Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Business Studies

• Ranked 86th for the Impact Rankings in 2023*
• The University of Greenwich has been ranked Top 6.4 Globally by ‘Centre for World University Rankings'**

*Source: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/university-greenwich

**Source: https://cwur.org/2023.php

The aims of the Business Studies degree are:

• Providing work related learning and teaching.
• Advance study of organisations, business management and the changing external environment in which organisations operate.
• Preparing students for careers in business development and management by equipping them with a systematic, broad and integrated understanding of key aspects of business.
• Development of professional skills and career management.
• application of knowledge and understanding of business and management with an emphasis on solving complex issues, both systematically and creatively, to improve business and management practice
• Enhancement of lifelong learning skills and personal development.

Summary of Skills Development for Students within the Programme

The graduates should:

• Be business minded, i.e. have strong commercial awareness, and the ability to consistently apply their knowledge and subject-specific and wider intellectual skills in a multi-tasking, fast paced environment.
• Be numerate, i.e. possess the numerical and analytical skills to setup benchmark processes and measure business performances.
• Be creative, i.e. be able to approach tasks from an analytical viewpoint and be able to interpret complex data sets, and therefore develop innovative business plans using creative thinking and judgment.
• Be people oriented, i.e. have strong interpersonal and organizational skills, and therefore be able to liaise with different types of people both within and external to organization.
• Be able to engage with all types of audiences and build relations with customers.
• Be able work either individually or in a team and be able to inspire and influence others.
• Be technologically capable; i.e. be able to apply information technology to work, enhancing efficiency, effectiveness and accuracy.
• Have effective oral and written communication skills, and the confidence and ability to present complex ideas and argument.

The programme provides opportunities for students to achieve the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge and understanding

A graduate of the programme will be able to:

• have a strong commercial awareness, a systematic and integrated understanding of the functions and processes of business, and practices for effective management of business
• understand the global environment in which business operate and its effects upon business management, include the political, economic, technological, social, ethical and environmental factors.
• identify, interpret and utilise complex data to analyse business performance and make plans to improve it.
• demonstrate strategic awareness and evaluate options available to organisations with an insight that ensures future business strategy is geared to improve efficiency and overall profit maximisation.
• make business decisions that consider international complexity, cultural differences, ethical issues and social responsibilities.

The programme provides opportunities for students to develop the following skills:

Intellectual skills

A graduate of the programme will be able to:

• assess the implications for management of emerging influences and challenges inside and outside the organization
• deconstruct arguments by looking at assumptions and implicit values and to evaluate them in terms of evidence
• synthesise information from several sources in order to gain a coherent understanding of multifaceted business problems
• solve problems and make decisions with IDEAL (Identify the problem, Define the problem, examine alternatives, Act on a plan, Look at the consequences) model
• have effective intellectual autonomy, initiative and self-competence in learning situations
• think independently and creatively, and work collaboratively with innovative ideas
• effective in self-management in terms of time, planning and behaviour, motivation, self-starting, individual initiative and enterprise
• have self-awareness, openness and sensitivity to diversity in terms of people, cultures, business and management issues
• lead a team under various circumstances, liaise with different types of people within organisation and external to organization
• have the ability to engage all types of audiences including senior level audience and are able to influence and inspire others.

Subject practical skills

A graduate of the programme will be able to:

• be effective at managing and utilising quantifiable information
• take logical steps to understand, analyse and solve a problem or issue by utilising scientific tools and processes
• apply qualitative and quantitative business tools to analyse, evaluate, and make decisions for a wide range of international scenarios and problems
• apply advanced information communication technologies, and project management skills to manage organisations and improve business performances.
• work collaboratively in multicultural and diverse teams, appreciating cultural differences and demonstrating personal initiative
• have the comprehension of the strategic dimension essential in undertaking a management role in any organization.

Transferable/key skills

A graduate of the programme will be able to:

• analyse business problems using a range of criteria and techniques, leading to recommendations on options, implementation and choice of actions
• create, evaluate and assess a range of options together with the capacity to apply ideas and knowledge to a range of situations
• gain relevant personal transferable skills e.g. oral, written, analytical, problem-solving, teamwork skills, and time management skills applicable to a range of job opportunities including self-employment
• demonstrate computer literacies appropriate to the business profession and can adopt the information technologies effectively
• have enhanced interpersonal skills e.g. building relationships, maximising individual strengths, negotiating individual contributions or organisational benefits.

Graduate Attributes

“The University of Greenwich has always aimed to provide an environment that allows students to maximise their potential. In meeting the challenges of today’s tough and changing world our consultation with staff and students resulted in defining distinctive characteristics for the Greenwich Graduate. These explicit behaviours, values, skills and dispositions that we expect our students to develop will best prepare them for their future careers and help us to reshape student learning and assessment activities.”

Scholarship and Autonomy: Achieved through the adoption of the Greenwich Graduate attributes, which have been incorporated into the Programme and Course Benchmark statements.

Creativity and Enterprise: Achieved through the delivery of PPD courses, development of PDPs, work related learning and teaching, and the integration of innovative information technologies to all courses. The introduction of Work-Related Learning module specifically focuses upon enhancing employability. The Level 6 course Consultancy Project enables students to obtain an insight into the live environment and challenges in real business.

Cross-cultural and International Awareness: Achieved through the mix of diverse cultures and origins of both students and teaching team and the international nature of the subject material. The appreciation of sustainability is achieved by introducing the new Level 6 course Sustainable Business.

Teaching and learning methods

The University of Greenwich has always aimed to provide innovative teaching and learning approaches:

• Interactive lectures, face-to-face and web supported seminars, guest speakers
• Directed and independent self-study, group or web-based discussions,
• Supervised laboratories, Excel demonstration
• Case studies, problem solving activities, research activities, company visits, guest speakers, consultancy projects, business simulations, and group based research and presentations

Small Business Development

• 3000-word Group Business Plan: 30% weighting, 40% pass mark
• 3000-word Individual Report on Business Plan processes and small business issues - 70% weighting, 40% pass mark
• Students are not required to pass all elements of summative assessment in order to pass the course

Thematic Independent Studies

• Individual Panopto Presentation - 20% weighting, 40% pass mark
• 6000-word Research Essay - 80% weighting, 40% pass mark
• Students are required to pass all elements of summative assessment in order to pass the course

Managing Strategy

• 2000-word Individual Reflective Report - 30% weighting, 40% pass mark
• 4000-word Full Strategic Appraisal of a real company - 70% weighting, 40% pass mark

E-Business

• 2000-word Simulation Report -  40% weighting, 40% pass mark
• 2000-word Time Constraint Assignment - 60% weighting, 40% pass mark

International Management and Organisational Functions

• Exam - 40% weighting, 40% pass mark

Contemporary Issues in Marketing

• 5000-Word Essay - 50% 
• Two-Hour Open Book Exam - 50% 

Corporate Financial Management

• Coursework (3,000-word report) - 50%
• Exam - 40%

*All pathways for Business Studies will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis subject to university approval.

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a. Minimum Academic Entry Requirement:

Students who have successfully completed either of the following

• LSBF Advanced Diploma in Business Studies
• LSBF Higher Diploma in Business Studies
• Polytechnic or other PEIs Diploma in a relevant field
• Students, who have obtained equivalent qualifications in relevant fields, will be assessed case-by-case and subjected to university approval

b. Minimum English Language Entry Requirement:

• Applicants who have not studied prior qualifications in English require IELTS 6.0 or equivalent in an accepted English language test

c. Minimum Age:

• 18 years or above

If you don't meet the entry requirements, please refer to the below pathway section and find out how to progress towards the BA (Hons) Business Studies degree.