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BSc (Hons) - Business Management (Integrated Foundation Year)

Are you looking to hone your skills across the many facets of business? Do you want to discover how to shape yourself into a leader in order to kick-start your dream career?

This hands-on programme uses collaborative methods to ensure you graduate with all the skills to reach the top, giving you a real-world insight to the many strands of business, from marketing and project management to people management and consultancy. We are ranked top in the North West for producing entrepreneurs (Novuna 2023)
Designed in consultation with leading employers and organisations, our BSc (Hons) Business Management degree focuses on creating forward-thinking, agile business leaders that are ready for the workplace upon graduating.

Throughout the programme you will explore the latest thinking from industry and build essential knowledge on key principles of modern business theory.

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Business Management (Integrated Foundation Year) cover image

Course Overview

If you’re looking for a foundation course in business that will enable you to discover your own personal leadership skills and those of others around you, then this course is for you.

Your introductory year has been designed to support you in developing essential university skills and the confidence needed to progress on to our degree level programme.

You will study management from a range of perspectives and address the big issues facing modern business. Industry-active tutors and resources will ensure learning stays current. You’ll become business-ready through access to the latest technology. Classroom activities, including leading lectures and mock office environments, will build managerial confidence. Our employer network will provide a strong practical insight, while challenge and creativity will develop your problem-solving, decision-making and team-working skills.

On this course you will...

Immerse yourself in practical experiential learning. Enhance your skills through applied learning and gain confidence in the workplace with engaging business simulations.
Benefit from Cumbria’s strong industry connections with global enterprises and local employers, grow your network and discover the many opportunities that await you.
Discover a global perspective and develop a robust skill set across the many elements of business, giving you the tools to start your own business, or to be a stand-out candidate on the journey to your dream career.
Shape yourself as a professional within the business space. You will learn the fundamentals of business, and how to present yourself as a leader.
Be inspired and guided by dedicated, research-active academics deeply passionate about the nuances of business. Experience personalised support from these experts, who are committed to nurturing your learning journey and sharing their wealth of knowledge with you.

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Key Details

Recruiting toUK / RoI / Settled in UK
EU / EEA / International
Course LocationLancaster
London
Institute Institute of Business, Industry and Leadership
UCAS CodeN334
Delivery StyleIn Person
Course DurationFull-time: 4 Years
Course Start PointSeptember
AwardBSc (Hons)
More informationProgramme Specification
Prospectus
Open DaysLancaster
London
All

Minimum entry requirements

UCAS Tariff points

Tuition fees

£9,250

UK | Year

£13,575

International | Year

Tuition Fees Policy

Working with

Course Structure

What you will learn

We’ll provide you with a firm grasp of operations management, economics and business management, while enabling you to develop core skills in problem-solving, decision-making, team-working and communications.

But you won’t just learn theoretically about business management - you’ll be doing it, thanks to our innovative teaching. From leading a lecture to turning the classroom into an office, you’ll get every opportunity to become the confident and effective manager that employers demand in today’s dynamic business environment.

Year one

Essential University Skills 1
Develop the academic and professional skills required for effective learning and successful progression through your chosen course.
Contemporary Issues and the Media
Explore a range of contemporary issues through the lens of the media that relates to your subject area.
Business Innovation
Develop your own business idea and explore the interaction between different business disciplines to ensure success in profit and non-profit making organisations.
Essential University Skills 2
Further develop the skills acquired in Essential University Skills 1.
Leading and Managing Individuals and Organisations
An introduction to key concepts in leadership and management.
Individual Case Study
Undertake an individual given case study using a problem based approach.

Year two

Understanding Self and Others
Exploring Business Contexts
Measuring What Matters
Fundamentals of Business
Learn about business; it's scope, nature, types, management functions, leadership, range and challenges and how they relate to stakeholder responsibilities.
Principles of Marketing
Learn about the importance of marketing's role in driving success and delivering results.
Leading Teams and Managing Others

Year three

Human Resource Management, Theory and Practice
Develop and understanding of the major theories and practice of HRM
Environmental, Social and Governance Issues in Organisations
Applying Strategic Analysis
Services Marketing and Customer Experience
Managing Operations
Explore the principle, nature and scope of the operations and functions in both services and products organisations.
International Human Relations Management
Digital Communications and Content Marketing

Year four

Coaching, Mentoring and Empowering
International Marketing
Career Management
Global to Local Business Futures
Applied Digital Marketing
Capstone Project
Business Psychology

Teaching & Assessment

How you will learn

The Business Management programme is designed to provide you with a theoretical understanding and practical skills related to:

Managing and leading yourself and others
Using innovation and creativity to develop solutions for customers, organisations and communities.
Analysing, understanding, and influencing the internal and external environments and systems within which you will work, live and volunteer.

We use a variety of approaches to learning and teaching to make sure you develop an appropriate level of understanding of concepts, knowledge, theories and practices, alongside academic and work-related skills. On your programme you can expect to participate in all the following:

Lectures are used by both practice and theory tutors using a variety of media as support. You will be expected to take notes, ask questions and contribute to any group discussions that ensue.
Seminars will explore issues in greater depth with both tutor and student-led formats. These will require you to engage in research and background reading and will consider the relation of theory to practice and help develop wide ranging transferable skills.
Tutorials provide individually tailored feedback to you. They can range from one-to-one to small group situations.
Practical Workshop Sessions will provide the opportunity for you to develop and apply skills and knowledge.
Problem based learning is a key element of your learning as ‘problem solving’ is an important skill for those working in business. Over the course you will be given a number of ‘business problems’ to solve, either independently or as a team, and these will require thorough research, synthesising the information you have discovered and developing and presenting an appropriate response.
Simulations are a great opportunity for you to apply their knowledge and skills to a ‘real-life’ scenario. For example, you might be asked to draw up a business plan for a new business or develop a digital marketing strategy for a struggling high street business
Group work is very important in business, as teamwork, getting input from different voices, the demands of different bodies and situations require that you develop skills in working with others, communication, trust, responsibility, flexibility and reliability. Many of the projects and tasks that you will be given will allow you to experience, consider and develop your team-working skills.
Research throughout your programme you will be asked to read and research various topics, both independently and with your peers (this is often called secondary research as you are identifying and reading material which already exists in books and papers). However, whilst on the programme you will also develop skills to enable you to carry out your own research and data collection.
Independent Learning forms a natural and expected extension of the formal aspects of the course. Your ultimate success will be dependent on your willingness to develop, experiment with and extend the concepts and approaches introduced by project briefs. It is only with continued application that lasting and valuable progress can be made.
E-learning and Blackboard is the portal to access to project briefs, timetables and lecture notes, to submit module assessments and receive summative feedback. Learning packages which can be completed at your own pace are also a feature in some modules.

How you will be assessed

On the programme we use a variety of assessments to test both knowledge and skills. Where possible, across the programme we have designed authentic and applied assessments. This means that we have designed assignments to reflect the demands of business and the workplace and which will require you to apply your learning to ‘real life’ business problems and scenarios.
Modules are typically assessed by asking you to apply your knowledge and understanding to a business problem or scenario. Alongside formal (summative) assessment and feedback, there will also be opportunities within the module to practice and apply your knowledge and understanding and receive feedback which will help you progress (known as formative feedback). There will also be occasions when you receive feedback from your peers (e.g., in presentations). It is important that you take note of all types of feedback as they can all help you develop. In all modules we will introduce you to and develop professional and employability skills (often known as key, transferable or graduate skills).

Examples of the types of assessments you are likely to encounter include:

Written work is central to a degree course and many of the learning approaches and emphasis is put upon clarity of style and argument as well as presentation. Different forms of written language will be explored to ensure appropriate critical skills and creative authorship are examined. Written work can be either formatively or summatively assessed and this is always made clear in the assessment brief.
Digital Portfolios are a method of presenting a collection of your work. For example, you might be asked to develop a ‘professional development’ portfolio whilst you are on programme. In the portfolio you might be encouraged to record examples of academic and professional training and development courses you have completed, application forms and an up-to-date CV.
Presentations provide an alternative way of conveying research and offer an opportunity for all learning types to develop their verbal communication skills. Confidence in being able to speak about your work is absolutely necessary in the workplace. Practicing these skills will contribute to your confidence and personal development.
Posters are one method to share your ideas with a wider audience. In each year of your degree you will be invited to produce a poster.
Business Reports
Video Blogs

Overview

48 UCAS Tariff Points, You can find out more about the tariff and qualification options from the UCAS tariff table.

Qualifications

Entry Requirements

A-levels: A

T-levels: P (D or E) All subjects are accepted for entry to this course.

Access to HE: 45 Credits at Pass.

CACHE Technical Level 3 and Level 3 Extended Diploma: D

OCR Cambridge Technical & Edexcel/Pearson BTEC Level 3 (National) Extended Diploma: PPP

Scottish Highers: 48 UCAS Tariff Points.

Irish LC Highers: 48 UCAS Tariff Points.

Other experience: Pearson Level 3 National Diploma MP.

Fair Admissions

When you apply, our Admissions specialists will review your whole application. We are looking for your potential to succeed so will assess your qualifications, any relevant work experience, your personal statement, and references.

Where you have received a conditional offer subject to achieving particular grades/UCAS tariff scores, and do not quite meet these scores, please try not to worry, where vacancies exist our Admissions specialists will review your whole application again and take account of any mitigating circumstances and reassess your suitability for the course.

Selection Criteria

As part of the application and selection process, we are looking for your commitment to this programme. In your personal statement, you should demonstrate your motivation for choosing this course and reflect upon any practical experience you have gained.

Contextual Admissions

Going to higher education can transform a person’s life. We use contextual admissions to make sure that we are accessible to everyone who has the potential to succeed. Qualifications and grades are important, but they are considered alongside other information that helps universities to identify potential and widen access to university level study. For some individuals, the disadvantages they have experienced in their life mean that they have not been able to demonstrate their full academic potential. Where a person lives and their personal circumstances can all affect their educational attainment.

We take this context into account and look for an applicant’s potential when making admission decisions. The University of Cumbria will make offers at the bottom of any UCAS Tariff range to applicants that live in postal code regions with the lowest participation in Higher Education (Polar 4 quintile 1 – you can check your postcode here), applicants that are estranged from their parents, are care leavers or have caring responsibilities or are in receipt of or received free school meals during their secondary education. Attendance at our Masterclasses and Summer Schools will also allow applicants to receive an offer lower within the tariff range. (T&Cs apply).

Contact ugadmissions@cumbria.ac.uk for more information.

Returning to Education

If you are over 21 and returning to study after being in relevant employment for a minimum of 3 years and do not meet the published entry requirements for Year 1 of our degree courses, please do not assume you are not qualified to join us. Our experienced Admissions and Academic staff will review your prior qualifications and professional experience to support your application.

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BSc (Hons) - Business Management (Integrated Foundation Year)