Business Management Degree Online: Business Management BSc (Hons)

Our course is designed to help aspiring business managers at all skill levels to achieve their personal and career goals. You’ll develop a solid understanding of the key management skills and strategic thinking you need to launch or enhance your business career. You’ll cover the key elements that contribute to the success of organisations, large or small, including human resources, financial management, marketing, the creation and sourcing of sustainable products, and business law. You’ll also look at the current issues in the world of business such as globalisation, sustainability and the impact on the external environment, social change and organisational behaviour.

As well as studying the theories that underpin business and management, you’ll focus on developing relevant and practical knowledge of leadership that can be implemented immediately into your workplace, enabling you to see an immediate difference to your performance. You’ll take an in-depth look at how culture, leadership, organisational performance and structure, and motivation can impact workers and workplaces to aid your ability to effectively manage people and organisations throughout your career.

At ARU, our specialist online learning tutors will provide you with the same level of support you would expect from being on campus and our Careers team offer customised career guidance to help you achieve the personal and professional development that you're looking for. The flexibility of our online course means that you can study on a self paced schedule that suits you.

Due to the structure of this course, there will be instances where you will study two modules simultaneously during a trimester. You will be supported by your tutors to help manage your workload and assessment deadlines.

Please contact one of our advisers to discuss the pacing of this course and the options available to match your circumstances.

Modules

Global Business Environment and International Strategy
In this module, you’ll be introduced the factors that affect business from an external perspective. These include elements of globalisation and international business, and the fundamental skills that are needed for managers to navigate the business world. Political, Economic, Social, Legal, Ecological and Technological factors will be examined in the macro business environment. You’ll then learn how these factors interact in a competitive environment with globalisation, technological and social change to create complex strategic options for organisations. The module will also give you the opportunity to embark on a detailed exploration of concepts like sustainability and introductory economics.

Organisational Behaviour
You'll be introduced to a range of organisational behaviour issues that you may encounter in your career and be provided with evidence-informed analyses of ways in which culture, leadership, structure, and motivation all affect workers and workplaces. This foundation will then enable you to analyse the human side of business management and diagnose problems affecting organisations both independently and as part of a group. This module will give you the opportunity to take managerial, critical, symbolic-interactivist, and feminist perspectives to business issues and organisational behaviour related theories, models, and concepts to build your social capital and critical analytical skills. Specifically, we will equip you with the knowledge needed to understand how people and organisations function in individual, group, and organisational levels based on the latest academic evidence on topics such as motivation, leadership, teams, organisational structure, and culture. Finally, we aim to inspire you to value and continuously use the best available academic evidence on effective management of people and organisations throughout your career.

Introduction to Business Contracts and the Law
As an introduction to a broad range of civil legal issues, you'll get an insight and appreciation of the various ways in which the law impacts on the world of commerce and our everyday life. The module will provide you with foundational knowledge across a broad range of fundamental legal principles and concepts of the English Legal System. You’ll then examine the different rights and obligations of legal entities/individuals under the Law of Contract and the Law of Tort.

Digital Business and Principles of Marketing
This module presents a fusion between the philosophies which underlie marketing, with a strong emphasis of integrating digital and traditional concepts, and the real-life application of marketing, across a variety of sectoral contexts. You’ll examine the core marketing concept of customer value, the interplay between marketing and sustainability, and the ethical challenges and critiques of modern marketing. This module will help you to gain a wide range of knowledge across a breadth of sectors and be able to adapt these to whatever career or future research you choose. On completion of the module, you’ll have not only a solid grounding in marketing philosophies and theories but also a critical view of marketing, based around the realisation of the reality of modern digital marketing operations and management in a context of increasing global economic challenges. Your understanding of marketing will incorporate the current cultural context, in which the customer profile is shifting to become increasingly demanding, critical and questioning of the motivations and ethics behind the marketer’s activities.

Introduction to Financial Analysis and Management
Finance and business information is the lifeblood of any organisation’s operations and decisions. In this module, you’ll work with data and case studies from organisations, meet with businesses to understand the practical use this key information is put to, and present your decisions on a going concern or start-up. As you present your analysis of key information and conclusions to other stakeholders, you'll develop your persuasion and negotiation skills.

Understanding the Consumer
This module introduces you to consumer behaviour – both what and how we buy – and giving you a deeper understanding into how marketers tailor their offers to consumer demands and market trends, as well as how consumer behaviour is influenced by new products and services, the marketing mix, and its design and implementation. The psychological and sociological models and theories of emerging consumer psychology research will be illustrated with practical examples of the day-to-day marketing activities of product and service providers. You'll work in teams, following market research techniques, to develop your skills and entrepreneurial awareness. By analysing your research, and identifying a need within a consumer group, you’ll propose a business case for a new market offering. The basis of this assignment will be formed by how you use marketing techniques to convey the proposed offering and the value to the target consumer, as well as how this would affect their decision making and behaviour and motivate them to purchase. On completion you will have gained technical and professional marketing skills to be able to identify opportunities, and the transferable skills to be able to develop appropriate and entrepreneurial business cases creatively and innovatively.

The Entrepreneurial Journey
Entrepreneurs are people who identify and exploit opportunities for new products, marketing, or processes to generate economic and social value. Entrepreneurship is not just about new venture creation; it involves using creative or innovative ideas to recognise and develop solutions. You’ll work as part of a team over three rounds of activity (such as gamification, experiential learning, and simulation) to focus on the identification of an opportunity, the creation of a product or service, and pitching a concept to work as part of the team in order to develop your skills and collaborate with organisations and guest speakers.

Business Innovation
Development and management of new products and services is deeply linked to the results of companies, and innovation plays a key role in their long-term success. In this module, you’ll discover the innovation concept and its strategic role, as well as the process involved in the development of innovative and sustainable new products and services. From the perspective of business and marketing, you’ll relate idea generation and launch with its practical application in industry and commerce. You'll think independently to improve your ability to work outside of the comfort of structure and security, all the while learning the tools you need to develop your critical thinking and creativity. You'll learn innovation theories and new developments in suitability and the circular economy; understand how firms develop new consumer-centric sustainable and innovative products/services; improve your creativity skills; and understand the success factors for new products. In teams, you'll develop your own new product based on a provided brief and will present it in a pitch presentation with accompanying media to a panel for evaluation.

Developing Professional Practice and Using Information in HR
This module will give you a sound understanding of the knowledge, skills, and behaviours required by human resources (HR) professionals, whether in a generalist or specialist role – as described in the CIPD HR Profession Map (HRPM). You’ll embrace the ‘thinking performer’ perspective and cover the competencies needed by HR professionals to collaborate with others and function efficiently and effectively in an organisational context. You'll assess your own strengths and identify a continuing professional development plan. This plan will be based on the capabilities required for ethical, business-focused, and interpersonal professional conduct, exploring and recognising the strategic importance of the effective management of the human resource and people management, and progresses a critical appreciation of the role of HR. You’ll explore and recognise the strategic importance of effective HR management and, using work-based research and good practice, you will critically evaluate the role of HR in formulating strategies to prepare business cases and present viable and realistic improvements which shows an appreciation for issues identified in your research.

Project Management and Implementation
Project management is a key skill for any future professional. This module focuses on providing a sound basis for managing or working on projects. In essence, the concept of managing a project hinging on one quite basic principle, managing the triangle of: quality of the project outcomes, cost, and time. The module covers: Project Management Body of Knowledge; the importance of stakeholder and risk management; scheduling and costing; monitoring and controlling techniques, time management and resource optimisation; improving the success of projects; and the principles of agile project management.

Sustainability and Responsible Business
You'll develop an understanding of the shift towards more environmentally, socially and economically responsible business practice, and in particular focus on the drivers behind this shift. This includes enhancing your understanding of the sustainable development goals and growing business arguments for including a consideration of sustainability in all business and management practice. The module promotes a personal approach to the issues of sustainability and personal and social responsibility. The module includes an authentic assessment where you'll be diagnosing, designing, and evaluating an environmental management plan for your households or organisations, while reflecting on your personal responsibility and ethical behaviour. You'll pay special attention to questioning the different responses of business in relation to social responsibility and sustainable management. If you're studying BA (Hons) Business Management, successful completion of this module provides exemption against the Chartered Management Institute’s (CMI) unit 5022V1 Organisational Corporate Social Responsibility.

Strategic Management
Strategic Management is a fascinating module in our business management degree that studies the long-term purpose and direction of organisations through analysis of how to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. You'll explore core frameworks and analytical techniques that will enable you to assess the resources and capabilities of organisations in relation to the conditions of the industry, macro environment, and stakeholder pressures. Your focus then turns to strategic implementation, specifically in relation to business-level and corporate-level strategies. This is organised around five thematic areas: the evaluation of strategic options in terms of suitability, acceptability, and feasibility; 'intended strategy development' versus 'emergent strategy development'; the role of organisational structures and systems in strategy development; and leadership of strategic change; and finally the practice of strategy (who is involved in strategy development, the types of activities in which strategists are involved, and the types of methodologies that strategists use). With a practical and problem-oriented focus, the emphasis is on application of concepts and frameworks, helping you to gain insight into strategic challenges faced by an organisation. Throughout the learning period, you'll reflect on the global nature of competition, how strategic management can contribute to the creation of shared value and business sustainability.

Marketing Communications
This module is designed to give you an overall understanding of marketing communications and the part that it plays in business success. You'll explore both the role of communications and the integrated nature of modern advertising campaigns, and the tools, techniques, and implementation strategies used in online and offline marketing communications. You'll analyse the advantages and disadvantages of each, illustrating how the tools interact with the other elements of the marketing mix and why this integration is important. The promotional planning process at the strategic, tactical, and operational levels is identified, examined, and applied. You'll gain the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a career in the marketing industry and, in particular, marketing communications in either a company or agency. The assessment requires you to develop your theoretical knowledge, and demonstrate your skills in applying this theory to the creation of marketing communications in the appropriate media formats. Your brief will be to develop your advertising campaign – live where possible – which you will present to a panel of experts (from the company when live). You can then take this feedback to reflect upon and improve your communications plan where necessary for the report submission. Working in a team, you'll develop your skills and marketing knowledge, whilst exploring cultural trends, entrepreneurial opportunities, and reflect on your own pitch and performance to develop a positive, creative experience.

Business Management Undergraduate Major Project
The major project will give you the chance to demonstrate what you have learned on live brief assessments and be part of an interdisciplinary team addressing a current issue in business. You'll be presented with a current business issue and be required to research, analyse, and evaluate the issue effectively as a team. You'll act as the expert in your field of study to bring the perspective of that specialty to a complex business problem. You'll identify the key problems and issues, conduct literature reviews, evaluate information, investigate and adopt suitable development methodologies, determine solutions, process data, critically appraise, and present the findings of your project using a variety of media. You'll create a poster presentation on your project for your team to display and then answer the questions of an audience made up of academics and employers at a poster presentation event. You'll write a group business report on the outcomes of your project, evidencing your recommendations alongside an individual piece of reflective work on how you approached the issue, worked successfully as a team member, conducted robust business research, and developed sound conclusions and recommendations.

Our Business Management BSc (Hons) degree is studied 100% online.

You’ll study through Canvas, our world-class online Learning Management System (LMS), which can be accessed from your phone, PC or tablet, at home or on the move. Canvas provides instant access to study materials, forums, and support from tutors and classmates, as well as enabling easy submission of your assignments.

On successful completion of your studies, you’ll be invited to attend a graduation ceremony on campus. If attending the ceremony in person is not possible then we’ll arrange to have your certificate sent to you.

What could a Business Management BSc do for my career?

Our Business Management BSc builds upon your experience and introduces you to the theory behind leadership practice. This invaluable knowledge will help you find innovative solutions to new management challenges in the workplace.

Our Business Management BSc (Hons) course attracts a variety of individuals from all walks of life with different strengths, skillsets, and aspirations. This means that you'll have the opportunity to engage with other students that may have different business and research ideas that can help you improve performance.

But whether you have years of experience under your belt and wish to expand your knowledge with a formal qualification or are simply considering your next career move, you might wonder what online business and management courses can offer you that you don’t already have.

The skills you’ll learn as part of this hands-on approach will also help you discover new strengths and unlock your own potential, giving you not just the professional and critical understanding, but also the confidence to take risks and stand out from the crowd. The strategic thinking and critical evaluation skills you'll learn will empower you to take action in the decision making process that is often required by a project leader.

As with all of our online courses, your business management degree also teaches you essential digital literacy – as technology becomes a part of our everyday lives, employers need these practical skills, and actively seek them out in candidates. And, thanks to the flexible nature of our teaching resources, you’ll also master independent study, research skills, organisation, time management and self-motivation.

What job roles can I consider with a Business Management bachelor’s degree?

A business management degree prepares you for a career in business, which can apply to any sector or industry. These are just some of the job roles that Business Management BSc (Hons) graduates may consider:

• Business adviser
• Business analyst
• Business development manager
• Management consultant
• Project manager
• Risk manager
• Supply chain manager

If you are looking for more information about these job profiles and potential salary earnings see Prospects.ac.uk. It’s important to note that salaries can vary widely depending on the job role, employer, industry sector and location.

What can I study after a Business Management BSc?

Depending on your long-term goals and interests you may decide to explore a postgraduate qualification such as an MBA. A Master’s degree is the most common type of postgraduate qualification and usually focus on a specific area of a wider subject which may support your future career development. Having a bachelor’s degree under your belt is a key entry requirement in opening doors to postgraduate study.

What skills will I get from a Business Management BSc to help my career?

Choosing to study a Business Management BSc will give you many transferable skills; here are just some of them:

• Collect, retrieve, sift, select, organise, analyse, interpret and present information from a variety of sources
• Use communication and information technology effectively for business applications
• Use different means of communicating to different audiences
• Work effectively, both independently and within a team environment, making use of a range of interpersonal skills
• Appreciate the relevance of a multi-disciplinary and multicultural approach to business and management

Careers Advice Service

Once you become an ARU student you will be able to access our Employability service to help you whatever stage your career, whether that’s landing your dream job or the next progression step.

We offer:

• careers advice, including one-to-one online and telephone appointments with our experienced advisers
• help with your CV, job searches, applications and interview preparation
• an online portal packed with useful careers resources
• our Employability Programme, which helps you hone the skills employers say they want in graduates.

Fees

The full tuition fee for this course is £15,000.

The tuition fees you pay each year will be £3,750. The course is studied over 4 years.

Accredited Prior Learning may reduce the tuition fees. This will be confirmed once your application has been submitted.

Funding

Government-backed part time student loans are available to cover the cost of studying this course. These are subject to eligibility and terms and conditions.

We offer payment by instalments, so you can spread the cost of studying with us.

For military students: You can use your ELCs towards this course. ARU is a recognised ELCAS provider (number 1007). Please contact your Learning Centre for details of ELC, eligibility and how to apply.

For more information on how you fund your studies please see our funding page.

Our online business management degree aims to give you the skills you need to thrive in a management role. With a wide variety of modules, some with a strong focus on political, social, economic, and legal issues, you'll discover how local and international business constantly evolve in how they conduct themselves. You’ll have the opportunity to study business theory and practice though a variety of perspectives – including a global context – all with the hope that this will further your understanding of organisational patterns, structures, and behaviours.

We have designed several modules around the key aspects of marketing, both on and offline, to develop your insight into the role that marketing plays in business. You’ll learn basic principles of advertising and gain an understanding into customer behaviours that impact how they interact with businesses. This greater insight into the consumer mind will equip you to implement changes into your management practice and decision making that will allow you to better provide the types of products and services that they want. Aside from developing your management skills, these marketing modules will also be useful to those wishing to enter an advertising career, preparing you for either work with an agency or further formal qualifications.

As sustainability becomes an increasingly important factor in business and management activities, our online business and management course introduces you to environmentally and socially conscious business practice. This shift is important not only because of the social responsibility that we all have, but because consumers increasingly favour businesses that implement environmentally friendly policies.

The wide variety of modules offered on our business and management degree will develop your business skills and give you a broad understanding of management theories and practices, allowing you to make changes to your workplace and preparing you for leadership roles.

For many students, balancing work and study can be challenging.

But with online study, you'll complement the first-hand experience of the workplace, enabling you to put your learning into practice straight away. This means you’ll start to see a return on your investment from day one, not just once you’ve graduated. We’ve designed this course to be accessible, enriching your working life, equipping you with new skills that will instantly inspire new ideas, and preparing you for bigger and better challenges.

The flexibility of your degree, alongside the support from your tutors, also allows you to study on your own time around other day-to-day commitments, whether that’s a busy family life, caring role or a hectic 9-5.

No two students are the same, but wherever you are in your career and whatever your ambitions for the future, your course is designed to fit around your lifestyle and play to your strengths.

If you have existing managerial experience, an online business and management course could be the key to your next career move, helping you flourish in your existing work environment and climb the career ladder. It’s also a solid steppingstone if you’re not yet experienced in management but ready to move up and move on. A distance learning business management degree can be the ideal qualification to showthe fast-track passport that shows current and future employers that you’re ready for leadership and management challenges, with the skills to handle anything that comes your way.

Many of our students are mature learners and career changers, as well as parents, armed forces careerists and international students. Whichever your category, this course will connect you to others with a range of life experiences, helping you learn and grow from one another. If driven and determined, enthusiastic about growing your career and reaching those leadership roles, then our business and management degree is the perfect course for you.

Our business and management online course teaches you key topics including marketing strategies, supply chain management, cost management,, and human resource management, along with a wealth of transferrable skills that can be applied in almost any workplace. However, there are certain industries and roles where this type of qualification is in demand, particularly relevant, and can take your career to new heights. It’s an excellent fit for business and management roles, where strong leadership is required to deliver results, handle decision-making and managing expectations.

You'll be introduced to the world of marketing and advertising, equipping you to either embark on a new career in this dynamic industry or enhance your understanding of the importance of marketing in your business endeavours. The modules in this course will also enhance your business career by giving you a greater insight into project management, which requires quick-thinking problem-solvers with top-notch organisational skills, as well as people-focused roles which require strong, compassionate, and thoughtful leadership.

Our BSc honours degree in business and management, also sets you up for postgraduate qualifications. It gives you the knowledge you need to progress on to a master's degree. At ARU we also offer an MBA course that's accredited by the chartered management institute.

Many universities offer courses like ours, so why choose us?

Put simply, our business and management degree works alongside your career to reinforce your learning with practical skills. The full flexibility of our course allows you to prioritise where necessary and handle the steady demands of a thriving career without putting your learning on hold – something traditional campus courses can’t offer. Most importantly, our talented tutors, whose invaluable expertise in business management has helped countless graduates persevere, will provide you with the student support that you need to succeed.

Apply today and take the next step in your business management journey.

Find out more about Distance Learning on our blog:

• Is Distance Learning Right For Me?
• What Does Distance Learning Look Like?
• 5 Types of Students That Thrive As Distance Learners