Business Management BA (Hons) (with Foundation Year)
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UCAS Code: N201|Duration: 4 years|Full Time|Hope Park
UCAS Campus Code: L46
Accredited|Work placement opportunities|Study Abroad opportunities
About the course
The world of Business Management is fast-moving and dynamic: Business organisations are facing unprecedented change and complex challenges both within the UK and globally. This demands that students who enter the business sector understand the dynamics of the business environment and how organisations operate in increasingly uncertain situations. The Business Management degree at Liverpool Hope University examines small to medium-sized enterprises to global multi-national companies – public, private, not-for-profit with a focus on business principles, organisational dynamics and management processes.
Liverpool Hope Business School holds the prestigious AACSB accreditation and has an enviable reputation for developing students with sound theoretical principles, thorough understanding of contemporary business practices and informed by the latest research. The links we have with local and national businesses, plus links with professional bodies, ensure you are well prepared for the world of work.
This in-depth degree gives you the opportunity to understand how businesses operate and the ethical and social impact they have on communities. An experienced, student-focused team will develop your understanding of this business context and develop the critical business skills and transferable skills that future employers will demand.
A unique feature of our Business Management programme is that all second year students take part in the YE (Young Enterprise) programme. This is the integrating element for the second year, which stitches together all the parts of the curriculum. Every student is allocated to a business start-up team, where they work in a group to set up and run a legal new business venture. Thus, it provides students with practical experience of the process of starting a 'real life' business. Many students comment that YE was the favourite and most valuable aspect of their degree in Business Management.
Hear from one of our Business Management students
Course structure
Teaching on this degree is structured into lectures, where all students are taught together, and smaller groups of seminars and tutorials. The lectures will provide you with a general framework in Business Management, whilst the seminar activities and discussions, help your understanding and application of the subject. In tutorial sessions you will not only develop your understanding of Business Management, but also at times, work together in student led activities. Seminars and tutorials are also designed to enhance your leadership and employability skills.
If you are studying Business Management as a Single Honours degree, in your first year of study there are approximately 12 teaching hours per week, which will decrease to approximately 10 teaching hours per week in your second and third years. If you are studying Business Management as a Combined Honours degree, in your first year of study there are approximately 6 teaching hours each week, which decreases to approximately 5 teaching hours in your second and third years.
On top of teaching hours, you are also expected to spend more time studying independently each week. This could include additional research and reading, attendance at guest lectures and industry related events, preparation or completion of set tasks for taught sessions, revision for exams, work for your assessments and participation in group work.
Accreditation
Liverpool Hope Business School is an accredited member of AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. For over a century, AACSB Accreditation has been synonymous with the highest standards in business education. Accredited schools have successfully undergone a rigorous review process conducted by their peers in the business education community, ensuring that they have the resources, credentials, and commitment needed to provide students with a first-rate, future-focused business education.
Assessment and feedback
Throughout your three years of study, you will have a number of assessments. Exams are normally held at the end of each academic year and you are required to complete a series of assessment tasks during each year. These typically include business reports, essays, and a portfolio. In your final year, you are also required to complete a research project/dissertation.
In addition to this, you are given opportunities for formative feedback on assessments, with opportunities to improve before your final submission.
You will be given feedback on your assessments, and you will have the opportunity to discuss this with your tutor in more detail.
Curriculum overview
*Please note topics marked with a * are studied by Single Honours students only.
Foundation Year
Successful completion of the Foundation Year will enable you to progress into the first year (Level C) of your chosen honours degree.
Year One
Introduction to Business Management
Students will be introduced to the underlying principles of Business Management that will lay the foundations for progression through the degree. Students will examine what a business is, how it interacts with it’s environment, serves it’s customers and manages competition. Key topics to be studied include:
Principles of Marketing
Marketing involves strategies and actions companies undertake to draw in customers and maintain relationships with them. This element includes an introduction to marketing, marketing segmentation, communication and promotions strategies and the ‘4Ps’ of marketing.
Skills & Employability
This year will equip students with the fundamental skills for employability. Group-based work will develop ability to work as part of a team, whilst student-led tutorials will enhance competence in relation to interpreting, producing and presenting information in a variety of formats. At the end of this year, students will have the ability to deliver multiple projects within given timescales. Employability is central to the curriculum across the three years of study and will support students in making them ready for the job market upon graduation. Business analytics will also be covered within the skills section alongside introductory statistics that will lay the foundations for core research skills.
The Internal and External Environment
Now more than ever, an appreciation and understanding of the wider factors which impact on management decisions and business operations is crucial. Students will explore the external environment and how this shapes business strategy. Organisational Behaviour will give students the opportunity to explore how the effective performance of groups and teams within organisations can impact on business success.
Microeconomics
Economics is the study of how society manages its scarce resources such as what goods and services should be produced. This topic provides an introduction to microeconomics and covers a range of topics in the discipline such as decisions to be made by firms to manage resources and interact in markets, and economics demand and supply.
Single honours students will also study:
Organisational Structure and the nature of work.
Students are introduced to the main activities of an organization, rules, roles, and responsibilities of employees, and how structures are designed for information flows to accomplish the goals of an organization.
Management Information systems
This introduces students to the use of data from multiple systems and how information is analyzed to generate reports to aid in management decision-making.
Consumer Behaviour
This block is mainly focused on the role of individuals, groups, and organizations and all major functions associated with the acquisition and use of services and goods.
Economics
This topic covers economic systems and shows how markets, demand, and supply affect resource distribution. It studies how individuals, businesses, governments, and nations make choices about how to allocate resources.
Digital Marketing
This topic focusses on how organisations are increasingly using digital technologies and platforms to market and promote their services. Students will explore the processes of promoting brands through the use of the internet and various platforms of digital communication such as social media, and web-based advertising with potential customers.
Year Two
Explorations in Business Management
In year two, students will be introduced to the dynamic relationship between a variety of business functions and management. This will allow them to consider the operational challenges facing contemporary organisations. Single honours students will also consider the wider international, economic and ethical framework within which organisations operate.
Entrepreneurship
Students will be equipped with not only the understanding of enterprise, but also an appreciation of how different components of a business interrelate. Students will be given the opportunity to take part in the Young Enterprise initiative which gives a flavour of the ‘real life’ challenges involved in setting up and running a business.
Key Business Functions
The key functions of Human Resource Management, Finance and operations Management will be studied by students in the second year. This will cover key HRM practice from recruitment and selection to performance management. Students will also study underlying principles of Accounting and Finance. This covers the essential building blocks of understanding how company accounts are put together and interpreted. Finally, as business functions become ever more complex, the core function of operations management will be studied.
Research Methods
In preparation for the research dissertation or project in year 3, students will be introduced to the methods required for undertaking independent research. This will cover the key steps required to operationalise a research question including research philosophy, sampling approaches, data collection and analysis and research ethics.
Students studying Single Honours Business Management will also study:
Future of work
The ‘Future of work’ introduces students to the impact of geopolitical, economic, social, and technological forces on the world of work, business, and organisations, ending with a brief introduction to the impact of AI (artificial intelligence) on professional work.
International Business
In the International Business topic, students explore the impact of globalisation on markets and production by looking at relevant theory and applying it to various industries. Students analyse the challenges and opportunities faced by organisations operating internationally and how these issues shape international strategy. Students will also consider how contemporary economic models operate within an international environment.
Corporate & Social Responsibility and Ethics
Students are introduced to the concept of business ethics, its importance in the contemporary business world and the application of ethical principles and theories to organisations. In addition, normative and descriptive ethical theories are taught to students and how they can be applied to given business situations.
Employment law
The fundamentals of employment law and how they relate to Human Resource Policy & practice are covered in this topic. Legislation in relation to discrimination is considered alongside notions of unconscious bias and diversity in the workplace. Students also explore Health and Safety at work with a particular focus on stress management and well-being at work.
Project Management
In this block, students are introduced to the stages of the Project Management life cycle, potential risks associated with project management, various tools, and different project management methodologies and their application to real-world business situations.
Contemporary Economic Models
This block provides students with an introduction to macroeconomic concepts, an understanding of the concept of GDP, how it is measured and its shortcoming, with an insight into a distinction between nominal and real values. Finally, students learn about the determinants of long-term economic growth--state policies in influencing economic growth
Year Three
Advanced Studies in Business Management
Students will take on more strategic, global and contemporary perspectives in the final year. They will also undertake a research project/dissertation on an organisational issue of their choice. At this point, the course will adopt a more strategic lens, through which to consider the nature and scope of business and management in an ever changing, increasingly global and dynamic context.
Both academic and professional competence will be refined in the final year. Critical evaluation is a key component at this level of study and this will lay the foundations for reflective thinkers and practitioners. The undertaking of an individual research project or dissertation will help students develop a proactive mind-set that will prepare them for the world of work or further study. Topics covered in the third year include:
Management Strategy
Management strategy enables students to develop an understanding of how organisations plan, monitor, analyse and assess the necessities that they need to achieve their goals. The topic helps to understand the role of evaluating current strategies of an organization, reviewing its internal structures, setting objectives for the future and analyzing the actions of competitors in order to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace
Sustainability
In business, sustainability refers to doing business without negatively impacting the environment, community, or society as a whole. In this block, students will explore the effect that business has on society and on the environment be that positively or negatively.
Students choose 2 out of 3 from the following topics:
- Leadership
- Talent Development
- Operations & Logistics
Single Honours students will also study:
Social Entrepreneurship
In the Social Entrepreneurship topic students develop their understanding of the social economy, building on foundations in business ethics, entrepreneurship and business in society, from the previous two undergraduate years. The course element covers the characteristics of social entrepreneurs; alternative models of social enterprise; an introduction to the meaning and practice of social-solidarity economy; and social enterprise for societal change. Students are exposed to a range of critical theories and practice case studies, on which to develop their own critical and analytical skills in commenting on the operation of a leading social enterprise of their own choice.
Globalisation
In the Globalisation topic, students develop a critical understanding of globalisation in the context of economic and social development. They examine key topical debates including the impact of globalisation on economic growth, poverty, inequality and the environment.
Evolving Work
The world of work is evolving faster than ever, with technology being a significant force of change. The Evolving Work topic seeks to understand the implications of this change for work and employment and how organisations can adapt to it. It aims to provide students with insights into technological change (with a particular focus on AI) from all dimensions of the future of work and what it holds for society and business, from both a historical and forward-looking perspective
- *Final Year Dissertation
Entry requirements
There may be some flexibility for mature students offering non-tariff qualifications and students meeting particular widening participation criteria.
Careers
Our Business Management degree is designed to prepare you for a career in any aspect of management and business, equipped to set up your own business or to work as a business advisor. It also equips you with those transferable key skills that are required in today’s industry sectors. You will have developed skills such as problem-solving, resilience, flexibility, critical analysis, teamwork, giving presentations, report writing and reflective practice, all of which are demanded by top employers.
Recent graduates of the Business Management degree have gone on to have a variety of careers, including Customs Relations Manager, Human Resources Assistant, Retail Supply Chain Graduate Scheme, Business Development Assistant, Account Manager, Business Research Internship and Event Coordinator.
Enhancement opportunities
SALA
The Service and Leadership Award (SALA) is offered as an extra-curricular programme involving service-based experiences, development of leadership potential and equipping you for a career in a rapidly changing world. It enhances your degree, it is something which is complimentary but different and which has a distinct ‘value-added’ component. Find out more on our Service and Leadership Award page.
Study Abroad
As part of your degree, you can choose to spend either a semester or a full year of study at one of our partner universities as part of our Study Abroad programme. Find out more on our Study Abroad page.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2024/25 academic year are £9,250 for full-time undergraduate courses.
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £9,250.
The University reserves the right to increase Home and EU Undergraduate and PGCE tuition fees in line with any inflationary or other increase authorised by the Secretary of State for future years of study.
Additional costs
As well as the cost of your tuition fees, you will need to consider the cost of your core textbooks which we estimate to be around £180. There is also a voluntary contribution cost of £5-£10 for the Young Enterprise venture.
You will also need to consider the cost of your accommodation each year whilst you study at university. Visit our accommodation pages for further details about our Halls of Residence.
Scholarships
We have a range of scholarships to help with the cost of your studies. Visit our scholarships page to find out more.
International tuition fees
The International Tuition fees for 2024/25 are £12,500.
Visit our International fees page for more information.
Course combinations
This course is also available with Foundation Year as a Combined Honours degree with the following subjects: