Business Management and Economics BA

Business management core modules:

Fundamentals of Organisational Behaviour

This module introduces you to organisational behaviour which involves studying how people can effectively work together to achieve group and organisational aims. During this module you will be introduced to a range of topics associated with organisation studies including leadership, individual difference, conflict, power, control, ethics, communication, and organisational design. By exploring perspectives and theories you will develop understanding about peoples' behaviour at work, and create socially and ecologically responsible plans for improving the effectiveness of individuals, groups and organisations. An emphasis is put on supporting you to reflect on perspectives and theories about processes of organising and forms of organisation by evaluating their underpinning assumptions and applying them to real-world situations.

20 credits

Introduction to Management

This module provides an introduction to management and specific functions such as marketing, operations management, strategy and social responsibilities. This module introduces the fundamentals of management theory and practice, enabling you to develop your views by critically analysing and evaluating various schools of thought in both historical and contemporary contexts. You will be expected to develop a detailed understanding of different fields of practice within the wider context of management and organisations.    

Building on this foundation, the module will further explain key subfields (or themes) of management, including strategy, marketing, operations management and responsible management. You will have an opportunity to practice your collaborative and presentation skills through the coursework assignments and work during the classes.

20 credits

Career Development Planning

This module is intended to provide a structured and supported process for you to reflect upon your own learning, performance and/or achievement, and to plan for your personal, educational and career development. It is designed to ensure you are fully prepared to gain the most from your academic studies and to be better placed to continue your development throughout and beyond your degree studies.

20 credits

Economics core module:

Microeconomic Analysis and Policy

This module introduces you to the fundamental principles of microeconomic theory, focusing on the behaviour and decision-making processes of individuals, households, and firms. You will gain a solid understanding of key microeconomic concepts, such as choice theory, market structures, consumer behavior, and firm decision-making. The module explores the practical application of microeconomic analysis to contemporary policy issues.

20 credits

Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy

This module introduces you to the foundations of macroeconomic theory and analysis. You will explore how economies operate at the aggregate level and develop the tools to understand key economic indicators such as interest rates, national output, inflation, and exchange rates. Through real-world examples and policy applications, you will learn how macroeconomic analysis informs and shapes economic decision-making and policy evaluation in national and global contexts.

20 credits

You will take one of the following economics modules:

Mathematical Methods for Economics 1

This is a core module designed for students who do not have an A-Level in Mathematics or equivalent. It will provide you with specialist support and training to introduce you to relevant key elements of maths taught at A-Level. You will learn to apply these elements in ways that are essential for problem solving in economics. The tools you gain from this module will be used throughout the rest of your degree.

20 credits

Mathematical Methods for Economics 2

This module is designed for students with an A-Level in Mathematics (or an equivalent qualification). You will revisit key mathematical tools covered in A-Level Mathematics (such as differential calculus) and learn to use them to formulate and solve problems in economics and finance. You will also be introduced to other techniques that are essential for problem solving in economics. These tools will be used throughout the rest of your degree. The topics covered include: sequences/series and the economics of finance, functions, univariate optimization, elasticity, integration, multivariate optimization, constrained optimization, and matrix algebra.

20 credits

Business management core modules:

Business Strategy

This course will introduce students to business strategy and the strategic management process. It seeks to enhance their understanding of the theories and practice of strategy. Students will be able to learn why, and how, companies make strategic decisions in the context of today's complex and dynamic world of business. Students will be introduced to various strategic analysis frameworks and learn how these can be used to help organisations better understand their strategic position and formulate feasible and suitable growth and competitive strategies. Based on a sound understanding of the theories, students will be required to apply the concepts through the use of innovative strategic planning teaching and learning technologies and case study material.

20 credits

Essentials of Marketing

In this module you will learn the fundamental concepts of marketing. You will be able to evaluate macro and micro environmental factors that impact marketing decisions, learn how consumers make decisions when purchasing products and services, and be able to analyse the elements of the marketing mix of products and services as well as analyse segmentation, targeting and positioning strategies that organisations utilise. You will also be introduced to ethics in marketing.

20 credits

Organisations in Society

In this module you will  explore the role of organisations in society and consider the extent to which they can become truly socially responsible in the modern world. You will be introduced to a range of topics through weekly lectures and tutorials which begin by considering the key challenges of organisations (including businesses, nonprofits and alternative organisations such as co-operatives) when it comes to being socially responsible. You will also critically explore different specific themes that cut across multiple areas in management and organisation studies including topics such as organisations and an inclusive culture; changing organisational practices and operations; creating a responsible workplace through responsible HR incorporating EDI practices; corporate citizenship and community engagement; responsible marketing; and strategy and planning. Overall, on this module 'Organisations in Society', you will conduct a critical exploration of the complexities and challenges of responsibility in the workplace and how they respond and relate to these challenges within local, national and global communities.  

20 credits

Economics core modules:

- Statistics and Economics

Optional modules (choose two):

Public Economics

Public economics uses the tools of microeconomics and empirical analysis to study the impact of government policies on economic behaviour and the distribution of resources in the economy.

20 credits

Macroeconomic Policy

The module will focus on applying macroeconomic theory to a variety of economic policy issues. The module will consider fiscal and monetary policy and will include how policy responds to economic shocks. The course builds on the knowledge of the core first year economics modules.

20 credits

Economics of Financial Institutions

This module covers introductory monetary, banking and finance theory and issues relating to policy and regulation of the banking and finance system. The module introduces the basic concepts in money and banking while it supports and expands on the material provided in ECN201 and ECN202, the second year micro and macro modules.

20 credits

Economic Decision-making

In life we are constantly making economic decisions: whether to go to university; whether to leave a tip in a restaurant; whether to buy a house or rent; whether to declare all our income to the tax authority; whether to play the lottery; whether and how much to invest in the stock market. In this module we study economic theory and evidence related to decision-making in these different contexts with a view to understanding human decision-making, how it deviates from standard notions of economic rationality.

20 credits

Intermediate Microeconomics

This module builds on Level 1 modules in microeconomics and mathematical economics, using the mathematical training to allow a more rigorous investigation of the principles of microeconomics. It aims to develop an understanding and ability to undertake economic analysis of models of the behaviour and interaction of economic agents (consumers, firms and government) in a market economy, the functioning of different types of industries, decision making under uncertainty and economic welfare.

20 credits

Intermediate Macroeconomics

The aims of this course are to provide firm grounding in the analytical tools of modern macroeconomics; to use these tools to understand critically the conduct of economic policy nationally and internationally. The course builds on level 1 modules in macroeconomics. The main subject areas covered are: Basic macroeconomic models: consumption/leisure choice, closed economy one period-macro models, models of search and unemployment; Savings, investment and government deficits: consumption/savings choice (two-period model), credit market imperfections, real intertemporal model with investment; Money and business cycles: flexible price models, New Keynesian economics (sticky prices), inflation; International macroeconomics: international trade, money in open economy; Economic growth: Malthus and Solow growth models, convergence, endogenous growth model.

20 credits

* Students can only take one of Intermediate Microeconomics or Intermediate Macroeconomics *

Business Management core modules:

Final Year Challenge

This final-year module offers you a gateway to real-world experience and career readiness. It is designed to enhance your understanding of contemporary real-life issues within companies and organisations, increase awareness of your skills and personal attitudes, and provide you with a concrete avenue to showcase your abilities and creativity. This module also provides you with an important work-related learning experience, demonstrating your abilities to future employers. This is especially important if you have not had a placement yet, as it equips you with a demonstrable project to discuss during future job interviews.

You will be given the freedom to choose the 'challenge pack' and literature that best fit your interests and to build upon your strengths as developed throughout the programme). In practice, you will address a management problem independently. You will meet with the chosen organisation and/or company and report your analysis and recommendations back to them. To do so, you will be invited to reflect on your skills, analyse real-life data provided by the organisations, examine scholarly research independently, critically assess theories and apply them to your management problem. Your work will need to show awareness of social responsibility and/or environmental sustainability. The Module Leader and the teaching staff will support you throughout this entire journey.

40 credits

Economics core modules:

- Economic Policy and Practice

Optional modules (choose one):

Creativity and Innovation

The module aims to develop in students both a theoretical critical understanding of, and practical guidance to enhance, creativity and innovation in organisations. Topics will include: different methodologies for studying creativity and innovation; cognitive, biological, personality and affective bases of individual creativity; explaining influences on team and organisational innovation; and social dimensions of innovation. A key practical feature of the module is that it will also train students in how to use the CLEAR IDEAS model to develop innovative solutions to real-life problems.

20 credits

Strategy Practice

This advanced strategy module will develop students' understanding of strategy practice and the processes through which strategies are accomplished within organisations. Building on students' understanding of the key concepts, frameworks and theories of strategic management, the module focuses on 'strategy work'; developing a deeper understanding of the nature of strategy work in organisations and strategy work and how strategy practitioners carry out this work. By applying key concepts and theories to everyday practical problems and case studies of strategy work in organisations, students will be able to critically examine how strategy practitioners deal with complex real-world problems in organisations and the practices that influence strategy outcomes. In this way, this module will enhance students' understanding of how strategy works in practice. The module will also enable students to recommend appropriate strategies and solutions for strategy practitioners in organisations.

20 credits

Digital Marketing

This module is intended to guide students on the applications of marketing theory to the Internet. Teaching will involve building upon existing marketing concepts while questioning the validity of existing theory in light of the differences between the Internet and other media, and differences between digital marketing and other forms of marketing communications. The module covers how organisations (both public and private sector) use digital media to connect, interact, establish and maintain productive dialogue with customers. The module explores the impact of the Internet on marketing and branding activities and the techniques employed to enable the development of meaningful customer relationships.

20 credits

International Marketing

This module provides students with an understanding of international marketing. The module will prepare students for the challenge of global marketing and enable students to have sufficient knowledge to be able to take on international related work, if faced by this challenge in industry.

20 credits

Project Management

In this module, you will gain foundational theories and practical skills essential for managing projects effectively across diverse contexts. You will learn to structure and schedule projects, effectively manage resources, and estimate costs, with a strong focus on enhancing adaptability and responsiveness. The module equips you with the fundamentals needed to manage projects across a wide range of industries and covers key aspects of project monitoring and control, ensuring you become proficient in using several project management tools and techniques. You will also benefit from the wide emphasis placed on communication and collaboration skills required for managing projects across a diverse set of contexts and industries.

20 credits

Responsible Management for a Sustainable Society

This module considers the critical challenges faced by contemporary organisations in the context of the global 'polycrisis'—a state of multiple intersecting crises encompassing threats of climate change, entrenched poverty and inequalities, deepening global conflict etc. Managers across different organisations must find ways to navigate these challenges, whilst creating multiple forms of value for their stakeholders. In the business world such crises are increasingly being re-conceived as opportunities, and addressing them positioned centrally as part of the core 'purpose' of firms. New forms of business organising are also emerging that give primacy to the creation of public over private benefit and seek to develop innovative new solutions to global sustainable development challenges. 

This module aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills you will need to manage organisations in an age of polycrisis. To do this, you will gain critical understanding of key concepts, theories and perspectives in the field of responsible management. You will learn about the practical challenges managers in contemporary organisations face in respect of ethics, business and society, and sustainable development, and how these can be navigated. You will examine, critically evaluate, and propose recommendations for organisations applying responsible management principles in their activities. You will learn how the embedding of responsible practice is creating new roles in organisations, with opportunities for your future careers.

20 credits

Strategic Organisational Crisis Management

This module will introduce students to strategic organisational crisis management from a process perspective. Contextualising organisations within a framework of formal and informal institutions, this research-led and practice-oriented module will guide students through organisational incubation, response and recovery from crisis. It will draw upon key concepts, such as systems and complexity, to provide lenses through which the manager can gain critical insights into the crisis process and thereby potentially develop socially responsible interventions which can help organisations prepare, respond and learn from major disruptions.

20 credits

Socially-Responsible Marketing and Consumption

The module provides students with a comprehensive understanding of socially responsible marketing and consumer behaviour, demonstrating how these principles can address societal challenges, such as sustainable development, the impact of overconsumption, public health, and consumer welfare. It explores how socially responsible marketing practices can tackle social issues, support non-profit organisations, aid government policy development, and benefit society. The module equips students with the skills to critically assess marketing strategies and conduct secondary research to evaluate and improve practices. Both theoretical and practical approaches will be used to explore how these principles adapt to the evolving socioeconomic and technological environment, benefiting a variety of sectors, including arts, education, for profit organisations and healthcare.

20 credits

Work-Related Health & Well-Being

This module is designed to introduce students to a broad range of topics relevant to good understanding of employee well-being in the workplace of today. Indicative topics that might be covered include: stress/burnout, workplace bullying/violence, absenteeism (and presenteeism), musculoskeletal disorders, job crafting, job redesign etc. In addition, the module will examine potential workplace/organisational interventions designed to limit the risks to employees of these factors, for example, organizational stress policies, bullying policies and reporting systems, HR initiated health and well-being programmes, mindfulness.

20 credits

Work and Employment in the Twenty-First Century

This module is concerned with exploring the dimensions of work and employment in the twenty-first century. It will explore as its central motif notions of 'decent work and 'job quality within the contemporary political economy. We will examine the key dimensions of job quality focussing on issues relating to skill formation, employee autonomy and growing work pressures. As well as exploring changes in the quantity and quality of jobs on offer in the economy, the module will also explore the dimensions and dynamics of job quality for key occupational groups such as creative workers, knowledge workers, service workers and manual work. As a result questions such as 'what makes a job have quality 'why are bad jobs growing 'are graduate jobs disappearing and 'is knowledge work on the increase will be considered. The module will draw on a wide body of both empirical research as well as requiring a theoretical engagement with the subject.

20 credits

Optional modules (choose two):

International Trade

The first part of the course will cover neoclassical trade theories in which countries trade following their comparative advantage. The second part of the course deals with more recent trade theories based on economies of scale and/or imperfect competition that helps us to explain some recent patterns observed in the data. The third part of the course is an introduction to trade policy and the political economy of trade policy.

20 credits

Monetary Economics

This module covers monetary theory and monetary policy. It presents several economic models and discusses what monetary policy can and cannot do, as well as an introduction to the New Keynesian model. The module aims to enable students to apply the skills of economic analysis to the conduct of central banks and to the mechanisms underlying the monetary transmission mechanism.

20 credits

Urban Economics

Urban economics is concerned with understanding the spatial form of cities and the spatial distribution of economic activities within a country, making use of theoretical models and empirical evidence. Three fundamental questions are: (1) Why are economic activities within a country so unequally distributed across space? (2) Why do cities, and more broadly agglomerations of firms and workers, emerge and in what locations? (3) What are the consequences of unequal distribution of activities for productivity, innovation and wages? This module covers topics such as:- Why do cities exist and why do firms cluster?- What determines equilibrium city size and features of the urban system?- City growth, spatial transformation and the implications for productivity, knowledge and wages.- Real Estate economics and the housing market.- Diseconomies in cities: Urban location, land rents and land use patterns.- Unequal distribution of economic activities and levelling-up.- Transportation economics.- Urbanisation in developing countries.

20 credits

Health Economics

Economics is the study of how society allocates its scarce resources across competing alternatives. This notion of scarcity is as relevant in the health care sector as it is elsewhere and, thus, it is important that the resources available to health and health care are used in the best possible ways. This course will: look at how best should be defined in the context of health care; consider the roles that market forces and governments might play in achieving the sector's objectives; and discuss what information is needed so that resources can be deployed where they will do the most good. The aims of the module are: 1. To enable students to develop a critical understanding of the basis of health economics.
2. To introduce students to the health economists' toolkit, the ways in which it can be used in to inform health care resource allocation, and its limitations.

20 credits

Economic Analysis of Inequality and Poverty

This module will cover the economic theories used for the analysis of inequality and poverty.
The theories will be backed by evidence from both the developed and the developing countries. The module starts off by a discussion of issues around measurement of inequality and poverty; the different measures that are used and the inherent assumptions behind these measures. We then move on to explain the existing global trends in inequality and poverty. Different theories are used to explain these trends; for example: role of human capital, poverty traps etc. Finally we discuss the policy response of different countries to address the issues of inequality and poverty, drawing on the specific examples of welfare programmes in the developed countries and the conditional cash transfers in the developing countries.

20 credits

Education Economics

The amount of education possessed by individuals will influence their decisions in future. Education relates to issues such as health and labour market decisions. This module examines the demand for and provision of education, incorporating a mixture of economic theory such as human capital; rates of return to further and higher education and course type all of which directly relate to the labour market. The graduate labour market is analysed, incorporating changes in the provision of higher education and an understanding of the rationale for the introduction of top-up fees. A final section considers schools, analysing and evaluating issues such as class size reduction, competition and selection, the performance of teachers, and the importance of pupils' family backgrounds, all in terms of their effect on pupil performance.

20 credits

Political Economy

Important economic processes cannot be fully understood without taking into account political and institutional factors and governments' political motivations. This module introduces insights from politics into the study of public policy and economic performance. In particular, it aims to give students: 1. an opportunity for interdisciplinary study within the undergraduate economics degree; 2. familiarity with the modern literature in theoretical and applied political economy; 3. an opportunity to develop their research skills through research-oriented assignments.

20 credits

Environmental Economics

Economic choices shape nature just as nature can shape our choices. This module provides students with the opportunity to apply economic concepts and methods to issues related to the use and management of the environment and natural resources. The module explores issues, arguments and analysis of market failure in the protection of the environment. It also offers public policy responses to issues of sustainability and climate change.

20 credits

Behavioural Economics

Standard economic models can successfully model human behaviour. However, the strong assumptions required of economic actors in those models will make systematic mispredictions in some contexts. Behavioural economics tries to overcome the systematic mispredictions by adopting non-standard assumptions, often inspired by insights from other disciplines. The module will discuss empirical evidence that underpins these non-standard assumptions, and will reflect on how insights from behavioural economics can be relevant in real life.

20 credits

Economics of Race and Gender

The Economics of Race and Gender first presents an overview of differential outcomes by gender and ethnicity in the UK labour market and discusses the possible drivers of these differences.  It then presents economic theories of discrimination in labour markets before discussing the strategies that economists use to test for discrimination in the real world.  

20 credits

The Economics of Innovation

The aim of this module is to provide an overview of the economics of innovation. The module will study firms' incentives to invest in innovation and the resulting policy implications. Expanding your knowledge of microeconomics this module will include the relationship between market structure and innovation, the role of firm cooperation and the effects of mergers on innovative activities. We will also look at the role of intellectual property rights / patent systems and policy interventions. As many innovations in recent years are in the areas of digitalization, artificial intelligence, and big data, the module will also cover those topics.

20 credits