AS Level Business Studies

Business Studies (AS and A Level)

BUSINESS

AS and A Level (AQA)

Campus: Cheadle and Marple

(26.09.08)

Course overview

Business Studies will provide you with a critical understanding of all types of contemporary business organisations.

You will study the internal functions within a business and the dynamic external environment within which they operate and make decisions.

AS Level (year one)

Unit One

Planning and Financing a Business an introduction to Business Studies. This includes an overview of the activities involved in setting up a small business, plus some essential financial concepts.

Unit Two

Managing a Business this AS unit includes people, and operations management, some further finance, marketing, and the nature of the competitive environment.

A Level (year two)

Unit Three

Strategies for Success at A2 you will study more detailed finance and accounts, in addition to marketing, operations, and human resource strategies.

Unit Four

The Business Environment and Managing Change this final unit at A2 is synoptic drawing upon knowledge from all four units. Key topics include, business aims and objectives, external influences, leadership, corporate culture, and managing change.

How you will learn

Class discussion, individual and group work, presentations, and independent research and study.

How you will be assessed

The assessment style is designed to help you progress in your knowledge and skills. At AS the examinations are based upon the use of relatively brief stimulus materials, including multiple-choice questions. By A2, the examinations rely more upon the use of case studies, these require you to do some research and provide more extended written responses.

Special entry requirements

If you have studied Business Studies at GCSE we would expect you to have achieved at least a grade C. (It is not essential to have studied Business Studies at GCSE). To successfully study AS Business Studies we would also expect you to have achieved at least a grade C in GCSE Mathematics.

What the students say

Business Studies is a course that allows you to develop ideas, and put forward opinions. Teachers are always around to provide extra support and guidance, no matter what it involves, nor what time of day or night it is! The skills learnt in this course are transferable and used in the other subjects that I study. I would recommend Business Studies to anyone, regardless of future career or university intentions.

Natalie Addison, now a University of Salford undergraduate.

Other useful information

You will acquire a range of important and transferable skills. For example, you will be expected to handle and interpret data, present arguments and make judgements, solve business problems and make decisions, and learn how to effectively plan your work.

AS Business Studies complements other AS, or vocational subjects very well, providing you with the opportunity to eventually progress into higher education, or employment.