BA(Hons) Business Management and Leadership (with Foundation Year)
Please note we are no longer offering this course to new applicants
Page last updated 7 March 2023
Introduction
In your final year you'll work with a real organisation to lead change - a unique opportunity to study business management and leadership in detail at undergraduate level.
Accreditations and partnerships:
Why study business management and leadership?
Organisations are changing rapidly, and so is the nature of leadership.
While experts explore what future leadership models could look like, organisations need professionals to show how good leadership enables a workforce to reach their potential.
Why UWE Bristol?
BA(Hons) Business Management and Leadership is an applied degree for students who want to learn about the challenges of leadership alongside a solid foundation in business.
The business management modules give context and a deeper understanding to the specialist modules.
Although leadership is one of the fastest-growing fields in higher education, not many universities in the UK offer it at undergraduate level.
Our organisation development consultant project, where you'll work as a consultant for local organisations, is also unique across undergraduate business management courses.
You'll benefit from our connections with industry and our 'learn by doing' approach, which ensures you'll graduate with crucial skills to succeed in your career.
This course is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), giving you professional recognition and access to specialist resources, mentoring schemes and networking events.
Where can it take me?
The knowledge and skills gained from this degree are highly valued by employers.
Its broad grounding will give you diverse career opportunities in both leadership and business management.
Our students secure business management roles with multinationals and on graduate training programmes across the public, private and voluntary sectors.
Many students progress to a master's degree in leadership and management or areas like financial management, marketing, human resource management and business administration.
Structure
Content
The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.
Foundation year (Year zero)
- 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 (Business, International and Management)
- Human Resource Management and Leadership in Context
- Understanding Organisations and People (Business, International and Management)
- Understanding the Principles of Marketing (Business, International and Management)
- Contemporary Business Issues
- Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
- Business Decision Making for Management.
Year two
You will study:
- Management Skills
- Managing People
- Organisational Leadership
- Accounting Information for Business (Business, International and Management)
- Operations and Supply Management
- The Experience and Practice of Organisations
- Research in Human Resource Management and Leadership
- Research Methods for Business.
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:
- Strategic Management
- Coaching in Organisations
- Leadership and Organisation Development
- Advances in Leadership
- Critical Business Enquiry Project or Enterprise Project or Applied business Project or Business Project
Plus, one module from:
- Work Integrated Learning
- Cross Cultural Learning and Development
- Placement Learning
- Learning and Development on Study Year Abroad.
You'll also undertake an organisation development consultant project, where student groups work as consultants for local organisations and gain valuable experience.
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.
During your foundation year, 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 gain work 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*:
| Year | Scheduled learning and teaching study | Independent study | Placement study |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 24% | 76% | 0% |
| 1 | 25% | 75% | 0% |
| 2 | 24% | 76% | 0% |
| 3 | 19% | 72% | 9% |
*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year
Assessment
You'll be assessed through a mix of coursework and examinations to assess what you know and can do and help you develop the confidence and skills that employers value.
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'll also reflect and comment on your own learning and personal development.
See our full glossary of assessment terms.
Approximate percentage of marks awarded by each assessment method*:
| Year | Written exam assessment | Coursework assessment | Practical exam assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 36% | 41% | 23% |
| 1 | 15% | 51% | 34% |
| 2 | 24% | 51% | 25% |
| 3 | 8% | 86% | 6% |
*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year
Features
Professional accreditation
This course is 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 who highly rate this experience.
You'll get help to find your placement and support throughout from your department 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 new £55m 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.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
Get a feel for the Business Management facilities we have on offer here from wherever you are.
Leadership Research
The Bristol Leadership and Change Centre (BLCC) supports the development of responsible and effective leadership practice and advances knowledge in leadership studies.
Members are leading experts in the field, delivering seminars and conferences, producing publications and advising clients on their leadership processes.
This research influences teaching at every level, providing you with a rich learning environment.
Developing Leadership skills
UWE Bristol offers many opportunities to develop your leadership skills throughout your studies.
You could assist and advise students in earlier stages of their degree as a Peer Assisted Learning leader. You could get paid to support events as a Student Ambassador. You might also represent your student colleagues by becoming a Students' Union Rep or Officer.
Life
Careers
Careers / Further study
Bristol has a strong local labour market and employers highly value our courses and students.
Our students secure roles with multinationals and on graduate training programmes in the public, private and voluntary sectors.
As a graduate, you'll be ready to take on a range of roles and careers involving people management and leadership.
Many students progress to a Master's degree (MBA) in leadership and management or areas like financial management, marketing, human resource management and business administration.
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.
See also:
Prospects - careers in business and management
The Guardian - what to do with a degree in management studies
Fees
Indicative Additional Costs
Full-time, sandwich course
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.
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.
Entry
Typical offers
- Tariff points: 48
- Contextual tariff: See our contextual offers page.
- GCSE: Grade C/4 in English Literature or Language and Mathematics, or equivalent. We do not accept Level 2 Key Skills, Functional Skills or Certificates in Adult Numeracy and Literacy as alternatives to GCSEs.
- 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 Management wih Leadership).
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
- Email:
UK applicants
Admissions@uwe.ac.uk
International/EU applicants
International@uwe.ac.uk - Telephone:
UK applicants
+44 (0)117 32 83333
International/EU applicants
+44 (0)117 32 86644