Business and Management (with specialist pathways) - BA (Hons) Degree

This degree can be studied as a three-year full-time degree or a four-year degree that includes a year of foundational study. Our foundation year is intended to prepare you for your subsequent years of studying, offering you the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence.

The foundation year will be relevant to:

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.

Find out more about the foundation year.

Please note: You will need to apply using a specific UCAS code if you wish to undertake the 4 years including foundation. Please refer to Key Course Information at the bottom of this page.

Degree:

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

The programme also allows for considerable flexibility to ensure that you are academically guided in your ultimate choice as to whether to graduate with a BA (Hons) Business and Management degree, or a BA (Hons) Business and Management degree with one of the available named pathways.

You will undertake a compulsory work placement module in the second year as this is considered an essential requirement for all business and management students. For those who wish, there is the additional opportunity to take a sandwich year between years 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 in Levels 4, 5 and 6. 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.​

​All modules are compulsory and designed to give you sound grounding in business and management studies and your personal development.

Compulsory modules for all pathways:

• Business Economics

• Business Information Systems

• Finance for Managers*

• Introduction to Marketing*

• Law and the World of Business

• Managing People at Work*

At Level 5, students taking the generic degree (BA Business and Management) study 100 credits of compulsory modules and choose a 20 credit option module this option module is the first stage of the pathway choice.

Compulsory modules for all pathways (* available in Welsh):

• Business in Action*

• Contemporary Operations Management

• Ethical and Sustainable Business Practices*

• Business Research and Reporting*

• Skills Development and Application - either: Work Experience* or Volunteering Project*

Option modules for the Business & Management degree (worth 20 credits each):

• Creativity and Innovation Management (Entrepreneurship)

• Marketing Communications for Managers (Marketing)
  

• Money & Investment (Finance)

• People Management and Engagement (Human Resource Management)

• Intercultural Awareness for Business (International Supply Chain and Logistics Management​)
  

At Level 6, students studying the generic degree (BA Business and Management) study 40 credits of compulsory modules and choose 80 credits of option modules. Students studying a pathway at Level 6, take a minimum 40 credits of compulsory modules, 40 credits in their subject specialism and 40 credits of option modules (20 of which may be pathway related).

Compulsory modules for all pathways:

• Strategic Management / Rheoli Strategol*

• Change Leadership / Arwain Newid*

A core advantage of this degree is the ability to change pathways. This allows you to decide your final year study at the end of the second year rather than being set in stone now or during your first few months at University. Students on the Generic Pathway will chose from a range of options taken from the various pathways giving these students a very wide choice of subjects although it is not possible to guarantee that every module will run every year

Level 6 Students staying on pathway from L5 take 2 from 3. Students switching pathways take all 3:

Entrepreneurship:

• Applied Entrepreneurship and Business Development

• Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Culture

• Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Finance:

• Investment Management

• Capital Markets and Derivatives
  

• Contemporary Finance
  

HRM:

• Contemporary Employee Relations

• International People Management

• Talent Resourcing and Development

International Supply Chain and Logistics Management​​:

• International Trade Law

• International and Global Marketing

• International Business and Cultural Diversity

Marketing​:

• Strategic Brand Management

• Contemporary Business Communications

• International and Global Marketing

​Students also have a ​choice of completing one 40-credit optional module:

• BRM6004 Dissertation
• BSP6008 Marketing Plan
• BES6000 Launching an Enterprise
• BRM6005 Year in Industry

If a student changes pathway at level 6 to a new pathway AND choses to study BRM6004 DISSERTATION, the subject of the research project MUST be linked to their pathway subject to be able to count towards the pathway credits.

Lectures
Lectures are a major part of the teaching strategy for the programme. Lectures are an effective way of delivering core material and establishing a framework for a module against which other material can be set.

Seminars
Seminars involve students presenting previously prepared work to peers and a lecturer. This strategy is used to extend specific theoretical or practical concepts as well as introducing problem solving exercises. Seminars are used in most modules and provide students with valuable experience in presentational skills, blogs, wikis or podcasts, as well as providing staff with a method or assessing student-centred learning, while virtual learning environments such as Moodle, webinars, recorded lectures, allow uploading of course content, in cases where this may occur students will continue to benefit from staff contact/expertise.

Practical Workshops
Practical workshops are used extensively in a number of modules throughout the programme. In these classes students are able to practise and refine their skills in a supportive environment where they can get feedback from a member of academic staff. Practical workshops represent a valuable transition between theory and practice.

Case Studies
Case studies are a teaching and learning strategy which are employed in a range of modules. They also are a useful assessment tool. Students are presented with or asked to develop real or simulated complex problems which they are required to analyse in detail and then synthesise/present their own solution in writing or orally.

Business Experts
A key component of the learning experience is to invite business experts, academic and in practice, to provide insights into their research work or business activity. A network of experts help provide specialist knowledge as well as bolstering and promoting the credentials of the programme. Such experts might be invited as guest speakers or requested to provide a more interactive workshop experience where appropriate.

Support for students in learning:

Personal Tutors

All students studying in Cardiff School of Management benefit from the team of dedicated tutors who provide a point of personal and regular contact for students. They guide students in such matters as, finance, welfare, career development as well as helping where needed with the planning of effective study patterns, exam preparation and a range of other important issues. The Personal Tutors work closely with the Programme Director and Year Tutors to ensure that the needs of the students are met effectively and that their time at Cardiff Metropolitan University is a pleasant and successful experience.

In addition to the Personal Tutors, the individual course specific academic support and guidance is provided by the Programme Director and the respective Year Tutor. This is particularly important in relation to both the choice of options which are available at level 5 and 6 and the selection of pathways. To ensure that the students make an informed decision, there is a dedicated webpage accompanied by podcasts available. This is further supported by a compulsory plenary session for each year of the programme, together with an Options Fair to give further individual guidance.

The programme provides further general support to the students through the following:

• An induction programme for level 4, level 5 and level 6 students

• Student handbook, programme handbook and individual module handbooks

• The Moodle Virtual Learning Environment

• Library and study skills packages

• Library and learning resources of both Cardiff Metropolitan University campus

• Specialist computing facilities including interactive and multi-media labs

• A 24-hour open access IT facility on the Cyncoed and Llandaff campuses

• Unlimited worldwide web access

• Access to student services including those offered by careers, welfare, disability, counselling, chaplaincy and medical centre.

The University operates an outward mobility programme and funding is available to encourage cultural visits to other countries in support of understanding business in its global and political contexts.

The assessment strategy covers a wide spectrum of approaches. Each module has its own aims, objectives, learning outcomes and methods of delivery and assessment. Assessments may therefore take the form of assessed written papers/essays/reports, oral presentations, group and individual research projects, posters, reflective papers which may involve compiling scrapbooks, case studies as well as open/closed book formal examinations.

Preparation and support is available for assessment through various activities designed by module leaders, personal tutors and library.

Knowledge and understanding of business management, in conjunction with the development of graduate employability skills required from employers is paramount. From the moment of induction, to completion of your final year, employability is an important aspect of your degree programme.

As well as a compulsory work experience module in year two, which we can help you arrange, we hold careers fairs and social networking events with employers. Alternatively, if you intend to become a young Entrepreneur and start your own business, the Centre for Student Entrepreneurship will aid you in business practice and help develop your business idea while you are a university student. The work experience module in year 2 (level 5) seeks to offer you real world experience. A module is also available between years 2 and 3 where you can take a placement in industry for one year which is awarded 40 credits in your third year. Our work placement officers can assist in finding year long placements.

Most of our students enter the business world after graduation and will find employment in a wide range of organisations, in both the public and private sector. For example students have found employment as business sales executives, marketing associate professionals, financial account managers, managers and directors in retail and wholesale, estate agents and auctioneers, and human resources and industrial relations officers, to name a few.

There are opportunities for students to continue their study at postgraduate level at courses with Cardiff School of Management, such as the MSc International Business Management, LLM International Business, MSc Strategic Marketing, MSc Human Resource Management, MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, MSc International Supply Chain and Logistics Management, MSc Banking & Finance and the MBA. In addition graduates will be well prepared to undertake professional qualifications or programmes.

Typical Offers

​The following requirements are based on typical offers relevant to entering year 1 of the degree.

If you do not meet these entry requirements, we also offer a Foundation Year which allows progression to Year 1 upon successful completion.​

• Tariff points: 112
  
• Contextual offer: See our contextual offers page.
  
• GCSE: Five GCSEs at Grade C / 4 or above to include English Language / Welsh First Language, Mathematics / Mathematics – Numeracy.
  
• English Language Requirement: Academic IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in all elements, or equivalent.
  
• A level subjects: Minimum three A levels to include Grades CCC. No specific subjects required. Welsh Baccalaureate – Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate considered as a third subject.
  
• BTEC National / Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: DMM
  
• T Level: Merit.
  
• Access to Higher Education Diploma: No specific subjects required.
  
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: 2 x H5. No specific subjects required.
  
• Irish Leaving Certificate: 2 x H2 grades. No specific subjects required. Higher level subjects only considered with a minimum grade H4.
  
• Scottish Advanced Highers: Grades DD. No specific subjects required. Scottish Highers are also considered, either on their own or in combination with Advanced Highers.
  

Combinations of the above qualifications are accepted if they meet our minimum requirements. If your qualifications aren’t listed, please contact Admissions or refer to the UCAS Course Search.

Further information on Overseas qualifications can be found here.

If you are a mature applicant, have relevant experience or RPL that you would like us to consider, please contact Admissions.

How to Apply

Further information on how to apply can be found here.

For general enquiries please contact Admissions on 029 2041 6010 or email askadmissions@cardiffmet.ac.uk.

For course specific enquiries, please contact the Pr​ogramme Director, Lisa Wright:

Email: lwright@cardiffmet.ac.uk

Tel: +44(0)29 2041 6318