September 2024

Business Management BA (Hons)

Honours Degree, Undergraduate, September 2024

Key Details

  • N120 Course Code
  • 3 Years
  • 112 Typical UCAS Tariff

The BA Honours in Business Management programme helps you develop essential competencies for a range of careers in the private, public, or third/voluntary sectors.  You’ll develop your skills in presentation, data analysis, report writing, and the use of business software – relating these to the industry you want to work in.  You’ll meet business practitioners through guest lectures, recruitment fairs and events. We’ll get to know you and support you to gain the knowledge and connections you need to progress your career. 

The programme includes management, enterprise and leadership modules, which are highly valued by a large number of UK employers. You’ll also complete work-related learning alongside a mixture of academic and applied teaching. Our experts have a broad range of professional experience – with backgrounds ranging from hotel management to a consultancy business, from chartered accountancy to management consultancy. We share real experience and insights into the academic theories that work, as well as where they don’t. It’s an interactive environment where we get to know what your goals are and we help you to gain the skills you need. 

The programme includes:

  • 100 hours of work experience, enhancing your skills and employability.
  • An optional dissertation – a work-based project to identify a challenge in an organisation, research requirements, offer solutions and use academic theory to choose the right one for that context and business structure.
  • Opportunities to complete live assignment briefs – previous students have worked with B’Opera, Enterprise, in marketing management, in Costa Rica, and as an award-winning female in the business industry.
  • The choice of specialist routes in Year 3 (Level 6) in either innovation management, international business or marketing.
  • A virtual learning environment (VLE) facilitating mixed-mode learning opportunities and assessment activities.
  • Learning progression supported by academic and personal tutoring, complemented by a wide range of support services.
  • Major functional areas of business and management such as Finance, Human Resources, Accounting, and Marketing.
  • Curriculum and modules emphasizing global approaches in business such as International Business and Business Economic Environment.
  • External ’drivers’ such as the ever-changing economic climate and business environment.
  • Career- and employability-focused modules, for example: Academic & Employability skills; Innovation & Entrepreneurship; Leadership & Change Management and a mandatory Work-related Learning module.
  • A dedicated module on Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability.
  • Electives corresponding to three different strands of specialisation: Innovation Management, International Business and Marketing in Year 3 (Level 6).

The programme uses a wide range of assessment methods.  Formative assessments will be used to monitor your progress on the course and enable your tutors to identify any support needs you may have prior to undertaking your summative assessments.

The assessment portfolio includes case study analysis, formal examinations, individual and group business reports, oral and poster presentations, multiple choice questions, individual research projects and so on.  Clear assessment criteria enable you to evaluate your progress and identify areas for further improvement and development.

One of the key features of Newman University is our focus on helping you develop employability skills.  With work-related learning built into all our degree courses and guidance from Career Progression Coaches, we are committed to furnishing you with the key skills needed to meet the challenges of a competitive and rapidly changing employment market.

The skills and knowledge you acquire on the programme will be relevant for a wide range of organisations and industries in the private, public, and third/voluntary sectors in the UK and overseas.

Newman University is located in Britain’s second city – Birmingham. With one of the youngest city populations in Europe, it is a vibrant and dynamic place to study.

Studying at Newman University, you have the advantage of being near to the city, but living in, or commuting to peaceful and comfortable surroundings on campus.

Dining out

Birmingham has lots of wonderful places to dine out with a range of different cuisines. Places where you can dine out include; Brindley Place, Mailbox and Hagley Road (just 10 minutes’ from Newman).

Entertainment

Whether you like to go to; the theatre, gigs or clubs, or enjoy: sports, shopping visiting art galleries or exhibitions – Birmingham will not disappoint and you will be spoilt for choice!

Location

Getting around Birmingham is easy via train, bus or by car. Birmingham has excellent transport links to the rest of Britain, making it easy for those weekend getaways!

Why not explore the city for yourself by visiting one of our Open Days?

Want to find out more about Birmingham? Then take a look at some Birmingham City Secrets.

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Entry Requirements

You must achieve at least 112 UCAS points including a minimum of CC at A level or equivalent (e.g.MM at BTEC Diploma; MPP at BTEC Extended Diploma) towards the total tariff.

Access Students can achieve the requirements with the following combination of Distinction, Merit and/ or Pass grades at level 3 achieved from a completed Access course. 96 UCAS Points: D21-M3-P21; D18-M9-P18; D15-M15-P15; D12-M21-P12; D9-M27-P9; D6-M33-P6; D3-M39-P3; D0-M45-P0.

The University accepts appropriate T Levels as part of its usual entry requirements.

For applicants who are unsure that they will achieve the above UCAS tariff, Newman University offers Business Management (with Foundation Year) which enables such applicants to access a university degree via a four year route. Upon successful completion of their foundation year, students will progress to Year 1 of a named degree. Whilst not a condition of entry onto the Foundation Year, students wishing to follow particular named routes with additional entry requirements, will need to meet these requirements before they make the transition from their foundation year to year 1.

International Students
The University is not licensed by the UK Government to sponsor migrant students under the Student route and is therefore unable to accept applications from international students at present.

Applying Direct Option

You can apply direct to Newman University for this course if you have not previously applied to Newman University through UCAS and you are not applying to any other universities.

Simply click on this Direct Application link to do this.

N.B. will need to enter ‘New User’ account details when first accessing this portal.

Course Fees

The full-time course fee for September 2024 is £9,250 per year.

The University will review tuition fees and increase fees in line with any inflationary uplift as determined by the UK Government, if permitted by law or government policy, in subsequent years of your course. It is anticipated that such increases would be linked to RPI (the Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments).

Additional Costs

Find out more about the other additional costs associated with our undergraduate degrees. 

 

Modules

Please be aware that, as with any course, there may be changes to the modules delivered, for information view our Changes to Programmes of Module Changes page.

Timetables: find out when information is available to students

 

 

  1. Students will be introduced to theories of academic writing and presentation skills, learning and reflective practice, contextualised within a management and leadership business setting. The following key transferable skills –communication, problem solving, working with others and improving own learning – will be introduced, practiced and applied to work-based tasks, as will the range of activities associated with information skills. Learners will be provided with the opportunities to develop awareness of the workplace, identify different career and study options, recognise and articulate their own experience, accomplishments and talents and plan and implement career management strategies for the short and long term. Students will audit their own skills, identify aspects that require enhancement and produce action plans for self-development in those areas, enabling them to make informed choices in preparing for work placement, academic progression and the transition to employment or further study on graduation.
  2. The module will provide an overview of the economic and business environment providing a theoretical and practical introduction to students regarding the nature and characteristics of business behaviour under conditions of certainty and uncertainty. Whilst providing an overview of contemporary issues in economics and business, the module will provide opportunities for students to examine both the external and internal factors affecting and explore how decisions affecting prices, production constraints, output and wages are made businesses in an increasingly competitive global environment.
  3. Given the importance of people within organisations and the part they play in organisational success this module introduces the functions of good and effective human resource management by exploring and examining the key features of each part of the HR function. Starting with recruitment and selection, induction, training and development, pay and reward, motivation the module moves through a range of contemporary issues such as job design, corporate social responsibility, organisational development, employee engagement, employee relations, managing change and responding to conflict. The module will challenge students to think laterally about the human resource in a contemporary environment where labour is transportable, as is business itself, assessing the nature of the HRM function in different types of organisation.
  4. This module introduces core concepts in finance. It is designed to give students sufficient discipline-based knowledge to undertake more advanced finance modules. This module will allow the students to use a range of financial mathematical methods and appreciate their uses in both academic and applied contexts related to accounting and finance. The concepts and techniques of compound interest and discounting are fundamental to financial mathematics. As such topics covered will include: Time value of money; Financial market instruments and their functions; Discounted cash flow approaches to decision making; Evaluation of different sources of finance; Cost of capital and elementary financial management; Impact of dividend and capital structure policies.
  5. This module provides students with an introduction to the principles of marketing management. The specific aims are to develop an understanding of the importance of Marketing in businesses to improve competitive advantage and increase stakeholder value. Marketing principles and techniques are used to analyse situations and solve business problems in a changing business environment.
  6. The module will provide a general overview of law relevant to students working in business and develop knowledge and skills in the understanding of the general legal framework. It will also identify the essential elements of different legal systems including the main source of law, and apply the appropriate legal rules relating to the law of obligations. Students will gain an appreciation and understanding of the workings of the legal system, the law of tort, contract law, the law of agency, employment law and other areas of law that effect businesses.
  1. This module will enable students to evaluate the role and nature of logistics and supply chain management strategies in meeting the objectives of retail, service and industrial organisations. It will enable students to examine relevant theory and practice that help firms establish excellent procurement and supply chain functions that are critical in achieving outstanding customer experience. Students will become familiar with the specific management approaches to meet the product and service criteria set by customers. The module is designed to explore the technical and commercial environment that dictates the supply chain management approach adopted by retailers, service firms and manufacturing businesses in local and international arenas. The module is delivered using weekly lectures and seminars, principally concentrating on the development of students’ subject skills and interpretation of the subject area.
  2. In the current competitive landscape effective sales management and a clear focus on customer experience is critical to the success of any business . This module will enable students to examine relevant theory and practice that will help firms address the challenges that lie at the centre of maintaining excellent customer experience . It will help develop an understanding of how firms can develop compelling value propositions and how to deliver these value propositions across the customer journey , creating a positive customer experience.
  3. The aim of this module is to enable students to appreciate the principles and concepts that underpin the successful management of operations and service delivery in offering products and services of high quality any organisational setting. This aim is achieved through the design of products and/or services and the processes that create them followed by the effective planning and control of those operations. The module will provide an insight into the nature products and services and the nature of service classifications, how operations management principles and practices ensure the effective delivery of products and services. It will also examine the concept of client as a co producer and how organisations can create a distinctive service advantage. The learning process will be facilitated through course readings, lectures, videos, worked exercises, contemporary case studies and supporting module-specific resources.
  4. This module introduces corporate social responsibility (CSR) as the umbrella concept to provide students with a theoretical and practical understanding of the relationship between business and society. The module will introduce students to triple bottom line reporting, sustainable development, corporate social responsibility and ethical issues relevant to business. It will also help students to understand the development of corporate policies to meet stakeholder needs within a changing environment at the national and global context. The contents of the module will be contemporary, interesting, stretching and relevant, and should build on and integrate with other modules that students have taken and/or are taking.
  5. The process of innovation and entrepreneurship are interrelated. Innovation is the process by which an idea about a new product, service or production method is developed. Entrepreneurship is about pursuing opportunities beyond the immediate control of the entrepreneur or innovator. This module covers the basic principles and practices of these two aspects. In specific terms, this module provides students with an understanding of enablers and barriers to entrepreneurship & innovation and gives them grounding in the techniques and processes used by established companies to create and commercialize innovation, including emerging techniques. The module covers key aspects of the entrepreneurial and innovation process as it is practiced in corporate businesses –how and why entrepreneurship happens, how innovation contributes to the ongoing viability and success of companies and the threats from failing to continue to innovate, the enablers and barriers to innovation in large firms, how new patterns of innovation are being adopted by medium and large firms, and how intellectual property is managed in an increasingly globalised world.
  6. This year-long module allows you to engage with a real-world industry that reflects your career aspirations. Supported by tutors, you critically reflect on your passions and skills to be work-ready following your graduation.  

At Level 6 you will be offered the opportunity to either specialise by choosing two modules in Marketing (Strategic Marketing and Digital Marketing or complete an academic/ work based research project on a topic of your choice).

  1. To succeed in the fiercely competitive global market of the 21st century, it is necessary to develop managers and potential managers with an international outlook and global orientation. This requires the knowledge, skills and cultural sensitivities to be able to cope with the complexities and harsh realities of international competitors. This module aims to prepare students for managing business in a rapidly changing global environment. It is designed to enable students to develop a critical understanding of the major contemporary, and recent historical, factors which influence and determine the global business environment, and also to appreciate the nature of issues arising in different national, regional, international, and transnational business contexts. It discusses how to develop cross-border corporate strategies and organizations, how to enter foreign markets, how to engage in global marketing, international human resource management, and transnational production and logistics, and how to innovatively create shared value in cross-border business activities. In general, the module focuses on the ability to critically apply theories to resolving problems in international business.
  2. This module aims to provide learners with a rigorous framework of knowledge and understanding of development and change management. Students will initially be encouraged to philosophically debate and deconstruct the applicability of a range of accepted leadership propositions, when applied to a range of diverse workplace contexts in the ever-changing global business environment. This approach will then be explored in more depth to encourage a more integral view and approach to leadership, one that considers experiential, behavioural, cultural and social and systemic phenomena, in order to manage professional complexity and uncertainty. The module then introduces students to major theory and practice in the specific fields of leadership, change management, and leadership development. The aim is to help them become effective leaders, managing others fairly and effectively and increasing levels of engagement, commitment, motivation and performance of employees. Finally, the module requires students to reflect critically on theory and practice from an ethical and professional standpoint and follow a developmental approach, reflecting on a leadership practice in their working environment &/or in the wider world, and be well placed to experiment with new concepts and practices as a result.
  3. Strategic management is central to the operation of a variety of businesses in different sectors and environments. The creation of a strategy and the management of its implementation are important in developing businesses that can create and sustain a competitive advantage. The management of strategy involves coping with uncertainty, change and complexity. This module looks at how strategy is currently practiced in a wide variety of contexts from commercial and entrepreneurial to social and not-for-profit. The module will provide students with the necessary managerial tools and techniques required in order to undertake a strategic analysis & review of their organisational environment and develop a suitable plan to lead the organisation into the future. It also encourages exploration of and a critical approach to the key concepts that underpin strategic management and the tools managers use to analyse their environment, frame choices and put the resulting strategies into action.
  4. Through a thorough examination of the relationship between organisations management, Human Resource Management (HRM) and different sectors, this module will provide a framework to link the management of people to achieving long term business goals and positive business outcomes. It focuses on longer-term resourcing issues within the context of an organisation's goals and the evolving nature of work. It also informs other HR strategies, such as reward or performance, determining how they are integrated into the overall business strategy.
  5. This module outlines all of the steps of the marketing planning process, from analysis to strategic decision making, to implementing the plans and effectively managing the resources, concluding with providing students with the tools to monitor strategies and measure their success against strategic marketing objectives. The module is structured around four key topics. The first considers the importance of the marketing function within a global organisation. The second investigates the planning and implementing of appropriate marketing strategies. Thirdly relationships with stakeholders, highlighting how the organisation is responding to the modern environment. And finally, the internal composition of marketing within the organisation will be reviewed. Students will be appraised on the changing nature of marketing from a strategic management perspective, allowing them to efficiently use Strategic Marketing to ensure the business achieves its overall organisational strategy
  6. This module outlines how understanding and analysing the macro and micro-environments can enable organisations to assess the impact of the disruptive digital landscape in delivering objectives, to develop strategic recommendations and how creating digital marketing mixes can enable organisations to respond with agility to market needs. It examines how the management of digital channels and the application of key digital measures help to achieve business objectives.