Students preparing for their graduation ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral

Business (top-up) (test) - BA (Hons)

UCAS code N107

This is an archived page and for reference purposes only

2016

If you already have an HND or a foundation degree in a business-related subject, Kent’s top-up programme offers you the chance to gain an honours degree in just one year of university study.

2016

Overview

Kent Business School is a top 30 UK business school. With students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds and nationalities, you learn in an international environment, which helps you to develop a global business perspective.

In the National Student Survey 2016, Business Studies at Kent was ranked 15th for overall satisfaction.

Our degree programme

Your studies begin in early September with a two-week Study Skills module. Following this, you choose modules that extend your knowledge from a wide range available in the School. Our modules cover all aspects of business including human resource management, innovation and enterprise, leadership and business ethics.

Study resources

Resources to support our business students include:

  • a brand new building which houses Kent Business School and the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science
  • a wide range of publications, reference materials and news resources in the library
  • the Student Learning Advisory Service, which provides information on all aspects of effective learning and study skills.

Inspiring community

Kent Business School provides a friendly, student-focused environment, which helps you to make the most of your studies.

Alongside your lectures and seminars, you have many opportunities to interact directly with the business community. Special events and schemes within the School include:

  • workshops and seminars
  • business challenges
  • enterprise initiatives including the Business Start-Up Journey
  • networking events.

You can also get involved with the student-run Kent Business and Kent Enterprise societies, which organise regular events with guest speakers from industry and support budding entrepreneurs with their ventures.

Professional network

Kent Business School has long established links with business schools in China, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Finland. We also have excellent links with local, national and international businesses.

Your options

At Kent you can enhance your degree studies by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as adding much sought-after analytical skills to your degree via Kent’s Q-Step Centre or learning a language.

Independent rankings

In the National Student Survey 2016, Business Studies at Kent was ranked 15th for overall satisfaction. Business Studies at Kent was ranked 17th in The Times Good University Guide 2017.

Of Business Studies students who graduated from Kent in 2015, 93% of were in work or further study within six months (DLHE). Business Studies at Kent was ranked 16th for graduate prospects in The Times Good University Guide 2017.

Course structure

The course structure provides a sample of the modules available for this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.  Most programmes require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.

Based on sector research and curriculum developments, we intend to offer the following innovative new modules on this programme from 2016/17, subject to availability:

CB709 - Buyer Behaviour
CB602 - Digital Marketing Applications
CB756 - Digital Information Systems: A Management Perspective
CB753 - International and Comparative HRM
CB751 - Psychology of the Contemporary Workplace

The following modules are offered to our current students. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation:

Teaching and assessment

In a typical week, you spend eight to ten hours in lectures and seminars, and have regular access to a personal tutor for advice on matters concerning your studies. Modules also involve individual study and sessions in the computer laboratories. Modules are assessed by a combination of coursework and exams.

Programme aims

The programme aims to:

  • produce graduates of value to the region and the nation, in possession of transferable skills and prepared for employment or further study
  • develop students’ knowledge of, and employability within, the European Union
  • provide learning opportunities that are enjoyable, involve realistic workloads and offer appropriate support for students from a diverse range of backgrounds
  • foster flexibility and multidisciplinarity, and widen access to as many students as possible
  • encourage students’ personal development and their critical attitudes towards change and enterprise, to reflect the dynamism and vibrancy of the business environment
  • provide specialised studies relevant to individual vocations and professions in which students are intending to seek employment or further postgraduate study
  • develop students’ abilities in Business and related specialisms
  • instil in students a range of transferable skills, personal qualities and attitudes essential for successful performance in working life and further study.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You gain knowledge and understanding of:

  • organisations and their internal environment, culture, functions and processes including structure, governance, operations and management and the individual and corporate behaviours and cultures that exist within and between organisations
  • the external environment, including economic, environmental, legal, political and technological, and their effects at local, national and international levels upon the strategy, behaviour and management of organisations
  • management and its processes, procedures and practices, including strategies, theories, frameworks, tasks and roles, together with problem solving and decision making
  • contemporary issues affecting business organisations and their management, including business innovation, e-commerce, creativity and enterprise, knowledge management, sustainability and globalisation
  • the management and development of people within organisations and employee relations.

Intellectual skills

You gain the following intellectual abilities:

  • apply knowledge to the solution of familiar and unfamiliar problems, develop reasoned arguments and challenge assumptions
  • analyse and draw reasoned conclusions concerning structured and unstructured problems related to the business environment
  • produce written work using appropriate academic conventions, including quoting from and acknowledging written sources correctly
  • conduct research into business-related issues using a variety of sources, evaluate their usefulness and organise information effectively, including appropriate referencing and presentation
  • evaluate and analyse current changes, trends, developments and practices in business and formulate arguments and opinions
  • display effective data analysis and interpretation skills.

Subject-specific skills

You gain subject-specific skills in th following:

  • the use and interpretation of models of business problems, techniques and strategies
  • effective problem solving and decision making using appropriate business techniques, the ability to create, evaluate and assess a range of options together with the capacity to apply ideas and knowledge to a range of situations related to business and human resource management
  • the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, using appropriate formats, about business and related issues
  • conduct detailed research into business/management issues for project work, using a variety of sources and appropriate methodologies
  • the effective procurement and development of human resources and employee relations
  • the ability to explain and evaluate a variety of business strategies and operational issues.

Transferable skills

You gain transferable skills in the following:

  • the ability to manage your own roles and responsibilities, effective time-management to achieve objectives, undertake personal and career development, and apply skills gained to changing situations and contexts
  • the ability to treat other people’s values, beliefs and opinions with respect, to relate to, and interact effectively with, individuals and groups, work as a team member and develop negotiating skills
  • communication: the ability to receive and respond to a variety of information, present information in a variety of visual forms, communicate effectively in writing, and participate in oral and non-verbal communication
  • manage tasks and solve problems: the ability to use information sources, deal with routine and non-routine tasks, to identify and solve a range of problems
  • the ability to apply numerical skills and techniques appropriately
  • the ability to use a range of IT equipment and systems appropriately.

Careers

Of Business Studies students who graduated from Kent in 2015, 93% were in work or further study within six months (DLHE).

Graduate destinations

Our graduates find work in public and private sector management and consultancy both overseas and in the UK. Recent graduates have gone on to take up positions at a wide range of companies and sectors, including:

  • Deloittes
  • KPMG
  • PwC
  • Lloyds
  • Sainsbury’s
  • Tesco
  • Transport for London
  • Yahoo! UK
  • Thames Valley Police
  • Heineken.

Excellent skills

You graduate with a solid grounding in core business management concepts, theories and skills, with a particular focus on global business.

To help you appeal to employers, you also learn key transferable skills that are essential for all graduates. These include the ability to:

  • think critically
  • communicate your ideas and opinions
  • manage your time effectively
  • work independently or as part of a team.

Help with your job hunt

Kent Business School has an excellent international reputation and good links with businesses globally. This network is very useful to students when looking for work in industry. Our qualified careers practitioners provide support to all business undergraduate students for up to three years after graduation.

The University also has a friendly Careers and Employability Service, which can you give you advice on how to:

  • apply for jobs
  • write a good CV
  • perform well in interviews.

Independent rankings

Of Business Studies students who graduated from Kent in 2015, 93% of were in work or further study within six months (DLHE). Business Studies at Kent was ranked 16th for graduate prospects in The Times Good University Guide 2017.

What our graduates say

“The variety in teaching styles and sessions made learning enjoyable and rewarding..”
Joey Hosier
Business Studies with a Year in Industry graduate

Entry requirements

Home/EU students

The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.

Qualification Typical offer/minimum requirement
A level

N/A. The only qualifications accepted for this programme are:

  • English HND (Higher National Diploma) in a business-related subject with an average merit grade/merit profile, or
  • UK foundation degree in a business-related subject at 60% overall average.
GCSE

GCSE grade C in Mathematics and English

Access to HE Diploma

N/A

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma)

N/A

International students

The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.

Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.

English Language Requirements

Please see our English language entry requirements web page.

Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.

General entry requirements

Please also see our general entry requirements.

Fees

The 2016/17 annual tuition fees for this programme are:

UK/EU Overseas
Full-time

For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.

The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.

The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.

For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk

Funding

Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on our funding page.  

General scholarships

Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.

The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence

At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. For 2016 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page. 

The Key Information Set (KIS) data is compiled by UNISTATS and draws from a variety of sources which includes the National Student Survey and the Higher Education Statistical Agency. The data for assessment and contact hours is compiled from the most populous modules (to the total of 120 credits for an academic session) for this particular degree programme. Depending on module selection, there may be some variation between the KIS data and an individual's experience. For further information on how the KIS data is compiled please see the UNISTATS website.

If you have any queries about a particular programme, please contact information@kent.ac.uk.