Undergraduate Course
Business Management BA (Hons)
Learn the vital aspects of business management and gain practical experience with leading businesses.
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We are dedicated to inspiring the next generation of creative, innovative business leaders who will challenge the business landscape and move organisational thinking forwards. You might be thinking of setting up your own business, working in a large corporation, the public sector or non-profit organisations. This course will give you an understanding of how businesses operate and how skilled managers can contribute to their success.
York campus
- UCAS code – N202 (NN21 with placement year)
- Duration – 3 years full time, 4 years full time with placement
- Start date – September 2024, September 2025
- School – York Business School
Minimum entry requirements
104 UCAS Tariff points
3 GCSEs at grade C/4 (or equivalent) including English Language.
Tuition fees
UK 2024 entry £9,250 per year full time
International 2024 entry £11,500 per year full time
Discover Business Management
Dr Brendan Paddison, Associate Professor and Associate Dean at York Business School, introduces us to Business Management courses at York St John University.
Course overview
As the global business environment continues to become competitive and challenging, businesses need to take more risks. They need to develop sustainable business models that serve their customers and have a positive impact on society. This course will help you understand how organisations are managed.
Management is about people, and we will help you to develop your own skills as a team player, a group member and as a manager of others. Your Business Management degree will allow you to specialise in management and gain an insight into how managers work to meet organisational objectives. Alongside this knowledge you will also develop the skills you will need to be effective as a future business leader in the dynamic digital age.
Fundamental to our ethos is working closely with business communities in the private, public and third sectors. Working with local, national and international companies helps build professional relationships and networking opportunities for our students.
Our business engagement strategy is designed to provide events, learning interventions and consultancy, knowledge transfer, and applied research.
Throughout the course there are opportunities to engage with practising managers, organisations, employers and entrepreneurs and take part in work related experiences and internships.
As a Business School we are passionate about social responsibility and sustainability. These values and this commitment will be embedded throughout this course. We are a Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) signatory for the United Nations. Our mission is to develop your potential so that you can make a difference in society.
Course structure
Year 1
Our academic year is split into 2 semesters.
In your first year, you will study:
- 3 compulsory modules in semester 1
- 3 compulsory modules in semester 2
You can find out which modules are available in each semester on the Course Specifications.
Modules
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module you will examine the nature of business enterprise and its relationship with wider society, focusing on what it means to be a responsible business. In the ongoing debate about what a business behaving responsibly really means, we will explore ideas including:
- Stakeholder theory
- The triple bottom line
- Corporate social responsibility
- Business ethics
- The role of the state.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module you will develop your knowledge, awareness and understanding of the most challenging issues facing organisations today - the roles of people in the workplace. You will examine and critically assess concepts and issues associated with behaviour in organisations. You will learn about the characteristics of work organisation, the context of behaviour and how different factors affect individual and organisational performance.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module we will introduce you to the exciting and increasingly complex work of entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship. You will gain an understanding of how a business interacts with its environment. You will also explore modern discussions about entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship. You will investigate theories relating to the business environment, which will develop your ability to analyse and address different managerial issues.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
In the age of Big Data, analytics is becoming a necessity in all areas of business. It is an essential tool to drive managerial decisions and sustain competitive advantage. This module will teach you how to business data. We will consider the importance of visualising and understanding data, and representing data in a meaningful way so we can use it for decision making. You will also examine the importance of Big Data in today’s business environment and the increasing significance of Blockchain.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module you will learn the ways in which human, financial and physical resources are managed within a business organisation. You will develop your understanding of the importance of effective resource management. Such resources may include financial resources, inventory, human skills, production, or information technology.
You will explore:
- The principles of purchasing and supply
- Methods of planning
- The fundamentals of management accounting
- Information technology and systems.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module we will introduce you to the business philosophy and practice of marketing. You will investigate how organisations can analyse and segment markets to improve performance and profitability by building long term relationships with their customers. Together we will study a range of marketing decisions and how the changing marketing environment impacts these decisions.
Year 2
In your second year you will study:
- 3 compulsory modules in semester 1
- 2 compulsory modules and 1 optional module in semester 2
You can find out which modules are available in each semester on the Course Specifications.
Optional modules will run if they receive enough interest. It is not guaranteed that all modules will run every year.
Modules
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module you will gain an understanding of the key concepts and principles in business management practice. You will consider the differences between management and leadership and the impact different management practices have on organisations. You will also analyse your own management and leadership skills and devise a personal plan with the chance to develop your skills further.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
Policy development and changes in modern practices have changed how organisations approach their recruitment strategies. A strategic approach to managing a diverse workforce is an essential requirement of all organisations. On this module you will study the concepts and principles related to managing a workforce, exploring the issues associated with implementing diversity strategies.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module you will learn about the financial environment. You will look at key sources of information for decision makers and their needs. You will gain an understanding of the statements in published financial accounts and learn how to analyse and interpret the information presented. You will also look at the information for financial decision makers inside organisations. This will include budgetary control, short term and long-term decision making.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
Organisations need to understand how and why data is acquired, and have the ability to collect, analyse and interpret it. On this module you will learn about quantitative and qualitative research methods and how to use them to your work. We will help you develop skills in data collection, analysis and reporting your findings. You will also develop your project planning and management skills as a way to manage the research process.
Credits: 20
Optional module
Enhance your future employability by experiencing the workplace. We have designed this module to help you develop your skills, knowledge and understanding in different areas related to your career. You will engage with issues such as:
- Career decision making
- The recruitment cycle
- Applying for jobs
- Interviewing
As part of this module you will embark on a work placement or business project in a group, or individually.
Credits: 20
Optional module
This module aims to develop you into a confident, enterprising and creative graduate who will be able to cope with the ever changing business environment, recognise opportunities and to take responsible and measured risks. This is a very practical module. Starting with an initial idea, you will explore and assess a business opportunity and present a feasible business concept. Working alone or in groups, you will develop skills in collecting, analysing and organising ideas and information.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
Learning how to manage people is key to improving business performance. On this module you will learn how to identify the factors required for the effective management of people within a legal and ethical framework.
You will explore:
- Sociology and psychology of work
- Motivation and managing teams
- Recruitment and selection
- Managing behaviour and conflict
- People skills
- Training and development
Year 3
In your third year you will study:
- A compulsory dissertation module across semesters 1 and 2
- 2 compulsory modules
- 1 compulsory module and 1 optional module in semester 2
You can find out which modules are available in each semester on the Course Specifications.
Optional modules will run if they receive enough interest. It is not guaranteed that all modules will run every year.
Optional Placement Year
As with all of our Business courses, you have the option to go on a placement year between years 2 and 3 of your degree. If you choose not to do a full year, you can do a shorter placement module in Year 2. You can also choose to study abroad for a semester at one of our partner universities.
Modules
Credits: 40
Compulsory module
This module is your chance to plan and conduct a piece of independent research. You will be able to choose from the following projects:
- Traditional dissertation: Plan and conduct a piece of independent research. Present your findings in a writing.
- Business Research Project: Complete a small scale piece of individual research work.
- Consultancy Project: Work with industry professionals and investigate a business project and produce a research based report.
- Business creation project: Develop a full business proposal and plan. Use primary and secondary research to support your work.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module you will investigate practical issues relating to project management and operations management from a strategic perspective. You will develop a broad understanding of the different aspects of organisational operations and the relationships between them.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
The requirement for effective strategic management is increasing due to the highly complex environments in which most private and public sector organisations currently exist. The study of organisational strategy includes theory and practice from a broad range of business sectors. You will investigate concepts introduced in earlier modules and you will develop your critical understanding of these topics and their relationships.
Credits: 20
Optional module
This module will give you a critical understanding of business ethics and corporate social responsibility. This will help you to apply these concepts to major stakeholders in different corporations. You will study different concepts and principles so you can explore issues associated with the ethical challenges facing organisations today.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
This module considers leadership as a fundamental and pivotal role within organisational development and looks at how the behaviour of a leader influences both individual and organisational performance and creativity. You will learn to identify how leaders may interact with individuals and the wider organisation to raise performance and maximise success.
Credits: 20
Optional module
On this module you will investigate several issues in the rapidly changing information technology (IT) environment. We will help you understand the importance of technology in the development of business organisations, industrial sectors, and national economies. This module has a very practical focus and you will use case studies and examples from different industries. You will explore important applications of IT in business, including:
- E-Commerce
- Managing Knowledge
- Enterprise Applications
- Business Analytics
- Internet of Things
- FinTech
- IT Security Management and IT Governance.
Credits: 20
Optional module
On this module you will explore different psychological theories and work behaviours, looking at how they apply to business workplace settings.
Key subjects covered during the module include:
- Psychological assessment at work
- Learning, training and development
- Leadership, engagement and motivation
- Wellbeing and work
- Organisational design.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning
All of your modules will be delivered using a variety of different teaching sessions. This includes:
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Guest speakers
- Workshops
- Events
Each module has 3.5 hours of contact time a week. This consists of a 1.5 hour lecture and a 2 hour seminar. 1 to 1 time can be booked through our tutorial booker system.
You will also have regular individual tutorial sessions with your academic tutors to support your learning. You will also have opportunities to gain work experience through modules which take your learning beyond the classroom and into the city.
Our teaching draws on both our research and professional experience. This means your learning is informed by the most current thinking in the subject area. You can find out more about our research and backgrounds by visiting our staff pages.
Assessment
We use a wide variety of assessment types, which help you to develop skills relevant to the workplace. This includes:
- Written assignments
- Individual and group presentations
- Exams
- Practical activities
You will receive feedback on your work throughout each module. This will help you to improve your work for your graded assessments. We will advise you on developing your skills, useful areas for research and how to extend your business knowledge further.
Professional Skills
We encourage you to extend your learning through Continuing Professional Development as you study. Our Success Lab provides extra events, short courses and opportunities to help you make the most of your degree. The academic and professional skills you develop through this will help to boost your employability when you graduate.
Career outcomes
Your future with a degree in Business Management
This course will give you the knowledge you need to succeed in a range of business roles. The skills you develop in analytical thinking, problem solving and decision making are also transferrable to a variety of other career paths.
This degree could be the first step toward your career as a:
- Business analyst
- Business development manager
- Corporate investment banker
- Project manager
- Human resources officer
- Marketing executive.
Discover more career options on Prospects careers advice pages.
You could also progress onto a postgraduate degree and take your learning even further.
Postgraduate courses at York St John University
Whatever your ambitions, we can help you get there.
Our careers service, LaunchPad provides career support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access:
- Employer events
- LinkedIn, CV and cover letter sessions
- Workshops on application writing and interview skills
- Work experience and volunteering opportunities
- Personalised career advice.
This support doesn't end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain experience and confidence to succeed.
Entry requirements
Qualifications
Minimum entry requirements
104 UCAS Tariff points
3 GCSEs at grade C/4 (or equivalent) including English Language.
Calculate your UCAS Tariff points
International students
If you are an international student you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements.
Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our International pages.
If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.0 (with no skill below 5.5) or equivalent.
This course is available with foundation year
If you do not yet meet the minimum requirements for entry straight onto this degree course, or feel you are not quite ready for the transition to Higher Education, this is a great option for you. Passing a foundation year guarantees you a place on this degree course the following academic year.
Mature Learners Entry Scheme
If you have been out of education for 3 years or more and have a grade C GCSE in English Language or equivalent, you are eligible for our entry scheme for mature learners. It's a scheme that recognises non-traditional entry qualifications and experience for entry onto this course. Information on how to apply can be found on our dedicated page.
Advanced entry
Considering transferring to join us in year 2 or 3 of our Business Courses? Please see our Advanced Entry page for information on the courses available and how to apply.
Terms and conditions
Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page.
Fees and funding
To study for a degree with us, you will need to pay tuition fees for your course. How much you pay depends on whether you live inside the UK, or internationally (outside the UK). Tuition fees may be subject to inflation in future years.
UK 2024 entry
The tuition fee for 2024 entry onto this course is £9,250 per year for full time study.
This price applies to all UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students.
You can find out more about funding your degree by visiting our funding opportunities page.
Placement year funding
If you choose to take a placement year, and your course offers it, you can apply for the Tuition Fee and Maintenance Loan for your placement year. How much you are awarded is based on the type of placement being undertaken and whether it is a paid or unpaid placement. The tuition fee for your placement year will be reduced.
Tuition fees
UK 2024 entry £9,250 per year full time
International 2024 entry £11,500 per year full time
International 2024 entry
The tuition fee for 2024 entry to this course is £11,500 per year for full time study.
This price applies to all students living outside the UK.
Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a Student Visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.
Find out more about funding your degree.
Additional costs and financial support
There may also be some additional costs to take into account throughout your studies, including the cost of accommodation.
Course-related costs
While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include a DBS check, purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips.
Study Abroad
For more information on tuition fee reductions and additional costs for studying abroad, please visit our study abroad pages.
Accommodation and living costs
For detailed information on accommodation and living costs, visit our Accommodation pages.
Financial help and support
Our Funding Advice team are here to help you with your finances throughout your degree. They offer a personal service that can help you with funding your studies and budgeting for living expenses.
For advice on everything from applying for scholarships to finding additional financial support email fundingadvice@yorksj.ac.uk.
Course highlights
Engagement with business
We challenge you to apply your knowledge by working with our industry partners. These include MINI, Hiscox, Make It York, Arup, Autohorn, Enterprise Rent-a-Car and many more global businesses.
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Consultancy Clinic
Experience what it is like to work as a consultant for local, regional and national organisations. Solve organisational challenges and provide sustainable and innovative solutions for business growth.
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Social responsibility
York Business School is a proud signatory of PRME (Principles for Responsible Management Education). This is a United Nations initiative seeking to inspire and champion responsible management globally.
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Tim Business Management
A lot of the universities I went to were quite intimidating and it was due to the size, I felt like I would get lost in the sea of people, but I loved York St John University because I felt like I would actually be a name rather than just a face. I came to an Open Day and the atmosphere and the friendly campus environment was great.
Jay Business Management
The Business Management Degree offers a wealth of up to date and current academia that sets up prospective career professionals with a robust understanding of the current business landscape across Marketing, HR, General Management and Finance. What I found equally as interesting and rewarding, though, was the lecturers professional experience and insights that they could share with the cohort on their own professional experiences which offered a relatable context to the theories that were being discussed.
More to explore
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Join us in 2024
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Open Days
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