Business and Management

Course overview

We know university is a big investment so it’s important to know that it’s all going to be worth it. Here’s how we can help turn your passion into a career.

For the aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders, our BSc (Hons) Business and Management degree is a popular choice.

In the forever changing world of business our degree has been designed to give you a greater number of modules so you can choose to specialise and tailor your studies to suit your career aspirations but also have the flexibility to adapt to the moving world of global business.

You will develop a breadth and depth of business knowledge including the functions of management and science of decision-making and learn from our business experts from 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.

“One of the reasons I chose Aston University is the fantastic opportunities it gives you for the placement year. I was lucky enough to spend my placement year with IBM. After IBM, I went on to do the future leadership graduate scheme at Nissan. This then led me to go down the finance route and here I am today.”

Lucy Baines

BSc (Hons) Business and Management

Hiscox USA

Why Business and Management at Aston University?

Recognised for quality

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

Gold standard teaching

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

Earn more

Our graduates are among the highest paid in the country, earning on average £36,100 five years after graduating (Longitudinal Education Outcomes, 2023)

Work ready

Our integrated placement year enables you to put learning into practice - making you career ready

Own your destiny

With over 70 modules to choose from, this programme allows you to specialise your degree to suit your career aspirations

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)

Ali's story

BSc (Hons) Business and Management graduate Ali Reza Panjwani talks about his experience at Aston University and how it propelled him to becoming an Executive Director at J.P. Morgan in New York City.

Careers and Placements

Whatever your Aston University journey, we're here to help. Discover what's possible with Careers and Placements.

Course description

BSc (Hons) Business and Management

Our BSc (Hons) Business and Management degree at Aston University will equip you with the skills, deep knowledge and practical understanding required by business managers of the 21st century.

What we will provide
First-class teaching in the UK’s second-largest city, delivered by a diverse array of staff who will inspire and excite you. Our inspirational teaching staff have established a reputation for developing innovative teaching methods, pioneering the use of gamification and creating games and simulations to make our students’ learning experience more rewarding.

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
It is important you learn how to adapt a growth mindset to your studies – understanding that intelligence and success come from applying yourself, a willingness to learn and an ambition and drive to excel. You must be able to demonstrate critical thinking, have a passion for business and be excited about what contributes to the economy and society.

What skills we teach
You will develop management and leadership skills that are applicable to real life situations. Our graduates are problem solvers who have developed the essential skills needed to keep up to date with the ever-changing world of business.

Placement year
We all know that taking a placement year will boost your employability – it’s what makes Aston University graduates some of the most employable in the country. It’s for this reason that we encourage every student to take one. The placement year gives you the chance to put theory into practice, gain relevant work experience, and develop professional and transferable skills.

The placement year is compulsory for BSc (Hons) Business and Management students. International students can request permission to opt out of the placement year, but we strongly recommend that it is completed where possible.

Career prospects
As an Aston University Business and Management graduate, you will be equipped for a range of different career options. Our recent graduates have gone on to work across the public, private and third sectors for organisations including: Amazon, Channel 4, Jaguar Land Rover and J.P. Morgan.

How you will learn

Our teaching approach is both modern and innovative. Alongside traditional lectures and training in the latest analytical tools, you'll gain valuable hands-on experience during your placement, enhancing your overall learning. At the beginning of your course, you'll be assigned a personal tutor for individual study guidance. Module tutors are readily available to answer questions, and all lectures are recorded for future reference.

Our emphasis is on practical knowledge application, with guest lectures from prominent business leaders and mentoring programs offering unique insights. Our renowned Visiting Professors, top UK business figures, share their expertise and expectations from students and graduates.

Complementing traditional teaching, our virtual learning environment provides electronic support materials. You'll have access to the University Library's extensive collection of over 25,000 books and electronic journals. University-wide services like the careers service, Jobshop, counselling and advice services, sports facilities, and Chaplaincy enhance your overall university experience and prepare you for your professional career.

Aston University also offers an array of extracurricular activities, including clubs and societies like Aston Bright Futures, which works with leading businesses across various sectors. These activities not only enrich your student experience but also help you explore your specific interests and career pathways.

What you will learn

The degree will provide you with an understanding of the various functions of management, alongside the opportunity to specialise in areas of business that interest you, preparing you for a successful management career. We make extensive use of group working and presentations to prepare you for the reality of working life.

First year

In the first year, you will explore various management subjects for a solid foundation. Topics cover economic, financial, human and legal aspects of management. You will acquire tools to address these issues, applying economic principles, financial management techniques and risk management. Additionally, you will develop business analytics skills to handle quantitative and qualitative data for reports and presentations.

Second year

In the second year, you will apply management theories to scenarios, offering recommendations and exploring solutions. You will create a learning plan, employ innovative problem-solving skills, evaluate evidence, and use analysis methods. Developing social responsibility, sustainability, ethics and accountability in professional contexts will be a key focus, with an emphasis on practical application.

Placement year

The Aston University placement year forms an integral part of your educational journey and gives you the chance to put theory into practice, gain relevant work experience, and develop professional and transferable skills. Our award-winning careers and placements team are on hand to support you through every step of your placement journey.

Placement stories

This course offers an Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway, meaning you could study overseas at one of our partner institutions during your placement year and graduate with two undergraduate degrees for the price of one.

Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway

Final year

In your final year, you will study key business and management theory and create strategies for both national and international enterprises. You will evaluate leadership, reflect on behavior and competencies, apply innovative problem-solving, and communicate business plans effectively. The program ensures in-depth knowledge and equips you with practical skills and work experience for a successful transition into the professional world.

Making an impact

Charlotte Sutton's work placement gave her the freedom and opportunity to make a real impact during her placement year.

Discover Charlotte's journey

Course objectives

Develops your understanding of the different functional areas of business and management practice.
Develops your knowledge to underpin theory and techniques to achieve sound analysis, design and deliver management solutions to solve problems.
Develops your ability to gain a wide perspective of business and management including social responsibility and ethical practice in professional contexts.
Develops your ability to work as part of a team or independently.
Develops your ability to obtain relevant industrial experience by undertaking a sandwich year (optional for international students).

Modules

Modules and learning outcomes

Year 1 modules

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

Module Title	Credits
Introductory Accounting for Business	15
Introduction to Organisational Behaviour	15
Law for Business	15
Introduction to Marketing Management	15
Principles of Operations Management	15
Foundations of Business Analytics	15
Information Technology for Business	15
Introduction to Business Economics	15
Total	120

Year 1 outcomes

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

Apply key economic principles and theories to the development, access and operation of markets for resources, goods and services.
Recall the sources, uses and methods of managing finance and understand key accounting data for planning, control, decision making and managing financial risk.
Recall the key theories of marketing and appreciate different approaches for segmentation, targeting, positioning, generating sales and the need for innovation in product and service design.
Identify key operations management theories and techniques for the management of resources, the supply chain, procurement, logistics, outsourcing and quality systems.
Apply key theories in organisational behaviour to specific organisations considering their design and development and explicitly considering managing change, cross-cultural issues, diversity and values.
Use key business analytics skills to manipulate data, evaluate, estimate, and model business problems, functions, and phenomena. Identifying and evaluating solutions to simple business problems.
Appreciate how policy and systems for the development, management, application, and implementation of information systems impact upon individuals, organisations and society.
Gather business data of both quantitative and qualitative nature and analyse it to produce tables and graphs showing key performance indicators; present argued business recommendations in both written reports and oral presentations.

Year 2 modules

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

Module Title	Credits
Virtual Business Manager	15
Business, Government and Society	15
Fundamentals of Strategy	15
Total	45

You will choose one of the following finance modules:*

Module Title	Credits
Strategic Finance	15
Corporate Financial Management	30
Total	45

You will choose from the remaining 45 - 60 credits from the following modules (selecting no more than 45 credits in any one area):

Accounting:

Module Title	Credits
Financial and Management Accounting for Managers	15
Business Tax	15
Audit, Governance and Company Law	15

Business Analytics:

Module Title	Credits
Business Analytics in Practice	15
Optimisation and Decision Analytics	15
Data Visualisation	15
Programming for Data Analytics	15

International Business:

Module Title	Credits
International Businesses and Emerging Market Economies	15
International Business Economics	15
The Modern Business World in Cultural Context	15

Business Psychology:

Module Title	Credits
Employee Resourcing	15
Psychology and Work	15
Effective Teamwork	15
Developing Creativity	15

Business Economics:

Module Title	Credits
Intermediate Microeconomics	15
Intermediate Macroeconomics	15
Quantitative Methods	15
Markets, Games and Strategy	15
Sports Economics and Finance	15

Information Systems:

Module Title	Credits
Dashboards and Spreadsheets	15
Doing E-Business	15
Cloud Computing for Business	15
Agile Practices in IT and Management	15

Law:

Module Title	Credits
Principles of Commercial Law	15
Principles of Employment Law	15
Principles of Intellectual Property Law	15

Marketing:

Module Title	Credits
Market Research	15
Services Marketing and Management	15
Digital and Social Media Marketing	15
Stakeholder Relations Management	15
Events Management	15
Sports Marketing	15
B2B Marketing and Sales	15
Understanding Consumer Behaviour for Managers	15

Operations Management:

Module Title	Credits
Business Operations Excellence	15
Enterprise Systems	15
Managing Service Operations	15

*Availability of any optional modules will be subject to staff availability and a minimum number of students who express an interest in studying the optional modules.

Year 2 outcomes

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

Apply core theories of business to given scenarios, explore alternative solutions, decide upon action, and evaluate the effectiveness of those actions.
Apply core theories of management to given scenarios, explore alternative solutions, decide upon action, and evaluate the effectiveness of those actions.
Operate effectively as part of a team to arrive at sound business decisions.
Reflect upon and articulate your own learning, plan and implement strategies to build upon this learning. Articulate your potential contributions to an employer or international partner.
Apply clear and original thinking in problem solving, demonstrating ability to select and evaluate evidence, use of appropriate methods of analysis and appreciation of multiple perspectives.
Recognise social responsibility, sustainability, accountability, and ethical practice in professional contexts and apply it in your own professional practice.
Apply a knowledge of intercultural factors to given scenarios.
Communicate structured business plans and proposals in a variety of media.

Placement year modules

You will spend your third year on placement. You will be fully supported throughout the process by our award-winning Careers and Placements team.

Placement year

Module Title	Credits
Integrated Placement Year	120

Placement year outcomes

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

Identify and explore an organisational issue and recommend appropriate action for the organisation.
Use academic theories to support the recommendations.
Demonstrate intercultural awareness in work or international study context.
Articulate key personal, cultural, professional and disciplinary knowledge and skills relevant to the placement experience and reflect on performance.

Final year modules

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

Students must choose at least one of the following modules:

Module Title	Credits
Effective Management Consultancy 1	15
Effective Management Consultancy 2	15
Knowledge at Work	15
Implementing Business Decisions	15

Students must then choose at least one of the following modules:

Module Title	Credits
Strategic Management	15
Strategic Human Resource Management	15
Theories and Practice of Leadership	15
Marketing Strategy	15
Operations Strategy	15

Choose the remaining 30 to 90 credits from the following modules selecting no more than 45 credits in any one area:

Accounting:

Module Title	Credits
Tax Policy and Personal Tax	15
Risk Management	15

Finance:

Module Title	Credits
Financial Analysis	15
Derivatives	15

Business Analytics:

Module Title	Credits
Simulation	15
Performance and Efficiency Analytics (DEA)	15
Business Analytics and Data Mining	15

Business Psychology:

Module Title	Credits
Employment Law for Human Resource Management	15
Learning and Development	15
Global Working	15
Employee Relations	15
Critical Issues in Human Resource Management	15

Information Systems:

Module Title	Credits
Managing Information Technology in a Global Context	15
Information Security	15
Technology and Practice of eCommerce	15

Law:

Module Title	Credits
Fraud, Bribery and Corruption	15
Product, Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship	15
Business Ethics	15
Data Protection Law	15
Professional Conduct and Ethics	15
Emerging Technologies, AI and Law	15
Ethics in a Crisis	15

Marketing:

Module Title	Credits
International Marketing	15
Retail Management	15
Strategic Brand Management	15
Enterprise and Entrepreneurship for Marketing	15

Operations Management:

Module Title	Credits
Supply Chain Management	15
Sustainable Operations Management	15
Effective Project Delivery 1	15

*Availability of any optional modules will be subject to staff availability and a minimum number of students who express an interest in studying the optional modules.

Final year outcomes

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

Apply business and management theory and practices to strategies for both national and international enterprises.
Demonstrate detailed knowledge, of at least one area of business and management which is informed by the research and practice at the forefront of that discipline. Effectively applying that knowledge to original business scenarios.
Recognise and evaluate leadership, acting appropriately in group work to ensure effective leadership and achievement of group objectives in a professional and ethical manner.
Reflect on your own and others behaviour and competencies, including an awareness/sensitivity to diversity in terms of people and cultures, developing plans for your development and increased effectiveness.
Apply innovative thinking in problem-solving to produce clear, structured and evidence-based solutions to business and management problems that consider multiple perspectives.
Apply the necessary theoretical underpinning and techniques to bring about sound analysis, design and delivery of sustainable management solutions.
Produce effective and convincing communications of business plans, proposals and solutions in a variety of media.

We regularly review our modules to provide the best possible teaching and learning experience, incorporating academic developments, student feedback and employer feedback.

There may be some change to some of the modules on this course for 2025/26 entry.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any changes to modules at the earliest opportunity by updating our course webpages.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints may mean it isn’t possible to take some module combinations. The structure of some courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

Entry requirements

A Levels
BBB (standard offer)
BBC (with EPQ or Core Maths minimum grade B)
BBC (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 – DDD (standard offer)

BTEC Extended Diploma – DDM (contextual 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.

31 points overall in the IB diploma with grades 5,5,5 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

Fees listed are for 2024 entry. For Sandwich courses the placement fee is £1250 for Home/UK students and £2,500 for International students. For Home students: Tuition fees for UK/Home students may change in line with government policy. When undertaking a placement year, a placement year fee applies. 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.

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

Assessment is provided through a mix of coursework and examinations. In addition, you will also be assessed on your portfolio that will be produced as part of your placement experience. You will reflect on your experience and evidence your analysis of a situation identified within the placement organisation which draws on learning from your previous studies.

Career prospects

Our BSc (Hons) Business and Management programme will prepare you for a range of careers across the public, private and third sectors. Our graduates are among the highest paid in the country, according to the 2023 Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO). This data shows that five years after graduation, employed Aston University graduates have the 15th highest median salary among all UK Higher Education Institutions, with a median salary of £36,100.

The transferable skills that our business and management programmes provide mean that our graduates are successful in finding employment in a wide range of roles such as:

Market intelligence analyst
Legal project manager
Business development manager
Marketing specialist
Head of resources
Digital project manager
Senior manager
Assistant manager
Commercial analyst
Strategy specialist
Account manager
Operations manager
Area manager
Teacher

Our graduates have gone on to work at companies such as: Atos, PwC, DHL, Santander, National Grid, Nissan, KPMG, BMW Group UK, Lidl GB, Network Rail, Amazon, Rolls Royce, FDM Group, Deloitte and Jaguar Land Rover.

Entrepreneurial success

Founder of Protein Package, George Greenhill says his decision to study at Aston University was because of the excellent reputation of Aston Business School.

Discover George's journey

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 Business and Management at Aston University?

You will develop a strong business knowledge with a strategic management perspective. You’ll also have the opportunity to tailor your degree to the areas of business that interest you most in your second and final year, helping you to shape your studies and career path to suit you.

How will a placement year benefit me?

Your integrated placement year will allow you to demonstrate to employers that you are able to transfer your knowledge to a real-world environment. A placement also helps you to understand the type of career you may want to establish once you graduate. You will have the opportunity to put your learning into practice, and develop skills that you can’t replicate by study alone.

What kind of jobs does a degree in Business and Management lead to?

You will gain strategic management skills, a broad knowledge of business, and an opportunity to develop a specialism in an area of business that interests you most.

Our graduates are in high demand and go into a wide range of roles in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

Recent roles have included:

Market intelligence analyst
Legal project manager
Business development manager
Marketing specialist
Head of resources
Digital project manager
Senior manager
Assistant manager
Commercial analyst
Strategy specialist
Account manager
Operations manager
Area manager
Teacher

Recent companies have included:

Atos
PwC
DHL
Santander
National Grid
Nissan
KPMG
BMW Group UK
Lidl GB
Network Rail
Amazon
Rolls Royce
FDM Group
Deloitte
Jaguar Land Rover

What is the Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway at Aston Business School?

You can deepen your learning and stand out from other graduates whilst gaining a fantastic learning experience overseas. The Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway is similar to an exchange programme, but during your placement year you’ll follow a particular curriculum, setting you on track for our partner institutions degree award. This means, if successful, you will graduate with two undergraduate degrees.

Find out more about the Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway.

Why should international students choose Aston University?

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

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.

Choosing to start your Aston journey with our foundation programme in business will help you develop specialist knowledge to ensure that you are fully prepared to study your chosen undergraduate course.