Bath Spa University

BA (Hons) in Business and Management (Marketing)

This course enables you to develop your learning pathway, depending on your interests. There is a selection of core and optional modules each year. Core modules will depend on your chosen pathway and you can choose optional modules to complement or diversify your core skill-set each year.

Year one (Level 4) modules

• The Business Environment
• Organizational Behaviour and Management
• Economics and Globalisation
• Managing Data
• Design Thinking for Enterprise
• Professional Practice

Year two (Level 5) modules

• Creativity for Business
• Innovation Management
• Accounting in Practice
• Entrepreneurship in Practice
• Festivals and Events in Practice
• Human Resource Management in Practice
• International Business in Practice
• Economics in Practice
• Law in Practice
• Marketing in Practice
• Tourism Management in Practice
• Fashion in Practice
• Operations and Project Management
• The Marketing Business
• Human Resource Management
• Financial Accounting
• Destination Management
• International Business
• Entrepreneurship
• Festival and Events Management
• Law for Business Enterprise
• Fashion Marketing and Management
• Applying Economics
• Work Placement
• Professional Placement Year
• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Year three (Level 6) modules

• Business and Management Project
• Accounting Project
• Entrepreneurship Project
• Festival and Events Project
• Human Resource Management Project
• International Business Project
• Marketing Project
• Tourism Management Project
• Law Project
• Economics Project
• Fashion Project
• International Marketing
• Management Accounting
• Strategic Human Resource Management
• Enterprise: Creating Your Business
• Organisational Strategy
• Managing Sustainability
• Cross Cultural Management in International Business
• Summer Placement
• Tourism: Contemporary Issues
• Creating and Hosting Festivals and Events
• Advanced Economics Issues
• Exploring Law in Business
• Business and Academic Skills
• Fashion Marketing Visualisation
• New Trends in Management
• Successful Freelancing
• Leadership and Management

What you'll learn

Overview

You'll be supported by our staff and have access to industry speakers from a variety of backgrounds, representing leading global brands as well as inspiring start-ups and social enterprises.

We aim to give you the skills to apply your knowledge in a wide range of situations in any sector. You'll have excellent individual support, with the option to explore a business of your choice, allowing your studies to be tailored to your interests. You'll also work in a group setting on projects with real-life companies; these could range from solving key issues to devising bold marketing campaigns.

You'll develop specialist marketing skills from broad-based marketing principles. You'll learn the fundamentals of marketing in theory and practice from a national to international perspective. This could mean learning how to create a social media marketing campaign or how to market a brand internationally.

You'll graduate with the ability to work in different businesses: agency environments, the private or public sector, charities, or possibly your own business. You can also bring in modules from areas outside the marketing pathway if you want to explore issues around a particular theme, such as sustainability or global affairs.

Course structure

Year one
Gain a broad understanding of today’s business environment – from the context in which organizations operate through to trends in economic thinking and the importance of data in business. Modules will cover topics such as the business environment, economics and globalization, and managing data.

Year two
Focus on the inner workings of businesses. Use business techniques to solve problems and start developing the skills that employers look for. Modules cover key themes including creativity and innovation in business. At the end of the year, you can choose to embark on a ten-month business placement or a ten-week summer placement – applying what you’ve learned so far in the real world.

Year three
Develop and explore your business learning and focus on the role of international marketing management. Undertake an in-depth business research project in marketing. You’ll also have a chance to set up a business on your own or with fellow students. Other topics to explore include: managing sustainability, organizational strategy, new trends in management, creating and hosting festivals and events, and strategic human resource management.

How will I be assessed?

You'll be assessed in a wide range of ways that will test your business knowledge and management skills. These could include presentations, work-related projects, group work, computer-based simulations, podcasts, exams, essays, videos, and business reports.

Employers such as Logica, NHS, Liberty, Ocado, IBM, Marks and Spencer, American Express, Sky, and Numatic International have recruited graduates from this course. Our students have gone into roles including Business Analyst, IT Services Analyst, Project Officer, Business Development Manager, Account Executive, and Brand Planner.

Recent Business and Management graduates have gone into the following roles:

• Sales Campaign Manager
• Social Media Marketing Manager
• Data Analyst
• Marketing Executive
• Marketing Analyst
• Management Analyst
• Social Media Content Creator
• SEO Consultant
• Marketing Executive
• Merchandiser
• Media Editor.

How will I be taught?

We offer variety in the way we teach: sometimes we’ll set your problems so that you can find the answers for yourself; sometimes we’ll lecture. Most modules use a mix of lectures and small-group seminars. There’s a good blend of online activities using our Virtual Learning Environment. We invite business leaders to Bath Spa to talk about their experience, and we arrange visits to local businesses. All of our teaching methods facilitate your development as a self-directed learner.

You’ll be given personal support in your study – we’re a friendly team of academics who are committed to helping you achieve your goals.

Course length

Three years full-time, or four years full-time with a professional placement year. Part-time available.