Business Administration (Top-up) - BA (Hons)
Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.
Want to top up your business degree? Our BA (Hons) Business Administration (Top-Up) course allows you learn administration skills from industry experienced lecturers. This flexible and wide-ranging course allows you to tailor your studies to your interests, from eBusiness, to Continuous Innovation....
- Level Undergraduate
- Study mode Full Time
- Award BA (Hons)
- Start date September 2025
- Fees View course fees
- Subject Business and Management
- Location City Centre
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
Want to top up your business degree? Our BA (Hons) Business Administration (Top-Up) course allows you learn administration skills from industry experienced lecturers.
This flexible and wide-ranging course allows you to tailor your studies to your interests, from eBusiness, to Continuous Innovation. With a number of options to choose from, you’ll be able to follow a path that will lead to your future career, with previous students progressing into roles with high-profile businesses such as N Power and Zurich. The international focus of the course is derived through a variety of means including the student body, the teaching team and the use of international teaching materials.
Our Business Administration (Top up) course gives you the chance to broaden your knowledge of general business administration within the global business environment. We’ll teach you to apply your knowledge to real business scenarios, helping you to progress into employment, having already dealt with many situations you find in the working world.
What's covered in this course?
This course covers a whole range of areas of business administration and management, with at least 5 modules for you to choose. You’ll study full-time for a year to suit your needs, and you’ll also be given attentive student support.
Working with other students from across Birmingham City Business School, you’ll develop and demonstrate your ability to collaborate, while other projects will require you to work alone and develop your independent learning skills. You’ll be put into a range of exciting and innovative scenarios, strengthening your expertise and learning from different cultures and experiences.
You’ll work on a range of innovative and practical projects, including business reports, case studies, presentations and projects, all of which will help you to apply your knowledge to real businesses and real situations.
Our staff will help to support and tailor your learning with expert industry knowledge and experience. They’re researchers, authors and titans of industry who’ll share their own practical and academic experience and expertise.
Why Choose Us?
- We have a strong focus on employability and through placement opportunities and our links with local businesses, we aim to ensure you graduate not only with your degree but also with the skills and knowledge needed to embark on your chosen career.
- The STEAMhouse offers amazing opportunities for entrepreneurial students to kick start and build a business. Services available include the Incubator which helps focus and solidify business ideas and the Hatchery which offers support in getting your business off the ground.
- We pride ourselves on being the University for Birmingham and supporting and giving something back to the local business community. We have strong links with local businesses in the city across several industries. These links help us enhance students’ experiences by giving them access to industry experts for guest lectures, exciting placement opportunities and other chances to engage with the business community as a whole.
- We aim to infuse learning with exposure to real-world experiences. We give students the chance to work on real-life projects using industry-standard software and with real-world clients where possible, offering a unique opportunity for students to gain this invaluable experience while they study.
Open Days
Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.
Next Open Day: 19 October 2024
Entry Requirements
These entry requirements apply for entry in 2025/26.
All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.
Essential requirements
Accepted qualifications include:
- ABE Advanced Diploma: At least a grade B in two modules and the qualification must be in a relevant subject area.
- Diploma in Higher Education (DipHE): Pass with 120 credits at level 4 and 120 credits at level 5, in a related pathway. Acceptance will be Subject to satisfactory comparability of modular content at level 4 and 5. A transcript will be required.
- Foundation degree (Level 5): Pass with 120 credits at level 4 and 120 credits at level 5, in a related pathway. A minimum of 60% overall must be achieved. Acceptance will be subject to satisfactory comparability of modular content at level 4 and 5. A transcript will be required.
- Higher National Diploma (HND): Pass with 120 credits at level 4 and 120 credits at level 5, in a related pathway. A minimum of a Merit profile overall. Acceptance will be subject to satisfactory comparability of modular content at level 4 and 5. A transcript will be required.
Applications are considered on an individual basis.
If you are an EU/international student, please see 'Additional information' below.
If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: BA (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year
- £9,250 in 2025/26
- Apply via UCAS
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: BA (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year
- £17,690 in 2025/26
Guidance for UK/EU students
UK and EU students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.
Applying through UCAS
Register with UCAS
Login to UCAS
Complete your details
Select your course
Write a personal statement
Get a reference
Pay your application fee
Send UCAS your application
Applications can also be made direct to the faculty for those students without a UCAS account. Please contact our Business School Admissions Team on Email: Business.admissions@bcu.ac.uk or call +44 (0)121 331 6565.
Guidance for International students
There are three ways to apply:
1) Direct to the University
You will need to complete our International Application Form and Equal Opportunities Form, and submit them together with scan copies of your original academic transcripts and certificates.
2) Through a country representative
Our in-country representatives can help you make your application and apply for a visa. They can also offer advice on travel, living in the UK and studying abroad.
3) Through UCAS
If you are applying for an undergraduate degree or a Higher National Diploma (HND), you can apply through the UK’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
You can request a printed form from your school or nearest British Council office. You will be charged for applying through UCAS. Birmingham City University’s UCAS code is B25 BCITY.
Personal statement
UK / EU students are required to submit a personal statement as part of their application for this course.*
The personal statement gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.
Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:
- Course choice - Why does this course appeal? What areas are of particular interest?
- Career plans - If you have a specific career in mind, say how your chosen course will help you pursue this goal.
- Work experience - Mention any work that is relevant to your subject, highlighting the skills and experience gained.
- School or college experience - Highlight skills gained at school/college, eg summer schools or mentoring activities.
- Non-accredited skills or achievement - eg Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise scheme.
You should also mention your future plans – if you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons. Talk about any subjects you’re studying that don’t have a formal assessment and any sponsorships or placements you’ve applied for. And don't be scared to add in details about your social, sports or leisure interests.
Worried about Personal Statements?
If you've got no idea where to start or just want to check you're on the right track, we’ve got expert advice and real examples from our students to help you nail your personal statement. You can even download our ultimate personal statement guide for free.
*Non-EU students are not required to submit a personal statement when applying for this course.
Course in Depth
Year One
In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 60 credits).
This module encourages you to develop an in depth understanding of the analysis and re-design of business operations and processes and the systems that support the contribution of these core processes to the core philosophy of the business. The emphasis is to create a practice based module, taking you through a journey of how a real life business plans and delivers the organisations’ operations. The practice is underpinned by relevant theories in two hour workshops – combining lectures and seminars.
This module builds on our practice-based approach to learning. You will integrate theory and practice in order to challenge existing approaches and thinking and propose innovative ideas to support flexible and creative initiatives within organisations. It complements other modules within the Final Year through supporting your personal and professional development across a range of transferable skills including problem solving, critical thinking, generating innovative ideas, and building and delivering effective oral presentations.
The business environment is undergoing constant change and this is largely driven by technological advances which enable organisations to better identify and reach prospective customers. Organisations can no longer obtain a competitive advantage simply by producing high quality goods or services and offering them for sale within the market. The way that the consumer makes their buying decisions has changed and nowadays they no longer expect to be the passive recipients of mass messages. Customers now expect to enter into a two-way conversation with organisations, thus changing the monologue into a dialogue: a two-way conversation.
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 60 credits from the following list of OPTIONAL modules.
Whilst Marketing has contributed to the problem of over-consumption, this module aims to provide you with an understanding of the role that marketing has to play in meeting the needs of the sustainability agenda. It identifies the nature and extent of the challenges facing organisations and considers potential approaches for addressing these. In doing so, it aspires to create a vision of the future in which organisations, consumers and government can realise a one planet business strategy.
Culture is generally accepted by marketing researchers as one of the most important underlying determinants of consumer behaviour. Geert Hofstede himself has stated that if there is one aspect of business that is culture-dependent, it is consumer behaviour. Considering that marketing is about consumers to begin with, it is crucial for marketers to understand and predict the behaviour of consumers in all markets they serve. As businesses expand into new national and international markets, dealing with differences in cultural values amongst consumers can be quite challenging, which in turn has implications on the development of viable marketing strategies.
This module focuses on issues relating to the management and growth of a SME (Small, Medium enterprise) or social enterprises. This module will help you to identify ways in which the enterprise can upscale using internal and external resources.
With the knowledge and training from this module, you will have a good understanding of strategies, strategic management and decision making, and build up a holistic view of supply chain. Meanwhile, you will build upon your personal skills of conducting academic research, critical thinking and discussion, written communication, strategic decision-making, and self-reflection. These will enhance your capabilities towards a range of managerial roles within companies or developing your own businesses. In addition this module will invite guest speakers to share their experiences.
This module takes an experiential approach and is delivered through a combination of lectures, online seminars and digital workshops. The nature of the module is experiential and in keeping with the course core philosophies, it will equip you with the ability to apply marketing theory and practice, and to develop key transferable skills that are now essential to a career in marketing. Specifically, this module provides you with the specialist ‘digital’ marketing skills and provides you with an entrepreneurial underpinning. The Professional Practice route will be delivered differently via block taught sessions with the assessment work-based.
All core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
Download course specification
Download nowCourse Structure
Assessment is largely by coursework, with some conventional written exams and practical exams. Coursework is always industry-relevant, such as business reports, case studies, individual and group presentations, portfolios and projects.
Many of our modules involve group evaluations, presentations, reports and business plans with the aim of developing a range of skills such as working in a team, problem solving and analysing data. As skills that are valued by employers, these activities will be beneficial in helping you to secure a job after graduation.
Seminars, workshops and self-directed study enable you to further explore the knowledge gained in lectures and apply concepts to real-world business case studies. You’ll also learn to analyse, evaluate and judge situations in business.
Employability
Enhancing your employability skills
Our emphasis is always on employability and ensuring that you develop the skills and experience that employers’ value. Our expert staff will tutor you through a huge range of business skills and theory that will prepare you for a career in many areas of business and our links with industry ensure that we know what employers are looking for and we tailor our teaching accordingly.
When you study for a top-up degree you’ll be learning about the areas you want to be employed in. We teach you to apply knowledge, theory and concepts to real-life scenarios and businesses, and help to make sure you’re employable all over the globe too. You’ll learn about international business strategy, the environments businesses operate in all over the world and global management issues.
Your skills can be applied to many different businesses large and small, local and worldwide. You’ll gain valuable experience through our Employability Challenge Weeks, as well as our Leadership Challenge programme. Both give you the chance to apply your skills to innovative and exciting projects, industry talks and workshops. You’ll also receive guidance on how to complete application forms and how to write effective CVs.
International
Welcome to Birmingham City University, home to students from over 70 countries all around the world!
Our Business programmes are practice based and many have an international focus, which means your course will be entirely relevant to today’s business world. Almost all of our courses, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level, are open to international students.
We also have links with universities across the world, including Europe, the USA, China, India and Malaysia.
International ServicesOur international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Details of the entry requirements for our courses
- Some of the good reasons why you should study here
- How to improve your language skills before starting your studies
- Information relevant to applicants from your country
- Where to find financial support for your studies.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Facilities & Staff
Our Facilities
We are constantly investing in our estate and have spent £400 million on new learning facilities.
The Curzon Building
This course is based at our City Centre Campus – and specifically The Curzon Building, alongside other Social Sciences, Law and Business students.
The £63m building offers students a unique social learning space, including a dedicated student hub incorporating student support services, in the heart of Birmingham’s Eastside development.
The Business floors house an extensive number of IT facilities, breakout areas, and specialised rooms. The Marketing Link Agency is designed to replicate a modern marketing firm, allowing students to get real-life experience of working in the marketing sector. There is also the City Trading Room, which features state of the art stock market tracking equipment, keeping you up to date with all the financial comings and goings of the London Stock Exchange and Wall Street.
The Curzon building is also conveniently close to Birmingham’s business and financial centre, allowing for strong links between your studies and the real world.
The Curzon Building also features:
- An impressive library with access to over 65 million full text items and stunning views of Eastside City Park
- Your Students’ Union which is located in a beautifully restored 19th century pub, The Eagle and Ball
- A modern 300-seat food court with space to study and socialise
- Accessible IT facilities with full Office365 for all students for free
- Shared facilities with the wider campus including the Parkside Building and Millennium Point