Develop your business skills in topics like management, leadership, HR, marketing and operations
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Overview
This BA (Hons) Business Management Top Up degree is for you if you already have a good foundation of business and management from your Higher National Diploma (HND) or equivalent qualification, and you are interested in extending your studies to obtain a full degree. In this one-year programme you are offered the same opportunities as our current Business Management students and have the opportunity to specialise in areas of interest for your career pathway.
Many of the jobs you will hold in the future don’t exist yet and the BA (Hons) Business Management degree will teach you management fundamentals to deal with today’s complex and changing business landscape with our current real-world business and management scenarios. You will explore a range of business and management disciplines such as marketing, accounting and finance, HR management, information systems, operations management and research skills.
On this course you will:
- Explore various business management topics, tactics, opportunities, challenges and solutions.
- Complete projects on modules relating to your chosen career pathway.
- Be able to complete a 20-week placement providing valuable work experience.
- Develop valuable soft skills like teamwork, communication, time management and problem solving.
- Have the opportunity to take part in events and activates including trips, events and business forums.
Teaching and Assessment
How you will learn
Throughout your final year, you will learn business and management disciplines from industry experienced lecturers and business guest speakers. The majority of the course is taught by applying business and management theory to practical scenarios where you can develop your problem solving, idea generation and leadership/management potential.
To ensure we provide a ‘professional’ environment, the course is taught in small, interactive workshops of up to 30 students where you will discuss a specific business topic and provide opportunities for you to work on tasks, have group discussions and feedback your views in a supportive and stretching environment.
As a result of our teaching approach, you will develop confidence and interest in the business environment as well as a wide range of soft skills such as teamwork, communication, planning, organising and strategic thinking.
Our assessments aim to reflect work-based scenarios and as a result there are minimal exams with more focus on action and problem-based assessments, with most assessments based on presentations, portfolio work or reports. Where there are exams, the majority are ‘timed assessments’ and ‘open-book’.
Luke Seward
The Course
What you will study
You will study a selection of core and optional modules. Each module is worth a number of credits and is delivered differently depending on its content and focus of study.
During your studies your main focus will be your research dissertation. During your dissertation you will research articles about a particular topic and issue, carry out primary research to investigate further, then analyse your data and come up with some recommendations and conclusions. You will also have the opportunity to specialise further and select modules that most interest you and prepare for your career.
To enable you to gain more work experience specific to your career pathway, you will complete a 20-week placement and carry out your research dissertation whilst on placement for the organisation into an area you are working on and will most benefit them.
You have three routes on the top-up degree to allow you flexibility in exploring topics that interest you most.
This module list is indicative and subject to change.
You have three routes on the top-up degree to allow you flexibility in exploring topics of most interest.
You will study two core modules during your degree; Management Project and Business Strategy.
In semester one you will also study two optional modules from Corporate Finance, Strategic Human Resource Management and Global Branding.
In semester two you will choose one of the following options:
- Complete a Work Placement (Short)
- Study two of: Entrepreneurship, Business Ethics and Social Responsibility, Global Business Today, and Entrepreneurship in Action
If you choose to study both Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurship in Action these modules will form an Entrepreneurship Placement where you spend the semester developing a business idea and working on implementing it with mentoring from the Business Hot House and Module Co-ordinator.
Modules
Business Ethics and Social Responsibility
In this module, you will learn to raise awareness of the ethical considerations relevant to many business practices and issues, as well as raise awareness of corporate social responsibility.
You will be introduced to the concepts, theories and techniques used to address ethical considerations as you critically discuss current business and government policies relating to corporate social responsibility.
You will reflect on your own moral values, attitudes and behaviour and have some interesting debates and discussions in the lessons.
Assessment
You will be assessed through an interview and a portfolio.
Business Strategy
This module encourages you to critically consider business strategy and design business strategies based on specific tools and models to analyse strategic context.
You will explore:
- the effectiveness of corporate vision
- the application of strategic tools, models, and concepts
- processes of strategy
- and critical success factors in delivering competitive advantage and customer value.
Assessment
You will be assessed through a case study and an assignment presentation.
Corporate Finance
This module will give you an insight into the practical impacts of key areas of corporate finance.
You will cover an overview of the core concepts of corporate finance before focusing on specific related areas such as corporate valuation and merger and acquisition activity.
You will be introduced to more complex aspects of finance theory including:
- Portfolio Theory
- Capital Asset Pricing Model
- Capital Structure Theory.
You are encouraged to examine ‘corporate finance in action’ and to link your theoretical studies with practice.
Assessment
You will be assessed through an essay and an online exam.
Accreditation
This is an ACCA accredited module.
Entrepreneurship (Business Start-Up Idea and Plan)
In this heavily practical module, you will work to develop an idea for a new small business.
You will present this to get feedback on improving the business viability and create a one-year persuasive business plan.
Your classes will focus on developing your understanding the feasibility and viability of each aspect of your business through testing and evaluation.
Assessment
Assessment is by presentation and creation of the business plan.
Global Branding
You will develop your understanding of global marketing alongside your problem solving and decision-making skills.
You will be able to critically evaluate key issues associated with global marketing within the context of a dynamic cultural environment.
You will appraise global marketing opportunities and threats and make decisions relating to an organisation’s ability to successfully enter and compete in international markets.
The module uses a practical and analytical marketing perspective.
Assessment
You will be assessed through creating a brochure.
Global Business Today
This module introduces you to current global issues that we are hearing about in the news today that are vital for business to react to successfully compete and grow.
You will broaden your understanding of the challenges and opportunities businesses face in areas such as:
- international trade after Brexit
- political unrest
- differences in national cultures
- global inequality
- operating sustainably
- and global consumer behaviour.
Assessment
You will be assessed through creating a conference paper and presentation on one global topic of interest.
Research Dissertation
The module is an opportunity for you to research a specific area that interests you within an appropriate business, public sector or third sector context.
Your project will make a major contribution to your professional and intellectual development.
Placement students
All students have the opportunity to go on the work placement module where you undertake a project for a client organisation and your dissertation will be based on this area of work.
Assessment
You will be assessed by creating an individual report of 10,500 words.
Accreditation
This is a CMI accredited module.
Strategic Human Resource Management
You will consider practical and conceptual frameworks in a series of workshops.
These interactive sessions will use learning methods including:
- case studies
- directed reading
- presentations with feedback
- self-reflection
- guest speakers
- workshop exercises
- and mini-discussion groups.
You will take part in simulations and activities to reflect typical business scenarios as you analyse, problem solve and generate a justified solution to a problem.
Assessment
You will be assessed through an open book assessment, an individual report, a coaching session, and an e-portfolio review.
Work Placement
All of our students take this opportunity to gain valuable management experience working in an organisation and project work that appeal to you in your future career. The placement is part-time and 20-weeks long.
Typically, you would carry out your research dissertation whilst on placement and focus on researching the project areas you are working on and an area the organisation will benefit from the most. This module allows you to gain valuable work experience and enhance your employability which is extremely attractive to employers.
Few other universities offer a professional placement where your research dissertation aligns with your project work.
Assessment
You will be assessed through a learning log submission and an individual presentation.
Facilities
Use industry standard software and equipment
Learning Resource Centre
The Learning Resource Centre (LRC) contains the library, a café, IT/teaching rooms, and the Support and Information Zone (SIZ).
Library
Our campus library holds more than 200,000 books and over 500,000 eBooks.
Work Placements
Gain practical experience
This degree has a strong vocational focus which is enhanced by the work placement programme. Internships and work placements give you valuable work experience to add to your CV and help to prepare you for the workplace on graduation. Placements improve your employability, enterprise skills, build confidence and help you stand out from the crowd in a competitive graduate market and thrive in business after you leave university.
Whilst studying the business management top-up degree, we offer a 20-week work placement to help you gain work experience in your chosen career:
Work Placement
The part-time unpaid placement is assessed as a double module for your degree and focuses on employability and personal development. During your time on placement, you will focus on a specific project for the organisation and your research dissertation will explore a management issue within the placement organisation.
Jake
Student
Placement Office
The Business School has a dedicated placement office who will work with you and relevant businesses to help find the best placement match at an appropriate level and suited to your degree.
However, you are ultimately responsible for finding your own placement, but can take advantage of the team’s business relationships and opportunities advertised by the placement office. Some businesses contact us to advertise their placements to students which are forward onto students.
Students find placements in all types of business, some recent examples include:
- AdAstra Information Systems
- Adobe Systems
- Citibank
- Citizens Advice Bureau
- Gatwick Diamond Initiative
- Goodwood
- Montezuma
- NHS
- Nature's Way Foods
- Phillips
- PWC Vietnam
- RSPCA
- Virgin Active
- Yahoo
Entrepreneurship Placement
Alternatively, you may be interested in starting your own business and being your own boss on a permanent, temporary, full-time or part-time basis. Or, you might want to experiment starting up a business, without too much commitment. If you aspire to be your own boss, you may be interested in the ‘entrepreneurship placement’ in semester two. During this placement you create a business idea, write a business plan and explore how to implement it with support from lecturers and Business Hot House mentors. Entrepreneurial talent is sought after by employers who are continuously operating in a competitive marketplace and needing to innovate. So, even if you decide that your business idea is not for you, having the experience of developing and implementing a business idea will provide valuable experiences for being an entrepreneur in the future, or an intrapreneur in the workplace. Plus, it provides an interesting talking piece on job applications, CVs and interviews.
Careers
Excellent professional level graduate employment results
This multi-disciplinary BA (Hons) Business Management degree gives you the skills needed to succeed across a range of business industries and job roles. Employers will value the breadth of your knowledge gained through the degree.
After graduating you could become a:
- Account Manager
- Banker
- Business Advisor
- Business Development Manager
- Chartered Management Accountant
- Consultant
- Corporate Investment Banker
- Data Analyst
- Entrepreneur
- Fundraising Officer
- Graduate Trainee
- Insurance Underwriter
- Management Consultant
- Project Manager
- Risk Manager
- Sales Executive
- Stockbroker
- Supply Chain Manager
- Teacher
Further Study
You may decide to continue your studies to postgraduate level.
The Business School has a diverse range of postgraduate courses including:
- MBA
- MSc International Business
- MSc Digital Marketing
- PGCE
- PhD Research
University of Chichester alumni who have completed a full undergraduate degree at the University will receive a 15% discount on their postgraduate fees.
Course Costs
Course Fees 2024/25
UK fee
International fee
For further details about fees, please see our Tuition Fee page.
For further details about international scholarships, please see our Scholarships page.
To find out about any additional costs on this course, please see our Additional Costs page.
Entry Requirements
Typical offers (individual offers may vary):
- HND in related subject area, with a majority of units at Merit or Distinction.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
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