BA (Honours) Business Studies
Four years full-time (including one year work placement) or three years full-time
UCAS code • N100
Location • City Campus
Subject area • Business and management
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At a glance
Learn the foundations of business and then choose from a wide range of options to specialise in your final year, such as marketing, operations, finance or human resources. You can then put your knowledge into practice by taking a paid placement in industry to enhance your career prospects and starting salary.
Key points
• Learn the general principles of business and then choose an area to specialise in.
• Tailor your studies to your interests and career aspirations.
• Succeed in the business world by developing the confidence, qualities and work experience that employers want.
• Build your CV with a placement at a major organisation such as Siemens or the NHS.
What is business studies?
Business is the main human activity of production and trade through which all of us receive the goods and services and the jobs that we need. Business studies is the study of all of the aspects of business and the types of organisations involved. These cover everything from a small owner-operated company such as a family restaurant, shop, or plumbing service to large multinational conglomerates such as General Electric. They include public sector, private sector, cooperatives and not-for-profit organisations, operating in countries around the world.
This course
Develop the skills needed to succeed in the business world and gain the confidence and qualities that employers really want. Our tutors have significant experience in business management research and practice. This makes our courses current and relevant to today’s workplace.
During your first and second year, you study the core areas of business. These give you knowledge in the key areas of • finance • human resources • international business • marketing • operations management • business environment.
In your final year you can tailor the course towards your interests and career aspirations, with a wide range of module options to choose from. This allows you to study subjects that you enjoy and perform well in, so you reach your potential.
Throughout the course you develop key skills and knowledge for business including the ability to
• analyse business issues
• present your opinions and make recommendations
• work independently and as part of a team
• manage people and projects
You also gain the problem-solving, creative thinking, team-working, communication, leadership, management, and interpersonal skills needed to succeed in the business world.
Once you’ve gained a strong foundation in business studies you have the opportunity to apply it in a professional environment by taking a one year paid work placement in the third year. We strongly recommend taking a placement year as this is a great way to improve your industry knowledge with real insight and experience. It also enables you to build your CV, improve your career prospects and starting salary and can help you decide on your career path.
Placements are typically general management positions in areas such as marketing, human resource management, business operations and finance. We help you find a suitable placement and support and visit you while you are there.
You can apply to major organisations where previous students have worked including • Royal Mail • HSBC • IBM • Tesco • Cummings • Bosch • Mercedes.
If you do not complete a placement, you learn from other employment experiences in the work-based learning module.
Key areas of study
In the first and second year, you study the core business topics • finance • human resources • international business • marketing • operations management • business environment.
You can then specialise with a wide range of module options, such as a foreign language, global marketing, operations management, employee relations and financial management.
We are one of the few universities to have set up a Chartered Institute of Management Student Chapter. This is a student learning community that complements and enhances your academic learning and professional development in management.
Related courses
- BA (Honours) Business and Financial Management (Full-time)
- BA (Honours) Marketing Communications and Advertising (Full-time)
- BA (Honours) Marketing (Full-time)
- BA (Honours) Business and Human Resource Management (Full-time)
- BA (Honours) Business and Marketing (Full-time)
- BA (Honours) Business and Enterprise Management (Full-time)
You apply for this course through UCAS.
2013/14 academic year
For 2013 entry, membership of a professional body is included in the course fee.
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees and funding see www.shu.ac.uk/study/ug/fees-and-funding
2013/14 academic year
Typically £11,880 a year
2014/15 academic year
Typically £11,880 a year
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees, scholarships and bursaries see www.shu.ac.uk/international/fees
• coursework • examinations
Find out about work placements and how we can support your placement experience.
Optional year-long work placements are normally gained by competitive interview and are not a guaranteed part of a course.
