Curious about studying Business Management - BA (Hons)at Birmingham City University? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
City Centre Campus (The Curzon Building)
Full Time
Sep 2027
3 Year
Our BA (Hons) Business Management degree offers practical-based learning resulting in knowledge and skills which prepare you for a variety of career paths within the innovative and ever-evolving world of business. You will gain specialist knowledge on a number of core functions of business and management, building your self-confidence to prepare you for a progressive and successful career in a wide variety of roles including business consultation, government work or even starting your own business. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, employability and sustainability are key fundamentals of this course as you prepare for a career in the modern business environment. These skills will develop you as an innovative businessperson able to be agile and flexible in an ever-changing environment. Our Assessment Centre replicates those used by major corporations to prepare you to compete for the very best employment opportunities immediately after you graduate by providing you with the tools for successful and efficient CV building, interview prep and psychometric testing. If you’re interested to starting and/or running your own business, you’ll also be given the knowledge and tools to do this due to our focus on entrepreneurial skills in both specific modules and our business incubator and mentorship offerings through STEAMhouse. This course is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). This ensures you’ll be provided with the latest information and knowledge, as well as key industry links and insight. Success on the programme will also lead to the CMI professional certificate.
What's covered in this course?Using interactive and experiential learning methods, such as simulations and work with real-world business clients, you will gain an understanding of negotiation, data gathering and analysis, project and team leadership and how to navigate the business environment. You’ll also study the development and operation of contemporary and international business markets alongside the management of key business activities from human capital and finance to strategic planning and cultural awareness. You’ll gain an important insight into digital business exploring how emerging technologies such as AI remodel the business world and consider the accompanying issues around social responsibility and ethical behaviour.
Professional Placement YearThis course offers an optional professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, following successful completion of your second year, and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies. If you choose to pursue a placement year, you will need to find a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will be able to draw on the University’s extensive network of local, regional, and national employers, and the support of our Careers teams. If you are able to secure a placement, you can request to be transferred to the placement version of the course. Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year.
The People and Organisation module is designed to introduce you as first-year university students to the fundamental concepts of organisational life and how people behave and interact within organisations. This module centres on four main areas: organisational structure and culture; power, control, and leadership in organisations; communication methods and processes (verbal, non-verbal, and written); and motivation theories and their application in the workplace.
This module offers an in-depth exploration of Data Analytics and its application in different aspects of business. The module also explores Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its role in contemporary business practices. It is designed to provide you with a practical understanding of the real-life application of data analytics in Business settings. The module brings together the worlds of business and technology and is ideal for those pursuing careers in business related fields, or business analytics. It equips you with essential critical thinking and data analytics skills that are highly in demand in today’s as well as the future employment market.
In Marketing Principles and Practice, you will learn the role that marketing plays within an organisation and how to apply some of the key tools and techniques that professional marketers use on a regular basis. For those undertaking a marketing degree, this module will provide a solid foundation for your course; for those studying other disciplines, the concepts presented here are valuable tools for a future career in all walks of business.
This module provides a comprehensive exploration of entrepreneurship, equipping you with the skills, perspectives, and theories applicable across industries and professions. It covers both new venture creation and innovation within existing organisations, emphasising entrepreneurial thinking and mindset. You will engage in practice-based learning, exploring entrepreneurship in diverse cultural and geographical contexts. The module delves into key entrepreneurial concepts such as opportunity recognition, evaluation, and exploitation and examines how traits, behaviours, and leadership styles influence entrepreneurial success. You will actively apply this thinking, taking bold risks, navigating ambiguity, and solving complex challenges.
This module will introduce the world of accounting and finance for business managers of the future and is designed for those new to accounting or those studying on non-accounting related degree programmes. You will explore key areas of accounting including gaining an appreciation for how basic financial statements are prepared and how you can assess the financial performance and financial position of a business.
Most businesses face significant obstacles in designing processes, managing and improving operations, and delivering goods and services that meet customer expectations. This module will introduce you to the critical managerial decisions required for effective and efficient operations in both industrial and service businesses. A well-balanced course between theory and practice will give you a solid foundation for operations management using qualitative and quantitative frameworks.
Project Management module provides you with a foundation in project management principles and practices, integrating theoretical knowledge and practical application. The module covers both traditional and agile methodologies, preparing you with a skill set applicable across various industries.
This module progresses on from the Level 4 module Introduction to Data Analytics and AI. Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the business world and personal lives, and ‘Big Data’ is everywhere. This module will demonstrate how organisations apply analytical tools and techniques by harvesting and leveraging data to gain a competitive edge. Machine Learning (ML) is an analytical technique that delivers practical value for both organisations plus consumers and is embedded within modern products and services. Business processes, workflows and systems have been revolutionised via automation achieved from machine learning algorithms. You will be exposed to best practice approaches for building, training and evaluating machine learning algorithms such as neural networks, agent-based modelling, reinforcement learning and logistic regression.
This module examines the critical role of leadership in the global business context. It explores diverse leadership styles and key attributes for global leaders. The module also delves into prominent cultural models, analysing how cultural factors shape leadership perceptions and behaviours across borders. Additionally, the module provides strategies for navigating the complexities of multinational organisations, leading high-performing global teams, and aligning business objectives with the dynamic, interconnected global marketplace. Through case studies and practical applications, this module equips you with the knowledge and skills to become effective leaders in the evolving global business landscape.
The Sales and Negotiation module aims to provide you with a thorough understanding of sales and negotiation principles and practices within a business context. It is designed to support you to gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in selling techniques, negotiation strategies, and the psychology of persuasion.
Supply Chain Management has evolved in line with the development of the global economy. It is now widely considered a strategic activity, which manages supplier relationships, enables supply chain/network innovation, reduces cost, and mitigates impact from/on the environment. This module will give an integrative perspective of the business organisation and underpinning knowledge of Sustainable Supply Chain Management and Logistics. It provides you with an introduction to modern supply chain management, sustainability and sustainable supply chain management principles, processes and the environment within which the Supply Chain manager operates.
This module is designed to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a credit bearing, 40- week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Undergraduate Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.
The Research Project can take a number of forms including, but not limited to: Research paper which can include business improvement projects Business start-up project Consultancy project for a live client The module will allow you to demonstrate your ability to evaluate a business issue relevant to your discipline of study and utilize the theory from your study to date to generate recommendations at either a theoretical or practical level. It will allow you to demonstrate your analytic and time management skills in a practical way.
Embedded within the United Nations Sustainable Goals and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the module will equip learners with the tools to help them to cope with uncertainty, adverse situations, analyse a crisis, prepare a crisis response and help them to develop best practice reflecting on past events. The OECD also highlights the importance of building resilience as a leader whilst responding to novel or classic crisis.
This module will provide you with a critical understanding of the concepts, frameworks and approaches for the effective management of strategic change and its leadership. Consideration will also be given to the complexity of business operations, the rapid pace of technological innovation, and globalisation of businesses. You will explore drivers and challenges of strategic change in an organisational context as well as approaches for successful implementation of various change interventions.
This module introduces you to a range of advanced strategic management tools and technique to analyse and understand business situations with national and international relevance. In addition, an understanding of competitive behaviour will be informed by a variety of perspectives concerning the sources of competitive advantage, sustainable competitive advantage from both theoretical and industry viewpoints. These include developments in the macro environment, industry structure, strategic positioning, the acquisition and development of resources and capabilities, plus the challenges of industry evolution.
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