UDBSNMNG - BA (Hons) Business Management (Top-up)

This year-long Top-Up course offers students an opportunity to enhance their knowledge and understanding of business management, particularly the international dimensions of business, while completing the final year of their undergraduate degree. The course provides a broad, analytical and integrated programme for those wishing to study Business Management. It reflects the QAA Subject Benchmark for Business and Management which sees the of purpose business and management programmes as threefold:
 increasing understanding of organisations, their management, the economy and the business environment;
 preparation for and development of a career in business and management, and
 enhancement of a wide range of skills and attributes which equip graduates to become effective global citizens.

The central aim of the course is to build on the students’ existing knowledge of business and management. The core modules provide students with the advanced theoretical and practical knowledge and skills necessary to operate in a global business environment and to develop their understanding of the realities faced by international business managers. Along with a language modules, the range of elective modules reflect the diversity of international business management and is intended to accommodate the wider learning background experiences of non-UK students.

Students develop their understanding of the governance, operations and management of the functions and processes of business organisations, as well as the corporate behaviours and cultures that exist within and between different organisations. Students have opportunities to enhance their existing understanding of management theories, models, frameworks, tasks and roles, including the management of people and corporate social responsibility. They will explore the factors that influence business from an international perspective, with an emphasis not only on understanding but also on responding and shaping the dynamic and changing nature of business and the consideration of the future of organisations within the global business environment.

The course is designed to prepare students to deal with contemporary issues and challenges in the world of business. Contemporary case studies help to prepare students to deal with issues and challenges, such as change management and values, in cross-cultural environments, and with the management and development of people of ethnically diverse backgrounds. Throughout the course students are exposed to social, ethnic, and cultural issues inherent in the student body.

The degree has a central all encapsulating theme of employability with the aim of providing students with the transferable knowledge and skills required for their chosen careers, and which reflects the breadth and depth of opportunities for learning, practice, placement and employability.

The course utilises a blended learning approach to teaching and learning through a mixture of interactive workshops, lectures including virtual lectures, seminars and a wide range of multimedia. Students are provided with opportunities to analyse and discuss core principles and concepts and obtain peer and formative feedback. The course adopts a student centred learning approach, which requires synthesis and critical analysis of key issues generated through their own research. Workshops, lectures and seminars are designed to convey broad principles, concepts and knowledge, as well as offering students the opportunity to analyse and apply knowledge through field work, and through case studies and business management scenarios.

The approach to teaching and learning on the course is to help students develop an inquisitive, critically analytical, and independent but supported level of scholarship in which they are able to set personal goals and targets. Experiential learning is fostered, whereby students are encouraged to learn from their own current or previous experiences of work. The course utilises industry expertise through the inclusion of business problems, current employers, and visiting professors.

The aims of the BA(Hons) Business Management (Top-Up) are to:

1. increase understanding of organisations, their management, and the business environment;

2. provide a contemporary and dynamic programme of study which enhances students existing knowledge and skills, and prepares them for a wide range of careers in the international business arena.

3. provide opportunities for students to develop their intellectual, critical and practical skills through the synthesis, analysis and evaluation of business and management in a variety international contexts.

4. develop students’ academic, intellectual and practical skills and promote the development of their ability to critically analyse, synthesise, and evaluate business management principles in a wide range of international contexts. A central feature of this course is the development of students’ lifelong learning skills, including self-evaluation and reflection with the aim of placing students in the best position to make informed decisions about their future professional career.

The BA (Hons) Business Management (Top-Up) course offers students an opportunity to focus on key dimensions of business management while completing the final year of their undergraduate degree. The learning outcomes for this course are informed by the QAA statement for Business and Management.

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

LO1: Organisations: demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of organisational design and development, including the internal aspects, functions and processes of organisations encompassing their diverse nature, purposes, structures, size/scale, governance, operations and management, together with the individual and corporate behaviours and cultures which exist within and between different organisations and their influence upon the external environment.

LO2: The business environment: critically analyse the business environment including the economic, environmental, cultural, ethical, legal and regulatory, political, sociological, digital and technological factors, together with their effects at local, national and global levels on the strategy, behaviour, management and sustainability of organisations.

LO3: Management: illustrate sound understanding and knowledge of the various processes, procedures and practices for effective management of organisations, including theoretical models, frameworks, tasks and roles of management, including the management of people and corporate social responsibility, together with rational analysis and other processes of decision making within different organisations. Analyse contemporary business management issues and formulate solutions to identified problems in a clear and coherent research plan.

LO4: People Management: demonstrate a wide range of people management skills and ability including communicating, team building, leadership, motivating, planning, and performance managing others, as well as the development of people and organisations including the implications of the legal context.

These attributes will be delivered primarily through 30 credit and 15 credit core modules, and independent learning.

See attached appendix for Learning Outcomes

The QAA Benchmark Statement for Business and Management has been adopted.

The course adheres to university guidelines on assessment and feedback. Both formative and summative assessment involve a wide variety of assessment formats including: coursework, portfolios, blogs, essays, exams, group presentations, business reports, problem-based activities, practice-based projects, group research projects, videos, computer-based tests, business simulations and a final dissertation. Formative feedback is provided throughout the course.

The assessment strategy is:
30 credit modules have three assessment points,
15 credit modules have 2 assessment points.

The Placements and Employability Unit (PEU) provides assistance to obtain a variety of placements that are tailored to students’ needs and/or circumstances. Its service is targeted to support students before, during and after their placement. Placement preparation workshops or one-to-one interviews run during the year to provide advice and support on aspects such as CVs, job applications, interview technique and job search strategies.

Currently it is possible to undertake work placements or internships worth 15 credits during or outside term-time, for a minimum of 5 weeks (or the equivalent of this, part-time). Two modules are offered: ‘Learning Through Work’, which focuses on the learning experience in an employee position, and ‘Creating and winning business’ which applies to entrepreneur experience.

As part of our Undergraduate Student Promise, every student will benefit from accredited work-related learning (in either the form of a work placement or ‘live’ project with a partner organisation or practical small business planning) as a core, compulsory element within the study programme.

So as to ensure peer to peer learning opportunities and rich student experience, we reserve the right to require a minimum of 6 students to run modules that are Options.

Standard University Regulations apply.

PDP and Reflective learning are embedded throughout the course. Reflective learning and personal development planning are central to students’ career development. Reflective learning in embedded in core modules throughout the course. Optional modules also assess the students’ reflective practice through learning journals or logs contributing to personal development planning and career management. In this way, students are encouraged to develop specific skills increasing their employability prospects by the end of the course

A key aim of this course is to prepare students for a career in business and management whilst enhancing life-long learning skills. These skills are a fundamental part of the curriculum and are developed within each module. In particular, students are provided with opportunities to engage with employers through a variety of activities.

The course includes a number of business management related activities during the academic year as well as number of career oriented workshops which help students to identify and develop key employability skills. Presentations by experts are included and students are able to participate in workshops designed around identified self-development issues.

At all levels students can present their ideas to a variety of business people including those from London Metropolitan’s business incubator, the Accelerator, and this opportunity is also available to BA Management Top-Up students. These initiatives are linked to improving the students’ employability prospects and their transferable skills.

This course will provide you with the skills you need to pursue a career in business. Previous graduates of our Business Management course have gone on to work at organisations such as Coca-Cola and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

The knowledge base, transferable skills and hands-on work experience you'll gain throughout the course will place you in an advantageous position once you enter the job market.

This course is also excellent preparation for postgraduate study or a graduate training scheme.

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have one of the following:

• 240 credits from a Higher National Diploma (HND), a foundation degree (FdA/ FdSc) or equivalent international qualification in a relevant subject
• 240 credits from years 1 and 2 of an undergraduate degree (BA/BSc) in a relevant subject at a different institution

To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If you require a Tier 4 student visa you may need to provide the results of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.