Business Law and Management - BA (Hons)

Foundation Year (Year 0)

This programme can incorporate a Foundation Year, which is intended for students wishing to enrol onto the three-year honours degree, who fall into one of the following categories:

​​1. Students who have not achieved the required A-Level points (or equivalent) score to enter the first year of the degree programme.
2. Mature students who have been out of the formal education system for some time.

Further information about the Foundation Year can be found by clicking here.

Degree

The course structure develops from a compulsory first year, consisting of six modules, through five compulsory modules in the second year, to only four compulsory modules in the final year of study. This will enable you to direct your interests into a specific set of option modules, whilst ensuring that you receive a sound understanding and appreciation of the central tenets required of all law students.

You will undertake a compulsory work placement module in the third year as this is considered an essential requirement for all students in the Cardiff School of Management. Alternatively, for those who wish, there is the opportunity to take a sandwich year between year two and the final year which counts towards the credit requirement of the full honours degree.

All modules are taught in English and there is provision for the Welsh language equivalent in a number of modules. These are indicated below * and whilst every endeavour will be made to ensure that these run every year it is not, unfortunately, possible to guarantee this.

Year One (Level 4)

All modules are compulsory and designed to give you a sound grounding in law and your personal development.

Compulsory modules:

• Contract Law
• Finance for Managers*
• Introduction to legal method, ethics and practice
• Administration Law and Human Rights
• Criminal Law
• Legal and Professional Skills

Year Two (Level 5)

At Level 5, students study 100 credits of compulsory modules and choose a 20 credit option module.

Compulsory modules:

• Tort Law
• EU Competition Law
• Probate and Wills
• Land Law
• Commercial Law and Consumer Protection

Option modules (worth 20 credits each):

• People Management and Engagement
• International Protection of Human Rights

Year Three (Level 6)

At Level 6, students study 80 credits of compulsory modules and choose 40 credits of option modules.

Compulsory modules:

• Equity & Trusts
• In-house Law
• Work Experience/ Industrial Work Experience*
• Business Enterprise & Company Law

Students will choose from a range of options although it is not possible to guarantee that every module will run every year.

Option modules (worth 20 credits each unless otherwise specified):

• Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Amicus Curiae Brief Project (worth 40 credits)
• Dissertation (worth 40 credits)
• Launching an Enterprise (worth 40 credits)
• Change Leadership / Arwain Newid*
• Financial reporting
• Legal and Managerial Responsibilities in Employment

 

In terms of delivery, there is plenty of variety on this degree in Business Law and Management, from lecture-based and practice-based classes to group work, seminars and work experience.

In addition to timetabled delivery, you will be expected to engage in self-study and independent learning, generally in a ratio of 1:3 (three hours’ independent learning to every one hour of scheduled work). Your independent learning will be greatly facilitated by our Virtual Learning Environment (Moodle) and access to a number of subject-specific technologies including the leading legal databases, Westlaw and Lexis, as well as Oxford University Press’ Law Trove.

Our teaching team are also active researchers and industry practitioners who care about your personal and professional development. During your time with us, you will receive academic support in the form of accessible lecturers as well as pastoral support in the form of a dedicated personal tutor, and membership of our Student Law Society will afford you the chance to network, to participate in competitive activities such as mooting and client interviewing, and of course to socialise too.

There is vast practical experience of business within the teaching team. In practice, members of staff have represented – or litigated against – leading high street brands, major cosmetics and logistics companies, electronics multinationals and energy giants. In addition, we have contributed to the development of the law through submissions of evidence to Government and Parliament, on such topics as Brexit and freedom of expression.

The curriculum for this degree in Business Law and Management has been sensitively designed with regard to students’ need for creative and flexible means of assessment. These range from examinations and assignments to practicals, presentations and optional work-based placements. One highlight is the main assessment on the In-house Law module – the Beauty Pageant/ ‘Mad Men’ Pitch – where teams of students take it in turns to role play both the companies running a competitive tender process to select a law firm, and the law firms pitching for their business.

Throughout your assessments you will be supported academically and you will often have chance to practice tasks prior to the actual date of submission (“formative assessment”). Your work will be graded via our streamlined online feedback studio.

Through this degree in Business Law and Management, you will be encouraged to develop the key legal competences, including leadership, empathy, research and advocacy.

On graduating, and thanks to our pioneering partnership with the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs (ILSPA), you will receive exemptions from ILSPA’s Legal Secretaries Diploma course, which you will then be able to take, if you wish, at a discounted price. We are aiming for similar arrangements with the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP) and with the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC). An optional work placement (“sandwich”) year between your second and final year further enhances employability. Selecting the sandwich option will help you practice your new skills in a real-life legal setting and will enable you to stand out from other candidates when you apply for jobs.

Beyond the professional qualifications, you will also have many other options for further study when you graduate. These include – at Cardiff Met – an MBA, or an MSc in International Business Management, Human Resource Management or Project Management.

Five GCSE passes including English Language and Mathematics or Mathematics - Numeracy at grade C /grade 4 or above, plus 112 - 120 points from at least two A levels (or equivalent).

Typical offers may include:

• 112-120 points from at least 2 A levels to include grades CC; Welsh Baccalaureate – Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate considered as the third subject
• RQF BTEC National Extended Diploma/Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma DMM
• 112-120 points from the Irish Leaving Certificate at Highers to include 2 x H2 grades. Higher level subjects only considered with a minimum grade H4
• 112-120 points from at least two Scottish Advanced Highers to include grades DD
• 112-120 points from the Access to Higher Education Diploma

If you do not meet the above entry requirements, we also offer a Foundation Programme which allows progression to Year 1.

If you are studying combinations of the above, or if your qualification isn't listed, please either contact Admissions or refer to the UCAS Course Search for entry requirements. Further information on our entry requirements, including qualifications from the EU can be found by clicking here.

Candidates who do not possess normal minimum entry qualification may be interviewed and considered individually on the basis of their prior learning or working background.

International Applicants
Applicants with English as their second language must show proof of competency in oral and written English generally to IELTS 6.5 band or above or its equivalent.

They must show proof of competency in listening to and reading English generally to IELTS 5.5 band or above or its equivalent. 

Selection Procedure:
Selection is usually on the basis of a completed UCAS application and where relevant an interview.

How to Apply:
Applications for this course should be made online to UCAS at www.ucas.com. For further information please visit our How to Apply pages at www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/howtoapply.

Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer into year 2 & 3
If you are interested in transferring credit from another institution to study at Cardiff met for a course which accepts entry for year 2 and/or 3, you can find further information on this and information on how to apply on the RPL page. Please contact Admissions for any queries that you have on RPL.

Mature students
A mature applicant is anyone over the ago of 21 who didn't go to university after school or college. Cardiff Met welcomes applications from mature applicants and further advice and information can be found here.