Business Studies

Three years full-time, four years sandwich degree with a work placement in year three. Students in work (full or part-time) who wish to reduce University attendance can study a four-year extended degree, involving five modules per year and some work-based learning modules.

This approach satisfies a broad spectrum of individual interests and career aspirations and focuses not just on knowledge, but also on the development of essential skills required in business. Those students who choose the optional sandwich year gain valuable work placement experience and in the past, on graduation, many students have obtained permanent work at their placement companies.

For those wishing to study the sandwich degree of this award help and advice is provided from our dedicated Centre for Work-based Learning. Sandwich students normally work for one employer, either in the UK or abroad, and the benefits of the placement year are enormous, in terms of personal and career development, networking and, in many cases, financial reward.

Stage one

The first stage introduces students to a range of essential aspects of business, such as marketing, management, enterprise and opportunity, finance and economics.

Stage two

The second stage introduces the two contrasting topic areas of strategic analysis and operations management. Human resource management makes up the third core module. Students will also specialise in their chosen subject areas, such as marketing, finance, information systems or economics. Additionally, there is placement preparation for those students intending to take a placement year.

Stage three

In the final stage, students complete modules on issues in strategic management, and career/professional development, together with a dissertation in their specialist area. In addition, students can choose to study further modules in a vocational area such as marketing, finance/accounting, operations management or human resource management. Alternatively, students can choose from more general interest modules such as cross-cultural management, global business development or social responsibility of business.  

• Balanced preparation for a career in business/management
• More option choices as students move through the stages of the course, giving the opportunity to choose modules which fit their developing career aspirations
• Opportunity to participate in a placement year where you can develop your business skills in a business setting
• Opportunities to develop entrepreneurial and employability skills
• Option to remain a full-time student but some learning and assessment is based on your part-time employment four-year extended degree

Click here for a detailed list of modules.

Typical modules include:

• Operations Management
  
• Introduction to Management
• Cross Cultural Management
• Enterprise and Opportunity
• Events Management
• Foundations of Marketing
• Global Business Development
• Information Systems for Business
• Introduction to Accounting and Finance
• Introduction to People in Organisations
• Social Responsibility of Business
• Strategic Business Analysis

The course is assessed in a number of ways through individual or group presentations, individual written assignments/reports and examinations.

There are a wide range of career opportunities for graduates, including both public and private sector employment opportunities in specific vocational areas such as marketing, IT, HRM planning and accountancy and general administrative/managerial trainee posts.