Course Summary

This course develops your knowledge of business and management, whilst providing valuable practical skills in marketing, accountancy, leadership and strategic decision-making. The content has been developed around employers requirements and you will acquire professional skills in communication, problem-solving, teamwork and leadership.

Stage one covers the foundations of business management, including an introduction to marketing, finance and law. Stage two enhances your knowledge and practical skills. You also have the chance to develop entrepreneurial skills and an understanding of workplace psychology.

The University provides support for you to undertake a year-long, paid work placement, which is recognised in the final award certificate. In the final stage you undertake independent research into a business management topic of your choice.

Why choose this course?

Key features

• Vocational and practical learning
• Experienced and supportive staff provide learning opportunities in a professional but approachable environment
• Develop professional skills through our links with the Chartered Management Institute, which supports this course with speakers and student prizes

Areas of study include:

• Strategic and change management
• Human resource management
• Marketing planning
• e-Business
• International operations
• Accounting and financial management

Further Information

BABMA-S

Assessment

The course uses a range of assessment types and methods, as appropriate, to ensure the validity and fairness of assessment. Formative assessment is used to provide feedback to students to support their progress and diagnostic assessment is used to assess students current knowledge or skills. Summative assessment for most units includes a combination of coursework, presentations, tests, or examination.

Most units include elements of individual and group work to reflect the type of work undertaken in business and management. Assessment focuses on tasks that develop vocational skills, underpinned by subject knowledge, requiring higher levels of cognition in the later years of the course.

Assessment takes a variety of forms, including essays and reports, portfolios, individual and group presentations, research proposals and exams. Peer and self assessment are used in some units, as appropriate, but particularly where group work has been completed. In the final year, peer assessment is a required element.

All coursework has an assignment specification, with grading criteria, which is issued to students, normally at the beginning of the year, but at least 3 weeks prior to the deadline.

All marked work is returned to students following the university guidelines, with written feedback, including advising the student on how they can improve their work next time.

All coursework submitted is subject to university procedures for the detection of plagiarism.

Annual monitoring of the outcomes of assessment for each unit is completed, providing the opportunity for reflection on the assessment methods and weightings.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course students should be able to demonstrate:

1. Knowledge and skills to use, apply and evaluate a range of relevant management theories, models and conceptual frameworks.

2. Analysis and critique of specific areas connected with the management function, including Markets, Customers, Finance, People, Operations, Information Systems, Communication and Information Technology, Business Policy and Strategy in a global context.

3. An appraisal of current management techniques and practices within a variety of environments, and of how business is conducted locally, nationally and over international boundaries.

4. Analysis of the impact of factors, internal and external to organisations, that impact upon the management function.

5. Application of a range of professional skills, include effective communications, numeracy, team working, critical evaluation, inter personal attributes, self-direction and management.

6. Skills of critical analysis, diagnosis, conclusion drawing, communication and presentation skills both written and oral, and be able to apply these skills within a range of appropriate contexts.

7. A clear insight into the increasingly important need to manage information and have developed information handling skills, both within an operational and learning context.

8. Selection, proposal and Implementation of a research project through utilisation of appropriate and innovative methodology and to evaluate research effectiveness.

9. Problem solving with regard to gathering information, critically analysing information and making informed decisions in a business context.

10. Application of relevant professional business skills and academic ability to continue into postgraduate study or to take up career opportunities, commensurate with aspirations engendered through the personal and professional development / career management focus of the course.

External Benchmarking

QAA General Business and Management Subject Benchmark

Educational Aims

Students are introduced to the broad concept of management under specific but different operating conditions to produce both a contextual and conceptual foundation. All the functional areas that are deemed to comprise the business discipline, Marketing, Operations, Information Systems, Finance, HRM, Business Policy and Strategy and Change, Economics, Law and Contemporary Issues, will all be critically analysed at some point during the course.

The course is delivered with an emphasis on abstract, conceptual propositions derived from:

• A range of relevant models, ideas and techniques


• A number of management theories appropriate to the specific units


• A range of suitable examples and contexts


• Student understanding and insight in functional areas of business management

A significant emphasis of the approach taken seeks to provide for the needs of individual students helping them derive maximum benefit from teaching and learning situations by utilizing peer group input, and assessment as well as self development learning and reflection techniques.

Transferable key skills are explicitly assimilated into individual unit syllabuses and the various forms of summative and formative assessments undertaken throughout the course help develop critical management skills.

The course:

• Provides students with a deep understanding of management and management theories


• Enables students to study organisations, their management and any changes in a variety of operating environments


• Prepares students for the professional demands of contemporary managers in a range of careers in business and management


• Enhances the development of individual lifelong learning skills and personal development


• Allows students to develop their individual critical skills and abilities within a business context


• Helps students to analyse and synthesise information thus assisting their managerial skills Enables students to understand the dynamics, responsibilities, and time management required when leading or working as part of a team

Student support

Students can seek advice and support from Professional and Academic Development, with respect to study skills and maths support.

All students have access to the full range of student services and support offered by the university including:

Careers; Chaplaincy; Counselling; Financial Advice and Student Housing.

Students on the BA(Hons) Business Management course are allocated a nominated PDP tutor who is available to meet with them.

Students will be advised to raise any course specific issues with their Unit Tutor in the first instance. In the event that the Unit Tutor is unable to satisfactorily resolve the issue, it will be brought to the attention of the Course Leader for appropriate action.

Students will also have access to a Staff Student Consultative Committee (SSCC) via their elected student representative.

Team working

Team working is fundamental to a career in Business and hence, the course seeks to develop excellent team working skills.

The course focuses on best practice in teamwork in Foundations of Business Management (Year 1), with the opportunity for you to analyse your own team player skills and recognize the team player types needed for a successful team.

You have the opportunity for teamwork in most units, and develop skills in self and peer assessment.

Teams will encounter difficulties at times and in the later years of the course, you are encouraged to resolve difficulties with minimal academic intervention. In higher level units, you have the opportunity to reflect on group working and critically evaluate your team's performance.

Career Management Skills

The Careers Advisors meet the students in the Year 1 Induction, to focus the you on your future career and introduce you to the Careers Service. They also have formal sessions in the Year 2 and 3 Inductions.

The Careers Advisors, Career Service, and Work Placement Office meet with the students at the end of Year 1 to discuss options available to students and the support structures available to them.

The course offers an optional year long work placement between years 2 and 3, which tutors encourage all students to consider. You are introduced to the Work Placement in Year 1 and offered support throughout Year 2 to find a placement. Sessions and help are offered, for example on CV writing, job searching and interview skills.

The course is designed to be vocational, developing skills required by employers, and tutors focus on this aspect.

You are introduced formally to the theory of career planning and management, based on SOAR (Self Awareness, Opportunities Awareness, Aspirations, and Results) in the Year 1 Foundations of Business Management unit. This work will be continued and integrated within Year 2 units at appropriate points. Students are encouraged to use the various Career Management online tools available for self-assessment and identification of career opportunities.

In year 3 students are encouraged to take greater responsibility for their career management, with the support of the Careers Service, which offer one-to-one career coaching.

Career/Further study opportunities

The course prepares graduates for careers in the public or private sectors. Within six months, the vast majority of our graduates are either in employment or pursuing postgraduate courses. Our Business Management graduates are highly rated by industry, and have secured positions such as sales account manager a marketing communications manager. The development of entrepreneurial skills helps those who want to start their own businesses.

Career:

• Human Resources, E-Business, Operations / Project Management General Management

Starting a business

Further study:

• Post graduate study, for example Taught Masters courses in Human Resource Management, Business Administration, Project Management PgCert in Human Resource Management
• Professional courses, for example: CMI, CIPD, CIM, ACCA, CIMA, APM
• PGCE Applied Business
• Research degrees

Entry

Additional:

Normally GCSE in English and Mathematics at grade C.

Consideration will be given to mature students without conventional qualifications, and business experience may be taken into account.

UK students Undergraduate entry requirements

Standard entry requirements for Foundation degrees (FD/FdSc)

A foundation degree will be of particular interest if you have completed a Modern Apprenticeship, vocational A levels, BTEC National or equivalent.

Foundation degrees are also particularly suitable if you want to qualify while working.

• As a guideline, a typical offer would require you to obtain a UCAS tariff score of between 80-120 points, based on your level 3 studies.
• Students who require a Tier 4 Student Visa cannot apply for our foundation courses. For these courses the University of Bedfordshire is not able to sponsor Tier 4 Student Visa applications.

Many students studying for foundation degrees come to us through work-based routes so you can apply for a foundation degree even if you don’t have traditional academic qualifications.

We welcome applicants with relevant work experience.

Standard entry requirements for Undergraduate degrees (BA/BSc)

We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.

The general requirement is one of the following:

• UCAS Tariff Score greater than 200, which should include either two A level passes or an AVCE Double Award
• An Access qualification
• Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, Scottish Highers, International Baccalaureate or BTEC National Diploma

Postgraduate taught courses

Postgraduate applications (MA/MSc) should be made direct to the University using the  standard University application form. There are some exceptions, please see individual course descriptions for details.

• UK/EU students application form
• International (non-EU) students application form
  

Students from the European Union

Entry requirements

As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.

We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications.

How to apply

International students

• Undergraduate applications (BA/BSc) can be made direct to the University or via our representatives in your home country. If you intend to apply to more than one university in the UK you should apply via UCAS. If you want to apply to the University of Bedfordshire only you should apply directly using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Postgraduate applications should be made directly to the University using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Healthcare, nursing and midwifery students Many of these courses are not available to overseas students due to UK immigration law in regard to bursary funding. Please contact international admissions to find out if you are eligible to apply
• BA Nursing Studies Level 3 (with or without Overseas Nursing Programme) is available to overseas students - please contact International Admissions by email at international-admissions@beds.ac.uk for further information

(Please note that applicants on a full student visa are not eligible for part-time study)

Course application form for international students

We recommend that you apply directly to the University where possible, as this allows us to offer the quickest turnaround time for your application.

• Course application form for direct applications [PDF]

How to complete your course application

Please read the Direct application instructions before completing the course application form.

Application forms for accommodation in the student halls at Bedford campus and Luton campus are available in the Student life section

Accreditation of prior certificated learning (APL)

APL is available for international students applying for undergraduate (Bachelor degree) study. Please do not use this APL form to apply for postgraduate courses.

Use the APL form to tell us about any non-standard qualifications and/or work experience you have that you think should be taken into consideration with your application. `

The APL form should be submitted at the same time as the course application form.

We regret we are unable to process APL forms from students who have not submitted a formal course application form.

• APL application form for International students [100Kb] updated 041007

What next?

Return your completed application to:

University of Bedfordshire
International Admissions
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 3JU
United Kingdom

Contact International Admissions

T: +44 (0)1582 489326 (non-EU Students)
F: +44 (0)1582 743469
E: international-admissions@beds.ac.uk

Awarding institution

University of Bedfordshire

Teaching Strategy

Business Management is taught mainly through lectures, seminars and workshops, plus group projects, research exercises, presentations, case study analyses, with students taking responsibility for a significant amount of study outside class times. You are taught in small groups providing a supportive learning environment. A virtual learning environment (BREO) is used to support your learning in all units.

The units offered are designed to encourage students to develop themselves as independent and analytical learners and to adopt a holistic but inter related perspective to the study of Business and Management. They are encouraged from the outset to put business into a variety of organisational and operating contexts and to be aware of the changing nature of the management functions within which business operates. They are expected to make use of the media in order to keep up to date with information, examples, debates, discussions, and events that will affect business practice.

Academics employ a wide variety of teaching methods and strategies, which allow learning outcomes to be met. Lectures are supported by seminars and, typically, group tutorials that may incorporate work on case studies. Other teaching methods include workshops, role play exercises, case studies, simulations, and real world business problems. Where appropriate, students will be encouraged to develop their skills in the use information technology to support their learning.

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body Accreditation

N/A

Students with disabilities

The University's disability advice team will coordinate and identify additional support and resources that can help you with your studies. In addition, Individual student requirements would need to be considered, particularly with respect to trips and / or the Work Placement.

Skills Development

Communication

To help with the development of this you will:

• Focus on best practice in verbal and written communication in the Year 1 Foundations of Business Management


• Have the opportunity to further develop critical skills in Business Research Skills (Year 2)


• Have the opportunity to enhance your communication skills throughout the course, for example, by working in groups, giving presentations, writing reports / essays, with formative and summative feedback


• This will culminate in your final year with the Dissertation. You will, enhance your academic writing skills and communication skills through managing this major piece of work

Information Literacy

To help with the development of this you will:

• Learn about sources of information available to you, both online and in hard copy, to support your studies, under the guidance of the Business Subject Librarian through dedicated sessions in the Year 1 Foundations of Business Management, with formative and summative feedback given


• Be given further guidance on information searching by the Business Subject Librarian at the beginning of Year 2 and 3, as well as within the Business Research Skills unit, to support the higher level of work expected


• Be continually encouraged to use a range of resources to support coursework, being aware of the authority, validity, accuracy and reliability of the material used


• Be expected to seek out academic journals and refereed papers to support work throughout all years of the course

Research and Evaluation

To help with the development of this you will:

• Build on your information literacy skills with a dedicated Business Research Skills unit in Year 2 to provide an understanding of how to undertake research and provide the opportunity to complete some in depth empirically based research, with formative and summative feedback


• Be given guidance on cognitive skills and the level of work expected in each year of the course, with a focal session at the beginning of Year 3, explaining the requirement for critical thinking, critical analysis and evaluative skills


• Undertake your final year assessments understanding the need for stronger critical engagement and evaluation


• Undertake a significant examination of primary and / or secondary research to support the objectives set out within a structured Dissertation

Creativity and Critical Thinking

To help with the development of this you will:

• Have the opportunity for creativity in class activities and coursework, for example, through problem solving and working with your peers


• Use your innovative skills in the Year 2 Small Business Planning and Entrepreneurship unit to generate and develop commercially inspired product / service ideas or develop an understanding of Workplace Psychology, thus helping you engage with softer management skills depending on your option chosen


• Be given the opportunity to develop decision making skills with respect to the consideration of multiple forms and types of (often contradictory) data, facts, statistics, and information


• Be given guidance on cognitive skills and the level of work expected in each year of the course, with a focal session at the beginning of Year 3, explaining the requirement for critical thinking, critical analysis and evaluative skills


• Undertake your final year assessments understanding the need for critical thinking and evaluation


• Take part in a number of research master classes during year three to assist you to produce a top class Dissertation

Improving learning and performance

You will complete a self assessment exercise in the Year 1 Induction period, assessing your level of key skills. This initial assessment will enable you to have an understanding of the state of their knowledge at the outset of the course. You will have a personal tutor throughout their course, who is available to support them.

The Foundations of Business Management unit introduces you to Bloom's Taxonomy and you will have the opportunity to assess your own learning style, for example using Honey and Mumford and / or the Effective Lifelong Learning Inventory. Learning outcomes, assessment criteria and feedback are all discussed in this Year 1 unit and supported by tutors in other modules. There is a focus on learning to learn from the beginning of the course.

You receive guidance on cognitive skills and the level of work expected in each year of the course, with focal sessions at the beginning of Years 2 and Year 3. Individual forms of assessment in Year 2 include both implicit and explicit reflective elements to allow students to assess their own performance.

In Years 2 and 3, tutors support you in the transition to becoming more independent learners, with assessments requiring greater research and fact finding and being more open ended, with less guidance. Several units use a reflective element of assessment in the final year to encourage students to critically review their learning.

Progress files

You will receive transcripts of your results at the end of each academic year, for your records.

There will be an opportunity to discuss your progression with your personal or academic tutor throughout your time at the university.

Professional standards

• Staff and students will work with professional integrity at all times


• Staff and students will abide by the Code of Conduct as stated in the University's Student Regulations


• Staff and students should ensure contact details are current; staff should ensure that their availability is publicised and appropriate communication channels are agreed


• Students are expected to attend all classes; where there are mitigating circumstances staff must be informed promptly


• Staff and students must arrive on time for classes


• In all situations students and staff should dress and act appropriately


• Staff and students should work to sustain a culture of mutual respect


• All assessed work should be a student's own and correctly referenced where material is taken from other sources


• Electronic devices must not be used during classes without express permission and mobile telephones must be switched off


• Student concerns should be raised promptly, through the appropriate channels

Strategy for developing and embedding the professional standards

The Professional Standards for the course, identified above, were agreed by students and the course team.

These standards will be shared with all new students and reviewed within the Staff Student Consultative Committee. All students are reminded of the course professional standards in the yearly induction period.

The course team will seek to encourage students to adhere to the above course professional standards.

The course is informed by the codes of conduct and professional standards of the following professional bodies:

• Chartered Management Institute (CMI)


• Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)


• Association of Project Management (APM)


• Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)


• Association of Certified Chartered Accounting (ACCA)


• Chartered Institute of Management Accounting (CIMA)

Students are introduced to the codes of practice in Year 1, in order for students to plan their personal development and recognise the skills, values and behaviour required of professional practitioners. The professional body standards are referenced and used in later years, within the relevant subject modules.

With the focus on career management and lifelong learning, students are made aware of the postgraduate professional courses many of which are available within the University, at Bedford and Putteridge Bury.