with opportunities to practise, check your progress and prepare before taking the exam at an available date and time that suits you.

Exam included

The BCS exam fee is included with this course. We keep the exam information clear and straightforward, so you know what is included and what to expect.

Exam format and pass mark

The exam is 60 minutes and has 40 multiple-choice questions. It is supervised, completed online and the pass mark is 26 out of 40 (65%).

How the exam works

You complete the exam after the course at a date and time that suits you, subject to available exam slots. Detailed instructions are provided separately, so you know how to access and complete the exam.

How the course supports your preparation

Questions, recaps, self-assessment activities and sample exam material help you check your understanding and become familiar with the type of knowledge the assessment tests. Preparation happens throughout the course rather than being left until the end.

Free reattendance if you do not pass the first time

If you do not pass the exam the first time, you can reattend a future BCA presentation of this course at no additional course fee when booking your resit exam. The BCS resit exam fee is separate and must still be paid.

Certification outcome

When you pass the exam, you are awarded the BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis from BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.

IIBA professional development recognition

This course is IIBA-endorsed and provides 21 Professional Development hours/CDUs. You are responsible for recording and reporting your professional development with IIBA where required.

Your trainer

You’ll learn from a trainer who understands both the foundations of business analysis and how those ideas play out in real work.

Meet your trainer Joe Newbert

Joe Newbert

Business analysis practitioner and trainer

Joe brings more than 20 years of business analysis, consulting and change experience into the classroom. He helps learners understand business analysis without feeling overwhelmed by terminology or frameworks, using clear explanations and practical examples to connect Foundation concepts to real business analysis work.

  • 20+ years across business analysis, consulting and change
  • BCS International Diploma oral examiner
  • Clear, practical teaching style

Your path to the BCS International Diploma

The BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis can be used as the Knowledge-based specialism required for the BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis.

The Diploma route includes two core modules, one knowledge-based specialism and one practitioner specialism, followed by the BCS oral examination.

Core — take both

Knowledge — choose one

Practitioner — choose one

Oral examination

Explore the full qualification structure, module options, assessment requirements and guidance on planning your route through the BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis.

View the full Diploma pathway

Frequently asked questions

Here are answers to some of the most common questions learners ask before booking this course. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to get in touch, and we’ll be happy to help.

Who is this course suitable for?

This course is suited to people starting out in business analysis, exploring a Business Analyst role, or wanting a clearer understanding of the discipline. It is also useful if you already do analysis-type work and want more structure.

What does this course focus on?

This course focuses on the fundamentals of business analysis, including the Business Analyst role, strategy, stakeholders, processes, solutions, business cases, requirements and delivery, helping you see how the main areas fit together.

Do I need prior business analysis experience?

No. There are no prerequisites and you do not need previous business analysis experience or a Business Analyst job title. The course is designed as a practical Foundation-level introduction to business analysis.

Do I need to complete other BCS courses first?

No. You do not need to have completed any other BCS courses first. The Foundation Certificate is designed as a starting point and provides a base for progressing to more specialised BCS Practitioner certificates.

How does this course fit into the BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis?

The BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis counts as the Knowledge-based specialism within the BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis and supports progression to Practitioner-level study.

Is the course practical or mainly theoretical?

The course is knowledge-based, focusing on a clear understanding of business analysis. We bring concepts to life through real-world examples, discussions, breakout activities and regular self-assessment questions.

How is the course delivered?

Public courses run live online, from 09:00–17:00 SAST. You attend in real time with your trainer and class group, so you can ask questions, work through examples and take part in discussions and exercises.

How much preparation or study should I expect?

No pre-reading is required. You’ll receive your course manual beforehand if you want to look through it. You may also be given around 30 minutes of optional revision questions between sessions to support exam preparation.

Is the BCS exam included?

Yes. The BCS exam is included. It is a supervised, closed-book online exam lasting 60 minutes, with 40 multiple-choice questions. The pass mark is 26 out of 40, or 65%. You book your exam for a date and time that suits you.

What happens if I do not pass the exam first time?

If you do not pass the exam on your first attempt, you may reattend a future BCA course presentation at no additional charge, subject to space and availability, when booking your resit exam. The BCS exam fee is paid separately.

Can BCA run this course for a team?

Yes. BCA can run the course privately for your organisation, either live online or in person. This can help teams build a shared understanding of business analysis, its language and how it contributes to business change.

How can we help?

Interested in this course or exploring training for your team? Tell us what you are trying to work out, and we’ll point you in the right direction.

Understand the course

We’ll help you understand what the course covers and how it supports business analysis foundations.

Find the right fit

We’ll help you decide whether this course matches your experience, goals, and development needs.

Speak with a real person

Get guidance from someone who understands business analysis training and the work behind it.

Name *
Email address *
Phone number
I'm asking for *
Myself
My team
Organisation
Question or message *
0 of 350
Send question

Ready to take the next step?

If this course feels like the right fit, return to the upcoming dates and choose the class that works for you. If you are arranging training for a team, use the team enquiry option and we’ll help you work through the best format.

See upcoming dates
Get this for your team

Related courses

Explore other BCA courses that form part of the BCS International Diploma pathway.

>
Success message!
Warning message!
Error message!