Two students discussing a project while looking at a laptop screen.

BA(Hons) Business and Human Resource Management (with Foundation Year)

Entry year
2024/25
Course code
NNQF
Application
UCAS
Level
Undergraduate
School
Bristol Business School
Tariff points
48
Campus
Frenchay
Duration
Four years full-time; five years sandwich
Delivery
Full-time; sandwich
Programme leader
Deborah Kinnear

This course is open for applications.

Page last updated 4 December 2023

Introduction

Accreditations and partnerships:

Why study business and human resource management?

People are the most important asset in any organisation. It's increasingly important for businesses to understand and effectively manage their employees to succeed in a competitive, global economy.

Why UWE Bristol?

BA(Hons) Business and Human Resource Management combines the study of people management with finance, marketing and strategy to give you a comprehensive understanding of how businesses function.

This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). Completing this course will also get you an internationally recognised Intermediate Diploma in Human Resource Management.

Learn about the role of managers and how people contribute to business success. Focus on the practices and issues associated with people management. Develop a solid foundation in business theory and explore the challenges facing modern businesses.

An optional work placement year, recent case studies, guest speakers and staff with extensive industry experience provides you with real-world HR (human resources) know-how.

Our students value the research-led teaching and enterprising business community at UWE Bristol.

Where can it take me?

This broad degree brings opportunities across HR and business management. Our students have secured HR specialist roles in companies such as IBM, Hewlett Packard, Airbus and Caterpillar, and on HR graduate programmes in both the public and private sectors.

Structure

Content

The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.

Year zero (foundation year)

You will study:

  • 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 normally need to pass your foundation year before going onto Year one.

Year one

You will study:

  • Introduction to Management
  • Understanding Business and Financial Information (BIM)
  • HRM and Leadership in Context
  • Understanding Organisations and People (BIM)
  • Understanding the Principles of Marketing (BIM)
  • Contemporary Business Issues
  • Business Decision Making for Management
  • Enterprise and Entrepreneurship.

Year two

You will study:

  • Managing People
  • Management Skills (Business and Management)
  • Accounting Information for Business (BIM)
  • Contemporary Employment Relations
  • Research Methods for Business
  • Equality Law and Diversity Management
  • Operations and Supply Management
  • Research in Human Resource Management and Leadership.

Placement year (if applicable)

If you study on the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work or study placement after Year two.

Depending on which you choose, you'll either complete a placement learning or learning and development module.

See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.

Final year

You will study:

  • Critical Business Enquiry project or Applied Business Project or Business Project
  • Strategy and Human Resource Management
  • Human Resource Development and Knowledge Management
  • Managing Organisational Performance
  • International Human Resource Management.

Plus, one module from:

  • Work Integrated Learning
  • Cross Cultural Learning and Development
  • Placement Learning
  • Learning and Development on Study Year Abroad.

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.

Learning and Teaching

Our approach to learning is student-focused, with emphasis on helping you to find things out for yourself.

You'll be expected to balance academic rigour and a practical approach to your work, so you can appreciate the relevance and application of the concepts you learn.

You'll learn through a blend of activities - some tutor-led and face-to-face, some student-led and independent, some online and some in groups. Some involve students supporting each others' learning.

Lectures, workshops/seminars, tutorials and group work make up 12 hours of contact time each week and you'll spend at least as much time again studying independently.

This can involve preparing for workshops and seminars, reviewing lectures, online working, reading, conducting research, preparing assessed work and revising for exams.

You'll become a reflective learner and begin developing skills you'll need later on, such as self-reliance and collaboration.

You'll go on to develop your communication and presentation skills and IT and numeracy skills, with a strong focus on data interpretation and analysis. Your improved problem solving, critical thinking, analysis, evaluation and innovation skills will help you stand out as a graduate.

You can also study optional language classes in French, Spanish and Mandarin.

You can gain practical experience through short-term internships, paid work as a Student Ambassador or Peer Assisted Learning Leader, or through volunteering.

See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.

Approximate percentage of time you'll spend in different learning activities*:

YearScheduled learning and teaching studyIndependent studyPlacement study
024%76%0%
125%75%0%
224%76%0%
319%72%9%

*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year

Assessment

You will be assessed through a mix of coursework and examinations, all of which aim to assess not only what you know and can do, but also to develop the graduate attributes that are valued by employers. These attributes include communication and presentation skills, 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.

Coursework comes in many different forms: essays and reports; business plans and applied research projects; portfolios and weekly notes; assessed group and individual presentations and posters. You will also be required to reflect and comment on your own learning and personal development.

Learn more about assessments.

Approximate percentage of marks awarded by each assessment method*:

YearWritten exam assessmentCoursework assessmentPractical exam assessment
036%41%23%
115%51%34%
216%59%25%
313%73%14%

*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year

Features

Professional accreditation

The course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

Completing this course will also get you an internationally recognised Intermediate Diploma in Human Resource Management- a valuable indication to future employers that you have completed a practice-oriented degree programme.

When you enrol, you'll automatically become a paid member of the CIPD, giving you access to developments in the field and networking opportunities.

This course is also accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

Placements

We encourage you to do a 40-week paid sandwich placement after Year two. It can be in the UK or abroad.

Your placement is valuable because it allows you to gain real-world experience and skills that increase your employability.

UWE Bristol has strong links with employers and our students have secured placements (through a competitive process) with Mercedes F1, IBM, HP, Airbus, the NHS and Hays Recruitment.

You'll get help to find your placement and support throughout from your College and the careers service.

Study year abroad

You'll also have opportunities to study overseas on courses that are taught in English and relevant to your degree. The study year abroad is not a paid placement.

Study facilities

In the Bristol Business School, you'll have access to modern learning spaces and facilities. In our specialist library, you'll have a dedicated Business Librarian to support your curriculum subjects and independent research.

Our Study Skills advise and regular workshops will help you develop information literacy skills so you can find and evaluate resources. 

The library and Business School both offer spaces for silent and group study and rooms you can book. 

You'll have access to books, trade press, academic journals, and industry databases including FAME, MINTEL, Marketline Advantage and Passport both on and off campus.

Our students have access to guest speakers from the HR profession, including most recently CIPD CEO Peter Cheese.  

Find out more about the Business Management facilities and see what's on offer here for you.

Life

Accommodation

An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.

Bristol

A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.

Sports, societies and activities

There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.

Health and Wellbeing

We provide support in the way you need it.

Campus and facilities

Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.

Careers

Careers / Further study

Bristol is home to many multinationals, small to medium sized enterprises and charities, who value our course and provide diverse post-graduate opportunities to our students.

A broad understanding of business practice, crucial skills and a focus on HRM will give you a wide choice of careers.

Our students have secured specialist roles with multinationals such as IBM, Hewlett Packard, Airbus and Caterpillar, and HR graduate training programmes in both the public and private sectors.

Get inspired

Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and find you graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.

We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.

Visit our Employability pages to find out about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.

Useful links

Fees

Supplementary fee information

Your overall entitlement to funding is based on how long the course is that you're registered on. Standard funding is allocated based on the standard number of years that your course lasts, plus one additional year.

You'll apply for funding each year that you study and Student Finance will take into account how long the course is in each year that you apply. So if you register for the five year course and then transfer to the four year course, the number of years you can apply for funding will change. Student Finance will reassess your funding based on how many years you have been in study, not just those years for which you received student finance.

Always seek advice before taking any action that may have implications for your funding.

Learn more about funding.

Additional costs

This refers to items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.

Learn more about costs.

Entry

Typical offers

  • Tariff points: 48
  • Contextual tariff: See our contextual offers page.
  • GCSE: Grade C/4 in English and Mathematics, or equivalent.
  • English Language Requirement: International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).

    *The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Please visit our English language requirements page.

  • A-level subjects: No specific subjects required.
  • EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: No specific subjects required.

    For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.

  • Access: No specific subjects required.
  • Baccalaureate IB: No specific subjects required.
  • Irish Highers: No specific subjects required.
  • T Levels: No specific subjects required.

Entry requirements

If you exceed the entry requirements you may be eligible for BA(Hons) Business and Human Resource Management.

International applicants

If you are an international student your recommended route of study for this degree is through our International College, which upon successful completion to the required level and with good attendance, guarantees entry to Year one of the degree.

Read more about entry requirements.

How to apply

Read more about undergraduate applications.

For further information

Unistats

UWE Main Campus

Full Time