BA (Hons) Business with Business Communication Top-up

Program Overview

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Business with Business Communication (Top-up) BA (Hons)

Overview

Improve your English and learn valuable business communication skills while studying core subjects such as global business, leadership, and strategic management. With this top-up degree, you can build on your previous higher education studies in business to gain a full BA (Hons) degree in just 1 or 2 years.

Key Information

UCAS Code

N191

Accreditation

This course is Accredited

Typical Offer

Relevant HE study leading to a Level 4 qualification

Study Mode and Duration

• 1 year full-time (top-up)
• 2 years full-time (top-up)

Start Date

• September 2025

Course Information

Overview

Improve your English and learn valuable business communication skills while studying core subjects such as global business, leadership, and strategic management. With this top-up degree, you can build on your previous higher education studies in business to gain a full BA (Hons) degree in just 1 or 2 years.

Eligibility

This course is open to international, EU, and UK students whose first language is not English. A key part of the course is improving your written and spoken business English.

Course Highlights

• Learn in a Business School that's ranked 3rd in the UK for teaching power (Financial Times 2021)
• Improve your English in 3 ways:
  • dedicated English language classes to improve your vocabulary and grammar
  • business communications classes where you'll practise presentations, interviews, and writing for business
  • living and working with both UK and international students and experiencing life in a welcoming UK city
• Understand the global business environment through study that explores cross-cultural awareness for business, international business, and ethics and sustainability in business
• Research an independent study project in an area that interests you
• Experience excellent support from both your tutors and our dedicated global team

Entry Requirements

BA (Hons) Business with Business Communication (Top-up) Degree Entry Requirements

Typical Offer (September 2025 Start)

• Applicants for the 2-year course require relevant HE study leading to a Level 4 qualification, for example, an appropriate HNC, or 120 credits from year 1 of an undergraduate degree (BA/BSc), in a relevant subject.
• Applicants for the 1-year course require relevant HE study leading to a Level 5 qualification, for example, an appropriate HND, foundation degree, or Advanced Diploma, or 240 credits from year 1 and year 2 of an undergraduate degree (BA/BSc), in a relevant subject.

English Language Requirements

• For year 2 entry, applicants require English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 5.5 with no component score below 5.5.
• For year 3 entry, applicants require English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.

Careers and Opportunities

Graduates of this Course Have Gone into Careers Such As

• Business development and consultancy
• Recruitment
• Digital marketing
• Publicity
• Financial and risk analysis

Postgraduate Study

Many graduates of this course go on to postgraduate study on master's courses such as MSc International Business or MA Business Communication for International Leadership.

Set Up Your Own Business

We're an endorsing institution for UK start-up visas, so we can offer you lots of help and support if you want to stay in the UK after you graduate and set up your own business.

What You'll Study on This BA (Hons) Business with Business Communication Top-up Degree

Core Modules

• Business Communication 2 - 20 credits
• General Language Grade 5 (English) - 20 credits
• Leadership, Ethics, Governance, and Sustainability - 20 credits
• Services Marketing - 20 credits
• Business Analysis and Decision Making - 20 credits
• International Business - 20 credits

Core Modules

• General Language Grade 6 (English) - 20 credits
• Independent Study Project - 20 credits
• Business Communication 3 - 20 credits
• Cross-Cultural Awareness for Business - 20 credits
• Business Improvement and Creativity - 20 credits
• Strategic Management - 20 credits

Teaching

Portsmouth Business School is ranked 3rd in the UK for teaching power. You'll be taught by a dedicated team of specialist staff that includes a great mix of research expertise and industry experience.

Assessment

Your assessments will depend on the modules that you take. Assessment methods are likely to include:

• Analysis of topical case studies
• Written reports
• Essays
• Presentations
• Examinations
• Group work
• Your choice of independent research

How You'll Spend Your Time

We recommend you spend at least 35 hours a week studying for this degree.

A Typical Week

• Timetabled teaching activities (lectures, seminars, tutorials, classes, and workshops) = about 15 hours a week
• Independent study (research, reading, coursework, and project work, alone or in a group) = about 20 hours a week

Supporting You

Types of Support

• Personal tutor
• Learning support tutors
• Academic skills support
• Wellbeing and mental health support
• Disability advice and additional support
• Library support
• Maths and stats support
• Support with English

Course Costs and Funding

Tuition Fees

• UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,535 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
• EU students – £9,535 a year (including Transition Scholarship – may be subject to annual increase)
• International (non-EU) students – £16,200 per year (subject to annual increase)

Additional Course Costs

• Accommodation and living costs
• Recommended reading
• General costs
• Final year project

Apply

Please only apply for this course if English is not your first language.

Ready to Apply?

• To start this course in 2025, apply through UCAS. You'll need:
  • the UCAS course code – N191
  • our institution code – P80

Applying from Outside the UK

• As an international student, you'll apply using the same process as UK students, but you’ll need to consider a few extra things.
• You can get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region.
• Find out what additional information you need in our international students section.
• If you don't meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.