Business Management and Economics (with Foundation Year) - BA(Hons)

In the Foundation year (Year zero), the content is designed to develop your academic skills. It also raises awareness of the relevance law, economics, accounting, plus business and management, will play in your future, professional lives.

You are encouraged to develop as reflective learners and will gain an understanding of the attributes that graduates of UWE Bristol attain, such as being self-reliant, enterprising, future-facing, collaborative and globally responsible citizens.

Much of the scheduled class time will be spent in rooms equipped for technology-supported work in groups. Teaching methods will be engaging as staff use the latest techniques and technologies to enhance the learning experience.

The four modules will have three hours of teaching each week (12 hours of scheduled class time in total). On four occasions during the year, the whole 12 hours will be spent team-working on a joint project. One of the weeks will result in an exhibition of assessed group posters, another will produce individual personal development plans.

Foundation year (Year zero)

You will study the following compulsory modules:

• Becoming a Professional
• Introduction to Organisations, Enterprise and Management
• Economics and Accounting for the Real World
• Introduction to Law in a Social, Business and Global Context.

You will study the Foundation year alongside students from other business and law courses and so you may transfer to another course in one of these areas at the end of a successful Foundation year. The normal expectation is that you must pass all Year zero modules before progressing to Year one. Students seeking transfer to BA(Hons) Business (Team Entrepreneurship) would be required to pass an interview process. Transfer to BSc(Hons) Economics (as distinct from BA(Hons) Economics) would require an A level in Mathematics.

Year one

The first year provides a foundation for the development of the knowledge, skills and attributes necessary for your future success.

You will study the following compulsory modules:

• Introduction to Management
• Becoming a Practical Economist
• Understanding Business and Financial Information (Accounting, Economics and Finance)
• Introductory Microeconomics
• Understanding Organisations and People (Accounting, Economics and Finance)
• Statistics and Data Management
• Understanding the Principles of Marketing
• Introductory Macroeconomics.

Year two

In the second year, you will study modules relating to the main functional areas of business, where you will also develop your research and enquiry skills.

You will study the following compulsory modules:

• Managing People
• Managing Business Processes (Accounting, Economics and Finance)
• Economic Theory, Policy and Applications
• Research Methods for Business
• Management and Cost Accounting
• Good Business, Bad Business and Sustainability.

In addition, you will study one of the following optional module:

• Emerging Economies
• Economics of Money, Banking and Finance
• International Trade and Multinational Business
• Introductory Econometrics.

All students are encouraged to spend their third year on placement and the curriculum in the second year provides support for the process of securing this.

Final year

The final year will include a major project, along with modules requiring the integration of the knowledge and abilities gained in the earlier years of study. The final year curriculum also includes a focus on managing change, both in organisational terms and in terms of your own career.

You will study one of the following major final year projects:

• Applied Business Project
• Business Project
• Project.

In addition, you will study the following compulsory modules:

• Strategic Management
• Managing Organisational Change
• Sustainable Business
• Applied Economics.

In addition, you will study two optional modules from the list below OR one if a Study Year Abroad (SYA) or Placement Year has been complete

• The Economics of Developing Countries
• Econometrics
• Economic Issues in International Business
• Behavioural Economics
• Islamic Banking and Finance
• Political Economy
• Economics of International Financial Markets
• Interactive and Digital Marketing
• Public Relations
• Competing through Quality
• Organisational Leadership
• Integrated Business Simulation
• Global Marketing Management.

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we will inform you.

The wide range of modules means that you'll be able to specialise in your areas of interest throughout years two and three. Optional modules include money and banking, international trade and global marketing. You'll be taught in a diverse mix of learning environments including face-to-face tutor-led, independent student-led and group projects.

Lectures, workshops/seminars and group project work account for 12 hours of contact time each week and you will spend at least as much time again in essential independent study including research, online work and preparation for assessment.

There will be a strong focus on data interpretation and analysis. You'll have many opportunities to use exclusive databases and specialist software, as well as the exciting new facilities housed in the new Bristol Business School on our Frenchay Campus.

For more details see our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.

A range of coursework, exams and presentations will be used to assess your learning and performance and help you develop the graduate attributes that employers value. This includes communication, IT and numeracy skills, team work, project and time management skills as well as the intellectual skills of problem solving, critical thinking, analysis and evaluation, creativity and innovation.

You'll complete essays and reports, business plans and applied research projects, portfolios and weekly notes, and assessed group and individual presentations and posters. You will also reflect and comment on your own learning and personal development.

For more details see our full glossary of assessment terms.