Business Administration BA (Hons)

About the course

This course offers a sound foundation in business and the disciplines which underpin business, as well as an enviable choice of optional subjects and the ability to specialise in the second and final years.

You can specialise in various subject areas - accounting, human resource management, or marketing - or follow a generalist route, taking a mix of modules (including a language) to reflect your interests, needs and career aspirations.

You can also study a language or complete a study abroad period in Europe, North America or Australia on this course.

You can elect during the second year to take a 12-month work placement, or to combine a study exchange with a work placement. In this case, you transfer to BA Business Studies and, on completion of the course, receive a sandwich award.

**NEW - Business Administration BA (Hons) is also available by online distance learning . Visit go.herts.ac.uk/online for more information.** 

Why choose this course?

• Gain a broad knowledge base by studying areas such as basic accounting, economics and the principles of marketing.
• Specialise in specific areas to enhance your employability in your chosen area.
• Choose enhance your CV by taking a 12-month work placement or study abroad year.
• Combine your subject with one of six languages – from Spanish to Japanese – to increase your employability.

Study routes

• Part Time,
• Part Time, 5 Years
• Full Time, 4 Years
• Full Time,

Locations

• University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Careers

Eighty five per cent of graduates from Business Administration degrees have gone into employment straight from university, with a further four per cent going on to further study. Graduates have found employment in roles such as finance officer, HR manager, key account administrator, management consultant, marketing executive, purchasing officer, project manager, quality consultant, recruitment consultant and trainee accountant with major companies such as:

• British Airways
• Citibank
• Dixons
• Ernst and Young
• Esso
• GlaxoSmithKline
• Hamleys
• HM Customs and Excise
• J P Morgan
• KPMG
• IBM
• ICL
• Lloyds TSB
• Marks and Spencer
• Merck Sharp and Dome
• PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Rolls Royce
• Royal Bank of Scotland
• Siemens
• Vauxhall Motors
• Xerox

Teaching methods

For each module you take, you will be issued with a handbook which will set out in detail the module content, the teaching methods and the assessment methods used. In addition, the University operates a web-based student support system called StudyNet where you can expect to find a range of material and communications about every module. 

The teaching method for most modules on the course is a one hour lecture followed by a one hour seminar. Typically, a new topic will be introduced in each lecture; during the lecture you will be directed to the reading you need to do and the preparation required for the next week's seminar. The seminars provide an opportunity to discuss and obtain feedback on the topic introduced in the previous week's lecture.

Usually, assessment is split between 30% by coursework and 70% by examination. Coursework may take a variety of forms and may, for instance, be individual or group work, an essay or a report based on a case study, the completion of practical examples or a presentation. For examinations, detailed guidance is always provided by lecturers on the format of the paper and the necessary revision.

Work Placement

Students who wish to undertake a work placement should follow the BA Business Studies route.

Professional Accreditations

Human Resource Management: Approved by CIPD for purposes of professional membership. Marketing: students have the opportunity to take the linked programme during their final year leading to CIM Professional Diploma and graduates can go on to the CIM Professional Postgraduate Diploma. Accounting: exact exemptions from ACCA and CIMA will depend upon options taken in the final year of study.

Structure

Year 1

Core Modules

• Accounting for Business

  The module provides an introduction to accounting from the manager's viewpoint. Areas covered include the collection and reporting of accounting information to both internal and external users, as well as the use and interpretation of publicly available accounting information. The role of accounting in supporting the management functions of planning, control, and decision-making is also covered. Indicative topics include: - preparation and presentation of a simple income statement and balance sheet, including the need for adjustments such as depreciation, accruals, prepayments and bad debts; - the difference between profit and cash; - interpretation of an income statement and a balance sheet using ratio analysis; - costing: cost behaviour; marginal costing - methods and uses; absorption costing - methods and uses; - budgeting: nature and purpose of budgeting; its contribution to planning, control and motivation in an organisation; preparation of simple budgets.

• Economics for Business

  This module aims to enable students to understand the economic context of modern business by introducing and developing an appreciation of the utility of economic approaches in studying the business environment. The basic tools and approaches which economists use; demand and supply and industry analysis, among others; will be introduced and applied to help understand the economic issues involved and the public policy which can be derived. Economics, of course, provides one of the key pillars of a solid education in business and this module represents some first steps in this direction as well as highlighting some of the major contemporary issues in our society such as the credit crunch and recession.

• Principles of Marketing B

  This initial marketing module, which assumes no prior knowledge of marketing, aims to introduce students to some of the key ideas of marketing and is suitable for both marketing and non-marketing students. It examines the environment within which organisations operate and the role of marketing within the organisation so that students can understand the context within which marketing personnel work, and the different activities which are carried out under the umbrella term of 'marketing'. Concepts central to an understanding of marketing are considered - segmentation; targeting and positioning; the product life cycle; the 4Ps; buyer behaviour, etc.

• Quantitative Methods for Business (UJH)

  This module introduces the student to a number of essential mathematical and statistical techniques that are extensively used in business and management. Particular attention will be paid to the circumstances in which the methods considered should be employed. The following quantitative methods are likely to be included in this module: equations and graphs; measures of location and dispersion; weighted averages and indices; probability and normal distribution; basic optimisation; critical path analysis; correlation and simple linear regression; time series forecasting; investment; simulation. Appropriate software (eg Excel) will be used to support learning.

• The Business Professional

  The module provides students with a series of academic skills and study strategies which will underpin their subsequent studies. The module is composed of several themes which will include communication, thinking and methods of enquiry, IT-literacy, numeracy and the nature of knowledge. These will allow students to effectively match problem solving techniques to different scenarios. In doing so, students will be expected to operate in teams, reflect on their practice and recognise aspects for self development and improvement. These essential skills are developed and examined through a range of issues that are pertinent to the professional manager within a business environment. Topics may include: - The evolution of management theory - Key management functions of planning, organising, leading and controlling - The functional areas of business - The context of business operations - The role of operations and the operations manager within business

Optional

• French Route A - 4a

  This module will enable students to communicate in French at a basic level in a range of everyday social situations. Students will learn to talk about themselves and their daily life, carry out reading and listening tasks and write short texts within the framework of the vocabulary and grammatical structures studied. The module will be course book based, supplemented by on-line materials including for example video clips, blogs and magazine websites.

• French Route A - 4b

  This module will enable students to communicate further in French at a basic level in a range of everyday social situations. Students will learn to talk about past and forthcoming events, carry out reading and listening tasks and write short texts within the framework of the vocabulary and grammatical structures studied. The module will be course book based, supplemented by on-line materials including for example video clips, blogs and magazine websites.

• French Route B - 4a

  This module broadens and consolidates the students’ competence in French. Students will learn to talk about student life and travel, carry out reading and listening tasks and write texts within the framework of the vocabulary and grammatical structures studied. The module will be largely course book based, supplemented by on-line materials including, for example, video clips, blogs and magazine websites.

• French Route B - 4b

  This module broadens and consolidates the students’ competence in French. Students will learn to talk about student life and travel, carry out reading and listening tasks and write texts within the framework of the vocabulary and grammatical structures studied. The module will be largely course book based, supplemented by on-line materials including, for example, video clips, blogs and magazine websites.

• French Route C - 4a

  Emphasis will be placed on ensuring that students have a grammatically sound command of both the written and the spoken forms of French. A thematic approach to language learning will be used, improving the student’s linguistic ability and knowledge of more complex French. The course will be based on selected, complex carefully graded texts, online and audiovisual materials compiled from a variety of sources made available to students through StudyNet. Typical themes of study will focus on social, economic and cultural issues. Student will be expected to take part in discussions on the various topics studied.

• French Route C - 4b

  Emphasis will continue to be placed on ensuring that students have a grammatically sound command of both the written and the spoken forms of French. A thematic approach to language learning will be used, improving the student's linguistic ability and knowledge of more complex French. The module will be based on selected, more complex carefully graded texts and materials compiled from a variety of sources made available to students through Studynet. Students will participate in discussions on a variety of topics focusing on cultural issues, tourism and the world of work

• German Route A - 4a

  This module will enable students to communicate in German at a basic level in a range of everyday social situations. Students will learn to talk about themselves and their daily life, carry out reading and listening tasks and write short texts within the framework of the vocabulary and grammatical structures studied. The module will be course book based, supplemented by on-line materials including for example video clips, blogs and magazine websites.

• German Route A - 4b

  This module will enable students to communicate further in German at a basic level in a range of everyday social situations. Students will learn to talk about past and forthcoming events, carry out reading and listening tasks and write short texts within the framework of the vocabulary and grammatical structures studied. The module will be course book based, supplemented by on-line materials including for example video clips, blogs and magazine websites.

• German Route B - 4a

  This module broadens and consolidates the students’ competence in German. Students will learn to talk about student life and travel, carry out reading and listening tasks and write texts within the framework of the vocabulary and grammatical structures studied. The module will be largely course book based, supplemented by on-line materials including, for example, video clips, blogs and magazine websites.

• German Route B - 4b

  This module will extend the students’ competence in German through the introduction of more advanced language structures. Students will learn to discuss work and future plans, studying and living abroad. They will carry out reading and listening tasks and write texts within the framework of the vocabulary and grammatical structures studied. The module will be largely course book based, supplemented by on-line materials including for example on-line TV news items, blogs and magazine websites.

• German Route C - 4a

  Emphasis will be placed on ensuring that students have a grammatically sound command of both the written and the spoken forms of German. A thematic approach to language learning will be used, improving the student’s linguistic ability and knowledge of more complex German. The course will be based on selected, complex carefully graded texts, online and audiovisual materials compiled from a variety of sources made available to students through StudyNet. Typical themes of study will focus on social, economic and cultural issues. Student will be expected to take part in discussions on the various topics studied.

• German Route C - 4b

  Emphasis will continue to be placed on ensuring that students have a grammatically sound command of both the written and the spoken forms of German. A thematic approach to language learning will be used, improving the student's linguistic ability and knowledge of more complex German. The module will be based on selected, more complex carefully graded texts and materials compiled from a variety of sources made available to students through Studynet. Students will participate in discussions on a variety of topics focusing on cultural issues, tourism and the world of work.

• Global Perspectives in Business B

  Internationalisation of business is creating a substantial increase in intercultural contact, which is reflected in the skills set of managers operating in a globalised world. Managers need to develop sensitivity to and a critical understanding of issues arising out of cultural difference, and be equipped to manage and operate in diversity. The module will explore themes of: a) concepts of culture, b) cultural differences and c) globalisation. It will also explore related ideas such as ethnocentrism and prejudice. It will look at and draw upon the work of leading theorists, such as Hofstede and Trompenaars, in the analysis of cultural difference. It will look at cross-cultural differences in communication and negotiation style. The workshop element of the module will consider the practical consequences of cultural difference for corporations and sojourners. Types of international corporate culture will be examined, including expatriate staffing policies. The nature of culture shock will be explored.

• Italian Route A - 4a

  This module will enable students to communicate in Italian at a basic level in a range of everyday social situations. Students will learn to talk about themselves and their daily life, carry out reading and listening tasks and write short texts within the framework of the vocabulary and grammatical structures studied. The module will be course book based, supplemented by on-line materials including for example video clips, blogs and magazine websites.

• Italian Route A - 4b

  This module will enable students to communicate further in Italian at a basic level in a range of everyday social situations. Students will learn to talk about past and forthcoming events, carry out reading and listening tasks and write short texts within the framework of the vocabulary and grammatical structures studied. The module will be course book based, supplemented by on-line materials including for example video clips, blogs and magazine websites.

• Italian Route B - 4a

  This module broadens and consolidates the students’ competence in Italian. Students will learn to talk about student life and travel, carry out reading and listening tasks and write texts within the framework of the vocabulary and grammatical structures studied. The module will be largely course book based, supplemented by on-line materials including, for example, video clips, blogs and magazine websites.

• Italian Route B - 4b

  This module will extend the students’ competence in Italian through the introduction of more advanced language structures. Students will learn to discuss work and future plans, studying and living abroad. They will carry out reading and listening tasks and write texts within the framework of the vocabulary and grammatical structures studied. The module will be largely course book based, supplemented by on-line materials including for example on-line TV news items, blogs and magazine websites.

• Japanese Route A - 4a

  This module will enable students to communicate in Japanese at a basic level in a range of everyday social situations. Students will learn to talk about themselves and their daily life, carry out reading and listening tasks and write short texts within the framework of the vocabulary and grammatical structures studied. The module will be course book based, supplemented by on-line materials including for example video clips, blogs and magazine websites.

• Japanese Route A - 4b

  This module will enable students to communicate further in Japanese at a basic level in a range of everyday social situations. Students will learn to talk about past and forthcoming events, carry out reading and listening tasks and write short texts within the framework of the vocabulary and grammatical structures studied. The module will be course book based, supplemented by on-line materials including for example video clips, blogs and magazine websites.

• Mandarin Route A - 4a

  This module will enable students to communicate in Mandarin Chinese at a basic level in a range of everyday social situations. Students will learn to talk about themselves and their daily life, carry out reading and listening tasks and write short texts within the framework of the vocabulary and grammatical structures studied. The module will be delivered via on-line materials, including video clips and Chinese websites.

• Mandarin Route A - 4b

  This module will enable students to communicate in Mandarin Chinese at a basic level in a range of everyday social situations. Students will learn to talk about themselves and their daily life, carry out reading (pinyin) and listening tasks and write short texts within the framework of the vocabulary and grammatical structures studied. The module will be delivered via on-line materials including video clips and Chinese websites.

• People Resourcing

  The module provides an introduction to people resourcing and contemporary practice in organisations. It examines the activities associated with attracting, selecting and employing people at work. Content includes: - the role of HRM and the context in which people resourcing operates - the psychological contract - recruitment advertising and new trends - selection methods - HR planning and job design - flexibility at work and the outsourcing/off shoring debate - equality and diversity: issues for the resourcing practitioner - the future of work

• Spanish Route A - 4a

  This module will enable students to communicate in Spanish at a basic level in a range of everyday social situations. Students will learn to talk about themselves and their daily life, carry out reading and listening tasks and write short texts within the framework of the vocabulary and grammatical structures studied. The module will be course book based, supplemented by on-line materials including for example video clips, blogs and magazine websites.

• Spanish Route A - 4b

  This module will enable students to communicate further in Spanish at a basic level in a range of everyday social situations. Students will learn to talk about past and forthcoming events, carry out reading and listening tasks and write short texts within the framework of the vocabulary and grammatical structures studied. The module will be course book based, supplemented by on-line materials including for example video clips, blogs and magazine websites.

• Spanish Route B - 4a

  This module broadens and consolidates the students’ competence in Spanish. Students will learn to talk about student life and travel, carry out reading and listening tasks and write texts within the framework of the vocabulary and grammatical structures studied. The module will be largely course book based, supplemented by on-line materials including, for example, video clips, blogs and magazine websites.

• Spanish Route B - 4b

  This module will extend the students’ competence in Spanish through the introduction of more advanced language structures. Students will learn to discuss work and future plans, studying and living abroad. They will carry out reading and listening tasks and write texts within the framework of the vocabulary and grammatical structures studied. The module will be largely course book based, supplemented by on-line materials including for example on-line TV news items, blogs and magazine websites.

• Spanish Route C - 4a

  Emphasis will be placed on ensuring that students have a grammatically sound command of both the written and the spoken forms of Spanish. A thematic approach to language learning will be used, improving the student’s linguistic ability and knowledge of more complex Spanish. The course will be based on selected, complex carefully graded texts, online and audiovisual materials compiled from a variety of sources made available to students through StudyNet. Typical themes of study will focus on social, economic and cultural issues. Student will be expected to take part in discussions on the various topics studied.

• Spanish Route C - 4b

  Emphasis will continue to be placed on ensuring that students have a grammatically sound command of both the written and the spoken forms of Spanish. A thematic approach to language learning will be used, improving the student's linguistic ability and knowledge of more complex Spanish. The module will be based on selected, more complex carefully graded texts and materials compiled from a variety of sources made available to students through Studynet. Students will participate in discussions on a variety of topics focusing on cultural issues, tourism and the world of work

Fees & funding

Fees 2013

UK/EU Students

Full time: £8,500 for the 2013 academic year

International Students

Full time: £9,500 for the 2013 academic year

Discounts are available for International students if payment is made in full at registration

View detailed information about tuition fees

Scholarships

• National Scholarship Programme

Find out more about scholarships for UK/EU and international students

Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation

How to apply