Course Outline
By providing a practical and contemporary insight into financial markets and planning, together with a study of effective business operations and decision making, this course offers skills and knowledge employers would value, including tax and financial planning, and international business strategy.
Business
The study of business provides a detailed understanding of the way organisations work, how they operate within their specific environment and the impact on individuals working within them.
This pathway develops a general knowledge of business to complement a more specialised area of study. Modules introduce key themes, specifically, business operations (how it works) and entrepreneurship (creating opportunity within a competitive environment).
You learn how to apply business theory, identify types of business opportunity and address a range of business issues in an imaginative way. Investigating the issues confronting individuals within a business, you will develop an awareness of the problems businesses can face in general, and be able to identify a number of possible responses.
Finance
The Finance pathway is designed to provide an in-depth understanding of the principles and practice of finance, together with a foundation of business knowledge and personal transferable skills.
The programme develops the intellectual knowledge and technical skills necessary to ensure that, as you enter the profession, you can cope with new developments and business change, and be able to bring critical and analytical problem-solving skills to contemporary challenges.
It offers breadth as well as depth, embracing legal, taxation, regulatory and institutional issues within a national and international context.
As a Joint Honours degree student at Birmingham City Business School, you will study a common first year before continuing onto subject-specific modules in the remaining years of your course.
This exciting development is designed to offer you flexibility of subject choice and increase your employability.
| First Year |
| Autumn |
Spring |
Credits |
| Business Economics |
15 |
| Accounting and Finance |
30 |
| Managing People and Organisations |
15 |
| Marketing and Business Operations |
30 |
| Personal Development |
Business Problem Analysis |
15 each |
| Second Year |
| Autumn |
Spring |
Credits |
| Contemporary Business |
Business Logistics |
15 each |
| Financial Markets - Risks and Returns |
International Business |
15 each |
| Tax and Financial Planning |
30 |
| Professional Development |
Business Logistics |
15 each |
| Optional Placement Year |
| Final Year |
| Autumn |
Spring |
Credits |
| In the final year you undertake 60 credits per term made up from core and optional modules. Those not marked core are your options. |
| Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development |
Business Operations and Systems |
15 each |
| Global Finance |
Islamic Finance |
15 each |
| Statistical Decision Making |
Statistical Modelling |
15 each |
| Financial Strategy (core) |
30 |
| International Business Strategy (core) |
30 |
| Placement Project (core if you take a placement year) |
30 |
| Dissertation (not available if you take a Placement Project) |
30 |
You will benefit from the opportunity to spend a year working in industry between your second and third study year, allowing you to acquire invaluable, hands-on experience ahead of your career in business.
It is an excellent opportunity for you and your placement company. Your work experience allows you to develop a greater understanding of the business world, pick up key transferable skills, and put theory into practice, whilst your placement company can gain from your fresh ideas and enthusiasm.
A note for all full-time students starting a Bachelor’s degree in 2012/13:
If you commence your studies in September 2012 under the new fees regime, and decide to undertake a placement year (making your degree a 4 year sandwich course), please note that you will not be charged a tuition fee for that particular year.
You encounter a wide range of innovative assessment styles, including business reports, academic papers, case studies, individual and group presentations, portfolios and projects, as well as conventional examinations.
Your Career
Career Prospects
If you take the Business pathway, you will be well placed for graduate fast-track training and entry-level management posts in a number of industries, including commerce, government, community organisations and charities. You may also use your knowledge to set up your own entrepreneurial venture.
The Finance pathway integrates theory with practice to produce graduates who have a broad knowledge of finance and can apply it in real-world situations. Our alumni have an excellent employment record, with many successfully completing professional examinations following their degree.
Further Study Options
The University is an Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Platinum Approved Learning Partner and, if you wish to continue studying following graduation, you can make an individual application to obtain exemptions from the ACCA course and some exemptions for CIMA qualifications. We are able to prepare you for the internal and external ACCA examinations on a part-time basis.
Alternatively, you could choose to study MSc Accountancy and Finance or MSc Management and Finance on a full-time basis or you may progress to the University’s MA and MSc programmes or complete professional examinations in management or marketing.
Entry Requirements & Applications
Entry Requirements
A minimum of five GCSE's at grade C or above including Mathematics and English Language or equivalent, plus one of the following:
- A minimum tariff score of 280 points made up of a minimum of two passes A2 Level, two 6 unit or one 12 unit AVCE. Remaining points can be made up from AS qualifications
- Applications are welcomed from those with international qualifications (equivalent to those above) such as International Baccalaureate 32 points, including internationally accredited Foundation courses. You must also have an English Language qualification such as IELTS (minimum score of 6.0) or TOEFL (minimum score 550).
- Satisfactory completion of a full-time foundation course of an appropriate
- The programme welcomes applications from mature students.
Application Details
The code for this course is NN13.
Search for this course on UCAS
Enquiries
Prospective students from the UK or EU may enquire online by using the Course Enquiry Form or call +44 (0)121 331 5595.
Prospective students from non-EU countries may enquire via the International Enquiry Form or call +44 (0)121 331 6714.
Fees Notes
If you already have an equivalent level qualification, you may be charged a higher fee for your course. For further information visit the fees area of the Student Info section.