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Business Management (Finance) BA Honours

Finance isn’t just about the money, it’s a multifaceted industry that requires skills to solve all sorts of financial problems.
Code
N302
Start
September 2024
Duration
3 years full-time
4 years full-time with placement
Usually 5 years part-time
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Fees
£9,250 (UK)*
£16,600 (INT)*
Course leader
Agnes Grondin

If you’d like to start this course in January, please apply for our generalist programme BA Business Management and chose your specialism in Year 2.

This course is subject to review
We periodically review our programmes to make sure the content and teaching stay up to date and relevant. Please check this page regularly for updates.

The business of finance

Understanding contemporary corporate finance is the key to understanding modern business. Covering all areas of finance including investment analysis and capital management, you’ll have the tools to solve financial problems faced by business today.

This course is tailored towards ambitious students who want a management and finance degree, and you’ll learn in a live environment. Using data from the London Stock Exchange, you’ll form portfolios of listed companies and compare it against the market. You’ll identify over and under-priced companies, as well as calculating Beta, among other skills.

You’ll take on the challenge of a work placement, developing your theory and practical skills to an employable level, as well as developing your understanding of financial organisations.

Building your financial skills

During your BA in Business Management (Finance), you’ll develop key business skills to help you in a management or financial career. Focusing on topics such as resource management, leadership, business finance and analysis, you’ll be able to work effectively as part of a team. Presenting and communicating your ideas will give you confidence in a fast-paced business environment, and you’ll have specialist knowledge in business strategy and process. You’ll also successfully train to get Bloomberg and DataStream certificates during your degree, a key part of the course.

Globally recognised for our employability focus

We received a CIMA Employability Global Silver Excellence award from our professional body as recognition of commitment to employability enhancing education and workshops for our students.

Supporting your career goals

Our personalised approach gives you the support you need to succeed as a student. While you are an undergraduate or foundation year student, you’ll have a Personal Tutor directly related to your course. If you need support with academic writing, numeracy and library skills, we’ll be sure to provide it. Our Student Learning and Graduate Academic Assistants have studied your subject and can support you based on their own experience.

On completion of this course, you’ll be ideally placed to begin working across a range of business management and finance specific roles. Previous graduates have gone on to work in roles with prestigious international banks and financial institutions such as PwC and Lloyds Bank s .

It’s important to have a solid foundation in finance and business management if you want a fulfilling career in this industry, and we can help you feel confidence to take this on.

Course highlights

  • You’ll be successfully trained on industry-leading software like Bloomberg and DataStream during your degree.
  • You will learn in a live environment, with access to data from the London Stock Exchange to help you analyse specific markets.
  • Enhance your employability prospects and understanding of financial organisations by embarking on a work placement
  • A unique offering of key business management skills combined with a sound understanding of finance.
  • Innovative use of creative assessments such as personal development portfolios, progressive reflective essays, setting up business plans, in class or video presentations, and continuous assessments.
  • This programme is taught across all three Middlesex campuses in London, Dubai and Mauritius. This enables students to transfer to any of these campuses during their studies.

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What will you study on the BA Business Management (Finance)?

The programme is studied over three years full-time, or four years if the option of a 12 month placement is taken. The course is divided into modules and each has a value of 30 credits. You must successfully pass modules to gain credits. To gain a BA (Hons) degree title you must gain 360 credits of which 120 must be in Year 3.

You will develop key business skills, knowledge and experience in order to excel in a management career. Companies and organisations require graduates who have expert business knowledge, who can also demonstrate analytical and problem solving skills, with the professional acumen to deal with challenges in a fast-paced business environment. You will develop essential skills and knowledge in business management and broaden your knowledge by focusing on key topics, such as the behaviour of people within organisations, and resource management. You will build on your financial knowledge and skills and learn the role of accounting within organisations.

What will you gain?

Upon graduating, you will be able to work effectively in teams and be able to present and communicate business management ideas with confidence. You will understand topics related to managerial decision-making management strategy, managerial leadership, business finance and financial statement analysis. In addition, you will acquire skills of group dynamics and team work, as well as demonstrating numerical, communication and analytical expertise. We also ensure you develop specialist knowledge in:

  • Stakeholders: their expectations and behaviour
  • The environment of business and its impact on strategy
  • Design, production and distribution of products and services
  • Business resources: acquisition, application and control
  • Business process: planning, improvement and control

Modules

  • Year 1

    • Financial Concepts of Business (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module aims to develop the financial understanding and knowledge of students within business organisations so as to enable them to make effective decisions and to assess the cost, economic and financial implications of these decisions. It aims to provide an understanding of the fundamental roles of accounting and finance for business students who do not need to develop specialist knowledge as well as to provide an understanding of key economic principles that inform business thought and practice.

    • Quantitative Methods for Business (30 credits) - Compulsory

      The aim of this module is to provide an introduction to the use of computer software to collect, analyse and present business data. Students will learn to solve business and management problems using Excel or other appropriate software with an emphasis on the application of methods to solve problems, and the interpretation and communication of results. The main aim is to enable the student to become a discerning user of quantitative methods and computers in business analysis, which can be built upon in further study.

    • Marketing Theory and Practice (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module is designed to provide students with an overview of key marketing concepts and techniques, as they apply in a variety of organisations and in both conventional and online environments. Students will develop knowledge and understanding of the core role of marketing in determining the growth potential of an enterprise, including the value of the marketing mix in ensuring successful marketing implementation and the significance of external and internal operating environments for marketing practice.

    • Management Concepts (15 credits) - Compulsory

      The aim of this module is to develop students understanding of the management of organisations. It will introduce management concepts such as the business functions,organisational structure, work design, entrepreneurship, and business ethics. Students will develop the ability to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of various management theories and their application in the management of organisations.

    • People Management (15 credits) - Compulsory

      The aim of this module is to develop students understanding of how people in organisations interact. It will introduce various people management concepts and human resource processes and practices. Students will develop the ability to compare and contrast a variety of organisational psychology and sociological theories and their application in the management of people.

  • Year 2

    • Accounting and Finance for Business (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module aims to further develop and enhance the financial understanding and knowledge of students within business organisations on the subject areas of financial accounting, management accounting and financial management. It aims to provide a more in-depth understanding of the roles of accounting and finance for business students who do not need to develop specialist knowledge and to train students to apply their accounting and finance knowledge and skills into a range of different business situations.

    • Operations Management (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module aims to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of operations management within a variety of organisations. It examines different aspects of operations management relevant to the design, planning, control and improvement of business operations. Students will 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 students’ knowledge of internal and external business environment and their impact upon choices available to business in planning and decision making. Students will learn to analyse business environments and handle information using different techniques, models and frameworks.

    • Management Information Systems (15 credits) - Compulsory

      This module aims to provide students with the ability to apply key skills in information systems to the business management domain. The module also aims to enable students to obtain 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. The module enables students to acquire knowledge in a number of topics aligned to the following key areas: (i) information systems and business intelligence (in particular the development, management, application and implementation of information systems and the impact upon organisations, (ii) communications (in particular the comprehension and use of relevant communications for application in business and management, including the use of digital tools) and (iii) digital business (in particular 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 the module ensures that students will 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 students with an introduction to innovation and entrepreneurship. It examines 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

      The aim of this module is to enable students to identify the multifaceted social processes that are imperative to organisational life. The module will cover a wide array of theories pertaining to organisational behaviour. Students will develop their own abilities to analyse these theories, build up their own views on how to think and feel about these emergent issues as well as empower themselves with the capacity to argue and support these views in an academically rigorous manner.

  • Year 3

    • Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module aims to provide you with the tools for the analysis of financial information, in particular for the purpose of business valuation. In doing so, you will become familiar with how investors and corporate financiers utilise financial and non-financial information in corporate reports.

    • Business Finance (30 credits) - Compulsory

      The primary objective of this module is to provide you with solid understanding of contemporary corporate finance and the tools to solve the financial problems confronting business today. The module will explain the main aspects of corporate finance, including investment decision, working capital management, and financing decision. It will enable a critical appreciation of the interaction between financial decision-making and capital market behaviour. You will be able to apply your financial skills in practical problems solving, case studies and coursework to develop your understanding of business environments and prepare for a future career.

    • Strategic Management (30 credits) - Compulsory

      The aims of this module are organised in two parts: in the first part students use the essential components of strategic analysis with the primary aim of developing an applied knowledge of tools and techniques. In the second part students explore a variety of special topics with the primary aim of examining strategy concepts applied in different organisations. Overall, the module aims to build students’ ability to process and interpret information from different internal functions and from multiple external sources for decision-making leading to long term organisational success.

    • Business Start-up (30 Credits) - Optional

      The aim of this module is to introduce to students 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. The module utilises the development of a unique business plan through which students will 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.

    • Corporate Accountability (30 credits) - Optional

      The module provides students with an understanding of the concepts and key issues in corporate governance and corporate accountability. Students will also get an overview of the high profile cases of corporate failure and analyse them from corporate governance perspective. By extending the traditional corporate governance theoretical framework to address broader corporate social responsibility issues students will understand the significance of corporate transparency and accountability in modern corporations.

    • Investment Analysis (30 credits) - Optional

      The module aims to equip students with knowledge sufficient in depth to critically engage with modern investment theory and practice. It incorporates a study of portfolio theory as the basis for contextualising challenges in investment decision-making, especially those related to asset price determination, understanding risks, asset management practice, the merits of rival investment philosophies, financial market liquidity and information disclosure. It investigates how these challenges drive institutional, product, regulatory and technological innovation in financial markets.

    • Work Internship (30 credits) - Optional

      The primary aim of the internship module is to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a period of work experience for a minimum of 30 days. This will facilitate you in gaining an insight into the world of work and appropriate conduct at work, as well as the process of becoming and staying employable through assertiveness, continuing development and reflection on both your development and the link between theory and practice. You will also develop an understanding of the organisation, sector and the environment in which it operates.

    • Consulting to Organisations (30 credits) - Optional

      The module builds on learning from prior modules and provides you with a theoretical introduction to consulting and the idea of the learning organisation. The module then provides an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to organisation practice by working in small teams on a real-time consultancy project which takes place in a variety of public, private and voluntary sector organisations. It gives you the responsibility of approaching and pitching to potential clients, managing yourself, your time, your team relationships and your relationships with external clients, to achieve outcomes that make a real difference to the organisation. The module provides a bridge between academic study and full-time employment by focusing on the significance and relevance of the consultancy experience. It aims to enhance your prospects of employment following the completion of the degree.

    • Business Game (30 credits) - Optional

      This module aims to demonstrate to students the importance of integrated business functions to achieve business success. The module uses a business simulation to provide students with experience of how a firm can integrate key aspects of business and management in order to succeed in a competitive environment.

More information about this course

See the course specification for more information about typical course content outside of the coronavirus outbreak:

Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.

  1. Overview
  2. Teaching and learning
  3. Assessment and feedback
  1. Standard entry requirements
  2. International
  3. How to apply
  1. UK
  2. International
  3. Additional costs

How can the BA Business Management (Finance) support your career?

This course will leave you ideally placed to begin working in a wide range of business management roles in prestigious international banks and financial institutions including Lloyds Banks and PWC.


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.

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

Code: N28I

Business Management BA Honours

Start: January 2024, September 2024

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

Code: N200

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