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BSc (Hons) Business

Develop your management skills and make an impact. Gain a range of business skills as you prepare to establish your own company or confidently step into management career with established organisations.

Accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

Entry requirements

Three A-levels at grades CCC or above.

Or BTEC triple grades MMM or above.

Or Access 23-45 D/M with min 6D.

And GCSE English Language and Maths at grade 4 or grade C or above.

Applicants with other qualifications and/or experience will be considered on an individual basis.

See our tips on writing a personal statement for BSc (Hons) Business.

UCAS points 96

UCAS code BUS3

Duration 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time

How to apply for this course

Course Summary

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for 99.9% of the business population (ONS, 2019) meaning the overwhelming majority of Business graduates will either work for a SME or run one themselves. Yet most Business Schools do not teach with a SME focus instead choosing to teach their students about large scale corporate businesses, which in all likelihood they will never work for.

Our BSc (Hons) Business degree is different because it is designed to prepare students for the reality of the business world. You will learn about how SME businesses operate, what makes them successful and how you can effectively work for one or run your own. Your placement opportunities in the second and third year will all be with SME businesses allowing you to gain hands on practical experience and enhance your employability.

We also have a partnership with a University in Southern Spain so you can study overseas for a Semester in your second year to learn how business is different in an European context.

Our Business degrees are all accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), which is the leading body in the UK for leadership and management. You'll earn their Level 5 qualification in Management and Leadership alongside your degree. This is at no extra cost to you and requires no additional assessments. You'll also continue to enjoy free access to the CMI's online resources and events for a year after you complete the course.

Our strong links with the local and regional business community enhance the practical focus of this business degree and extracurricular activities provide additional opportunities for you to develop your business knowledge, skills and capabilities. The teaching team’s work with respected bodies including Enterprise Educators UK, The Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Cornwall Chamber and the Plymouth Social Enterprise Network all help our students build valuable links for a prosperous future in business.

Why this course at Marjon?

Accredited by CMI enabling you to graduate with an additional Level 5 diploma.

Network with local, national and international businesses.

Two extended business placements.

Opportunity to study for a semester in Spain.

Option to start your own business in the final year.

Access to a diverse network of business people and entrepreneurs.

Students say...

Hirrah Imran Kiyani

“I’m learning from experienced and supportive lecturers and I'm helped by their feedback. There is a comprehensive range of online services to support my learning. I thoroughly enjoy the way we are able to reflect on our understanding through online assessments, quizzes and by contributing to the online forum. This course has given me great motivation and confidence and it’s been noticed by my family and friends.”

Trevor Tordoff

“There are so many broad subjects within the business course that we are always learning different things. The business course at Marjon has small groups so the lecturers get to know us by name and so it feels more personal. We have a lot of different talks and can express our own opinions at lectures and seminars. If we need any guidance, we can go to the lecturers and they know who we are.”

Josh Palmer

“I have become more confident in engaging with others about the topics discussed within the class. I did not expect the course to have as much interaction as it has, there are a lot of activities designed to enhance creativity and your interpersonal skills. This course has helped me a lot to break down the different aspects of business that I did not know about before.”

This course is perfect if you're curious about

Are entrepreneurs born or made?

How can you effectively brand your business?

Why might some employees be more creative than others?

Can you be both an innovator and an inventor?

How can you measure the social impact of an organisation?

What is the best way to patent your business idea?

“ The team at Marjon has developed an environment that is not only a fabulous physical space but also a learning place that draws in business, academia and students into a community that adds real value to their excellent business programmes. The Chamber is delighted to be a partner in their offering which supports the strategic priorities of the city, county and region, by both attracting the finest candidates to the area and developing the skill base of our local businesses.”
Stuart Elford - Chief Executive Officer at Devon Chamber of Commerce

What might you become?

The option to set up your own business or undertake a placement in your final year provides you with valuable experience that will stand out on your C.V. Graduates go on to work for small to medium sized enterprises both nationally and internationally, large multinational firms or run their own businesses.

Typical job opportunities include; Business Development Manager, Marketing Officer, Social Media Coordinator and Business Owner. 

Show video transcript

Dream of going into the business world? Want to study in a supportive environment? Year 1 – Explore. Small class sizes. Year 2 – Action. Personalised learning. Year 3 – Launch. Discover Marjon. Discover the new you. Discover Marjon Business. For more info: www.marjon.ac.uk/business.

In association with:

Enterprise Educators UK

The Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

Modules for this course

Course Snapshot

“ During your first year you will learn what it means to be enterprising and develop your knowledge of marketing strategy. You will also be introduced to key concepts around people management, finance and idea development. In the second year you will learn how entrepreneurs can thrive within an organisation and learn techniques for marketing and finance in small businesses. During the third year you will learn what it takes to be a great business leader, investigate the reality of running a business and look at current issues affecting business in this country.”
Dr Sarah Preedy - Course Leader

Modules

1st Year

Business environment
What is an enterprise? What does it mean to be enterprising? Hear from guest speakers and local businesses, challenge conceptions, and find out what enterprise means in today's world.
Marketing
This module develops your knowledge and understanding of marketing strategy. How do organisations identify customer needs and wants, determine which target markets can best be served, and design appropriate products, services and programmes to serve these markets?
Accounting and finance
Introduction to basic concepts and techniques of Accounting and Finance. You will identify the main users of financial information, the characteristics that make accounting useful and examine how businesses are structured.
People management
A broad overview of human resource management developing your knowledge of human resource management processes and practices, for example, recruitment selection, performance management and training and development. You will also develop a range of skills including team working, conflict resolution and leadership.
Enterprise creation
During this module you will develop the art of idea formation, hone your creativity skills, and enhance your critical thinking. Start the module with 100 business ideas and finish with your top ten.
Academic, personal and professional Development
In this module you will reflect upon academic personal and professional aspirations and engage in development planning to achieve these. We will look at where you want to be when you graduate and how to get you there.

2nd Year

Intrapreneurship and innovation
Perfect if you are curious about the differences between enterprise and innovation. What does it mean to be intrapreneurial within an organisation? And how does that differ from an entrepreneur?
Accounting and finance II
You will explore how accounting and finance procedures differ for small to medium sized businesses. What sources of funding might be available for your business ideas and how can you access them?
Marketing for business
You will examine what the marketing needs are for small and medium sized businesses and in groups design a marketing campaign for a regional business. There will be a specific focus on digital and social media marketing within this module giving you the opportunity to critique existing marketing campaigns and design your own.
Organisational behaviour
Learn how business owners confidently manage their employees and encourage a creative and productive workforce. Work in teams to discover your most effective working styles and explore the people management structures of local, national and global businesses.
Enterprise development
Brings together all the knowledge and skills you have learnt so far to work alongside a regional business to deliver a bespoke piece of consultancy work. This could include designing a marketing campaign, organising an event or conducting a competitor analysis.
Research methods
This module will prepare for your dissertation and provide you with guidance on how to undertake an original piece of research. We will explore possible research designs and examine both qualitative and quantitative methods.The module will culminate with you producing a research poster outlining your dissertation proposal.

3rd Year

Leadership and management
What does it take to be a great leader? How does an entrepreneurial leader differ from any other type of leader? In this module you will examine leadership theory and use case studies to evaluate leadership in practice.
Business reality
On this module you can put all of the theory examined on the course into practice through either setting up and running your own business for the Semester or undertaking a placement with an employer. You will hone your presentation skills through delivering a pitch to a panel of local business people about your business ideas.
Reflective business portfolio
This module will allow you to reflect on your learning journey on the degree and produce a Business Portfolio that details your achievements so far. Identify your skills portfolio and provide evidence of your knowledge and understanding. The production of this portfolio will act as an useful addition to your C.V.
Contemporary business issues
In this module you will critically evaluate the global and national issues faced by business leaders, topics will include; sustainability, the role of government in business and how might a business create social value. The module will finish with a group presentation whereby you address a major business concern and offer your solution.
Honours project
An individual piece of research on a topic of your choice related to business and enterprise. You will collect, analyse and interpret results in the light of existing knowledge and produce an original dissertation.
Download course details

Fees and funding

Fees UK students: £9,250 per annum

Fees for International students: £12,000 per annum

Teaching and assessment

How will you be taught?

Field trips, business simulations, employer-led projects and modules where you can start and run your own business all provide practical opportunities to test your ideas and hone your problem-solving, decision-making and leadership skills. Accreditation by the Chartered Management Institute also provides you with a range of additional teaching and learning materials specifically in the area of leadership and management. 

How will you be assessed?

Assessment is diverse through coursework such as essays, business reports, group project work, consultancy projects, presentations, business simulations, and reflective portfolios, with no exams.

Course leader

Dr Sarah Preedy

Sarah has worked in Higher Education for nine years, teaching business management. Her interests are in enterprise education, student led enterprise activities and entrepreneurial learning. She has also led extracurricular enterprise programmes offering support and finance for student entrepreneurs.

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Lecturers

Ian Gilhespy

Senior Lecturer

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Christopher ReedThomas

Lecturer

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Chris draws on exparience from a wide and varied career, spanning teaching outdoor activities, experiential learning, utilities, change management and consultancy and even a brief diversion into professional sailing and photojournalism. Chris then took a role to deliver leadership development for senior staff in the Higher Education sector, which led into academic teaching.

Laura Wallis

Lecturer

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Laura’s academic background is in business and management. She is researcher and her PhD focuses on the phenomena of lifestyle entrepreneurship and lifestyle sports.

Frequently asked questions

Q1   What are the advantages of a CMI accredited course?

By studying a Chartered Management Institute (CMI) accredited course you join a network of over 140,000 members and get access to expert learning resources on top of your regular course materials. Six months after graduating 58% of graduates from CMI accredited courses are in professional roles, compared to 48% of graduates from non CMI accredited business courses (CMI, 2018).

Q2   What are the key skills that I’ll develop thanks to the CMI accreditation?

81% of students on CMI accredited courses felt they had acquired skills to manage themselves, 74% felt they had acquired skills to lead change and innovation and 73% felt they had acquired skills to develop people and capabilities (CMI, 2018).

Q3   Do I also get a qualification from the CMI?

Yes, you receive an additional Level 5 qualification from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) when you graduate. This is at no extra cost to you and requires no additional assessments.

Q4   How is this course different from other business courses?

This course is designed to focus on the reality of today’s business world. The in class activities and assignments are all reflective of the types of work you will be doing after you graduate. There are no exams and instead assignments are practical with reports, presentations, essays and research posters. The small class sizes on this course means you can get to know your classmates and your lecturers and enjoy a personalised learning experience.

Q5   How do the placements work?

There are two placement opportunities on the programme. The first is in the second year where you undertake 100 hours with a company. These 100 hours can be virtual or face to face, it’s all in negotiation with your placement provider. Your lecturers support you to find a placement provider in an area of your choosing, this can range from helping a company improve their social media performance, spotting funding opportunities for a start up firm or planning a launch event for a company’s new product. In the final year of the programme you can undertake a second placement that runs for the length of the Semester or you can choose to run your own business. The choice is yours. Our BSc (Hons) Business degree is about enabling you to pursue the areas you are interested in; we'll help make the placement work for you.

Q6   What is the Semester in Spain like?

Our partnership with a University in Southern Spain means you can study overseas for a Semester in your second year. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn how business is different in an European context not to mention a way to make new friends and enjoy your study in warmer climates!

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