BA (Hons) Business Studies
About the course
Access indicative course structure
At Hertfordshire Business School, we’ve designed our BA Business Studies to help you begin a bright future in business. It’s a rewarding, highly respected degree which gives you an in-depth understanding of today’s business world and its trends, challenges and opportunities.
Every element of this flexible course helps you develop sought-after skills and open up a huge range of career possibilities in organisations all over the world. You’ll have the chance to explore diverse business disciplines, carve out your own career path, spend an optional year on a work placement or studying abroad, and even graduate with a new language under your belt.
We’ve been offering this course at Hertfordshire for more than 50 years, continually evolving our curriculum to make sure our graduates are highly employable and exceptionally well-equipped for the modern business world. What hasn’t changed is our creative mix of academic study, skills development and practical training – the key strength of this prestigious business studies degree.
The First Year of this degree is designed to give you a strong, broad business foundation, developing sought-after skills and a real appreciation of the challenges facing organisations today. In the Second and Final Years, you can tailor your degree to your own interests, studying options in accounting and finance, human resource management, information technology, management science or marketing. You’ll also have the option of studying one of five languages.
You’ll be taught by Hertfordshire Business School’s respected academic team, who’ve built excellent contacts with a huge variety of innovative organisations. Together, their insights have shaped a degree curriculum that gives you exactly the skills today’s employers are looking for.
These strong relationships with industry have also created exciting placement opportunities and many Hertfordshire students choose to take a year-long work placement between their Second and Final Years, gaining valuable practical experience. Our industry partners also give guest lectures and sponsor student competitions and prizes.
This is a very flexible business studies degree with a wide range of optional modules covering many different business disciplines. You’ll have the opportunity to explore everything from strategic leadership and performance management to ethics, enterprise and creative problem solving. Many modules have a strong global outlook, while others examine trends in technology.
Languages are always a valuable asset and you can choose to study French, German, Spanish, Mandarin or Japanese, as well spend an optional year studying at one of Hertfordshire’s partner universities in Europe, North America or Asia.
Why choose this course?
- Study at a leading business-facing university.
- Get a powerful understanding of how businesses operate today.
- Tailor your studies around the areas that interest you most or follow a generalist business route.
- Gain valuable experience by studying abroad for a year or taking a practical work placement.
- Combine business studies with one of five languages, adding a stand-out skill to your CV.
Key staff
Ms Kerry McKay
Deputy Programme Leader
Ms Wendy Yellowley
Programme Leader
Professional Accreditations
We’ve developed our BA Business Studies in close collaboration with several leading professional bodies, making sure our modules meet their rigorous requirements.
These include the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). Depending which modules you choose, you can apply for exemptions from these organisations’ professional exams.
Careers
Employability is at the heart of every Hertfordshire degree and we’re pleased to say that 93% of graduates from the BA Business Studies go into work or further study within 6 months of graduating.
They go into a whole range of business roles, including finance officer, HR manager, key account administrator, management consultant, marketing executive, purchasing officer, project manager, quality consultant, recruitment consultant and trainee accountant.
Our graduates launch careers with all sorts of organisations, including leading names like British Airways, Citibank, Ernst and Young, GlaxoSmithKline, KPMG, IBM, PWC, Rolls-Royce, Royal
Teaching methods
You will be studying four 15 credit modules in each semester (this may vary between double modules) and your contact time varies between modules, but usually you will have two sessions per week for each module, a one-hour lecture following by a one-hour seminar/tutorial. Typically, a new topic or theory will be introduced in each lecture and will be followed up with class discussion and feedback in the subsequent seminar. In addition, as part of your study time, you will be collaborating with your peers on tasks and group assignments. Module leaders also offer weekly drop in and feedback sessions, usually 2 x 1 hours per module as well as revision sessions.
The University’s ‘online learning environment’ means you can access all your course resources, literature and timetables from anywhere in the world.
Usually, assessment is split between coursework and examinations. The style of coursework can vary from presentations to business reports, essays depending on the taught topics.
Work Placement
Practical experience can really make your CV stand out to potential employers and our BA Business Studies gives you the option of adding a year-long work placement to your degree.
You can either spend 12 months working for your placement company, or six months working and six months studying abroad at one of our partner universities. While you’re working, you’ll be paid by your employer.
In recent years, our students have gone on placements with Mitsubishi Electric, Walt Disney, Carphone Warehouse and Toys R Us, taking on roles including business administrator, HR assistant, department manager and marketing and communications assistant.
Study Abroad
Today’s businesses operate in an increasingly global market. Even those based in the UK are influenced by international trends and events. Hertfordshire Business School’s BA Business Studies is taught by a highly regarded academic team with extensive international experience and their insights into global business practices have shaped every part of the course.
You’ll have the opportunity to add an even deeper international dimension to your BA by choosing optional language modules or studying abroad between your Second and Final Years in Europe, North America or Asia.
Structure
Level 4
Core Modules
- Principles of Marketing - 15 Credits
- Methods and Systems for Business Decisions - 15 Credits
- Economics for Business - 15 Credits
- The Business Professional - 30 Credits
- Accounting for Managers - 15 Credits
Optional
- Global Perspectives in Business - 15 Credits
- People and Organisations - 15 Credits
- Mandarin Route A - 4a - 15 Credits
- Mandarin Route A - 4b - 15 Credits
- French Route C - 4a - 15 Credits
- French Route C - 4b - 15 Credits
- French Route A - 4a - 15 Credits
- French Route A - 4b - 15 Credits
- French Route B - 4a - 15 Credits
- French Route B - 4b - 15 Credits
- German Route C - 4a - 15 Credits
- German Route C - 4b - 15 Credits
- German Route A - 4a - 15 Credits
- German Route A - 4b - 15 Credits
- German Route B - 4a - 15 Credits
- German Route B - 4b - 15 Credits
- Japanese Route A - 4a - 15 Credits
- Japanese Route A - 4b - 15 Credits
- Spanish Route C - 4a - 15 Credits
- Spanish Route C - 4b - 15 Credits
- Spanish Route A - 4a - 15 Credits
- Spanish Route A - 4b - 15 Credits
- Spanish Route B - 4a - 15 Credits
- Spanish Route B - 4b - 15 Credits
- Japanese Route B-4A - 15 Credits
- Japanese Route B-4B - 15 Credits
Level 5
Core Modules
- Managing People - 15 Credits
- Exploring Business Ethics - 15 Credits
- Enterprise - 15 Credits
- Enhancing Employability - 15 Credits
Optional
- Project Planning and Control - 15 Credits
- Trends in Technology - 15 Credits
- Performance Management and Reward - 15 Credits
- Principles of Operations Management - 15 Credits
- Organisational Psychology - 15 Credits
- Marketing Planning - 15 Credits
- Management Accounting for Business Decisions - 15 Credits
- Cross-cultural Management - 15 Credits
- European Consumer Markets: Issues and Trends - 15 Credits
- Financial Management - 15 Credits
- Business Analysis Tools - 15 Credits
- French Route A - 5a - 15 Credits
- French Route A - 5b - 15 Credits
- Spanish Route A - 5b - 15 Credits
- French Route B - 5a - 15 Credits
- French Route B - 5b - 15 Credits
- Spanish Route B - 5a - 15 Credits
- Spanish Route B - 5b - 15 Credits
- German Route A - 5b - 15 Credits
- German Route A - 5a - 15 Credits
- German Route B - 5a - 15 Credits
- German Route B - 5b - 15 Credits
- German Route C - 5a - 15 Credits
- German Route C - 5b - 15 Credits
- Mandarin Route A - 5a - 15 Credits
- Mandarin Route A - 5b - 15 Credits
- French Route C - 5a - 15 Credits
- French Route C - 5b - 15 Credits
- Spanish Route C - 5b - 15 Credits
- Spanish Route A - 5a - 15 Credits
- Spanish Route C - 5a - 15 Credits
- Japanese Route A - 5b - 15 Credits
- Japanese Route A - 5a - 15 Credits
- Japanese Route B-5A - 15 Credits
- Japanese Route B-5B - 15 Credits
- Employment Law - 15 Credits
Level 6
Core Modules
- Strategic Leadership in a Changing World - 30 Credits
- Contemporary Issues in Business and Management - 15 Credits
- Industry Practice in Business (MLO) - 15 Credits
- HBS Placement - 0 Credits
Optional
- Industrial Placement Sem B only - 0 Credits
- Industrial Placement Year - 0 Credits
- Placement Study Abroad (South East Asia) - 0 Credits
- Placement Study Abroad (North America) - 0 Credits
- Placement Study Abroad (Australia) - 0 Credits
- Placement Study Abroad A (Europe) - 0 Credits
- Placement Study Abroad B (Europe) - 0 Credits
- Placement Study Abroad (Europe) - 0 Credits
- Industrial Placement (Semester A) - 0 Credits
- Issues in Global Economy - 15 Credits
- Dissertation - Management - 30 Credits
- International Human Resource Management - 15 Credits
- Global Marketing Ethics and Culture - 15 Credits
- Forecasting Methods for Managers - 15 Credits
- Creative Problem Solving for Managers - 15 Credits
- Understanding Challenges in the Third Sector - 15 Credits
- Strategic HRM Perspectives - 15 Credits
- Social Networking and Enterprise - 15 Credits
- Small Business Management - 15 Credits
- Service Operations Management - 15 Credits
- Databases for Management Decision Making - 15 Credits
- Marketing Communications - 30 Credits
- Research Methods - 0 Credits
- Performance Strategy - 15 Credits
- French Project - 30 Credits
- German Project - 30 Credits
- French Route A - 6a - 15 Credits
- French Route A - 6b - 15 Credits
- Spanish Route A - 6a - 15 Credits
- Spanish Route A - 6b - 15 Credits
- French Route B - 6b - 15 Credits
- French Route B - 6a - 15 Credits
- Spanish Route B - 6b - 15 Credits
- German Route A - 6a - 15 Credits
- German Route A - 6b - 15 Credits
- German Route B - 6a - 15 Credits
- German Route B - 6b - 15 Credits
- Mandarin Route A - 6a - 15 Credits
- Mandarin Route A - 6b - 15 Credits
- Spanish Route C - 6a - 15 Credits
- Spanish Route C - 6b - 15 Credits
- Spanish Route B - 6a - 15 Credits
- Japanese Route A - 6a - 15 Credits
- Japanese Route A - 6b - 15 Credits
- Japanese Route B 6a - 15 Credits
- Japanese Route B 6b - 15 Credits
Fees & funding
Fees 2018
UK/EU Students
Full time
- £9250 for the 2018/2019 academic year
Part time
- £1155 per 15 credits for the 2018/2019 academic year
International Students
Full time
- £11950 for the 2018/2019 academic year
Part time
- £1500 per 15 credits for the 2018/2019 academic year
Discounts are available for International students if payment is made in full at registration
*Tuition fees are charged annually. The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University’s Fees and Finance Policy (and in particular the section headed “When tuition fees change”), for further information about when and by how much the University may increase its fees for future years.
View detailed information about tuition fees
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.
Entry requirements...
96-112 UCAS points from qualifications which include a minimum of two 4 unit qualifications (e.g. A Levels), one 8 unit qualification (e.g. Pearson BTEC Diploma) or one 12 unit qualification (e.g. Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma).
GCSE Maths and English at Grade C (Grade 4 if completed from 2017 onwards).
‘All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.
If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our Pre-sessional English and International Foundation courses can help you to achieve this level.
For country specific qualifications, please visit our Your Country page.’
For more details on the University of Hertfordshire's entry requirements, please visit our Undergraduate Entry Requirements page.
If you are planning to take a language as part of your degree, please refer to the Business School languages page to check your eligibility.
N.B. We have expressed our entry requirements within a tariff range. We operate a flexible admissions policy and treat everyone as an individual. This means that we will take into consideration your educational achievements and predicted grades (if applicable) together with your applications as a whole, including work experience and personal statement, and may make an offer at any point within the stated tariff range.
How to apply
2018
| Start Date | End Date | Link |
|---|---|---|
| 28/09/2018 | 20/05/2019 | Apply online (Full Time) |
| 28/09/2018 | 20/05/2019 | Apply online (Full Time) |
| 26/09/2018 | 26/05/2019 | Apply online (Full Time) |
| 28/09/2018 | 20/05/2019 | Apply online (Part Time) |
| 28/09/2018 | 20/05/2019 | Apply online (Full Time/Sandwich) |
| 28/09/2018 | 20/05/2019 | Apply online (Full Time/Sandwich) |
2019
| Start Date | End Date | Link |
|---|---|---|
| 28/09/2019 | 20/05/2020 | Apply online (Full Time) |
| 26/09/2019 | 26/05/2020 | Apply online (Full Time) |
| 28/09/2019 | 20/05/2020 | Apply online (Part Time) |
| 28/09/2019 | 20/05/2020 | Apply online (Full Time/Sandwich) |
| 28/09/2019 | 20/05/2020 | Apply online (Full Time/Sandwich) |
Key course information
- Institution code H36
- UCAS codeN1T9 BA (Hons) Business with Eastern Language N1R9 BA (Hons) Business with European Language N100 BA (Hons) Business Studies
- Entry Requirements96-112 UCAS points
- Course length
- Full Time, 4 Years
- Full Time, 3 Years
- Part Time, 6 Years
- Sandwich, 4 Years
- Locations
- University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield
- Course options Optional Sandwich Placement or Study Abroad year
