Program Overview

The BSc Hons Business Studies programme meets the needs of those wishing to pursue a career in business and allows those with an interest in accounting, management or marketing to choose these subjects as specialist areas. The programme also allows students to follow a general business studies path or take a specialism from one of the three pathways namely Accounting, Enterprise or Marketing. This enables students to develop the skills and expertise necessary for an aspiring professional career in accounting, management, entrepreneurship or marketing. In addition, it provides the basis for graduates wishing to take a postgraduate programme up to doctoral level.

The programme provides key business knowledge and skills essential for a graduates seeking a managerial career in general business or a specialist interest in accounting, enterprise or marketing. The programme develops knowledge around key business functions, the economic business environment, research knowledge and skills, and strategy development and planning amongst others.

The development of relevant employability skills is at the core of the BSc Hons Business Studies degree and a variety of opportunities exist within the programme and its modules, to develop such skills. These skills include, for example, Creative Thinking, Project Management, Strategic Planning, Business start-up, Problem Solving and Interpersonal skills as well as general management skills.

All staff delivering the business studies programme have strong links with industry. Many have secured professional recognition with a variety of industry bodies relevant to their discipline such as Chartered Institute of Marketing, Institute of Exporters and Chartered Accountants Ireland, and ACCA. In addition, all staff within the Department of Global Business and Enterprise are fellows/senior fellows of the Higher Education Academy.

Associate awards

Diploma in Professional Practice DPP

Diploma in International Academic Studies DIAS

Diploma in Professional Practice International DPPI

Attendance

Three years without placement or four years including placement year. This is a full-time course where you will normally complete six modules per year, with class contact time approximately three hours per week per module. You will be expected to undertake independent study to supplement that contact of around 10 hours per week per module.

Start dates

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Teaching and learning methods include lectures, seminars, practical workshops, case studies, problem-solving techniques, team projects, individual research, oral presentations, non-book media, visiting lectures with industry practitioners, applied projects, and 'real' live assignments. These methods allow students to have a high degree of involvement and participation in learning, equipping participants with concepts, skills and experiences necessary for career and personal development, in addition to supporting the application of knowledge in practice.

Modules are assessed using a variety of methods including individual essays/reports, class tests, case studies, group projects, oral presentations and end of term examinations.

Academic profile

The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 59% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.

Courses are taught by staff who are Professors (25%), Readers, Senior Lecturers (20%) or Lecturers (55%).

We require most academic staff to be qualified to teach in higher education: 82% hold either Postgraduate Certificates in Higher Education Practice or higher. Most academic staff (81%) are accredited fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) by Advanced HE - the university sector professional body for teaching and learning. Many academic and technical staff hold other professional body designations related to their subject or scholarly practice.

The profiles of many academic staff can be found on the University’s departmental websites and give a detailed insight into the range of staffing and expertise.  The precise staffing for a course will depend on the department(s) involved and the availability and management of staff.  This is subject to change annually and is confirmed in the timetable issued at the start of the course.

Occasionally, teaching may be supplemented by suitably qualified part-time staff (usually qualified researchers) and specialist guest lecturers. In these cases, all staff are inducted, mostly through our staff development programme ‘First Steps to Teaching’. In some cases, usually for provision in one of our out-centres, Recognised University Teachers are involved, supported by the University in suitable professional development for teaching.

Figures correct for academic year 2021-2022.