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BSc (Hons) Business

Develop your management skills and practical knowledge to make an impact

Option to start your own business built into the course

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 great personal statement for business courses.

UCAS points 96

UCAS code BUS3

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

How to apply for this course

Course Summary

Immerse yourself in the world of business. Our cutting-edge business degree combines theory with practice by providing hands on learning experience in the business world. On this course you will gain a range of business skills as you become primed to establish your own company or confidently step into a range of enterprising careers within existing organisations. For those who want to start their own business you can do this during the Business Reality module in your final year.

Our strong links with the local and regional business community enhance the practical focus of this business degree and a suite of extracurricular activities provide additional opportunities for you to develop your business knowledge, skills and capabilities. A specific enterprise support programme is available to guide you through the business start-up process and there is competitive funding available for your business ideas. Our strong working links with respected bodies including Enterprise Educators UK, Plymouth Chamber and the Plymouth Social Enterprise Network also help our students build valuable links for a prosperous future in business.

This business degree is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute enabling students to gain a Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership alongside their degree.

Plymouth Marjon University is part of a national network of enterprise and entrepreneurship educators. Enterprise Educators UK (EEUK) has been networking, supporting and developing enterprise education for over 15 years and gives us the opportunity to work with over 1,600 enterprise educators and practitioners from over 100 UK Higher and Further Education Institutions positively impacting the curriculum of programmes such as our business degree.

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.

Practical and hands on business placements.

Real-world experience through setting up your own business or working with an employer.

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. 

In association with:

Enterprise Educators UK

The Devon and Cornwall Business Council

The Chartered Management Institute

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

Introduction to Enterprise
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.
Introduction to 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?
Introduction to 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.
Introduction to 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 for Business
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.
People Management for Business
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

Business Leadership
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

Laura Wallis

Laura is an experienced teacher of entrepreneurship and business. Alongside this she researches lifestyle entrepreneurship within the context of lifestyle sports.

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Lecturers

Ian Gilhespy

Senior Lecturer

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Dr Sarah Preedy

Senior Lecturer

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Sarah is a Senior Lecturer in Business and Enterprise. Her research interests are in enterprise education, student led enterprise activities and entrepreneurial learning. Sarah has worked in Higher Education for nine years, teaching on Business Management and Entrepreneurship degree programmes. She has also led several extracurricular enterprise programmes offering support and finance for student entrepreneurs.

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