Business Enterprise Development

Course overview

Learn business by doing and experiencing it for yourself.
On the BSc (Hons) Business Enterprise Development degree at Aston University, you will work in small project teams and larger learning organisations as part of the Team Academy Aston community to set up real projects and enterprises.

Collaborating with your fellow team entrepreneurs, you will develop, sustain, and grow projects and enterprises that enhance your learning, make money, and deliver a positive impact to society.

This innovative and practical programme is based on the Team Academy model of entrepreneurship education from Finland, and built on the following principles:

Develop your entrepreneurial capacity and mindset through learning-by-doing.
Experience the development of a real business that you own with a team of others.
Determine your own learning focus and needs, supported by team coaches who are there to guide and help you develop.

The course is delivered by Aston Business School which is part of an elite group of global business schools that hold the gold standard of ‘triple-crown’ accreditation from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS.

Why Business Enterprise Development at Aston University?

Gold standard teaching

Aston University was awarded Gold - the highest possible rating for the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF, 2023)

Excellent prospects

Aston University was named runner-up in the University of the Year for Graduate Employment Award (Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2024)

Recognised for quality

Aston Business School is proud to be among 1% of business schools worldwide with triple accreditation

Entrepreneurial university

Recognised for our focus on entrepreneurship, Aston University was named Outstanding Entrepreneurial University (Times Higher Education, 2020)

66th in the world

We’ve been ranked as 66th in the world for business and management studies (QS World University Rankings By Subject 2024)

Eleta's story

Hear Eleta talk about her time studying at Aston University and why the BSc (Hons) Business Enterprise Development course was right for her.

Why study Business Enterprise Development?

Dr Elinor Vettraino explains some of the main features of studying Business Enterprise Development at Aston University.

Hear from our students

Hear about student experiences from those studying our BSc (Hons) Business Enterprise Development course and it's non-traditional structure and teaching methods.

A city for enterprise

Monique Farquharson, MBA graduate and winner of the Enterprise Scholarship, talks about why Birmingham is the best place for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Course description

BSc (Hons) Business Enterprise Development

Our BSc (Hons) Business Enterprise Development degree will give you the opportunity to generate, evaluate, present, and develop new product, service, and enterprise ideas. You will launch your own project(s) and enterprise(s), developing your skills around marketing, sales, finance, HR, operations, strategy, and much more.

What we will provide
We give you the opportunity to learn-by-doing where you can set up your own company with a team of peers – real life business rather than simulation. You will be supported by a team of coaches who are there to guide you. You will also join a diverse, close community which welcomes students from over 120 countries.

We are also an Adobe Creative Campus meaning you will have access to top-notch software licenses, including Adobe and Solidworks, commonly used in industry.

What you will provide
You will have a passion and willingness to embrace a new style of learning, collaboration and teamwork which is more aligned to the working world. You may be interested in setting up your own enterprise or want to lead the development and success of established organisations.

What skills we teach
You can set yourself apart - this course has been designed to equip you with the skills, competencies, and attitudes to enhance both your entrepreneurial mindset and leadership capabilities from business growth, team performance and leadership to innovation and entrepreneurship.

How you will learn

BSc (Hons) Business Enterprise Development is a practical programme, and you will learn by doing, working on real projects and enterprises, and developing your team leadership and followership skills.

As a team entrepreneur on the programme, you will dictate your own learning journey, asking for coaching inputs and inviting guests to support your exploration of specific subjects through team coaching processes rather than taught or lecture-based inputs. You will also benefit from a more directive programme of Creative Labs, designed by the coaching team to support your skills and knowledge development. Learning opportunities and assessments are built around three key pillars:

Enterprise management and growth
Team performance and leadership
Innovation and entrepreneurialism

Student point of view
As well as lots of clubs and societies, you can also join Aton Women in Business, Aston Bright Futures - a society that works with leading businesses across a wide range of sectors, and Aston Entrepreneurs Club, a student-run society that provides a platform for any student interested in entrepreneurship.

What you will learn

The BSc (Hons) Business Enterprise Development programme is structured around the foundations of enterprise and team creation. This is supplemented with activities that develop your creativity and ideation and unleash your inner entrepreneur.

First year

The first year develops your entrepreneurial mindset, introducing foundational enterprise and team-building concepts. During the year you will hone your ability to generate, evaluate, present, and develop new product and service ideas. You will also learn about and apply the concepts and principles of successful team development as you work alongside your team.

Second year

In the second year, you will develop your managerial and leadership qualities. You will build strategic plans, resource profiles, and marketing strategies. You will also explore different forms of team structures and apply them to team projects. You will also build your entrepreneurial skills through networking, innovation labs, pitching new ideas, negotiating, and learning the fundamentals of applied business research.

Final year

In the final year, the focus is on enterprise growth. Within your teams, you will research the traits of high-performance teams and will have the opportunity to conduct a thorough consultancy or market research project with an enterprise or on a new product or service of your choice.

Course objectives

Develops the behaviours that are necessary for the stimulation of an entrepreneurial mindset.
Facilitates the activities and learning opportunities required to enable you to develop your entrepreneurial capabilities.
Develops the skills necessary for you to enhance your entrepreneurial effectiveness.
Develops the self-regulatory skills and motivation necessary to enable you to embrace the life-long learning and development of both you and others as a fundamental life skill.

Modules

Modules and learning outcomes

Year 1 modules

In your first year you will study the following core modules:

Module Title	Credits
Enterprise Creation	30
Creating Effective Teams	30
Academic Effectiveness	30
Innovation and Entrepreneurship	30
Total	120

Year 1 outcomes

On successful completion of the first year, you will be able to:

Understand the key concepts and principles underpinning how to build and grow an enterprise.
Understand the key concepts and principles underpinning the successful development of both teams and individuals, particularly in an entrepreneurial context.
Develop arguments and reflect on your own learning through the presentation, evaluation and interpretation of data.
Identify and evaluate new enterprise opportunities and to develop and evaluate new enterprise ideas in response.
Present ideas, arguments and personal reflections using a range of oral and written communication methods.

Year 2 modules

In your second year you will study the following core modules:

Module Title	Credits
Enterprise Management	30
Team Leadership	30
Applied Research	30
Developing Entrepreneurial Capability	30
Business Enterprise Professional Practice 1	0
Total	120

Year 2 outcomes

On successful completion of the second year, you will be able to:

Understand different kinds of enterprise, their internal organisation and the relevance of their external environments.
Evaluate critically different methods of managing projects and organisations with the aim of creating value in a responsible manner.
Use a range of established techniques to frame, plan, conduct and critically analyse the results of applied research.
Evaluate critically your own and other’s entrepreneurial capability and to use this to support your own and other’s personal development.
Use a wide range of traditional and modern technologies to effectively and confidently communicate arguments, reflections, enterprise ideas and marketing messages.

Final year modules

In your final year you will study the following core modules:

Module Title	Credits
Enterprise Growth	30
Leading High Performance Teams	30
Applied Research Project	60
Business Enterprise Professional Practice 2	0
Total	120

Final year outcomes

On successful completion of the final year, you will be able to:

Understand business strategy for growth that enables you to devise and sustain arguments in an enterprise context.
Conduct effective critical analysis and evaluation of relevant data/evidence obtained from a range of resources in order to support effective enterprise judgements and solve related problems.
Understand how to systematically develop, sustain and enhance enterprise relationships and networks in order to generate value.
Understand the critical and systematic nature of visionary/entrepreneurial leadership and how this can be used to drive new ideas in a constantly changing enterprise environment.
Critically apply the knowledge, skills and competencies acquired throughout the programme in response to both complex, dynamic and uncertain enterprise contexts.

We may update our courses to reflect best practices and academic developments. If we do, we’ll let you know of any changes at the earliest opportunity by updating our course webpages. If you have already received an offer, we’ll write to you directly to let you know of the changes.

Entry requirements

A Levels
BBC (standard offer)
BCC (with EPQ or Core Maths minimum grade B)
BCC (contextual offer)
Contextual offers
Aston Ready is our contextual offer scheme that could reduce your undergraduate offer by one or two grades. Assessed at the point of application, there are no additional forms to fill in.

Contextual offer criteria

BTEC Extended Diploma – DDM (standard offer)

The University also accepts the BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate/BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma and BTEC Level 3 National Diploma/BTEC Level 3 Diploma for entry onto degree programmes, provided that they are studied in combination with other qualifications that are equivalent to three full A2 Levels.

29 points overall in the IB diploma with grades 5,5,4 in 3 higher level subjects.

You must also have Standard Level grade 4 in Mathematics and grade 5 in English Language.

We accept the QAA-recognised Access Diploma which must consist of 45 credits at Level 3.

You must obtain a minimum of 30 distinction and the rest must be at merit or distinction.

Please note that we do not accept the English and Maths components within the Access qualification and you must meet the GCSE entry requirement.

The following T Levels are accepted qualifications for this course:

Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction - grade D
Digital Production, Design and Production - grade D
Education and Childcare - grade D
Onsite Construction - grade D
Building Services Engineering for Construction - grade D
Digital Business Services - grade D
Digital Support Services - grade D
Health - grade D
Healthcare Science - grade D
Science - grade D
Accounting - grade D
Finance - grade D
Management and administration - grade D
Design and development for engineering and manufacturing - grade D
Maintenance, installation and repair for engineering and manufacturing - grade D
Legal Services - grade D

5 GCSE grades A*/9 - C/4 to include:

GCSE Maths – grade C/4
GCSE English Language or English Literature – grade C/4

Year 1 entry: We may consider applicants for year 1 entry who are undertaking a first year degree elsewhere. You must meet the GCSEs and A Level (or equivalent) requirements as listed. In order to be considered you will need to submit a UCAS application as we do not accept direct applications and this must include an academic reference.

Year 2 entry: Please note that second year transfers are not part of the standard admissions process and is up to the discretion of the admissions team and tutor. Applications are only considered if there is space on that year of the programme. Typically, applicants for second year entry must meet the GCSEs and A Level (or equivalent) requirements as listed. Alongside this you must have successfully passed (or be expected to pass) your first year with 120 credits on an equivalent programme at another recognised university with very similar module content. The equivalency of the programme is reviewed by the Admissions Tutor and you will be required to provide an official copy of the programme specification of this. In order to be considered you will need to submit a UCAS application as we do not accept direct applications and this must include an academic reference.

Year 3 entry onwards: We will not be able to consider any application for Year 3 or final year.

International students

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students on many of our undergraduate programmes. Students from over 120 countries choose to study with us every year. Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study, it’s also a great place to live.

Qualifications in your country

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification.

English language requirements

International students can enter at Year 2 of this course having completed an undergraduate year one programme at the required academic level with approved teaching partners ONCAMPUS Aston or NCUK.

Aston University provides a range of opportunities for international students to join our community and study on our campus. A key part of our strategy is our relationships with teaching partners, providing multiple pathways to Aston.

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and, as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career. One of the great things about Aston is our focus on employability. Our close links with businesses, industries and professions make this possible.

Find out more about applying

Post-study work visa

Aston University welcomed the creation of a new Graduate Immigration Route which enables international students to remain in the UK for two years after you complete your studies to find work. This new post-study work visa applies to international students completing full-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Graduate Immigration Route

Fees and scholarships

Course fees

UK students
(2024/25)

Annual tuition fees:	£9,250
During placement year:	£1,250

International students
(2024/25)

Annual tuition fees:	£18,250
During placement year:	£2,500

More information on fees

For Home students: Tuition fees for UK/Home students may change in line with government policy.

For International students: The International students fee is a fixed annual fee for the duration of the Programme, except whilst on placement when a placement year fee applies.

Scholarships

At Aston University we are committed to supporting the most talented and hardworking students to achieve their potential by providing a range of scholarships to help lower tuition and living costs.

Explore our scholarships

Assessment

All assessment on this programme is authentic, allowing you to demonstrate what you have achieved in other ways. Assessment is carried out through a variety of means, and focused on developing skills, competencies and the capacity to be entrepreneurial. While appropriate for some programmes that are focused on knowledge acquisition and beneficial for some people, exams are not used in the Business Enterprise Development programmes.

All your assessments will be practical and developmental.

Tasks include:

Real life client challenges.
Creating career and personal development plans.
Pitching for funding for your enterprise.
Showcasing your teams’ projects.
Maintaining your own reflective journal.
Creating enterprise development plans.
Ideation and new product/service challenges.
Interviews.
Presentation of a marketing campaign and an in-depth consultancy or market research project.

Personal development

This degree is like no other, particularly in preparing you for entering the real world of work. You will learn by doing and grow your confidence as well as skill sets in a practical learning environment, where you develop your own enterprise as part of a team. You will experience all aspects of enterprise development and management including teamworking and negotiating skills. On the forefront of new working practices, this degree will enable you to navigate the team-based environments now becoming commonplace working structures in organisations around the globe.

Career prospects

No other course develops the skills, attributes, and competencies necessary to thrive in the modern enterprise environment like this programme. It will give you the confidence, resilience, and experience to lead, manage or set up your own business, or to take your future in whatever direction you want.

This is a new approach to learning and collaboration which is more aligned to the working world. You will gain real-life experience and will be able to draw on real examples in interviews of what you have achieved rather than learnt.

You will have the tools and insights to set up your own business, and a third of our graduates from this course go on to do just that – run their own company.

However, it is also a great course if you are looking to become ‘intrapreneurs’ – working for a company that assesses and promotes innovative product development and marketing, for instance.

International opportunities

This course is based on a module that was first released in Finland called Team Academy and is now practiced in seventeen countries, with four UK universities offering it. Once you have enrolled on this course you are linked to the global Team Academy hubs. Previous students have organised trips to Strasburg, Barcelona and Tampere to link with other Team Academies.

Watch some of our students present their ideas

Team Academy Aston

Read our latest newsletter to find out what our students have been doing.

Find out more

Aston Business School graduates achieve some amazing things - whether it's setting up their own businesses, landing competitive graduate schemes, or making real differences within their communities.

Hear from our graduates

Be part of our community

Once you have joined us at Aston University, you’ll always be part of our community, even beyond graduation.

Alumni services

Simba's journey beyond graduation

After Aston, I went on The Apprentice

Sunjay's journey beyond graduation

After Aston, I worked with Kylie Minogue

Christine's journey beyond graduation

After Aston, I founded a global football franchise

Frequently asked questions

Why study the Business Enterprise Development degree at Aston University?

If you prefer to ‘learn by doing’ and have an interest in setting up your own business, or want to gain real-life insight into the workings of a start-up as well as the skills and knowledge involved, this course is for you!

You will develop knowledge and skills across the breadth of business enterprise development through learning-by-doing. From the way you are taught, through to the way you are assessed (eg. no exams, practical learning, understanding and demonstrating what you have achieved).

What kind of jobs does a degree in Business Enterprise Development lead to?

No other course will develop the skills needed to thrive in modern business like this one. You will develop a wealth of transferable skills and the confidence, resilience and experience to lead, manage or set up your own enterprise, or to take your future career in whatever direction you like, whether that’s running your own business or operating as an ‘intrapreneur’ working for someone else.

Why Aston Business School?

Aston Business School is amongst the top 1% of business schools worldwide with triple accreditation. All of this means we really value your learning experience and the skills you develop and demonstrate as part of your course.

Is Birmingham a good place to study?

Our campus is based in the centre of Birmingham, the youngest major city in Europe and a great place to live, work and study.

Great music and entertainment with a vibrant nightlife. Bars, clubs, pubs, live music, festivals, concerts. Whatever your tastes, there's something here for everyone.
Fantastic food. Birmingham's diverse community means you can try anything from the famous Balti triangle, the Chinese Quarter, high street chains, halal and vegan food, and Michelin-star dining.
World-class shopping. The Bullring and Grand Central is a shopper's paradise. From the world's biggest Primark to luxury brands at the Mailbox.
Arts and culture. Museums, galleries, theatres, concerts and Birmingham's art collection is as wide as it is impressive - not to be missed.
Green, open spaces. One of the greenest cities in Europe, Birmingham has hundreds of publicly accessible parks and green spaces across the city.
Sporting action. Birmingham has some of the most exciting venues for watching or participating in sport in the UK.

Discover Birmingham