Business Management with Finance BSc(Hons)

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Top reasons to choose this course?

• Provides you with a strong foundation in business.
• Prepares you for careers in the finance sector.
• Gain industry insight via experienced academics and guest lectures.
• A course that develops your academic, professional and personal skills.
• Tailor your degree to your interests through your choice of option modules.
• Graduate with a year of work experience when you choose a placement year.

Year 1

All our Business Management degrees share the same first year core modules to give you a broad understanding of business principles.

Core modules include aspects of economics, entrepreneurship, marketing, HR, organisational behaviour, law and finance, to give you a broad understanding of business principles and practice.

You can then choose to specialise from year 2.

Modules

• Business Economics

  In this module you will develop your understanding of key economic concepts by applying them to contemporary issues within the world of business and through the application of quantitative techniques. You will also gain an understanding of how political, economic and environmental factors influence the world of business.

• Marketing Principles

  This module introduces the role and function of marketing within organisational frameworks. You'll develop an understanding of basic qualitative and quantitative tools available for analysing and interpreting the marketing environment.

• Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management

  This module will introduce you to a range of concepts, principles and theories that have been adopted within the study of organisational behaviour and human resource management.

  This module will provide you with a grounding for understanding how people are managed and organised in the workplace.

• Financial Knowledge and Skills for Business

  This module provides you with an introduction to fundamental concepts in the fields of financial accounting, management accounting, and finance. You will develop a basic understanding of an organisation’s financial position and performance through the application of appropriate analytical tools and procedures.

• Enterprise Project and Skills

  In this module you will create a business plan, a project plan and a marketing plan that include a digital presence. You'll integrate and apply skills and learning from other year 1 modules using project management skills to deliver a practical and applied business project, to demonstrate your understanding of market dynamics, financial structures and HRM employment strategies.

• Managing Systems and Operations

  This module will introduce you to the use of digital technologies and operations management in business.

  The module will highlight how managers use digital technologies to measure and improve operations and systems performance, and will provide an understanding of the processes and the methods to improve them in both service-oriented and manufacturing-sector organisations. A range of contemporary issues, innovation and future trends in Information Systems (IS) and operations management will be showcased

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. If you apply to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

Year 2

From your second year, through the module choices you make, you can either continue along the business management with finance degree route, or specialise in HR, economics, law, entrepreneurship or marketing.

Modules

Core modules

• International Business Analysis

  This is your opportunity to apply both macro and microeconomic analysis to a related set of case studies. You'll start by analysing an industry at a global level, move onto looking at macroeconomic data for a country that is key to that industry, and then apply microeconomic analysis to a company within that industry.

• Business and Corporate Law

  In this module you'll gain an understanding of the principles of business and company law and develop an awareness of how important law is within the business context.

• Managing Digital Transformation

  On this module you'll explore the impact of digital transformation in the context of business management. You'll cover the evolution of information systems, the role of AI in business, and different digital business models. Ethical and social considerations, including data privacy and the digital divide, are examined, alongside the relationship between technology and inequality. Finally, you'll look at future trends in digital business, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

• Understanding Finance Theory and Practice

  This module explores the theoretical underpinning of financial decision-making and considers approaches to the assessment of investment opportunities. This will enable the development of the knowledge and skills expected of a finance manager, particularly in relation to investment and financing decisions.

Options*

• Creativity in Enterprise

  The module lets you explore the concepts and tools related to creativity in a business environment. You'll also develop your research skills and ability to work in teams and enhance your personal development.

• Working in the Voluntary Sector

  Explore your personal values and aspirations while undertaking a 30-hour placement with a local charity or community organisation. The work experience is an opportunity to apply and develop business knowledge and skills in a real-world, not-for-profit context, alongside looking great on your CV and maybe even inspiring ideas for your future career direction.

• Leadership

  Study the changing nature of leadership in the business world and acquire leadership skills needed for HR managerial roles in organisations. You'll develop an understanding of the relevance of the internal and external environment, and be able to apply relevant theories to understand leadership.

• Gamification: Using Game Design Principles in Business

  Gamification is the use of game elements, mechanics and techniques in non-game situations. On this module you will consider how game design principles can be used effectively in business contexts including human resources, marketing and administration.

• Financial Modelling and Dealing

  The module provides the basic tools and data handling skills that will enable you to model financial relationships and understand the basic principles of stock market trading. You will also be introduced to specialist software to carry out set tasks. You'll develop the practical skills and knowledge needed for further study and that will enhance employment opportunities.

• Marketing Ethics and Responsibility

  The module takes you on a journey through the responsible marketing literature, theory, concepts, current challenges and roles and responsibilities of marketing managers in the UK and across the world. You will apply theory to practice, preparing you to become an ethical, socially responsible marketer of the future. You will examine ethical issues across a variety of markets and consider how to balance ethical performance with profitability.

• Design and Innovation

  This module explores the relationship between innovation and design through familiar products and services. You'll be introduced to the central concepts, theories and tools of design and innovation and think about their role in meeting the challenges of contemporary design-led product development. You'll look at how design and innovation ideas have evolved over time, focusing on the key objects that best show their importance in contemporary practice.

• Personal Financial Planning

  This module is an exploration of the principles of personal financial planning and investment, integrating theory and practice. You'll gain knowledge and understanding of the relationships between the parts of personal finance including an analysis of various generic products, and incorporating the inherent elements of risk and taxation and the techniques and stages of personal financial planning.

• Sustainable Operations and Procurement

  This module introduces some of the qualitative, quantitative, analytical and problem-solving techniques commonly used by operations managers. You'll also be introduced to an important range of purchasing tasks and approaches, quality driven and aimed at adding value, timely supply, as well as controlling costs and eliminating waste through sourcing, selecting and developing long-term supply partnerships.

• Information Systems and Decision Making

  This module explores the strategies and use of information systems and analytics. You'll gain an appreciation of the importance of digital data, information and knowledge in the digital economy, and work on the principles and practices used to manage information in organisations. You'll also gain practical experience of using SAP and be introduced to quantitative methods and analytical techniques used by business managers, as well as considering issues, innovation and future trends in IS.

• Economic Theory and Applications

  This module provides a firm grounding in key concepts in economics and their real-world applications. The importance of history, institutions and policy in economic analysis is emphasised. You'll become familiar with economic methods of analysis and develop a foundation of economics knowledge that will support your final year studies.

• Money, Exchange Rates and Trade

  The module will help you to develop your understanding of monetary economics and its relationship with the exchange rate and international trade. Through this you'll further develop your appreciation of trading blocks, currency unions and commercial policy, and their impact on international finance and trade.

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Placement year

Gain valuable industry experience and earn money on an optional placement year. Return to your final year with confidence, hands-on experience and contacts.

During your placement year you'll complete a business project. This project is an assessed part of your degree and, depending on the topic you choose, could also provide a valuable piece of insight for your placement employer.

Previous placement companies include American Express, BMW, Bosch, Channel 4, Disney, Electronic Arts, Hewlett Packard, Home Office, IBM, Ipsos Mori, ITV, lastminute.com, Microsoft and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

Our dedicated Placements and Employability team are here to support you in getting a placement, as well as while you're on placement.

Final year

In your final year you will have the opportunity to develop a specialism by selecting from a broad range of business and finance options.

You will also be able to tailor your course to your interests through option modules, including financial markets, international business, and corporate social responsibility.

Modules

Core modules

• Managing, Teams and Developing People

  This module builds upon themes covered in year 1. Using a hands-on approach, you'll reinforce and build upon your understanding of theories and models, and apply these concepts by working in team activities involving management of yourself and others. You'll explore common issues that are faced when working in groups and teams equipping you with the skills to become an effective team worker and leader.

• Corporate Financial Management

  This module is a specialised finance option for final year students. It has two parts: the first builds upon applied topics in corporate finance and the second explores treasury and risk management tools and techniques. You'll focus on financial management mainly in terms of issues affecting corporate financial managers.

• Strategy

  On this module you'll focus on the strategic business management of organisations in industry. You'll explore and apply techniques for the analysis, development and implementation of strategies in order to achieve business goals – spanning domestic, international, global levels and in the context of the UN’s sustainable development goals.

• Developing Professional Practice in Business

  This module is an opportunity for students who are not undertaking a work placement year to complete a 30-hour business or consultancy project, helping them to develop their problem solving, creative thinking, analysis and project management skills. The project can be based in a range of settings including the university's Active Student or Community-university Partnership Project.

Options*

• Small Business and Entrepreneurship

  On this module you'll develop a business idea and plan using knowledge and skills developed throughout your course. Students from a range of subjects take this module, creating a multidisciplinary approach to identifying and researching a business idea and developing a realistic business plan. Part of the assessment is a Dragons’ Den style presentation of your idea to a panel of local business people.

• Environmental Economics

  Issues surrounding the environment and natural resources are becoming increasingly mainstream in economics. This module follows the year 2 module of the same name and further explores how economic concepts, tools and policy instruments are relevant and are used to understand and manage environmental issues at business and government-level.

   

• Financial and Capital Markets

  The module develops your understanding of the financial system and allows you to get some experience of financial markets. You'll have an opportunity to manage a portfolio of assets and to analyse the performance of that portfolio as well as the investment environment.

• Political Economy in Europe

  Building on some aspects of the year 2 module International Business Analysis, this module is an opportunity to explore the dynamics of the political economy in Europe, focusing on the European Union.You will gain an appreciation of the complexities of change and develop your ability to critically assess the implications.

• International Finance

  This module takes the areas of finance and financial management that you have studied before in a domestic setting, and looks at how the domestic theory alters in an international setting because of factors such as exchange rates and country risk. You'll also be introduced to the international financial management complexities associated with the foreign direct investment decisions of multinational companies.

• Understanding Employee Relations

  This module develops your general understanding of employee relations in the UK together with your ability to critically compare and contrast this with those of other countries. You'll also develop an appreciation of the practice of employer relations, with a clear focus upon that experienced in the UK.

• Organisational Change

  This module enables you to critically analyse the processes of individual and organisational change. You'll develop a critical understanding of approaches that maximise the outcomes of organisational change for individuals and organisations, alongside gaining insight into change management. You'll also understand the importance of the roles and skills in the change process for individuals, human resource management, senior and line management, and leadership. 

• International Human Resource Management

  This module helps you to develop an understanding of the way in which international organisations manage their human resources across different countries. You'll research the meaning and implications of international and comparative HRM linking your understanding of established theory with your research finding, and present your work in a report.

• Ecommerce and Online Behaviour

  Many business disciplines need to design strategies that take account of online behaviour. In this module you'll analyse and evaluate ecommerce systems. You'll explore the role and impact of ecommerce technologies, some of the concepts used to understand online behaviour in the marketplace, and how people behave as consumers in online settings.

   

• Customer Relationship Management and Services Marketing

  This module enables you to acquire a detailed understanding of approaches to services marketing including the integration of customer relationship management (CRM).  You will examine how the core principles of marketing are configured in a services context and how developing CRM as a core strategy enables organisations to focus on long-term customer relationships and loyalty.

• Consumer Psychology

  On this module you'll focus on the main concepts used in understanding consumer psychology and consumer behaviour in the marketplace. You'll consider how these are used in marketing to both understand consumers and create strategies to ethically influence their behaviour.

• Marketing Across Cultures

  This module examines two key challenges facing businesses today – how to identify and develop international marketing and business opportunities, and understanding the importance of cultural differences across the globe to adapt marketing strategies and tactics for business success. You'll learn about new cultures in the developed and emerging world and how to develop an international marketing plan, putting your entrepreneurial, research, creative and report writing skills in to practice.

• Responsible Enterprise

  On this module students from subjects across the university have the opportunity to work together on responsible enterprise solutions to live client challenges. Practical projects mean that you'll learn from other students and disciplines as you share problem-solving approaches, knowledge and experience.

• Big Data and Business Intelligence

  Big data refers to data sets so complex they are difficult to process using conventional databases. They result from the increasing use of real-time computing in process and organisations such as web analytics, government, social media, security and healthcare. In this module you'll explore how the growth of big data impacts on business opportunities and risks, and how business intelligence contributes to improved performance and forecasting

• The Digital Economy

  The role of digital technology is increasingly important in the way that the global economy works. New technologies and algorithms are changing how wealth is created, governed or even defined. This module brings together your understanding of the role of information communication technologies, with knowledge and information of the understanding of growth in the economy.

• Game Theory in Economics, Finance and Business

  This module introduces game theory, one of the most exciting, stimulating and promising subjects in modern microeconomics, which is now also broadly applied in philosophy, sociology, and political science among other fields. You'll apply game theory to financial and business analysis topics to deepen and widen your knowledge of economics, finance and business as an ongoing strategic game.

• Employee Selection and Development

  On this module you'll explore and consider how recruitment, selection, training and development contribute to the function and performance of an organisation, with specific focus on contemporary labour market issues.

• Happiness: Work and Society

  This module is an opportunity to analyse the concept of happiness in work and society. You'll consider happiness at an individual, organisational and socio-economic level, exploring topics such as positive psychology, happiness and wellbeing, nurturing happiness in the organisation, the issues and challenges of measuring happiness and wellbeing, and what makes a nation happy. 

• Dispute Resolution and Litigation

  On this module you will develop an understanding of the civil court procedure in England and Wales, including the nature and jurisdiction of the County Court and the High Court. You'll be introduced to case analysis, mechanisms for dispute resolution, pre-trial preparations and pre-action protocols.

• Retail Marketing and Distribution

  The module introduces retail marketing and distribution through practical workshops with emphasis on real retailer situations. You'll study topics from historical development, current industry structure, trends and projected developments. You will balance theory and practice to produce a viable strategic report about the marketplace.

• Marketing Communications

  The module is an overview of the key marketing communications tools including branding, advertising, sales promotion and public relations. You'll consider the key theories of marketing communications, exploring how advertising has its effect on consumers. You'll also explore models of consumer psychology and behaviour  to further understand the role of marketing communications in society.

• Futurism for Marketers

  This module explores emerging and future directions in marketing thought and strategy. You'll examine the notion that marketing needs reform and move beyond a ‘trends’ approach to think about a less concrete, more open and futuristic perspective on the marketing subject. You'll also consider ‘what comes next’ in the development of the marketing concept and produce an article suitable for a business audience.

• Public Relations: Principles and Practice

  This module is an opportunity to work as a team on a public relations (PR) project. You'll develop your account management and PR skills, focusing on the function of PR and its role in marketing and corporate communications. You'll analyse and evaluate specialist PR functions and examine how a well-integrated PR strategy ensures that organisations can develop and maintain relationships with their stakeholders and audiences. 

• Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM)

  Supply chain management (SCM) is the handling of the entire production flow of a good or service — from raw materials to delivering the final product to the consumer. On this module you'll develop a strategic understanding of SCM in a wider business context, and explore how SCM objectives have expanded to include societal and environmental implications because of, for example, depleted natural resources. You'll learn how sustainability can be a competitive advantage and explore the role of supply chains in a circular economy.

• Researching Contemporary Issues in Finance

  Choose a specific current issue in finance to study in depth. You'll review and analyse a wide range of published data with the aim of summarising good practice and recommending a possible solution to the problem in your final report. 

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Course leader

Course fees

If you choose to take the professional placement (sandwich) year offered on this course you will pay a reduced fee during this year. Our fee for the professional placement year is £1,500 for UK students and £1,850 for international students. This fee may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2025–26.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

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• Brighton Boost – cost of living help for our new undergrad students. Find out about how we can help with your study, accommodation or travel costs and more...
• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international undergraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• Read our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf) for more on University of Brighton tuition fees.

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