Business Studies / Business Studies with a language BA (Hons)

About the course

This course is great for students who want a general degree in business which could lead to a wide range of careers, but it also allows you to specialise in a particular area in your second and final years if you wish. In addition, the course includes the option of a one year work placement giving you the practical experience you need to take into the workplace.

We have offered this course for more than thirty years and during this period, its format has changed many times to continue to provide you with the most appropriate platform into employment. However, remaining unchanged is its creative mix of academic study, skills development and practical training - the key strength of this prestigious programme of study.

The first year provides a sound foundation in the key aspects of business education and an opportunity to develop the skills necessary to operate in a business environment. In the second and final years, you can choose to specialise in one of five areas - accounting and finance, human resource management, information technology, management science or marketing - or to follow a generalist route. In the generalist route, you can select modules from any area of the course, and you can elect to take a language.

The course enjoys good contacts with local industry and commerce, who give support through sandwich year placement opportunities and the sponsorship of prizes

You can choose to combine your study of Business Studies with studying one of six languages:

• French
• German
• Italian
• Spanish
• Mandarin Chinese
• Japanese

Speaking a second language as well as having a business qualification will give you a competitive edge when job hunting.
Find out more about the options available.

Why choose this course?

• Dive straight into understanding how business operates.
• Benefit from our links with local industry and commerce.
• Enhance your experience through 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

• Sandwich,
• Full Time,

Locations

• University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Careers

Eighty five per cent of graduates from Business Studies 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
• PriceWaterhouse Coopers
• Rolls Royce
• Royal Bank of Scotland
• Siemens
• Vauxhall Motors
• Xerox

Teaching methods

Alongside traditional teaching methods of lectures, seminars and tutorials, we operate 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. 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 coursework and examination. Coursework may take a variety of forms and could be individual or group work.

Work Placement

A work placement is an optional aspect of this degree; students are required to spend twelve months either in work or six months in work and six months studying abroad. During this time you will be employed by a company and will subsequently be paid; for students on placement salaries have ranged from £11,500 - £14000.

In recent years students have been employed by; Mitsubishi Electric, Walt Disney Corporation, Carphone Warehouse, Toys 'R' Us and University of Hertfordshire.

The type of positions available have included; Business Administrator, Consumer products, HR Assistant, Department Manager and Marketing and Communications Assistant.

Professional Accreditations

Approved by CIPD for purposes of professional membership. exemption from CIM Professional Diploma in Marketing, entry to CIM Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, exemption from Foundation examinations of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and Part 1 of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), further exemptions are available from second level papers. All exemptions are dependent on module choice.

Structure

Year 1

Core Modules

• Methods and Systems for Business Decisions

  This module will introduce the students to a variety of quantitative techniques commonly used in analysing and solving business and management problems in the modern organisation. The module will involve the use of a variety of statistical and management science software in order to structure, formulate, and solve business problems. The module includes the following topics: project management, probability and normal distribution, basic optimisation methods, linear regression, introduction to forecasting, introduction to simulation, business software and databases.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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

• Work and Organisations

  This module provides an introduction to the organising and managing of work in contemporary society. It provides a review of the emergence of large-scale organisations and of the structure, functioning and management of work organisations including: - the nature and purpose of work organisations and the emergence of large-scale organisations, organisation design (structure and culture) and job design; organisation development; implications for the HR function; - the management of work organisation; control: concepts and strategies; power, conflict and resistance; - continuity and change at work; changes in the nature of work and work organisation as a consequence of competitive, technological and social trends; gender issues; - key theories: Taylorism and systematic management, Weber and administrative theories of management, the rise of bureaucratic organisations, human relations approaches, systems and contingency theories, Marx and labour process, and associated debates.

• 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.

• People and Organisations

  People and Organisations is a single module aimed at providing students with an introduction to the study of human behaviour in the work place and to explore and review the role of human resource management and people management from a UK perspective. Students will consider theories and models relating to the individual, personality, motivation, team working, organisation culture and explore the main four activities associated with people management at work: recruitment and selection, managing performance and reward, learning and development and employee relations and communications.

• 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.

• 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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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

• 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.

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