BA (Honours) Business Management (Professional Pathway)

• Learn with professionals - you’ll study alongside other professionals and you can tailor the course to suit your chosen industry/business sector. 
• Study inside a successful FTSE 100 company - Pearson Business School is the only business school in London set within a global FTSE 100 company - Pearson Plc.
• Guaranteed taught day - we guarantee set days and times for lessons ensuring you are able to fit your study around your work commitments.
• Expert tutors - you’ll be taught by tutors who are experts in their field and have worked in industry.
• Central London location - classes are held at our Midtown campus at Holborn, Central London.
• Graduate with a degree from University of Kent - you’ll graduate with a full honours degree that is validated by The University of Kent, a leading UK university.

First year (level 4)

Core modules - Principles of Business 1 and 2

Principles of Business is made up of two 30 credit modules which complement each other: Principles of Business 1 and Principles of Business 2. These modules have been designed to give learners a holistic introduction to business.

In Principles of Business 1, learners will be made aware of the many interconnected core areas of business (such as strategy, finance, organisational behaviour, people management, and marketing) that need to be considered in successfully running an organisation. The assessment for this module is by an assignment and an exam. 

In Principles of Business 2, students will develop an integrated understanding of the operations of a business in the context of real organisations, to inspire them with a real interest in the discipline at the beginning of their degree study. This module proceeds in two parts. The first part consists of an experiential project, and in the second part, students will need to consider and reflect upon the key issues around strategy, leadership, governance and the ability to function as a team. The assessment for this module is by an assignment and a group presentation.

Professional pathway modules

Students on the professional pathway will normally study the following two modules:

• AS4002 Introduction to Research (30 credits)
• IL4002 Self-Managed learning (30 credits)

The Self-Managed Learning modules gives you the opportunity to demonstrate the use of your initiative and a level of autonomy by applying your skills and knowledge to a specialist area which is of particular interest to you. As an example, you could draft a report in an area of interest not covered in the main syllabus, study a module at another institution (e.g. a language at another university), create a practical project by applying a topic in depth, write a report on work based learning on an internship, or complete a professional qualification. You can design some of your own learning, incorporate learning from other sources, or incorporate work- based or entrepreneurial activities. This will help to ensure that you have the confidence to take your learning and personal development further into new areas and emerging sectors, and will allow you to pursue your own unique interests.

Second year (level 5)

Core modules

All Business Management students study these core modules in order to build an understanding of the central functions within an organisation.

• BM5003 Strategic Marketing (15 credits)
• BM5002 People Management and Leadership (15 credits)
• BM5001 Operations and Project Management (15 credits)
• LW5006 Introduction to Contract Law (15 credits)

Professional pathway modules

• IL5002 Self-Managed Learning (30 credits)
• IL5004 Consultancy Project (30 credits)

Level 6

By your final year you will have developed a thorough understanding of the principles of business and will have had lots of exposure to real organisations, industry case studies and working practitioners. This final year is focused on bringing everything you have learned together to develop your strategic view of business.

Core modules

In your final year, all Business Management students study three core modules:

• BM6001 Strategic Management (15 credits)
• BM6002 Strategic Innovation Management (15 credits)
• IL6004 Final Project (30 credits)

Professional pathway modules

• IL6002 Self-Managed Learning (30 credits)
• 2 x 15 credit specialist modules to be confirmed by your programme leader a term in advance

For further information please see the module specifications.

How will your work be assessed?

Formative assessment

Each module contains at least one piece of practice or ‘formative’ assessment for which you receive feedback. Formative assessments are developmental and do not count towards your overall module mark.

Summative assessment

Here is the assessment breakdown for the modules:

First year (level 4)

• 80% coursework
• 10% written exams
• 10% oral assessment*

Second year (level 5)

• 75% coursework
• 15% written exams
• 10% oral assessment*

Third year (level 6)

• 75% coursework
• 25% oral assessment*

*this percentage might be higher as some modules offer alternative forms of assessment

Apart from receiving feedback for your formative assessment, you will also receive feedback for your coursework and practical exams, and upon request, for your written examinations.

Progression

In order to progress to the next stage (from first to second year, and from second to third year), you will have to achieve 120 credits at the end of the academic year.

Furthermore, the specialist nature of this programme requires us to closely monitor the students on the professional pathway: 

• You must attend at least 90% of your classes each term
• You are participating well in class and achieving at least 2:2 standard grades in your summative assessments
• You must be able to provide evidence that you are spending your time outside of your designated teaching on work/volunteering projects, ie:

- employed on a part time basis in an operational or management role

- in the process of setting up or running your own start-up organisation

- engaged in an ongoing developmental activity outside of the classroom, for example volunteering for a charity.

If you are not meeting the following performance criteria each term then you will be required to transfer to the normal full time route of study where teaching takes place across the week.

For further information, including pass marks and progression rules, please see the Student Handbook.

Your overall workload will be divided between teaching sessions and independent learning.

Teaching

You will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars. Seminars enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups. You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes both academics and professional practitioners with industry experience.

Under the professional pathway you will attend classes at Pearson Business School on one designated day of the week during term time. However please note that you are likely to be required to attend assessments on dates which do not fall on your teaching day.

You will also be required to attend a weekly group mentoring session during term time. This will usually take place in a live online environment using our Blackboard Collaborate and might not fall on your teaching day.

Independent learning

Independent learning plays an important role in your academic and professional development. When not attending lectures or seminars you are expected to learn by self-study. Typically, this will involve reading books and journal articles, working on individual and group projects, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations.

You will have an access to a variety of materials to aid you in your learning. At the start of your programme, you will attend a workshop on Good Academic Practice. Moreover, our OLE platform offers an online module focused on improving your study and research skills and academic writing. Finally, the Online library also offers an extensive range of literature on both study skills and academic writing.

For further details, go to our Learning Resources page. Students with additional needs or disabilities are supported by the Student Services team.

Overall workload

Under this pathway we expect you to study a self-managed learning module and a research-based module at each level of the programme i.e. in your first, second and final year of study. Each of these modules should be based on your activities outside of attending classes at Pearson Business School, for example at work or in setting up your own company.

The academic year consists of three terms: Autumn, Spring and Summer. Students on a typical 3 year degree attend classes during the Autumn and Spring term, for a total of 30 weeks, and will normally not attend during the Summer term, unless they have to re-attempt assessments. See term dates.

During one term, you will usually study a total of 60 credits, which will mean you attend four modules of 15 credits each, two modules of 30 credits each, or a combination. Per week, your overall workload will be approximately 40 hours. Typically, you will spend 6-7 hours in combination lectures, seminars, and assessment practice, all of which will fall on your one designated teaching day. Moreover, you will generally spend 1 hour on pre-recorded online lecture. You will also need to spend approximately and 32 on independent learning. Please note that approximately half of this independent learning should be based on your activities outside of attending classes at Pearson Business School, for example at work or in setting up your own company.

You will also be required to attend an online weekly group mentoring session during term time.

You will also have the opportunity to attend four industry workshops per term, but please note that these are not compulsory and will not generally take place on your designated teaching day.

More information can be found in our Learning and Teaching Strategy 2017/2018.

You must have (or be predicted) 120 UCAS points (BBB at A Level) and attend an interview. Students who do not meet or are not predicted to meet the entry requirements will be asked to attend a Professional Pathway Workshop. Your performance at the workshop will determine whether you can be offered a place on the course.

All applicants must be able to provide evidence that they are spending their time outside of their designated teaching day, i.e:

• employed on a part time basis in an operational or management role;
• in the process of setting up or running their own start-up organisation; or
• engaged in an ongoing developmental activity outside of the classroom, for example volunteering for a charity.

If you'd like to study at Pearson Business School full-time, you'll need to apply through UCAS. Our institution code is P34.

If we make you an offer for a place on the programme, it will be subject to our Terms and Conditions.

Our business students go on to pursue a range of different careers from setting up their own businesses to earning a place on some of the country's top Graduate Schemes with companies like Sainsbury's and IBM. To find out what our trailblazing alumni are up to now, read our alumni success stories. 

This programme is designed for students that are already working or starting their own business. The aim of the course is to develop your skills, knowledge and network to give you the confidence and qualification to pursue a promotion or drive your business forward.