Do you want to explore and experiment in a range of business areas? Are you interested in one day leading a team, across a variety of functions in enterprise?
Our Business and Management degree is far-ranging and through detailed theory and hands-on experience, builds important leadership skills across a range of business areas.
You will graduate with the expertise to tackle business-based challenges head on with impactful, useful solutions using a variety of management styles and firm decision-making prowess. Your career will be kick-started further by being eligible to gain the Chartered Management Institute’s (CMI) Level 5 Professional Certificate in Management and Leadership at the end of your course.
The Foundation Year aims to extend access to university education to students from a wide variety of educational backgrounds and age groups and prepares these students for our three or four-year Business and Management degrees. On successful completion of your Foundation Year, you move on to the first year of our BSc (Hons) programme
Choose to explore areas such as supply chain management, entrepreneurship, human resource management, corporate social responsibility, and business law. You can even choose to deepen your knowledge on a specific business aspect thorough a research-led project.
"Every lecturer we had was an expert in their field – we had some of the best people teaching us."
~Zaid Mahmood, BSc Business and Management, graduated 2021
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. All applications are assessed on an individual basis but some of our typical requirements are listed below. Students offering qualifications not listed are welcome to contact our Admissions Team for further advice. Please also see our general entry requirements.
DDD
Mathematics grade 4 / C and English grade 4 / C
The University welcomes applications from Access to Higher Education Diploma candidates for consideration. A typical offer may require you to obtain a proportion of Level 3 credits in relevant subjects at merit grade or above.
MMP
24 points overall or 12 points at Higher Level
N/A
The University will consider applicants holding T level qualifications in subjects closely aligned to the course.
If you are an international student, visit our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country, including details of the International Foundation Programmes. Please note that international fee-paying students who require a Student visa cannot undertake a part-time programme due to visa restrictions.
Please note that meeting the typical offer/minimum requirement does not guarantee that you will receive an offer.
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you do not meet our English language requirements, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
Duration: 4 years full-time, 7 years part-time
Our programmes require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules, typically taking four modules per term over two terms in each of the three stages of study. 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.
The Foundation Year aims to extend access to university education to students from a wide variety of educational backgrounds and age groups and prepares these students for our three or four-year degrees.
After successful completion of the foundation year, you can transfer on to the three or four-year Business and Management programmes. Please refer to the BSc Business and Management, BSc Business and Management with a Year Abroad or BSc Business and Management with a Year in Industry programme for more information about specific modules.
The module will propose alternative solutions to the problem of resource allocation leading to consideration of the operation of the market mechanism; how the decisions and actions of economic agents are co-ordinated. Economic systems will be evaluated including treatment of circumstances in which markets are considered to fail. Market failure will be analysed utilising the micro-economic techniques developed earlier. In dealing with macro-economic issues such as inflation and unemployment, the UK economy will be used as the primary example, but students will be encouraged to apply their understanding to problems and policies in other economies as well. Likewise, the treatment of international trade will focus on the position of the UK economy with particular emphasis on its place within the European Union and the debate over the adoption of the Single Currency.
Through this module, students will develop their analytical and problem solving skills to successfully complete other related modules on the IFP. The programme of study will be divided into lectures in calculus, algebra and statistics.
As part of the orientation process, students will take a pre-course test which, along with other factors, will determine whether they go into the upper or lower band. This will involve an in class test in the first week. Students will then be grouped according to their mathematical ability and academic focus. The teaching in the upper bands will be geared more towards systematically working towards a solution while that in the lower bands will deal with mathematical techniques.
The module will deal with alternative solutions to the problem of business resource allocation leading to consideration of the operation of the marketing function and how the decisions and actions of managers are co-ordinated. Operational systems will be evaluated including treatment of circumstances in which management techniques are considered to fail. Financial failure will also be analysed utilising the ratio analysis techniques developed.
This module will introduce students to the basic skills of using Microsoft Excel, a market leading analytical tool and software package. It introduces the way in which business organisations use quantitative data to obtain insights for decision-making. Techniques will be taught and delivered with case studies and simulated datasets.
Topics to be covered include:
Microsoft Excel functions and formulae: Nested functions, filters, lookup functions, and logical functions
Data visualisation: Graphic operations
Data analysis and statistical analysis: conditional formatting, Solver, Add-ins and Trend analysis
Excel Macros: defining, recording, assigning, running and storing, etc.
This module will cover the key concepts of microeconomics and theories related to the individual, firm and industry in the short and long run, underpinned by existing evidence on past and current economic trends in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.
Indicative topics are:
Key microeconomic concepts such as opportunity cost and equity versus efficiency
Supply and demand; elasticity
Cost and revenues
Profit maximisation under different market structures
Input markets; labour and capital
Management Principles aims to provide an understanding of the challenges of managing people within complex work organisations. The experience of work and employment are being affected by rapid change as a result of a number of factors including new technology, the growth of global competition and the changing demographic profiles and values of the work force. These developments are considered within an historical context. An exploration of their implications for management practices and organisational forms will also be conducted.
Students will be introduced to the main concepts and theories through readings and discussions of the main authors in the field. Case studies will be used to show how these concepts can impact upon management decision making within work organisations.
The aim of this module is to give students a solid grounding in key statistical techniques required to analyse effectively business data and data relevant for business. Indicative content:
• Maths and statistical skills for business; revision of algebra and basic mathematical functions.
• Summarising data with histograms, bar charts, frequency distributions, measures of central tendency and dispersion.
• Spreadsheets: features and functions of commonly-used spreadsheet software including: workbook, worksheet, rows, columns, cells, data, text, formulae, formatting, printing, , charts and graphs, data management facilities,
• Probability: The relationship between probability, proportion and percent, addition and multiplication rules in probability theory and Venn diagrams.
• Common Probability Density Functions.
• Sampling and its use in inference, and applications of sampling in business management.
• Regression and correlation: scatter plots; simple regression; interpreting computer output.
• Forecasting using spreadsheets.
• Hypothesis testing using z-scores and t-scores
• Simulations- random number generation
The module introduces to students the importance of marketing in competitive and dynamic environments. The key topics of the module are:
• The marketing concept
• The marketing environment
• Market segmentation & targeting
• Brand development and management
• Management of the marketing mix
• Marketing research and new product development
• The implications of internationalisation for marketing managers
• Ethical issues in marketing
The module will cover various aspects of the changing international business environment, and their impact upon business operations and strategy. It will give students an appreciation of the business difficulties faced; the variety of factors influencing the choices and compromises that have to be made in international businesses, and the implications of those for the future viability and effectiveness of the organisations concerned.
An list of topics is given below:
• Globalisation: Definition, Evolution, Implications for countries, firms and people
• The International Business Environment: World Institutions, Patterns of International Trade and FDI Activities
• The Triad: European Union, United States, Japan - Investment, Trade, Relations
• Developing and Emerging Economies: Opportunities and Challenges
• Cultural Frameworks for International Business
• Entry Modes: Theory and Practice
• Internationalisation Theories
• International Expansion Strategies
• International Stakeholders – Ethical Issues
This module will develop core understanding and skills of using Microsoft Excel, a market leading analytical tool and software package. It covers the way in which enterprises such as businesses, not-for-profit organisations and governments utilise quantitative data to obtain insights for decision-making. Techniques will be taught and delivered with case studies and simulated datasets.
Topics to be covered include:
• Microsoft Excel functions and formulae: Nested functions, filters, lookup functions, and logical functions
• Data visualisation: Graphic operations
• Data analysis and statistical analysis: conditional formatting, Solver, Add-ins and Trend analysis
• Excel Macros: defining, recording, assigning, running and storing, etc.
This module aims to give students a better understanding of the importance of accounting in the modern world and how accounts are produced and regulated to produce meaningful information for all internal and external stakeholders.
This module provides fundamental knowledge of a range of business organisations, business purpose, ownership types and stakeholder influence. It further introduces organisational structures, functional areas and the impact of the external environment on business. Furthermore, this module introduces the many factors that shape the nature of organisations operating in an increasingly complex business environment such as innovation, internationalisation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. Module participants explore this dynamic nature of business and consider successful existence within modern organisations through studying and applying employability skills such as leadership, teamwork, and resilience.
Managing People and Teams aims to provide an understanding of the key concepts within management theory. This core knowledge is applied to a range of organisational settings so that the influence of management theory on management practice is understood. The role played by specialist management functions within Human Resource Management (HRM) and Employment Relations is investigated.
Students will be introduced to the main concepts and theories through readings and discussions of the main authors in the field. Case studies will be used to show how these concepts can impact upon management thinking and decision making within work organisations.
Indicative topics are:
• Groups and teams
• Motivation in the workplace
• Communication theory and practice
• Power and control
• Job design
• Flexible working practices
• Diversity in the workplace
• Managing learning
• Managing change
This module aims to develop a critical understanding of project management to enable students to recognise the importance of the discipline in a variety of organisational and functional contexts. Students should develop a critical understanding of the concepts employed in project management at strategic, systems and operational levels, and an appreciation of the knowledge and skills required for successful project management in organisations. The module adopts the Project Management Institute (PMI) approach to delivering projects, and is structured as follows:
1. Introduction to Project Management
2. Scope Planning
3. Time Planning
4. Cost Planning
5. Risk Planning
6. Earned Value Management
7. Human Resources Management
8. Agile Project Management
9. Benefits Management
Information Systems (IS) are at the heart of every business and pervade almost every aspect of our lives (work, rest and play). Information Systems are treated in this module within the context of the social sciences, offering students a management and organisational perspective on the role of IS in business and how they are managed. This module is not technically orientated but designed to show how information systems are conceived, designed, implemented and managed in contemporary organisations.
The aim of this module is to provide students with the methods and approaches used by managers to exploit new digital opportunities and position their organisations to realise enhanced business value. By the end of this module, students will be equipped with the necessary tools to deal with current business issues including digital transformation through information systems and emerging business models via technological innovations.
This module will require students to develop the ability to use appropriate techniques of analysis and enquiry within the management of operations, and to learn how to evaluate alternatives and make recommendations.
Indicative topics of the module are:
• Strategic role of operations and operations strategy
• Design of processes and the implications for layout and flow
• People, jobs and organisation
• Capacity planning and scheduling
• Inventory control
• Supply chain management, lean systems and digital operations
• Quality planning and managing improvement
The module helps prepare students to acquire and develop the employability and transferable skills necessary to search and successfully apply for work experience and graduate opportunities in the commercial and public sector and postgraduate study.
The curriculum builds on employability support offered at Stage 1 providing intermediate level knowledge and exercises in application writing, CVs, careers advice, interview and assessment centre techniques, numeracy and competency tests, and psychometric evaluation.
This module begins by looking at the role of investments and finance in an organisational context. It then considers the role of financial markets and the links between investors and businesses. Students will learn different investment appraisal techniques used in capital budgeting decisions, such as NPV and IRR. The module also covers the basics of any investment decision, such as the relation between return and risk. In the second part of the module, student will learn about short and long term sources (i.e. capital structure) of finance available to businesses and how to determine the cost and value of each source of long-term finance.
Topics covered include:
- Short-term and long term investment appraisal and capital budgeting techniques
- Estimation of return and risk in the context of portfolio theory
- Short-term finance and working capital management
- Long-term finance and the cost of each source of finance
- Capital structure and weighted average cost of capital
- Interaction of investment and financing decisions
The law affects the commercial world in many ways. This module focuses on the importance of law in governing transactions between individuals and businesses; what is required for legally compliant contracts; what the law expects of organisations in terms of protecting the consumer, and how businesses manage and avoid disputes. By enabling students to become familiar with those parts of the law they are most likely to encounter in their careers and in business the module helps them better understand the obligations that parties have to each other in law.
Indicative topic areas are:
• The English Legal System
• The Legal Process and Dispute Resolution
• Law of Contract – including:
• Formation
• Contract terms
• Vitiating elements, such as misrepresentation and economic duress
• Performance and discharge of contract, including frustration
• Common law and equitable remedies, including damages
• Consumer Protection
This module will review contemporary approaches to marketing research design, data collection and analysis. A range of customer, market and competitor analysis techniques will be explored from conventional marketing research techniques as well as from ecommerce, geodemographic and new-media sources. Students will also develop an understanding of the importance of effective performance measurement (i.e., making marketing more accountable). Students will further develop their appreciation of market information and intelligence and acquire the specialised skills needed to plan, manage and report marketing research studies.
The indicative key topics of the module are:
• Marketing research planning and process
• Research design and data acquisition
• Qualitative and quantitative consumer research
• Data analysis
Many contemporary businesses claim to champion "ethical business" and list it as one of their core values, but what does it mean for a business to act “ethically” and how can managers work to ensure that ethical decision making is embedded throughout their organizations?
This module will grapple with and address philosophical questions relevant to practical business problems and the work of managing in contemporary organisations. For example, how does “the person” fit within “the corporation” and can either act as a morally responsible agent? Do organizations have a responsibility to protect their customers from harmful products or is caveat emptor a sound governing principle? Does an organization have a responsibility to be sustainable and monitor its wider social and environmental impact, or are natural resources simply those that it can use as it sees fit within the bounds of the law? Should a business pay fair wages, source products from trusted supply chains, and protect whistle-blowers? Is there a “business of business ethics”, that is to say, is ethical business just a tool for furthering profitability?
This module will take a case study based approach to understanding and critically assaying the ethical dilemmas that contemporary businesses and managers face, looking at different examples each week in order to develop an appreciation of different ethical perspectives. It contributes to employability by supporting students to develop their critical thinking and reasoning skills.
This module explores the ever-changing trends of retailers both in the UK and globally. It will explore the dynamics of multi-channel retailing following the development of on-line retailing. It will also consider the store design and visual merchandising techniques that influence the characteristics of the retail brand and environment, which encourage a satisfying retail experience. The learner will understand how to analyse and interpret how the location of products in line with store purchasing and marketing policies influences sales and profit. The complexities of store management will further be explored.
Indicative topics are:
The dynamics of retail management and the macro environment
Retail theories and strategic approaches
Store formats
Store location and international factors
E-Retail
Store design and visual merchandising
Store operational management
Customer service and the customer experience
Commercial management and selling skills
Case Studies of Food and Fashion retailing
A synopsis of the curriculum:
This module aims to enable students to understand the social and economic changes that have raised the status of enterprise, small business and entrepreneurial ventures in the global economy. It examines the diverse nature of entrepreneurs, their characteristics and motivations, as well as the barriers and issues facing entrepreneurs when planning and establishing a new venture.
The indicative topics of the module are:
• Factors that have influenced the growth of the enterprise culture in the UK.
• The role and relevance of SMEs in the UK economy; definitions of SMEs; statistical information; Government policies and initiatives, and support agencies.
• Whether entrepreneurs are born or made; whether enterprise skills can be taught or learned, and whether entrepreneurs differ from business owners and other managers.
• Enterprise and innovation development in organisations.
• Differences in attitudes, objectives, skill requirements and business strategies between small and large firms.
• Surviving the early stages of business development, including failure rates in new and small enterprises and barriers to growth and development.
• The planning process for starting a new venture – including risks and liabilities; problems and pitfalls, and potential profit and success.
• The protection of ideas and intellectual capital.
• Funding a new enterprise, including via 'friends, family and fools', business angels and venture capitalists.
• Enterprise in different contexts, including corporate enterprise, public sector enterprise and social enterprise.
This module will cover the core principles of macroeconomics; including the measurement of key macroeconomic variables and limitations to existing practices. Students will consider competing theories related to the macro economy in the short and long run and their overall consequences for the business environment. This will be underpinned by existing evidence on past and current levels of macroeconomic indicators in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world. Indicative topics are:
• The Macro economy – as a system: the circular flow (including injections and withdrawals), national income measurement, economic growth and
international comparisons
• Macroeconomic variables: GDP, unemployment, inflation, money supply and balance of payments
• The open macro economy; including imports and exports; the role of exchange rates and trade theory.
• Macroeconomic theories: including the classical approach, the Keynesian demand management approach and monetarism
• Macroeconomic policies: demand versus supply side economic management
This module is designed to expose students to contemporary business innovation management issues and the strategic and operational choices that businesses have to make when dealing with them. This module will explore the historical context, current perspective and emerging issues for contemporary businesses, including the challenges, opportunities and threats they face. External speakers will be invited to address the students on specific issues of relevance to their businesses. Indicative topics of the module are:
• Disruption
• The role of innovation in the creation of sustainable business models
• Open and User innovation
• Managing the risks of innovation
• Digital innovation
Leadership and Corporate Strategy aims to provide an understanding of strategic analysis, strategic decision-making and strategic processes within organisations. The module content comprises two complementary components. The first involves the understanding and learning of the main strategic management concepts and theories. The second implies its application in organisations.
These two core components of the course are then divided into four main sections:
1) Strategy development: comprising topics on how strategies are developed;
2) Strategic decision-making: introducing students to concepts and theories on strategic methods; evaluation (including risk assessment and management), and implementation and change;
3) Strategic context: introducing issues of leadership and their impact on strategy;
4) Strategic content: comprising topics on management issues such as resource management.
Topics on this module include:
1) Strategic leadership
2) Identification of strategic issues and options
3) Evaluation of strategic options
4) Implementation of strategic options
For each of these topics the students will be introduced to the main concepts and theories. Further to that, contemporary issues of businesses and case studies will be used to show how these concepts affect the strategic management of organisations.
The aims of this module are to develop an insight into the key concepts and theories of human resource management (HRM) and organisational behaviour (OB). It will develop in students an understanding of the links between HRM policies and practices and organisational performance, and the factors that influence the management of employees
Content will include:
1) An introduction to Human Resource Management (HRM) and Organisational Behaviour (OB)
2) Strategic HRM
3) Performance Management
4) Strategic Recruitment and Selection
5) Leadership
6) Power, Politics and Decision Making
7) Making the business case for diversity
8) Organisational Culture and International HRM
9) Pay, Performance and Reward
10) Managing Innovation and Change
11) HRM and Ethics
This module examines recent developments in marketing thinking and market strategy development. It focuses on the dynamic aspects of market strategy development, and current issues such as relationship and Internet marketing.
Indicative topics of the module are:
• Define Strategic Marketing: A First Principles Approach and assessment requirements
• Approaches and Framework for Managing Customer Heterogeneity: STP approach & Positioning Maps
• Approaches and Framework for Managing Customer Dynamics: Customer Mapping
• Managing Sustainable Competitive Advantage (SCA): Branding, Offering and Innovation, Relationship and digital marketing strategies
• Managing Resources Trade Off
• Building Strategic Marketing Analytics Capabilities
• Overview and Implementation of the 4 Strategic Marketing Principles
The module helps prepare students to acquire and develop the employability and transferable skills necessary to search and successfully apply for work experience and graduate opportunities in the commercial and public sector and postgraduate study.
The curriculum builds on knowledge and experience gained in related employability modules delivered at Stages 1 and 2, providing further guidance and more advanced practical exercises in application writing, CVs, careers advice, interview and assessment centre techniques, numeracy and competency tests, and psychometric evaluation. The aims here are to support students during their final year in applying for good graduate jobs and MSc degree programmes.
The law affects the commercial world in many ways. This module focuses on the importance of law in governing transactions between individuals and businesses; what is required for legally compliant contracts; what the law expects of organisations in terms of protecting the consumer, and how businesses manage and avoid disputes. By enabling students to become familiar with those parts of the law they are most likely to encounter in their careers and in business the module helps them better understand the obligations that parties have to each other in law.
Indicative topic areas are:
• The English Legal System
• The Legal Process and Dispute Resolution
• Law of Contract – including:
• Formation
• Contract terms
• Vitiating elements, such as misrepresentation and economic duress
• Performance and discharge of contract, including frustration
• Common law and equitable remedies, including damages
• Consumer Protection
Many contemporary businesses claim to champion "ethical business" and list it as one of their core values, but what does it mean for a business to act “ethically” and how can managers work to ensure that ethical decision making is embedded throughout their organizations?
This module will grapple with and address philosophical questions relevant to practical business problems and the work of managing in contemporary organisations. For example, how does “the person” fit within “the corporation” and can either act as a morally responsible agent? Do organizations have a responsibility to protect their customers from harmful products or is caveat emptor a sound governing principle? Does an organization have a responsibility to be sustainable and monitor its wider social and environmental impact, or are natural resources simply those that it can use as it sees fit within the bounds of the law? Should a business pay fair wages, source products from trusted supply chains, and protect whistle-blowers? Is there a “business of business ethics”, that is to say, is ethical business just a tool for furthering profitability?
This module will take a case study based approach to understanding and critically assaying the ethical dilemmas that contemporary businesses and managers face, looking at different examples each week in order to develop an appreciation of different ethical perspectives. It contributes to employability by supporting students to develop their critical thinking and reasoning skills.
Indicative areas to be covered are:
Introduction to Business/Management Projects
Research Methodologies
Literature search and Literature Review
Data collection and questionnaire
Structuring a Project Report
Data Analysis
Presentations
This module investigates the importance of having a dynamic buying function in retailing to meet the ever-changing needs of the consumer and maintain a profitable business. It explores both Fashion and Food retailing, and the differences between these industries. It considers how different strategic approaches influence new product design and purchasing, as well as the importance of economic, legal and financial issues. Students will acquire expertise in how to plan and develop a range of products; how to develop pricing strategies, and how to work with strategic suppliers and partners to get a product that exceeds consumer needs to market ahead of the competition.
The key elements of the curriculum are as follows:
• Organisational approaches to buying and the impact on the brand
• Process models of buying
• Competitor analysis
• Impact of trends and fashion on new product development
• Impact of innovation and technology on new product development
• Range planning
• Quality strategies and quality assurance
• Supplier selection and management
• Sustainability of product sourcing
The understanding and application of enterprise knowledge is seen as a transferable skill that can have cross-division application within the University, in that it has relevance to students from a broad range of academic disciplines who might be considering self-employment after graduation.
The curriculum is based on the Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative (National Standards-setting body for small business) Standards for Business Start-up but has been expanded to include contemporary issues such as Intellectual Property and recent legislation.
Indicative areas of study are:
• Why firms become insolvent – economic financial and operational reasons for business failure; risks & liabilities; skills requirements for business ownership; self-development planning; sources of advice, and support for businesses.
• The new business planning process and format - developing and evaluating the business idea and producing a business plan for potential lenders.
• Financial aspects – budgetary planning and control; cash-flow and working capital; understanding financial accounting and key financial documents; break-even analysis; credit control, and debt recovery.
• Market research, competition and barriers to market entry - identifying customers; market segmentation; planning the sales and marketing processes; customer perceptions and customer care, and developing quality standards for the business
• Legal issues - reporting requirements; UK & EU law relevant to small businesses; business formats and trading status and their respective risks and liabilities; insurance; insolvency, and intellectual property rights such as patents and copyright.
• Planning and employing staff - planning and obtaining premises; physical and financial resources, and the phased implementation of the business plan.
• Commercial Presentation – prepare and facilitate a commercial business presentation on a newly created venture
• Financing of the venture- Understanding different sources of financing start-ups, understanding the benefits, shortcomings, and requirement of each method
The law affects the commercial world in many ways. This module focuses on how businesses fulfil their legal obligations to customers, suppliers and their workforce. As well as exploring how businesses are structured and the duties on directors and partners it also considers the legal obligations individuals and organisations have over those to whom they have a duty of care. The module further covers the main laws governing the employment of staff and contractors. By applying the law to real-world business situations students are able to fine-tune their problem solving skills and their ability to construct well-reasoned and persuasive arguments.
The module covers the following topic areas:
• The English Legal System, Legal Process and Dispute Resolution;
• Law of Negligence – including general principles and negligent mis-statement
• Law of Business Organisations - classification of business organisations; main principles applying to general and limited liability partnerships and registered companies, and directors' duties
• Employment Law - the general scope of the legal obligations owed by employers to employees, including the employment contract, discrimination and dismissal
Students will be expected to develop the ability to use appropriate techniques of analysis and enquiry within supply chain and service management, and to learn how to evaluate the alternatives and make recommendations. Topics include:
• The nature of services and service strategy
• Supply chain management
• Managing quality within supply chains
• Service development and technology
• Service quality and the service encounter
• Project/Event management and control
• Managing capacity and demand in services
The aim of the module is to develop an understanding of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability informed by ethical theory and stakeholder perspectives. Students will have the opportunity to familiarise with essential readings and cases in CSR to enable them to recognise key issues raised by stakeholder groups. such as shareholder activism; socially responsible investment; employee discrimination; working conditions; ethical issues in marketing; management; consumer protection; gifts/ bribes; accountability; collaboration with civil society organisations, and corruption of governmental actors. The module will therefore contribute in building an understanding of contemporary social issues in business by highlighting the importance of a collaborative approach with internal and external stakeholder groups.
Indicative topics are:
- Business Ethics
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Sustainability
- Social responsibilities of sectors and industries
- Stakeholders of organisations, including:
Employees
Suppliers
Competitors
Shareholders
Civil society
Government
- Implementation of socially responsible and sustainable programmes and initiatives
This module examines the key factors that influence the digital consumer, including social networks and virtual communities. It identifies the importance of developing campaign content aimed at specific market segments and how campaigns can be measured.
Topics to be covered are likely to include:
• Introduction to consumer behaviour across cultures
• The digital marketplace and its impact on consumers
• Online consumer behaviour
• e-CRM and managing the customer experience
• Generational differences in digital responsiveness
• Global multichannel retailing
• Analysis of the causes of failure in international retail brand development
This module will provide students with an introductory understanding of Financial Technology and its application to the institutions' daily business. The students will have a good understanding of the range of the technologies that help financial systems that can include banking, insurance, and financial market. The students will acquire the ability to understand issues related to technology and find pathways towards addressing them. The module will cover the following indicative topics:
• Introduction to Techs: FinTech, InsurTech, WealthTech, RegTech, SupTech, etc
• Blockchain and Digital assets: Cryptocurrency, bitcoin, ethereum, etc;
• Robot advisors;
• Decentralised Finance and financial inclusion;
• Fintech regulation;
• Global and regional perspectives on Fintech adoption
This module builds on previous sociological and criminological learning. It aims to enhance students' understanding of the 'third sector' and the criminal justice system, and how they operate in practice. It is designed to give students experience of working in the third sector and in the criminal justice system.
Students will undertake work as a volunteer with an organisation that works within the fields of social justice, the third sector or in the criminal justice system, as agreed by the module convenor (assistance is available to identify appropriate volunteering opportunities). Students will complete 100 hours of volunteering for this module by the end of the Spring term.
In addition to their volunteering, students attend lectures and seminars that cover topics such as: the history and development of voluntary action in the 'third sector' and in English criminal justice system; the relationship between volunteers and professionals in 'third sector' and in the criminal justice system; the management, organisation and funding of the principal criminal justice agencies in the public sector; the management and organisation of voluntary/third sector organisations, and the application of sociological and criminological theory to practice.
The 2022/23 annual tuition fees for this course are:
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
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.
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Search scholarshipsKent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
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.
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 A*AA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
Our enthusiastic team of international teaching staff are all experts in their field of study and are regularly published in leading journals worldwide. They guide and support your learning, bringing their subject to life and drawing you into the conversation.
We use a variety of teaching methods, including;
Classroom-based learning is supported by the latest online technologies and learning platforms.
Your progress is assessed through coursework and exams. Coursework takes a variety of forms and includes;
Exams are individual written assessments tested under time-controlled conditions.
As part of your studies it is also possible to take a foreign language module in stage 1 and for students going on a Year Abroad in year 1 and 2 subject to programme requirements. Alternatively, our university also offers language courses as part of extra-curricular activities.
To proceed to the next year you must achieve satisfactory results. Your final degree is based on marks gained in the second and third years (and Placement Year/Year Abroad if chosen) and credits which you build up throughout the whole programme.
Undergraduate students can expect around 8 contact hours per week, depending on year of study and optional module choices made. The remainder of the working week consists of self-guided study based on degree programme content and requirements of specific modules. For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours, which include both direct contact hours and private study hours. The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules. Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
For programme aims and learning outcomes please see the programme specification below:
Business and Management at Kent was ranked 37th out of 124 in The Complete University Guide 2023.
Our International Business graduates find work in public and private sector management both overseas and in the UK in a wide range of companies and organisations, including:
Many of our students also stay local and find job opportunities regionally in small and medium firms or even set-up their own businesses as well-equipped entrepreneurs.
The Backpack to Briefcase scheme provides bespoke career and skills development events and activities for all Kent Business School students. Available from the first year through to graduation, Backpack to Briefcase is designed to prepare you for a successful career after university.
To help you appeal to employers you will graduate with a solid grounding in core business management concepts, theories and skills in a global context but also key transferrable skills such as critical reflection, cultural awareness, creativity and innovation, effective time-management and productive teamwork as well as enhanced confidence, intellectual curiosity and resilience. As a KBS graduate you will be able to demonstrate to your employer how you have developed The Grad Goals.
You can also gain skills by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as adding much-sought-after analytical skills or computing skills to your degree via Kent’s Q-Step Centre.
Kent Business School has an excellent international reputation and good links with businesses locally and globally. Our qualified careers practitioners provide support to all business undergraduate students for up to three years after graduation.
In addition, Careers and Employability Service at the University, can also provide advice on how to apply for jobs, write a good CV or perform well in interviews.
This programme is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). As a student at Kent Business School, you have the opportunity to gain the Chartered Management Institute’s (CMI) Level 5 Professional Diploma in Management and Leadership alongside your degree as well as becoming a Foundation Charted Manager. CMI qualifications are highly sought after by employers. You will gain access to exclusive CMI networking events and resources, have the opportunity to attend lectures from top-level CMI industry-expert members and fast track into the next stage of training. CMI is the only chartered professional body in the UK dedicated to promoting the highest standards in management and leadership excellence. The CMI is the only organisation awarding Chartered Manager status, the hallmark of any professional manager, and encompasses a membership community more than 100,000.
This course page is for the 2022/23 academic year. Please visit the current online prospectus for a list of undergraduate courses we offer.
T: +44 (0)1227 823254
E: internationalstudent@kent.ac.uk
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