This is an archived page and for reference purposes only
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.
Overview
Kent Business School (KBS) is a top 20 UK business school for academic teaching, student satisfaction and graduate employment prospects. Within this community, you can learn how to challenge assumptions and think creatively.
We provide a friendly, student-focused environment, which helps you to make the most of your studies. With students and staff from a variety of backgrounds and nationalities, you learn in an international environment and this helps you to develop a global business perspective.
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. Our modules cover all aspects of business including human resource management, innovation and enterprise, leadership and business ethics.
Extra activities
Alongside your lectures and seminars, you have many opportunities to interact directly with the business community. Special events and schemes have previously included:
- 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; in previous years they have organised regular events with guest speakers from industry and supported 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.
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% 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 an academic adviser 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 the 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
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 organisations, including:
- Deloitte
- KPMG
- PwC
- Lloyds Bank
- Sainsbury’s
- Tesco
- Transport for London
- Yahoo! UK
- Thames Valley Police
- Heineken.
Help finding a job
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. We also offer career and skills development events.
The University’s friendly Careers and Employability Service can also give you advice on how to:
- apply for jobs
- write a good CV
- perform well in interviews.
Career-enhancing 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.
You can also gain extra skills by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language, volunteering, or developing analytical skills via Kent’s Q-Step Centre.
Independent rankings
Of Business Studies students who graduated from Kent in 2015, 93% 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.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice.
It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
New GCSE grades
If you’ve taken exams under the new GCSE grading system, please see our conversion table to convert your GCSE grades.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | N/A. The only qualifications accepted for this programme are:
|
| GCSE | Mathematics and English grade C |
| Access to HE Diploma | N/A |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | N/A |
International students
The University welcomes applications from international students. Our international recruitment team can guide you on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country.
If you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes.
Meet our staff in your country
For more advise about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events.
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. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2017/18 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.
UK/EU fee paying students
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
In accordance with changes announced by the UK Government, we are increasing our 2017/18 regulated full-time tuition fees for new and returning UK/EU fee paying undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses will also rise from £4,500 to £4,625. This was subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. This fee will ensure the continued provision of high-quality education.
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.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
General additional costs
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Funding
University funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
Government funding
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
The Government has confirmed that EU students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will still have access to student funding support for the duration of their course.
Scholarships
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. The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
The scholarship is also extended to those who achieve AAB at A level (or specified equivalents) where one of the subjects is either Mathematics or a Modern Foreign Language. Please review the eligibility criteria.