Business Management (with 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.

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.

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
Contemporary Issues and the Media
Business Innovation
Essential University Skills 2
Leading and Managing Individuals and Organisations
Individual Case Study

Year Two
Understanding Self and Others
Exploring Business Contexts
Measuring What Matters
Fundamentals of Business
Principles of Marketing
Leading Teams and Managing Others

Year Three
Human Resource Management, Theory and Practice
Environmental, Social and Governance Issues in Organisations
Applying Strategic Analysis
Services Marketing and Customer Experience
Managing Operations
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

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