BA (Hons) Business & Management (Top-up)

This dynamic and challenging course is for students who have already completed, or are completing, an HND, Foundation degree or equivalent Level 5 qualification, and offers you the chance to successfully achieve an Honours degree in Business & Management.

UCAS Code:
NN21
Institution:
B50
Delivery:
Full time according to Funding Council definitions

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Why study BA (Hons) Business & Management (Top-up) at BU?

Offers you the advantage of the opportunity to obtain Honours degree-level proficiency in just one year of study
An ideal choice if you are looking for a degree that builds on your previous study and offers the completion of an Honours degree
Forms a solid basis for successful career planning as well as providing a stepping stone to future postgraduate studies
Choose a Pathway and a Project that allow you to tailor your subject specialisation
Study at a university with over 35 years’ teaching experience in this area, excellent industry connections and an international reputation.

Find out more about the content of this course.

Interested in studying this course part-time? Enquire now

Course accreditations

This course is delivered by the AACSB accredited Business School, an accreditation which places us within the top institutions globally for business degrees. Less than 5% of business schools worldwide have attained this hallmark of excellence which recognises a focus on excellence in all areas, including teaching and student learning.

Discover more about the BU Business School and explore our campus

Image description — Talbot Campus is where you'll find facilities such as The Sir Michael Cobham Library, the Student Centre (where our Students' Union offices are based), the £22 million Fusion Building and the brand new Poole Gateway Building

Next start date:

September 2022, September 2023

Location:

Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus

Duration:

1 year full-time

Accreditations:

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Required subjects:

Business or Management (e.g. Tourism Management, Retail Management, Marketing Management)

Entry requirements:

For September 2022 entry: Foundation Degree with 60% or above in a required subject or HND with Merit or above in a required subject. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

International entry requirements:

For September 2022 entry: If English is not your first language you'll need IELTS 6.0 (Academic) or above with a minimum of 5.5 in each component of writing, speaking, listening and reading. For more information check out our international entry requirements.

Course details

On this course you will be taught by a range of staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This will include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners, demonstrators, technicians and research students. You will also benefit from regular guest lectures from industry.

How you will be assessed

The assessment methods for each unit can be found in the programme specification for your course.

Download the programme specification (pdf 313kb)

Course content

You'll undertake significant pieces of academic work, demonstrating the critical, analytical and research skills. Your two options will enable you to develop specialist knowledge, understanding and techniques in your chosen area, preparing you for your future career or further studies.

Core units:

Research in Business & Management: The unit provides an overview of research methods available covering both qualitative and quantitative approaches, with a particular emphasis on the development and delivery of ethical and sustainable research.
Organisational Leadership: The aim of this unit is to critically explore leadership styles, theories and followership concepts in a range of organisational contexts.

Core units (choose one):

The Project choice(s) available will depend on the specialist pathway selected

Research Project: In this unit, you will put into practice a range of research methods, tools and techniques, to investigate and report on a business problem or opportunity of your choice, related to your final-year specialist pathway.
Reflective Practitioner Project: This unit aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of workplace and career-related challenges, as well as your critical thinking and writing skills, through a reflective project focusing on your placement year (please note that this Project choice is only available on certain pathways and requires you to have undertaken extensive, prior full-time work experience).
Consultancy Project: This unit gives you the opportunity, individually or as part of a team, to work on a real-life project brief, putting into practice your project management and CRM skills, to deliver a product, service or outcome for your client (please note that this Project choice is only available on certain pathways).
Entrepreneurship Project: Students who select the Entrepreneurship pathway have the opportunity to put into practice their entrepreneurial knowledge, understanding, tools and techniques to develop their own business idea.

Option units (choose two):

Please note that the options you can take will depend on the subjects you have studied prior to joining the course and will be attached to a subject-specific specialist pathway.

International Economics: Providing you with a comprehensive and broad introduction to international trade, finance, and trade policy and trade institutions, you will gain a basic understanding of international trade economics and rules, as well as the politics and institutions that go behind the economics.
Investment Management: You'll explore the current features of capital markets and savings products which will prepare you for business and personal investment.
Advanced Accounting Theory & Practice: This unit will develop your understanding of the theoretical aspects of financial reporting and teach you how to apply this to technical issues.
Entrepreneurship & Business Ventures: Learn how individuals and teams build on opportunities to create new businesses or transform existing ones by undertaking entrepreneurial activities.
Managing Innovation: You'll begin to understand how managing different contexts of innovation is an important step to becoming an effective manager or entrepreneur in today’s business world.
Global Operations Strategy: This unit will educate you on how to deal with strategic global operations issues, developing an understanding on how global strategies can be devised and implemented.
Global Supply Chain Management: Supply chain management is the fastest growing area of business today, and this unit aims to develop a strategic understanding of global supply chain management through planning, sourcing, making, delivering and returning products and services.
Contemporary Issues in HRM: The main contemporary issues and themes within human resource management will be covered in this unit, providing you with an understanding of the role of an HR professional and the key aspects of 'adding value' to an organisation through enhancing performance.
SHRM in Context: Looking at the strategic role of human resource management and key issues within the area, this unit will critically evaluate how HRM can be used within business strategies while covering global factors.
International Management: With a large focus on practical aspects of management, this unit will teach training and development in the contemporary global organisation, looking at global management policies, practices and processes.
Global Strategic Marketing: By helping you to develop the ability to think critically about real-world marketing scenarios and use market information to make informed decisions and recommendations, you'll be provided with skills in strategically managing the key elements of global marketing.
Digital Marketing: The ever-evolving topic of digital marketing has become the dominant form of marketing in the majority of organisations and this unit will equip you with technical skills and the conceptual understanding of how to engage effectively to see results
Buying & Merchandising: By critically analysing industry data, you'll understanding of the concepts, functions and processes of buying and merchandising, in theory and practice with a global context.
Fashion Business: This unit is particularly for students with a strong interest in embarking on a career that involved some element of fashion, equipping you with a broad awareness and appreciation of how the fashion industry is evident within all areas of the business.
Advanced Project Management: Providing an understanding of the role of project management, this unit focuses on the challenges, controversies, opportunities and debates around managing projects, within the organisational, social and environmental contexts in which they are located.

Please note that option units require minimum numbers in order to run and may only be available on a semester by semester basis. They may also change from year to year.

Programme specification and assessment methods

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the University's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry. If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

Your application

For this course we are looking for applicants who are:

Aspiring to enhance their knowledge of business-related disciplines and develop critical appreciation of effective implementation strategies
Keen to develop their competencies in analysing and managing the contemporary business environment
Dedicated to their studies and can take responsibility for their personal and professional development
Self motivated and have the ability to manage their own time and learning environment effectively.

How to apply

Selection methods

How we assess your application

Our offer-making process

Our offer-making will typically be based on your most recent qualifications, including any required subjects where applicable. We'll consider all qualifications when assessing your application, although these may not be part of our offer.

If you do not meet the criteria of your original offer, we may still offer you a place. We will review your whole application and consider all academic qualifications (including those not in the offer) to see if you have the academic potential to succeed on the course. If we feel the answer is yes, we will confirm your place.

Entry requirements

We have outlined our entry requirements below using the most common qualifications that we consider for this course. If your qualification is not listed below, please contact our Future Students Enquiry Team who can advise accordingly. You can also find out more about how we consider your application in our offer-making process section.

For September 2022 entry:	This course requires a Foundation Degree with 60% or above in a required subject or HND with Merit or above in a required subject.
Required subjects:	Business or Management (e.g. Tourism Management, Retail Management, Marketing Management).
Numeracy and Literacy requirement:	GCSE English Language or English Literature and Mathematics grade 4 (or grade C in the old grading system). We also accept iGCSEs, Key Skills and Functional Skills and other qualifications at Level 2 of the National Qualifications Framework. See all the equivalencies.

International entry requirements

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.	English language requirements If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you can understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally: For September 2022 entry: IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent. View further information about our English language requirements. If you do not meet the English language requirement for your degree then why not join our Pre-Sessional English course? Successful completion of our Pre-Sessional English course will meet your English language requirement.

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you can understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

For September 2022 entry: IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

If you do not meet the English language requirement for your degree then why not join our Pre-Sessional English course? Successful completion of our Pre-Sessional English course will meet your English language requirement.

Other useful information

Apprenticeships: We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Deferred entry: We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry. If you have already submitted your application, please submit your deferral request through our website.

Direct entry: We welcome applications from students who have previously studied at degree level at other institutions and wish to transfer onto a BU course. Our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure enables credit awarded from one institution to contribute to a BU award, subject to an application process. Please visit our RPL webpage for more information.

Mature applicants: We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application.

Careers

This course will give you the chance to hone your business management skills after completing a Foundation degree or HND and will prepare you for work in a variety of corporate environments.

Typical starting job roles

Our Business and Management graduates perform well once they enter the world of work in sectors such as finance, retail, recruitment and business, thanks to the focus on practical skills as well as business theory.

They work for a wide range of companies, including Bravissimo, Ceuta Healthcare, Enterprise, Lloyds Bank, Opus Recruitment, Pentalever, Savills and Tesco, among others.

You will be able to apply for a range of positions after graduating, including:

Account Manager
Admin Manager
Business Analyst
Consultant
HR Assistant
Team Leader
Operations.

Further study

Once you have completed an undergraduate Honours degree, you can further develop your education by studying for a postgraduate degree. Please visit our postgraduate section for further details about our range of Master’s degrees.

Research degrees

If you are a BU graduate you are eligible for a 20% ‘loyalty’ discount on the published fees for further programmes with us!

Depending on your qualifications and experiences, you can choose to undertake a MRes or PhD level research degree. Bournemouth University has a strong business research foundation within our Department of People & Organisations through a number of research centres, which explores theory, education and professional practice.

Visit our postgraduate research courses for further details about research degree options with the Bournemouth University Business School and the funding options available.

Postgraduate section

Costs and fees

All fees are quoted in pounds sterling and are per year. Your tuition fees will be the same for each year of your course. You can find full information about funding your studies and paying your fees in our undergraduate fees and funding section.

Fees quoted are for tuition only unless stated otherwise, and we’re committed to ensuring there are no hidden extra costs while you’re at university – that’s why we’re clear about what you can expect us to cover, and what your cost of living will be. You’ll also find you could benefit from a range of discounts as a student.

Find out more about budgeting and living expenses

No hidden extras

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement if this is part of your course of study.
A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features.
IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme
Disability and additional learning support, according to individual circumstances.
The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding hardship funds.
Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses.
Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website.
Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass is included in your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation.
Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas). Information about funding your placement year can be found on our website.
Clothing or equipment costs required for your placement if this is part of your course of study.
SportBU membership.

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

Repeat units

Our staff

On this course you will be taught by staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This could include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners and research students, many of whom are actively engaged in research and/or professional practice which is integrated into the teaching of this course. Please note that teaching staff can change.

Mark Ridolfo - Principal Academic & Programme Leader

Mark Ridolfo is a Principal Academic in Human Resources & Organisational Behaviour, within the Bournemouth University Business School. A passionate, student-oriented innovator, Mark has been lecturing at Bournemouth University since 1992.

Living and working in France, Germany, Italy and China has helped inform Mark’s main interests of cross-cultural communication and management.

He also delivers courses in professional effectiveness – specialising in presentations, report writing, online communication, and negotiation.

View Mark Ridolfo’s staff profile

Dr Ediz Akçay - Lecturer

Dr Ediz Akçay is a Lecturer in Digital Marketing at the Faculty of Management. He has an MSc in International Business Management from Bournemouth University and BA in Economics from Bogazici University, Turkey. He recently finished his PhD research about brand alliances and value co-creation at Bournemouth University.

Dr Ediz Akçay has more than 10 years of professional experience working in marketing-related roles in Turkey and the UK, and received several international awards for the projects he contributed.

He is currently teaching the following units: Digital Marketing Fundamentals (UG), Digital Marketing and Communications (UG), Digital Marketing (UG), Principles of Marketing (UG), Research Methods (UG) He welcomes prospective PhD applicants interested in conducting research in the areas related to digital marketing.

View Dr Ediz Akçay's staff profile

Dr Sukanya Ayatakshi - Principal Academic

Sukanya Ayatakshi-Endow is a Senior Academic in Entrepreneurship within the Business School at the Faculty of Management. She is passionate about the power of enterprise in bringing about social change and works closely with various local organisations in developing values-driven and purpose-led enterprises. Sukanya has set up the BU Social Entrepreneurs Forum, in association with the Association of Sustainability Practitioners and Poole Bay Rotary Club, to consolidate support for the local and regional social enterprises.

Sukanya is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Authority and a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.

Sukanya's current research interest include Entrepreneurial Finance; gender issues in enterprise; AI in entrepreneurial decision making and social enterprises.

View Dr Sukanya Ayatakshi's staff profile

Spencer Barnett - Lecturer

Spencer graduated from Bournemouth University in 2003 with a first class honours degree in Accounting & Finance and has subsequently qualified as a chartered accountant.

Prior to starting at BU in 2000, he was an equity analyst and arbitrageur at a major European investment bank.

His research interests lie within the field of equity arbitrage, particularly surrounding mergers and acquisitions.

View Spencer Barnett's staff profile

Dr Parisa Gilani - Senior Lecturer

Rebecca Hindley - Senior Lecturer

Rebecca Hindley has a passion for enhancing the student experience and facilitating the development of students’ employability. She is a full-time Lecturer in the People and Organisations department within the Faculty of Management, contributing to the department through the management and delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate student-centred teaching, the supervision of the department’s Peer Assisted Learning Leaders and her doctoral research into education, students' transition to Higher Education and student scholarship.

Rebecca is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development and a fellow of the Chartered Management Institute. Having previously led HR functions within multi-national corporations, prior to joining BU, Rebecca is able to leverage her extensive professional network for guest speakers and draw upon her depth and breadth of experience to develop materials that improve the students understanding of business in the ‘real world'.

View Rebecca Hindley's staff profile

Dr Sarah Leidner - Senior Lecturer

Professor Juliet Memery - Professor in Marketing

Juliet is a Professor in the Department of Marketing, Strategy and Innovation. Her research interests lie in the areas of consumer behaviour, decision making in relation to consumer choice, and food and drink research. She has researched areas in relation to local and regional produce, sustainable food, and food waste, receiving grants from Defra, The Crown Estate and BA Leverhulme to do so. She is currently involved in projects looking at 1) food related lifestyles, and 2) consumer attitudes towards less familiar foods such as seaweed.

Juliet is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of International Food & Agribusiness Marketing. She has published a number of journal papers in internationally renowned journals such as the European Journal of Marketing, Journal of Business Research and Journal of Marketing Management. She has examined a number of PhDs and is currently supervising five PhDs across a range of consumer behaviour, food, and digital marketing subject areas at Bournemouth University.

Juliet Memery joined Bournemouth University as Professor in Marketing in 2013. Before coming to Bournemouth she was Associate Professor and Marketing & Entrepreneurship Group Leader at Plymouth University. Prior to academia Juliet worked in design for companies based in both Europe and Africa, and has continued to keep close links with industry through consultancy, research collaboration, and knowledge transfer partnerships.

View Professor Juliet Memery's staff profile

Course changes

Changes for 2022 entry

Date	Changes to this course
29/10/2021	Where the change was made: Course details: Programme Specification Change: New programme specification uploaded, this course has new core and option units.

Changes in 2021

Date	Changes to this course
18/03/2021	Where the change was made: Course details Change: Removal of options unit Advanced Academic English

Date

Changes to this course

18/03/2021

Where the change was made: Course details

Change: Removal of options unit Advanced Academic English

Date	Changes to this course
14/05/2021	Where the change was made: Course details Change: Core unit title change from International Marketing Management to Global Strategic Marketing. Removal of option units: Strategic Human Resource Management, Strategic Marketing Management and People Management & Development. New option units: SHRM in Context, Digital Marketing and Contemporary Issues in HRM.

Date

Changes to this course

14/05/2021

Where the change was made: Course details

Change: Core unit title change from International Marketing Management to Global Strategic Marketing.

Removal of option units: Strategic Human Resource Management, Strategic Marketing Management and People Management & Development.

New option units: SHRM in Context, Digital Marketing and Contemporary Issues in HRM.

Changes for 2019

Date	Changes to this course
20/02/2019	Where the change was made: Entry requirements Change: Foundation degree requirement Previous text: This course requires a Foundation Degree with 55% or above in a required subject. HND with Merit or above in a required subject.

Changes for 2018

Date	Changes to this course
23/05/2018	Where the change was made: Your application Change: Removed details of Unconditional Offer Scheme Previous text: Applicants who are predicted to achieve strong academic results will be eligible for BU’s Unconditional Offer Scheme in recognition of their academic performance and potential to succeed at university. If you are selected for the scheme and commit to us as your firm choice of university, then we will match this commitment by making your offer unconditional, which will guarantee your place at BU. You will receive a standard conditional offer based on the entry requirements for your course via UCAS Track and your offer letter – it will advise that you are eligible for the Unconditional Offer Scheme. We will then update your offer to unconditional should you choose BU as your firm choice on UCAS Track. We believe that unconditional offers reduce pressure on applicants who will continue to strive to achieve the best grades possible, and we will reward you with an Academic Excellence scholarship of £1,000 in your first year if you achieve AAA or above at A-level or equivalent.

Date

Changes to this course

23/05/2018

Where the change was made: Your application
Change: Removed details of Unconditional Offer Scheme
Previous text: Applicants who are predicted to achieve strong academic results will be eligible for BU’s Unconditional Offer Scheme in recognition of their academic performance and potential to succeed at university. If you are selected for the scheme and commit to us as your firm choice of university, then we will match this commitment by making your offer unconditional, which will guarantee your place at BU. You will receive a standard conditional offer based on the entry requirements for your course via UCAS Track and your offer letter – it will advise that you are eligible for the Unconditional Offer Scheme. We will then update your offer to unconditional should you choose BU as your firm choice on UCAS Track. We believe that unconditional offers reduce pressure on applicants who will continue to strive to achieve the best grades possible, and we will reward you with an Academic Excellence scholarship of £1,000 in your first year if you achieve AAA or above at A-level or equivalent.

Changes in 2017

Date	Changes to this course
06/09/2017	Where the change was made: Full entry requirements Change: GCSE entry requirements have changed to: This course requires GCSE English and Mathematics grade C (or grade 4 in the reformed GCSE grading) or equivalent qualifications. Previous text: This course requires a minimum of 5 GCSEs grades A* - C (or grade 4 or above in the newly reformed GCSE grading) including Maths and English or equivalent qualifications.

Date

Changes to this course

06/09/2017

Where the change was made: Full entry requirements
Change: GCSE entry requirements have changed to: This course requires GCSE English and Mathematics grade C (or grade 4 in the reformed GCSE grading) or equivalent qualifications.
Previous text: This course requires a minimum of 5 GCSEs grades A* - C (or grade 4 or above in the newly reformed GCSE grading) including Maths and English or equivalent qualifications.

Statistics shown throughout this page are taken from Unistats and BU institutional data unless otherwise stated.

BA (Hons) Business & Management (Top-up)

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Why study BA (Hons) Business & Management (Top-up) at BU?

Course accreditations

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Key information

Next start date:

Location:

Duration:

Accreditations:

Required subjects:

Entry requirements:

International entry requirements:

Scholarships

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Course details

How you will be assessed

Course content

Programme specification and assessment methods

Your application

Selection methods

How we assess your application

Our offer-making process

Entry requirements

International entry requirements

English language requirements

Other useful information

Careers

Typical starting job roles

Further study

Costs and fees

No hidden extras

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

Repeat units

Our staff

Mark Ridolfo - Principal Academic & Programme Leader

Dr Ediz Akçay - Lecturer

Dr Sukanya Ayatakshi - Principal Academic

Spencer Barnett - Lecturer

Dr Parisa Gilani - Senior Lecturer

Rebecca Hindley - Senior Lecturer

Dr Sarah Leidner - Senior Lecturer

Professor Juliet Memery - Professor in Marketing

Course changes

Changes for 2022 entry

Changes in 2021

Changes for 2019

Changes for 2018

Changes in 2017