Overview
If you've got the ambition to become a successful business professional, and lead and manage teams and organisations, this accredited BA (Hons) Business and Management course will kick-start your career.
In your first year, you'll get a grounding in the essential topics that underpin the functions of successful businesses. You'll also develop the transferable skills you'll use throughout your degree and career in areas such as team working, prioritisation, planning, IT, entrepreneurship and communication.
In your second and third years, you'll tailor your degree to focus on the subjects that match your ambitions and interests. You'll get to grips with overcoming the challenges global businesses face and have the chance to apply your skills in industry on a summer internship or placement year.
The course sets you up for a career across plenty of sectors and industries in the UK and beyond. You'll have the skills to get ahead as a business professional in areas such as business consultancy, management, marketing, finance and risk analysis.
Tailoring your degree to your interests
This degree shares a common first year with several other business courses. So you'll have the flexibility to transfer to another business degree after year 1 if you develop an interest in a specific subject area such as human resource management, supply chain management, economics, entrepreneurship or marketing.
What you'll experience
On this degree course, you'll:
- Get a rich understanding of core business areas such as management, marketing, accounting, operations and leadership
- Learn how to work effectively with businesses and people from different cultures and countries, giving you the ability and awareness to operate successfully in the global business environment
- Tailor your studies in the areas you're most passionate about, by choosing from around 50 module options in areas such as business decision making, analytics, business sustainability, economics, team development, business law, and strategic management
- Learn leadership and management theories and apply this knowledge on group projects in scenarios that mimic what you'll experience in your business career
- Hone your entrepreneurial skills, build your network and demonstrate your skills to potential employers by working with local businesses on projects that contribute to their success
- Develop transferable life and career skills in areas such as time management and prioritisation, planning, presentations and IT
- Attend lectures and talks from industry experts and experienced professionals
You can also:
- Get industry experience or set up your own business on a placement year, taking advantage of our excellent links with local, national and international organisations including well-known companies such as IBM and Rolls Royce
- Get support with starting your own business while you study, including startup advice from experienced business professionals with our Entrepreneurs in Residence programme
- Learn a foreign language such as French, German, Italian, Spanish or Mandarin as part of your studies
- Study at partner universities overseas, experiencing different cultures and language that will prepare you for a career in international organisations
Work experience and career planning
To give you the best chance of securing a great job when you finish your course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find relevant work experience during your course.
We can help you identify placements, internships and voluntary roles that will complement your studies and build your CV.
Teaching
Teaching methods on this course include:
- lectures
- workshops
- seminars
- one-on-one tutorials
- practical sessions
- group discussions
You can access all teaching resources on Moodle, our virtual learning environment, from anywhere with a Web connection.
For more about the teaching activities for specific modules, see the module list above.
How you're assessed
You’ll be assessed through:
- individual and group coursework
- examinations
- online tests
- practical exercises
- independent research
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
The way you’re assessed may depend on the modules you select. As a guide, students on this course last year were typically assessed as follows:
- Year 1 students: 58% by written exams and 42% by coursework
- Year 2 students: 32% by written exams and 64% by coursework
- Year 3 students: 24% by written exams and 76% by coursework
Careers and opportunities
As a versatile degree, which you can tailor to the areas that interest you, your degree will open doors to various career paths in the business world.
Our graduates have worked for companies including Rolls Royce, L'Oreal and BAE Systems.
You could also do a postgraduate qualification in a business-related area such as project management, digital marketing or human resource management. Or you could join a graduate development scheme.
Our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your skills to work in the industry when you graduate. You can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years after you leave the University.
Roles you could do with a Business and Management degree
Previous graduates have secured roles in areas such as:
- business development
- project management
- consultancy
- recruitment
- marketing
- publicity
- finance
- risk analysis
Placement year
After your second year, you can do a paid placement year to boost your experience and put your knowledge to work. Previous students have worked in organisations such as IBM and Bosh. You can also set up your own business.
We'll help you secure a placement that fits your workplace ambitions. You'll get help with identifying and applying for placements. And you'll get mentoring and support with regular contact with teaching staff to get the most out of the year.