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Business Management (2 year top-up) BA

Shape your studies towards your career ambitions in 2 years. With support from our experienced staff and guest speakers and become a successful business manager
Code
NT82
Start
September 2024
Duration
2 years full-time
Attendance
Full-time
Fees
£9,250 (UK) *
£16,600 (INT) *
Course leader
Dr Helen Cai

This innovative two year top-up degree is perfect for you if you're keen to apply academic theory in a business environment.

Why study BA Business Management (2 year top-up) at

Middlesex?

Our versatile business management degree helps you shape your studies towards your career ambitions. You'll develop your skills, knowledge and experience to become a successful business manager in a variety of industries. And time and space to broaden your areas of expertise.

You'll be taught and supported by expert tutors who bring real-world experience and expertise to their teaching practices. Our north London location means that we have strong connections with small and large businesses across the city and beyond.

What you will gain

The enterprise element is a vital part of this course. For entrepreneurs, you'll learn the foundations for starting your own business.

If you want to work with an employer first, you'll have plenty of career paths to choose from. You’ll come away with invaluable skills for work in corporations, small businesses, the civil service, or charities.

You'll learn to work effectively in teams, and be able to present and communicate business management ideas with confidence. We also ensure you develop specialist knowledge in:

  • Organisations: their characteristics and how they work together
  • Stakeholders: their expectations and behaviour
  • The global business environment: its impact on strategy, behaviour and management
  • Design, production and distribution of products and services
  • Business resources: acquisition, application and control
  • Business process: department models, planning, improvement and control
  • The tools and techniques for making informed business decisions.

You'll gain a wide range of transferable skills and upon graduation, you'll be fully prepared for an exciting career in business and management.

You'll be able to demonstrate to companies and organisations that you have expert business knowledge and can apply analytical and problem-solving skills, with the professional acumen to deal with challenges in a fast-paced corporate world. You would also be well placed to continue into further study with a master's degree.

3 great reasons to pick this course

  • Top 5 university in the UK
    According to Times Higher Education (THE) - Young Universities 2023
  • Our graduate destinations speak for themselves
    We are proud to see our graduates securing management roles at prestigious organisations, including Chase Anderson, Foxtons, M&S and Sports Direct
  • Access industry-standard software
    Enhance your employability prospects through practical learning with software commonly utilised in the workplace, including Xero, Sage, OneSource and our state-of-the-art Financial Markets Lab

What you will learn

You'll study the key functions that underpin business success and develop an understanding of how organisations operate from developing strategy to management styles.

Our expert tutors have extensive management experience with some of the world's leading businesses including Chase Anderson, Chelsea FC, Manpower, and Waitrose. They'll help you develop your understanding of finance, marketing, operations and people management.

Our specialist teaching approach and high levels of tutor support ensure you receive the best academic results. And our Enterprise Development Hub can support you to start your own business, and develop essential entrepreneurial skills for a successful career.


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Alongside building effective business skills, you'll develop your knowledge of organisations, their functions, structure and management. You'll also study the operations of organisations as well as the models and techniques used to achieve successful results.

During the course, you'll study eight compulsory modules over the two years designed to advance your skills and knowledge in topics fundamental to managerial decision-making.

The Entrepreneurship and Small Business module provides an excellent foundation for setting up and running your own business. You'll also choose four optional modules in a range of different areas so you can tailor your studies to your interests.

Modules

  • Year 2 (level 5) modules

    • Operations Management (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of operations management within a variety of organisations. You'll examine different aspects of operations management relevant to the design, planning, control and improvement of business operations. You'll learn to evaluate, select and apply relevant operations management concepts, tools and techniques to solve problems, make informed decisions and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operational processes.

    • Business Environment (15 credits) - Compulsory

      This module aims to develop your knowledge of internal and external business environment and their impact upon choices available to business in planning and decision making. You'll learn to analyse business environments and handle information using different techniques, models and frameworks.

    • Management Information Systems (15 credits) - Compulsory

      This module will give you the ability to apply key skills in information systems to business management. You'll also gain important aptitudes towards using information technology solutions such as business intelligence (e.g. data analytics), digital technology solutions (e.g. smart environments) and modern forms of communication (e.g. social networks) to improve business processes.

      You'll study a variety of topics including:

      • information systems and business intelligence - the development, management, application and implementation of information systems and their impact upon organisations
      • communications - the understanding and use of relevant communications for application in business and management such as the use of digital tools
      • digital business - the development of strategic priorities to deliver business at speed in an environment where digital technology has reshaped traditional revenue and business models.

      The cross-discipline nature of this module ensures that you'll gain experience in using information systems, while engaging in strategic management activities and following a pattern of work resembling project management practices in controlled environments.

    • Principles of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (15 credits) - Compulsory

      This module provides an introduction to innovation and entrepreneurship. You'll examine different forms of innovative and entrepreneurial practice including commercial and social enterprise. This includes an introduction into management issues faced by entrepreneurs and small business owners. The module will also introduce students to such concepts as opportunity recognition and the ability to act upon opportunities and problem solving.

    • Organisational Behaviour (15 credits) - Compulsory

      This module will enable you to identify the multifaceted social processes that are imperative to organisational life. You'll explore a wide array of theories pertaining to organisational behaviour and develop your abilities to analyse these theories, build up your own views on how to think and feel about these emergent issues as well as gain the capacity to argue and support these views in an academically rigorous manner.

  • Choose one of the following optional modules

    • Human Resource Management in Practice (30 credits) - Optional

      This module aims to deepen your understanding of the key areas of human resource management and develop your skills and competence in human resource management practice. You'll become familiar with a wide range of generalist HR policies and practices within the five key areas of the discipline: employee resourcing, employee reward, employee relations, performance management and employee training and development. You'll also be provided with the opportunity to develop competencies in areas such as selection interviews, performance appraisals, managing conflict, and conducting grievance and disciplinary interviews.

    • Marketing Research and Insights (30 credits) - Optional

      This module aims to familiarise you with the importance of marketing research and insights to business and, in particular, the marketing management process. You'll learn how to conduct a marketing research project, including establishing business research needs, gaining insights into the consumer market, designing an appropriate research design, creating research instruments, gathering data primary and secondary data, conducting both qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and using the findings to improve marketing decision-making.

  • Year 3 (level 6) modules

    • Strategic Management (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This intensive module provides familiarity with the essential tools and techniques of strategic analysis and a sound grasp of contemporary issues in strategic management. You'll use the essential components of strategic analysis with the primary aim of developing an applied knowledge of tools and techniques. You'll also explore a variety of special topics with the primary aim of examining strategy concepts applied in different organisations. You’ll develop your ability to process and interpret information from different internal functions and from multiple external sources for decision-making leading to long-term organisational success.

    • Workforce Management (15 credits) - Compulsory

      This module aims to develop your understanding and critical awareness of issues associated with managing contemporary workforce. You'll learn how increasingly diverse workforce composition and the changing nature of work and socio-economic environment result in new and unique challenges that managers face today. Through using cutting edge research, case studies and self-reflexive exercises, you'll be  encouraged to critically re-evaluate the traditional management thinking and practices and explore alternative approaches and responses to the contemporary management issues.

    • Professional Communication (15 credits) - Compulsory

      This module enables you to develop an understanding of strategies commonly used in professional discourse. It integrates concepts and approaches from applied linguistics and social psychology into the management of professional communication in a range of business settings. By exploring and contextualising professional discourse strategies, you'll develop systematic and explicit approaches to analysing, evaluating and constructing strategic communication.

  • Choose one of the following optional modules

    • Business Start-Up (30 credits) - Optional

      This module aims to introduce the complexities of starting a business. It draws together a range of theories, concepts, and notions from several sources such as Finance, Marketing, and Strategy. You'll use the development of a unique business plan through which you'll learn, practice, and apply the necessary academic and practical knowledge and skill sets, including team working, required for the establishment of a new business, as well as an understanding of the complexities relating to the functioning of a small business.

    • Global Supply Chain Management (30 credits) - Optional

      This module introduces the theories and techniques relevant to the management of global demand and global supply within the parameters of corporate and business unit strategies. You'll develop critical insights in design, implementation and operation of global supply chains while employing these to develop your own case studies.

    • Business Game (30 credits) - Optional

      This module aims to demonstrate the importance of integrated business functions to achieve business success. You'll use business simulations to gain experience in how a firm can integrate key aspects of business and management in order to succeed in a competitive environment.

  • Choose one of the following optional modules

    • Sustainable Business (15 credits) - Optional

      This module focuses specifically on the development of the competences needed to develop sustainable business. You'll gain the knowledge and skills of sustainable business to make a strong contribution to society, economy and the environment. You'll be enabled through a competency-based approach that links real-world orientation, with personal development and coaching, to the development and management of sustainable business.

    • Managing Business in Asia (15 credits) - Optional

      This module aims to develop your critical understanding of the political, economic and business management systems of Asian countries and their impact to international business.

  • Choose one of the following optional modules

    • Entrepreneurial Finance (15 credits) - Optional

      The module aims to provide you with an awareness and understanding of the mechanics, challenges and issues related to the different ways of financing an enterprise. The includes an understanding of key financial statements, the financial planning process, sources of funding and the financial risks and rewards of entrepreneurship.

    • Organisational Change (15 credits) - Optional

      All contemporary organisations operate in an increasingly dynamic environment. This module aims to develop your critical understanding of organisational change and managing organisational change. You'll explore different theoretical frameworks, concepts, techniques and tools for managing change.

To find out more about this course, please download the Business Management (2-year top-up) BA specification (PDF).

  1. Teaching and independent learning
  2. Coursework and assessment

Facilities

Financial Markets Lab

Watch the latest movements on Bloomberg and Datastream – two of the finance sectors most widely used systems. These platforms show real-time information about financial markets around the world – and are used by expert traders, financial advisors and business leaders. Find out more about our Business facilities.

The Sheppard Library

Our library is open 24 hours a day during the term and includes:

  • Over 1,000 study areas with rooms for group study and over 600 computer spaces
  • 350,000 books and e-books and more than 24,000 online journals
  • Free laptop loans, Wi-Fi and printing.

a male lecturer and female student study screens in the financial markets lab

Student support

We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health, childcare and disability support.

Additional needs

We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.

Wellness

Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.

Work while you study

We'll help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above.

Financial support

You can apply for scholarships and bursaries and our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.

We have also reduced the costs of studying with free laptop loans, free learning resources and discounts to save money on everyday things. Check out our guide to student life on a budget.

How can the BA Business Management (2 year top-up) support your career?

The enterprise element is a key part of this course. It teaches you the skills you need to start your own business or work for an employer.

If you want to start your own business, you will learn about business planning, marketing, and finance. You will also get to work on real-world projects with other students.

If you want to work for an employer, you will learn about corporate culture, leadership, and teamwork. You will also get to network with professionals in your field.

Graduate job roles

This degree will leave you ideally placed to start a career in a wide variety of roles including operations manager, HR consultant, practice manager, housing officer, investment banker, sales manager, analyst, and graduate teaching assistant.

Graduate employers

You could be working in a range of industrial, commercial and third sector organisations such as:

  • Manpower
  • Larkspur Training
  • SEI Investments
  • Foxtons
  • Next
  • William Hill
  • Sports Direct
  • Co-op
  • M&S
  • Waitrose
  • Chelsea FC
  • Chase Anderson
  • Southwark Council
  • Fitch Training
  • Bank

Transferable skills

You'll be able to demonstrate to companies and organisations that you have expert business knowledge and can apply analytical and problem-solving skills, with the professional acumen to deal with challenges in a fast-paced corporate world. You would also be well placed to continue into further study with a master's degree.

Employability support

Our employability service can help you to develop your employability skills and get some valuable work experience. We provide workshops, events and one-to-one support with job hunting, CVs, covering letters, interviews and networking. We also support you in securing part-time work, placements, internships, and volunteering opportunities, and offer an enterprise support service for those looking to start their own business.

  1. UK entry
  2. International entry
  3. How to apply

These are the fees for 2024/25:

UK students1

Full-time: £9,250

International students2

Full-time students: £16,600

Additional costs

The following study tools are included in your fees:

  • Free access to the resources, learning materials and software you need to succeed on your course
  • Free laptop loans for up to 24 hours
  • Free printing for academic paperwork
  • Free online training with LinkedIn Learning.

Scholarships and bursaries

To help make uni affordable, we do everything we can to support you including our:

  • MDX Excellence Scholarship offers grants of up to £2,000 per year for UK students
  • Regional or International Merit Awards which reward International students with up to £2,000 towards course fees
  • Student Starter Kit. Get help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad. Find out about our MDX Student Starter Kit.

Find out more about undergraduate funding and all of our scholarships and bursaries.

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase undergraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.

Dr Helen Cai
Programme leader

Dr Cai has ten years work experience in MNCs and state-owned Company, blending strong academic backgrounds with industry experience.

Dr Simon Best
Senior lecturer

Dr Best has an expertise in micro and small business start-up and development. He also has a vast experience in action and experiential learning.

Dr Huyen Anh Tham
Senior lecturer

Dr Tham specialises in interactive and experiential learning in the strategic management and global business environments.


We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.

Other courses

Business Management (1 year top-up) BA

Start: September 2024

Duration: 1 year full-time

Code: NT8A

Business Management (Marketing) BA Honours

Start: September 2024

Duration: 3 years full-time, 4 years full-time with placement, 6 years part-time

Code: N504

Business Management BA Honours

Start: September 2024

Duration: 3 years full-time, 4 years full-time with placement, 6 years part-time

Code: N200

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