Our course combines the essential business theory and practice from Aston Business School with supply chain expertise to prepare you for an exciting career. Affiliated with the NOVUS Trust, you will receive professional mentoring, attend industry seminars, go on-site visits, and gain exclusive access to placement opportunities.
Business and Supply Chain Management
BSc (Hons)
Specialise in the industry that focuses on the efficient flow of goods and services from production to consumption in business operations.
Location: Aston University, Birmingham
Course type
Full-time
Entry requirements
BBB
Duration
4 years
UCAS code(s)
N1J9
Start date
Course overview
Course description
Facilities
Our lecture theatres and seminar rooms are available to provide you with theoretical content, while our computer facilities offer the necessary tools for data analysis, modeling, and software projects. You will have 24/7 access to our library which will be a valuable resource for you, offering a diverse range of digital and print materials such as textbooks, reference materials, academic journals, and online databases to enhance your learning.
Course objectives
- Provides you with the opportunities to realise your academic potential through appropriately conceived learning experiences.
- Provides you with an understanding of the physical and managerial processes involved with logistics generally, with specific reference to the integrated management of the end-to-end supply chain.
- Provides you with appropriately structured curricula, combining teaching in theoretical and knowledge-based principles with practical training skills.
- Ensures that development and modification of the programme prepare you to able to respond appropriately to the rapidly changing industrial environment.
- Prepares you with the specific academic and professional skills which are in demand by employers in UK and international business.
- Prepares you with the generic transferable skills to enable you to make a valuable contribution to business and society.
- Offers you the opportunity to obtain relevant industrial experience by providing the option of a sandwich year.
- Introduce you to the principles of the research process and their relevance to modern methods of management within the contexts of transport and the supply chain.
- Helps you create an awareness of self-development as a component of education and to develop the skills and attributes of lifelong learning.
Modules
Modules and learning outcomes
Year 1 modules
In your first year you will study the following core modules:
| Module Title | Credits |
| Study and Research Skills | 15 |
| Building Professional Relationships | 15 |
| Introduction To Supply Chain Management | 15 |
| Introductory Programming for Engineering and Physical Sciences | 15 |
| Interdisciplinary Design Project | 15 |
| Power Skills | 15 |
| Total | 90 |
Choose two modules from the options below:
| Module Title | Credits |
| Introduction to Marketing Management | 15 |
| Transport and Eng. Economics | 15 |
| Introduction to Organisational Behaviour | 15 |
Year 1 outcomes
On successful completion of the first year, you will be able to:
- Use knowledge and basic principles of science, programming, and mathematics required for logistics and supply chain management.
- Use the fundamental concepts, technology and principles of logistics and supply chain management.
- Use basic business, management and legal principles to an organisation and its operating environment.
- Create a solution as part of (interdisciplinary) teams to a design problem subject to identified constraints, evaluate the design and make improvements, using appropriate design tools and techniques
- Evaluate and interpret data using industry-standard methods and communicate information effectively to ensure data-driven approaches to decision-making in solving complex problems
- Use sustainable development strategies that reflect a deep understanding of the Circular Economy, Net-Zero strategies, Design and Systems Thinking, and Global Social Responsibility and lead to solutions that are ethically sound and globally relevant.
Year 2 modules
In your second year you will study the following core modules:
| Module Title | Credits |
| Supply Chain Analytics and Optimisation | 15 |
| Supply Chain Simulation Modelling | 15 |
| Purchasing Principles for International Supply Chains | 15 |
| Relationships and Collaboration in the Supply Chain | 15 |
| Land Transport | 15 |
| Air and Maritime Transport | 15 |
You will choose two of the following optional modules:*
| Module Title | Credits |
| Facilities and Systems | 15 |
| Employee Resourcing | 15 |
| Business Operations Excellence | 15 |
| Enterprise Systems | 15 |
| Total | 120 |
*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:
- Source, organise and analyse relevant data to understand the current situation, predict how systems might change and recommend appropriate responses for the logistics and supply chain sector.
- Analyse a problem and to select appropriate analytical process(es), tools and techniques for problem solving and decision making.
- Describe the political, social, environmental, economic and business environment within which the logistics and supply chain industry operates, evaluate and make appropriate decisions.
- Apply core theories of resource management to given scenarios, decide upon actions and evaluate the effectiveness of those actions.
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.
| Module Title | Credits |
| EPS Placement Year | 120 |
Placement year outcomes
On successful completion of the placement year, you will be able to:
- Develop an understanding of business and the relevant commercial environment and/or intercultural study and their role within it
- Gain knowledge of key aspects of good practice relevant to industry and/or intercultural study context
- Develop new knowledge and understanding appropriate to the industrial, business, study or research sector related to degree programme
- Communicate effectively in a variety of ways in a professional and industrial environment and/or in an intercultural study context.
Final year modules
In your final year, you will study the following core modules:
| Module Title | Credits |
| Final Year Project | 30 |
| Supply Chain and Procurement Strategy | 15 |
| Game-Based Simulation | 15 |
| Sustainable Supply Chains | 15 |
| Contemporary Developments in Supply Chain | 15 |
| Total | 90 |
You will choose two of the following optional modules:*
| Module Title | Credits |
| Theories and Practice of Leadership | 15 |
| Strategic Management and Finance in the Supply Chain | 15 |
| Technology and Practice of eCommerce | 15 |
| Global Marketing | 15 |
| Innovation Retail Management | 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:
- Plan, conduct and report on a substantial programme of original research related to supply chain management, collecting and analysing data, finding and synthesising material, leading to an end outcome where conclusions are supported by appropriate evidence.
- Apply a systematic understanding of key business and management theory and practices to the formulation of business and management strategy.
- Apply necessary theoretical underpinning, tools and techniques to bring about sound analysis, design and delivery of sustainable supply chain management solutions.
- Illustrate knowledge in current and emerging aspects of Business and Supply Chain management as aligned to professional careers goals.
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 (any subject) or BCC when including one STEM subject
BCC (any subject) or CCC when including one STEM subject (with an EPQ or Core Maths* at grade B)
BBC or CCC when including one STEM subject (contextual offer)
List of STEM subjects: Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Physics, Design Technology, Chemistry, Engineering Science, Computer Science, Biology, Electronics.
*List of core maths qualifications we accept: AQA Certificate in Mathematical Studies, City & Guilds Certificate in Using and Applying Mathematics, NCFE Level 3 Certificate in Mathematics for Everyday Life, OCR (MEI)* Certificate in Quantitative Problem Solving, OCR (MEI)* Certificate in Quantitative Reasoning, Pearson Edexcel Certificate in Mathematics in Context, WJEC Eduqas Certificate in Mathematics for Work and Life and Level 3 Core Math.
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.
- Extended Diploma and National Extended Diploma (any subject): DDM
- Extended Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering with an overall grade of Distinction
- National Diploma and Diploma: DM plus 1 A-level at minimum Grade B
- Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering with an overall grade Distinction plus an A-Level in any subject at grade C OR achieve an overall grade Distinction in BTEC Sub Dip/ Extended National Cert grade in any subject at grade Merit
- Foundation or 90 credits Diploma: DM plus 2 A-levels at minimum grade B
- National Extended Certificate or Subsidiary Diploma: M plus 2 A-levels at minimum Grade B
- Certificate/ National Certificate Level 3: Not accepted
31 points and above, with 5, 5, 5 in higher level subjects.
Access with at least 30 Distinctions and 15 Merits at level 3.
All candidates are considered on an individual basis and the whole application is reviewed which includes previous and predicted qualifications, any experience, references and motivation.
The following T levels are accepted qualifications for this course:
- Accounting Grade D
- Agriculture, Land Management and Production Grade D
- Animal Care and Management Grade D
- Building Services Engineering for Construction Grade D
- Catering Grade D
- Craft and Design Grade D
- Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing Grade D
- Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction Grade D#
- Digital Business Services Grade D
- Digital Production, Design and Development Grade D
- Digital Support Services Grade D
- Education and Childcare Grade D
- Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control Grade D
- Finance Grade D
- Hairdressing, Barbering and Beauty Therapy Grade D
- Legal Services Grade D
- Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing Grade D
- Management and Administration Grade D
- Media, Broadcast and Production Grade D
- Onsite Construction Grade D
- Health Grade D
- Healthcare Science Grade D
- Science Grade D
Additionally to our Level 3 requirement, you will also need to have achieved:
2 GCSEs grade C/4 or above including Maths and English
Non-standard qualifications
Degree
Year 1 entry: We may consider applicants for year 1 entry who are undertaking a 1st year degree elsewhere. You must meet the GCSEs and A level (or equivalent Level 3) 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 from your current institution.
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 in 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 from your current institution.
Year 3: We will not be able to consider any application for Year 3.
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: | £18,150 |
| 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.
