Business (Marketing)

Program Overview

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BA (Hons) Business (Marketing)

Why study this course

You will have the opportunity to achieve a Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Diploma in Management Leadership alongside your studies.

You will develop work-focused skills, such as learning how to work in a team, undertake business analysis, write clearly, and deliver effective presentations.

Embark on a business course that empowers you to make responsible, ethical decisions for a sustainable and positive impact on the world.

This course is delivered by both academics and industry experts.

Course summary

Our BA (Hons) Business (Marketing) course will aid you to develop your skills and knowledge and prepare you for launching a career in business and Marketing related roles in a variety of sectors and organisations. You will have the opportunity to work with a wide variety of organisations through our links with industry and the opportunity to develop projects and expertise in areas that you are interested in.

Key facts

• Award: BA (Hons)
• UCAS code: N102
• Duration: 3 Years
• Mode of study: Full time
• Start date: September 2025
• Award: Bishop Grosseteste University
• Institution code: B38

About this course

The BA (Hons) Business (Marketing) programme provides a thorough grounding in a range of business and marketing-related subjects including finance, management, entrepreneurship, and leadership, the chance to work with a wide variety of organisations through our links with industry and the opportunity to develop projects and expertise in areas that you are interested in. Specialist modules focus on Innovation and Creativity in Marketing, Consumer Behaviour and the Customer Experience, Brand Strategy and Management, and Marketing in a global context.

This programme equips you for both employment and self-employment and gives you the confidence to succeed in the business world. Modules are contemporary in nature and tackle key issues facing organisations and society head-on. Modules are taught and assessed using a variety of active learning techniques where you are encouraged to take charge of your own learning through engaging with academic knowledge and research, tutors, external organisations, and your peers. Your assignments are developed in conjunction with industry experts and throughout the duration of your programme you will be given live briefs to fulfil for your clients. You will have the opportunity to undertake a work placement and an international field trip (that you will be required to self-fund) in the second year of the programme.

What you will study

As a student on this course, you may study some or all of the modules listed below.

Course modules

• Year 1
• Year 2
• Year 3

Organisational Environments and Behaviour

This module will explore the environments in which organisations operate and will equip you with the ability to understand and analyse the interrelatedness of organisations and their environments.

You will explore the dynamics of the modern business environment and links will be made to business planning and achieving competitive advantage. Factors impacting on an organisation’s internal environment including the impact of legal status on the governance of an organisation, the purpose of mission and vision statements, and the impact of organisational values and ethics on decision-making will be explored. This module will further explore the determinants of supply and demand in the marketplace and an understanding of market structures.

You will be challenged to explore how internal and external organisational environment(s) can influence stakeholders to act and behave. You will also be introduced to the concept of stakeholder management and will develop knowledge regarding the management of stakeholder relationships. This will provide the foundation to build and develop a wider understanding of the business environment as you progress through the programme.

Marketing Principles

This module seeks to develop your understanding of the key concepts and terminology used in marketing environments. The role and function of marketing within organisations is explored as are the factors that influence consumer behaviour. The influence of stakeholders on an organisation’s approach to marketing will be evaluated within this module through a scenario-based approach.

You will be introduced to the key components of the marketing environment and will be actively encouraged and enabled to collect and utilise relevant information about the marketing environment within this module. Individuals will learn to confidently apply tools such as a SWOT analysis in order to understand the factors in an organisation’s marketing environment which impact on the marketing of a product or service.

You will develop an understanding of the concepts and elements which make up the marketing mix and how these are applied in context to market products or services. Furthermore, you will develop an understanding regarding the strategic importance of marketing and the role of marketing in supporting the achievement of organisational objectives.

The New Professional

This module equips you with a firm basis of academic and professional skills required for success at university and in the graduate career market. This module assists you to transition into Higher Education and to develop your own performance in terms of the skills / competencies and behaviours used within twenty-first-century organisations.

You'll be introduced to reflective practice, personal and professional development planning, team work and professional behaviour including business etiquette. Developing you as an academic scholar will form a key part of this module and you will have the opportunity to develop skills in reading, researching, referencing, writing, and presenting. You will also be supported to develop your digital capabilities and to use appropriate technical software. Working styles will be nurtured by pinpointing development needs through individual and group work to cultivate intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship.

Your role as a new professional within a team will be examined and you will explore theoretical models, management and leadership styles, and approaches designed to promote a culture of mutual trust, respect, and support.

You will develop an understanding of how to develop, manage, and lead teams and furthermore will understand approaches to achieving a balance of skills and experience in teams.

An Introduction to Finance

This module equips you with the basic financial management skills to enable the development of sound financial acumen needed to ensure decision-making in financial management. These basic financial management skills are essential for success in business regardless of whether an organisation has a dedicated finance department.

The module will explore the role of the finance function, the benefits and drawbacks of various sources of finance, current regulatory compliance, and key financial documents including budgets, cash flows, balance sheets, and profit and loss accounts. The role of financial information for business decision-making purposes will be analysed.

Compulsory modules

• Digital Marketing Strategies
• Using Data for Information and Decision Making
• Managing Projects to Achieve Results
• The Developing Professional
• Innovation and Creativity in Marketing
• Consumer Behaviour and the Customer Experience

Optional modules

• CSR and Sustainability
• Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Compulsory modules

• Managing and Leading for Success
• Business Research Methods
• Capstone Project
• Brand Strategy and Management
• Marketing in a Global Context

Optional modules

• Business Start-Up
• Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Entry requirements

You will normally need 96-112 UCAS tariff points (from a maximum of four Advanced Level qualifications). We welcome a range of qualifications that meet this requirement, such as A/AS Levels, BTEC, Access Courses, International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge Pre-U, Extended Project, etc.

However, this list is not exhaustive – please click here for details of all qualifications in the UCAS tariff.

Find out more about the international application process including English Language requirements.

If you don’t have, or don’t think you will attain the normal tariff points for studying at BGU, click here to view Foundation Year courses.

Further information

Click here for important information about this course including additional costs, resources, and key policies.

In accordance with University conditions, students are entitled to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning, RP(C)L, based on relevant credit at another HE institution or credit Awarded for Experiential Learning, (RP(E)L).

How you will be taught

There is no one-size-fits-all method of teaching at BGU – we shape our methods to suit each subject and each group, combining the best aspects of traditional university teaching with innovative techniques to promote student participation and interactivity.

You will be taught in a variety of ways, from lectures, tutorials, and seminars, to practical workshops, coursework, and work-based placements. Small group seminars and workshops will provide you with an opportunity to review issues raised in lectures, and you will be expected to carry out independent study.

Placements are a key part of degree study within many courses at BGU. They provide an enriching learning experience for you to apply the skills and knowledge you will gain from your course and, in doing so, give valuable real-world experience to boost your career.

Academic staff

• Becky Goodman
• Rachel Linstead
• Dr Abimbola Thompson
• Georgina (Xiyue) Qian
• Nikki Smith
• Louise Boulter
• Dr Ian Pownall
• Claudia McKibbin
• Dawood Khan
• Aggi Doughty
• Alison Braithwaite

Assessment

Modules are taught and assessed using a variety of active learning techniques where you are encouraged to take charge of your own learning through engaging with academic knowledge and research, tutors, external organisations, and your peers. Your assignments are developed in conjunction with industry experts and throughout the duration of your programme you will be given live briefs to fulfil for your clients.

You will have the opportunity to undertake a work placement and an international field trip (that you will be required to self-fund) in the second year of the programme.

Careers & Further study

BGU has a strong reputation for developing highly skilled, sought-after, employable graduates. The Business and Enterprise team are committed to developing employable graduates and the curriculum has been designed to enhance employability at all levels of study. Employability is seen as an intrinsic aspect of all degree programmes offered by BGU and Graduate Attributes are embedded within each undergraduate programme. The Business and Enterprise team, pride themselves on being able to assist students acquire the skills they need to foster their initiative and creativity as responsible global citizens.

Career paths directly related to this programme include:

• Actuarial analyst
• Arbitrator
• Business adviser
• Business analyst
• Business development manager
• Chartered management accountant
• Corporate investment banker
• Data analyst
• Data scientist
• Forensic accountant
• Insurance underwriter
• Management consultant
• Project manager
• Risk manager
• Stockbroker
• Supply chain manager

What Our Students Say

Discover what life is like at Bishop Grosseteste University from our students.

Support

Studying at BGU is a student-centred experience. Staff and students work together in a friendly and supportive atmosphere as part of an intimate campus community. You will know every member of staff personally and feel confident approaching them for help and advice, and staff members will recognise you, not just by sight, but as an individual with unique talents and interests.

We will be there to support you, personally and academically, from induction to graduation.

Fees & Funding

A lot of student finance information is available from numerous sources, but it is sometimes confusing and contradictory. That’s why at BGU we try to give you all the information and support we can to help to throughout the process. Our Student Advice team are experts in helping you sort out the funding arrangements for your studies, offering a range of services to guide you through all aspects of student finance step by step.

Click here to find information about fees, loans, and support which will help to make the whole process a little easier to understand.

Undergraduate course applicants must apply via UCAS using the relevant UCAS code. For 2024 entry, the application fee is £27, and you can make a maximum of 6 choices.

For the 2025 cycle, UCAS is removing the undergraduate application fee for any student who is/or has received free school meals (FSM) during the last six years, up until the end of their final year at school or college. More information on the UCAS fee waiver can be found here.

For all applicants, there are full instructions at UCAS to make it as easy as possible for you to fill in your online application, plus help text where appropriate. Full details of all tuition fees can be found here.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

This program offers a thorough grounding in various business and marketing-related topics, including finance, management, entrepreneurship, and leadership. It focuses on developing your skills and knowledge for launching a career in business and marketing roles across various sectors and organizations. The program provides opportunities to:

• Work with a diverse range of organizations through industry links.
• Develop expertise and projects in your areas of interest.
• Complete a work placement and an international field trip (self-funded) in the second year.
• Achieve a CMI Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management alongside your degree.

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Outline:

The program provides a well-structured curriculum covering key areas of business and marketing:

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Year 1:

• Organisational Environments and Behaviour: Understanding the environment, analyzing its impact on organizations, and exploring stakeholders, supply and demand, and market structures.
• Marketing Principles: Key concepts, terminology, roles, functions, and factors influencing consumer behavior and stakeholder impact on marketing approaches.
• The New Professional: Building academic and professional skills for success, focusing on reflective practice, personal and professional development planning, teamwork, professional behavior, and digital capabilities.
• An Introduction to Finance: Basic financial management skills, covering roles of the finance function, sources of finance, regulatory compliance, key financial documents, and their role in decision-making.

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Year 2:

• Digital Marketing Strategies: Introduction to digital marketing, creating digital marketing plans, exploring online and offline channels, analyzing industry leaders, and considering Industry 4.0 impact.
• CSR and Sustainability: Exploring CSR and sustainability in global and organizational contexts, empowering students to take positive action, aligning with the UN SDGs, and examining case studies.
• Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: Importance of equality, diversity, and inclusion in organizational performance, exploring individual lenses, legislation, and effective diversity and inclusion strategies.
• Managing Projects to Achieve Results: Project management skills, identifying methods and tools, planning, implementing, managing activities, stakeholder relationships, resource management, risk management, progress monitoring, and reporting.
• The Developing Professional: Bridge between academic studies and future employment, including personalized learning experiences, work placements, Graduate Attributes Excellence Award completion, and showcasing developed skills.

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Year 3:

• Innovation and Creativity in Marketing: Relationship between marketing and innovation, fostering innovation within marketing, developing business cases for marketing-related innovations, and creating communication plans.
• Consumer Behaviour and the Customer Experience: Factors influencing decision-making, behavior, and consumption, understanding customer service culture and the customer journey, and reflecting on own buyer behaviors.
• Business Start-Up: Business planning skills for start-ups, creating a plan with a unique selling proposition (USP), seeking guidance from external agencies, and utilizing BG Futures business incubation center.
• Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Exploring social innovation and entrepreneurship, analyzing characteristics of social entrepreneurs, studying successful examples, and considering motivations and roles of social entrepreneurs.
• Business Research Methods: Research methods and ethical considerations, selecting, evaluating, and analyzing data, creating research aims, questions, and objectives, and developing appropriate research designs.
• Capstone Project: Research-based project, addressing self-formulated questions, critical analysis of primary and secondary sources, and producing a dissertation.
• Brand Strategy and Management: Strategic approaches to branding, aligning with corporate brand, managing brand to deliver on promises, and utilizing monitoring and maintenance tools.
• Marketing in a Global Context: Principles and tools of strategic marketing in a global context, exploring issues and challenges in global marketing activities, and studying case studies of global marketing strategy implementation.

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Assessment:

Assessments use active learning techniques, encouraging students to take charge of their learning through various methods:

• Live briefs for industry clients: Gaining real-world experience through assignments developed in conjunction with industry experts.
• Work placements and international field trips: Putting theoretical knowledge into practice in real-world settings.
• Variety of active learning techniques: Engaging in projects, presentations, group work, discussions, and independent study.
• Developing academic skills: Researching, referencing, writing, presenting, critical analysis, and problem-solving.
• Portfolio development: Building a comprehensive portfolio showcasing skills and achievements.

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Teaching:

The program employs a variety of engaging teaching methods:

• Interactive lectures and seminars: Encouraging student participation and discussion.
• Small group workshops and tutorials: Providing opportunities for focused learning and personalized feedback.
• Industry guest speakers: Gaining insights from professionals in the field.
• Independent study and research: Developing self-directed learning skills.
• Online learning resources: Accessing additional materials and support.
• Innovative projects and simulation exercises: Applying theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios.
• Industry visits and field trips: Gaining firsthand experience in business settings.

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Careers:

This program prepares graduates for diverse career paths in marketing and business-related fields, including:

• Actuarial analyst
• Arbitrator
• Business advisor
• Business analyst
• Business development manager
• Chartered management accountant
• Corporate investment banker
• Data analyst
• Data scientist
• Forensic accountant
• Insurance underwriter
• Management consultant
• Project manager
• Risk manager
• Stockbroker
• Supply chain manager
Graduates also gain valuable skills and knowledge transferable to other sectors and fields.

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Other:

• The program emphasizes employability, building skills through curriculum design and industry collaborations.
• The program is delivered in a friendly and supportive atmosphere, fostering close relationships between students and staff.
• Students receive dedicated support from staff and resources throughout their studies.
• The program offers an international dimension through the optional field trip.
• The program equips students with the ability to succeed in the business world and make a positive impact on society.