BA(Hons) Business and Law (with Foundation Year)
This course is open for applications
Page last updated 2 February 2023
Introduction
This course will give you solid grounding in business and law, with the opportunity to specialise in either at the end of your first year.
Why study business and law?
In a competitive global economy, knowledge of legal systems in business gives managers an edge. Understanding business functions and practice also benefits law professionals operating in demanding business environments.
Combining these two disciplines gives you greater career choice, with routes to roles in management, law, finance, the public sector and beyond.
Why UWE Bristol?
BA(Hons) Business and Law equips you with a strong foundation in business and law with the opportunity to specialise in either subject at the end of your first year.
Contemporary modules in commercial, company, international trade and employment law run alongside core business modules spanning marketing, strategic management and managing people.
You'll be taught by experts from the reputable Law and Business Schools and be part of an active community of students and staff.
If you decide to specialise in law by studying our LLB(Hons) Law with Business it'll provide a good foundation for those students who go on to sit the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). For those students who aspire to be barristers, our LLB(Hons) Law with Business includes the core subjects which you'll need to satisfy the academic stage of training before studying the Bar Training Course (BTC).
You may want to train as a barrister or solicitor through the STC or BTC or undertake a related postgraduate degree. As a full-service Law School, you can study both the BTC and Solicitors Training Course (STC) with us at UWE Bristol:
LLM/PGDip Bar Training Course (BTC)
PGDip Bar Training Course (BTC) (two part)
PGDip/PGCert Solicitors Training Course (SQE prep)
LLM/PGDip Solicitors Training Course (SQE Prep)
Gain valuable real-world skills and experience through study trips and business-related work placements. Mock trials, law simulations and Pro Bono work will ensure you graduate with a practical understanding of law and familiarity with the industry.
Where can it take me?
Employers value the broad skillset, commercial awareness and employability of our students.
Career prospects are diverse and exciting. Depending on your specialism, you could start a career in business, law, HR, finance or the public sector. Our graduates have secured roles at Rolls Royce, HP, IBM, NHS, Hayes, Microsoft, Maclaren F1 and Lidl.
You may want to train as a barrister or solicitor through the STC or BTC or undertake a related postgraduate degree.
Watch: The learning and teaching experience
Structure
Content
You normally need to pass your foundation year before going onto Year one.
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.
Year one
You will study:
- Introduction to Management
- Understanding Business and Financial Information (BIM)
- Contemporary Issues in Business
- Enterprise and Enterpreneurship
- Foundations for Law
- Law of Contract.
Year two
You will study:
- Managing People
- Management Skills for Business and Law
- Commercial Law.
Plus, two optional business modules from:
- Accounting Information for Business
- Market Analysis for Private Investors
- Equality Law and Diversity Management
- Good Business, Bad Business and Sustainability
- Entrepreneurship and Small Business
- Credit Management: Theory and Practice
- Digital Business Management.
Plus, one optional law module from:
- Law of Torts
- Sports Law
- Dispute Resolution Skills
- Employment Law
- Information Technology Law.
Placement year (if applicable)
If you study on the five 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 (BIM)
- Integrated Business Management Simulation
- Company Law in Context.
Plus, two optional business modules from (one if you have completed a study year abroad or placement year):
- Managing Organisational Change
- Development and Knowledge Management
- International Business in the Emerging Markets
- Project Management
- Sustainable Business
- Business Innovation and Growth
- Investment Management
- Organisational Leadership
- Entrepreneurship: Ideas and Practices
- International Financial Management
- Personal Financial Planning
- Cross Cultural Learning and Development.
And one optional law module from:
- Financial Crime and Regulation
- European Union Law
- Globalisation Trade and Natural Resources Law
- Intellectual Property Law
- Media and Entertainment Law
- Dissertation.
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-centered, supporting you to develop the skills you need to have a successful legal career.
Our modules differ in learning approaches, so you can choose those that match your style.
You'll become a reflective learner and develop valuable skills for your career, such as self reliance and collaboration.
After your first year, you can continue to study Business and Law combined, or change to a major in Business (BA(Hons) Business Management with Law) or Law (LLB(Hons) Law with Business).
You'll be allocated an academic personal tutor who will support you in your academic studies throughout your degree.
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 | 24% | 76% | 0% |
| 2 | 24% | 76% | 0% |
| 3 | 21% | 71% | 8% |
*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year
Study time
During your degree, you will have 12 hours of teaching with a lecturer each week.
If you choose to do a dissertation or take the Law in Action module, you'll get a further nine hours of classes, as well as individual contact with the staff member supervising the module.
In years one and two, you will also receive one hour of peer assisted learning (PAL) each week.
All students can access the Faculty of Business and Law Learning Hub for workshops and to arrange one-to-one sessions with tutors.
Assessment
You can expect to be assessed using problem and essay questions, exams, research based assessments, reflection on skills acquisition, report writing, portfolio submissions and presentations.
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 | 36% | 46% | 18% |
| 2 | 63% | 32% | 17% |
| 3 | 36% | 53% | 11% |
*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year
Features
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.
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.
Final year work experience
If you choose the final year Law in Action module, you'll spend one day a week working in a local law firm or voluntary organisation. Past students have secured placements with Bristol Law Centre, Watkins Solicitors, Red Cross, Death Row , Citizens Advice and local schools.
Pro Bono Unit
You will have opportunities to engage in Pro Bono workthrough your degree, volunteering your time to help the local community.
Supervised by academics and practitioners, you'll work on cases and provide legal advice through projects such as The Innocence Project, Elderlaw, the UWE Street Law Programme and schools mentoring scheme.
You'll get help to find all your placements and support throughout from your department and the careers service.
Fieldwork
Field trips are an important part of your studies, particularly the annual visit to Lincoln's Inn where you'll dine in court with barristers and judges and learn more about this exciting career.
Other study visits include the Houses of Parliament, European Court of Justice, World Trade Organisation and magic circle law firms.
Study facilities
In the new £55m Bristol Business School, you'll have access to modern learning spaces, including a dedicated law resource room.
Mock courtrooms help you practice legal submissions, take part in recorded mock trials and gain experience of being in court.
In our specialist library, you'll have a dedicated librarian to support your curriculum subjects and independent research.
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 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.
Societies and Forums
UWE Bristol Law Society
Our Law Society runs an active programme of events and talks including trips to the Supreme Court in London, the European Parliament in Brussels and the European Court in Luxembourg.
Members also participate in competitions and attend regular socials, including the annual dinner.
UWE Bristol Mooting Committee
Mooting is an important skill in the legal profession and the Mooting Committee runs regular moots and competitions.
It's valued and recognised by the local law network. Judges of the moots include members of local barristers' chambers and Bristol Civic Justice Centre.
Life
Careers
Careers / Further study
Combining law and business gives you more career options and a greater freedom of choice.
Depending on your specialism, you could choose a career in management, law, finance and banking and the public sector. Our graduates have secured roles at Rolls Royce, HP, IBM, NHS, Hayes, Microsoft, Maclaren F1 and Lidl.
You may want to progress to train as a barrister or solicitor through the LLM in Advanced Legal Practice (LPC LLM) or Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC), or undertake a business related postgraduate degree.
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 learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.
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. Read our English language requirements.
- 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 Law.
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