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Course type: Degree

Degree

Also known as an undergraduate or bachelors degree.

Internationally respected, universally understood.

An essential requirement for many high-level jobs.

Gain a thorough understanding of your subject – and the tools to investigate, think critically, form reasoned arguments, solve problems and communicate effectively in new contexts.

Progress to higher level study, such as a postgraduate diploma or masters degree.
Credits: 360

Credits

Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.

One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.

You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.

For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
How long it takes
Study method: Distance learning
Entry requirements: Find out more about; Entry requirements

BA (Honours) Business Management

: Course code: Q91

Are you interested in how businesses develop strategies, manage risk and make decisions? This degree provides you with the skills and knowledge essential for success in business. You’ll explore how organisations operate, how they’re managed, and how they interact in the broader environment. Along the way, you’ll build critical thinking and problem-solving skills, applying them to real-world situations. You’ll also learn about the ethical and legal responsibilities businesses face. You can choose to focus on general business management or specialise in accounting, economics, leadership practice, innovation and enterprise or marketing.

Earn your degree from a triple-accredited business school:

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Key features

Course details

Entry requirements

Fees and funding

How you'll study

Careers

Gain a solid understanding of business organisations and their key functions
Tailor your studies to your career goals with specialist routes
Apply business theory to real-world business scenarios and your own experiences
Earn your degree from a triple-accredited business school (AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB,)
Develop versatile skills applicable across various roles and sectors.

We also offer a Diploma of Higher Education in Business and Management (W51) that is the same in structure as the first two-thirds of this degree; similarly, our Certificate of Higher Education in Business and Management (T27) corresponds the first third.

Course type

Degree

Credits

360

How long it takes

Part-time study – 6 years

Full-time study – 3 years

Time limit – 16 years

Study method

Distance learning

Entry requirements

Find out more about Entry requirements

Ask a question

This degree has three stages, each comprising 120 credits.

You’ll study a 60-credit introductory business and management module. Thereafter, for your remaining 300 credits, you can continue with a broad study of business or choose one from a range of specialist routes.

In this stage, you’ll have a broad and engaging introduction to the fundamentals of business and management in its global context and choose between a broad study of business management or following a specialist route through your degree.

Introductory business management module

Introductory business management module
Modules	Credits
You'll study the following:
An introduction to business and management (B100)	60

Broad study of business management; Economics; Innovation and enterprise; Leadership practice; and Marketing routes

Broad study of business management; Economics; Innovation and enterprise; Leadership practice; and Marketing routes
Modules	Credits
You'll complete Stage 1 with 60 credits from:
Business data analytics and decision making (B126)	30
Communication skills for business and management (LB170)	30
Design thinking: creativity for the 21st century (U101)	60
Discovering mathematics (MU123)	30
Economics in context (DD126)	30
Fundamentals of accounting (B124)	30
Introducing statistics (M140)	30
Making your learning count (YXM130)	30
Marketing essentials (B128)	30
You and your money (DB125)	30

Accounting route

Accounting route
Modules	Credits
You'll study the following:
Fundamentals of accounting (B124)	30
You’ll also choose one from:
You and your money (DB125)	30
Business data analytics and decision making (B126)	30

You'll continue with your chosen specialist route or with a broad study of business management.

Broad study of business management

Broad study of business management
Modules	Credits
Stage 2 (120 credits)
You'll start Stage 2 with:
Shaping business opportunities (B207)	60
You’ll also choose 60 credits from:
Developing leadership (B208)	60
Business law (B251)	30
Economics in practice (DD226)	30
Entrepreneurship and innovation (B209)	60
Financial accounting in context (B293)	30
Financial analysis and decision making (B294)	30
Essential economics: macro and micro perspectives (D217)	60
Understanding customers (B206)	60
You must have successfully completed Fundamentals in accounting (B124) prior to studying B293.
Stage 3 (120 credits)
You'll start Stage 3 with:
Strategic management (B302)	60
You'll complete your degree with 60 credits chosen from:
Creating futures: sustainable enterprise and innovation (B327)	30
Doing economics: inequalities, innovation and environment (DD320) – planned for October 2025	60
Leadership in a changing world (B329)	30
Management accounting and international finance (B391)	30
Marketing in action (B328)	30

Accounting

Accounting
Modules	Credits
Stage 2 (120 credits)
Shaping business opportunities (B207)	60
Financial accounting in context (B293)	30
Financial analysis and decision making (B294)	30
Stage 3 (120 credits)
Strategic management (B302)	60
Management accounting and international finance (B391)	30
You’ll choose one from:
Creating futures: sustainable enterprise and innovation (B327)	30
Leadership in a changing world (B329)	30
Marketing in action (B328)	30

Economics

Economics
Modules	Credits
Stage 2 (120 credits)
Shaping business opportunities (B207)	60
Essential economics: macro and micro perspectives (D217)	60
Stage 3 (120 credits)
Strategic management (B302)	60
Doing economics: inequalities, innovation and environment (DD320) – planned for October 2025	60

Innovation and enterprise

Innovation and enterprise
Modules	Credits
Stage 2 (120 credits)
Shaping business opportunities (B207)	60
Entrepreneurship and innovation (B209)	60
Stage 3 (120 credits)
Strategic management (B302)	60
Creating futures: sustainable enterprise and innovation (B327)	30
You’ll choose one from:
Leadership in a changing world (B329)	30
Marketing in action (B328)	30

Leadership practice

Leadership practice
Modules	Credits
Stage 2 (120 credits)
Shaping business opportunities (B207)	60
Developing leadership (B208)	60
Stage 3 (120 credits)
Strategic management (B302)	60
You’ll complete your degree with 60 credits chosen from:
Creating futures: sustainable enterprise and innovation (B327)	30
Leadership in a changing world (B329)	30
Management accounting and international finance (B391)	30
Marketing in action (B328)	30
We recommend that you choose Leadership in a changing world (B329) for this route.

Marketing

Marketing
Modules	Credits
Stage 2 (120 credits)
Shaping business opportunities (B207)	60
Understanding customers (B206)	60
Stage 3 (120 credits)
Strategic management (B302)	60
Marketing in action (B328)	30
You’ll choose one from:
Creating futures: sustainable enterprise and innovation (B327)	30
Leadership in a changing world (B329)	30
Management accounting and international finance (B391)	30

We regularly review our curriculum; therefore, the qualification described on this page – including its availability, its structure, and available modules – may change over time. If we make changes to this qualification, we’ll update this page as soon as possible. Once you’ve registered or are studying this qualification, where practicable, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes. If you’d like to know more about the circumstances in which the University might make changes to the curriculum, see our Academic Regulations or contact us. This description was last updated on 31 October 2024.

Accessibility

Our qualifications are as accessible as possible, and we have a comprehensive range of support services. Our BA (Honours) Business Management uses a variety of study materials and includes the following elements:

Online study – most modules are online; some have a mix of printed and online material. Online learning resources could include websites, audio/video, and interactive activities
Pre-determined schedules – we’ll help you to develop your time-management skills
Feedback – continuous assessment includes feedback from your tutor and using this to improve your performance
Using and producing diagrams and screenshots
Finding external/third-party material online
Specialist software
Mathematical and scientific expressions, notations and associated techniques
Online tutorials
Group-work
Practical work

Every module has its own Accessibility Statement with more detailed accessibility information – you’ll find these on individual module descriptions. Visit our Disability support page to learn about our services.

Learning outcomes, teaching and assessment

This qualification develops your learning in four main areas:

Knowledge and understanding
Cognitive skills
Practical and professional skills
Key skills

The level and depth of your learning gradually increases as you work through the qualification. You’ll be supported throughout by the OU’s unique style of teaching and assessment – which includes a personal tutor to guide and comment on your work; top quality course texts; elearning resources like podcasts, interactive media and online materials; tutorial groups and community forums.

Read the detailed learning outcomes here

Credit transfer

If you have already studied at university level, you may be able to count it towards your Open University qualification – which could save you time and money by reducing the number of modules you need to study. At the OU we call this credit transfer.

It’s not just university study that can be considered, you can also transfer study from a wide range of professional or vocational qualifications such as HNCs and HNDs.

You should apply for credit transfer before you register, at least 4 weeks before the registration closing date. We will need to know what you studied, where and when and you will need to provide evidence of your previous study.

For more details of when you will need to apply by and to download an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.

Classification of your degree

On successfully completing this course, we’ll award you our BA (Honours) Business Management.

If you choose specialist route, your degree title will show that:

BA (Honours) Business Management (Accounting)
BA (Honours) Business Management (Economics)
BA (Honours) Business Management (Innovation and Enterprise)
BA (Honours) Business Management (Leadership Practice)
BA (Honours) Business Management (Marketing)

The class of honours (first, upper-second, lower-second or third) will depend on your grades at Stages 2 and 3.

You’ll have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.

International recognition

If you intend to use your Open University qualification to seek work or undertake further study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether your intended qualification will meet local requirements for your chosen career. Find out more about international recognition of Open University qualifications.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

BA (Honours) Business Management

Compare this course

There are no formal entry requirements to study this qualification.

With the exception of the Accounting route, there is the option to study a mathematics module at Stage 1. Whether that module is right for you will depend on your experience and confidence with mathematics. Visit our Open Mathematics and Statistics website for information and to try some diagnostic quizzes.

How much time do I need?

Most of our students study part time, completing 60 credits a year.
This will usually mean studying for 16–18 hours a week.

Find out if you have enough time to study with our time planner

Preparing for study with an Access module

Students who start their study with an Access module are more likely to be successful when they advance to Stage 1 of their qualification. They’re specially designed to give you a gentle introduction to OU study, boost confidence in your study skills, and help you gain a broad overview of your chosen subject area.

You’ll also benefit from:

feedback from your tutor through regular one-to-one phone tutorials
support from a dedicated team throughout your study
detailed written feedback on your work.

The Access module we’d recommend studying in preparation for this qualification is our:

Business and law Access module

What you will study

This multidisciplinary module provides an excellent introduction to studying with The Open University as you'll use printed and online materials to cover a wide range of topics in law and business.

View full details of Business and law Access module

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How will I study this course?

With our unique approach to distance learning, you can study from home, work or on the move.

You’ll have some assessment deadlines to meet, but otherwise, you’ll be free to study at the times that suit you, fitting your learning around work, family, and social life.

For each of your modules, you’ll use either just online resources or a mix of online and printed materials.

Each module you study will have a module website with

a week-by-week study planner, giving you a step-by-step guide through your studies
course materials such as reading, videos, recordings, and self-assessed activities
module forums for discussions and collaborative activities with other students
details of each assignment and their due dates
a tutorial booking system, online tutorial rooms, and your tutor’s contact details
online versions of some printed module materials and resources.

If you have additional needs, we can also provide most module materials in alternative formats. Find out more about materials on our accessibility webpage.

Tutor support

You’ll have a tutor for each module, who will introduce themselves before the module begins.

Throughout the module, they will:

mark your assignments and give feedback to help you improve
guide you to learning resources
support you, whether with general study skills or help with a specific topic.

Tutorials

Tutorials usually take place online, and they’re always optional.

Online tutorials are live presentations with module tutors in dedicated online tutorial rooms and are sometimes recorded.

Assessment

Our assessments are all designed to reinforce your learning and help you show your understanding of the topics. The mix of assessment methods will vary between modules.

Computer-Marked Assignments

Usually, a series of online, multiple-choice questions.

Tutor-Marked Assignments

You’ll have a number of these throughout each module, each with a submission deadline.
They can be made up of essays, questions, experiments or something else to test your understanding of what you have learned.
Your tutor will mark and return them to you with detailed feedback.

End-of-Module Assessments

The final, marked piece of work on most modules.
Modules with an end-of-module assessment won’t usually have an exam.

Exams

Some modules end with an exam. You’ll be given time to revise and prepare.
You’ll be given your exam date at least 5 months in advance.
Most exams take place remotely, and you will complete them at home or at an alternative location.
If a module has an in-person exam (that you must take at one of our exam centres) or is invigilated online, we’ll make this clear in the module description.

Progressing to a point where I felt more comfortable writing my assignments, and having my scores reflecting that, made me quite happy because it showed the hard work was being rewarded.
Patrick ‘Ricky’ Skene, BSc (Hons) Sport, Fitness and Coaching

Other support and resources

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to our subject-specific Student Support Teams.

They’ll help you with any general questions about your study and updates to your OU account.

To help with your studies, you’ll also have access to:

our online library, with high-quality online resources to support your study
other university libraries in the UK and Ireland
the online Help Centre, which has general information about OU study and support, along with study skills advice
free Microsoft Office 365 software
IT and computing support from our Computing Helpdesk.

Find out more about student support and being a part of the OU community.

Skills for career development

This degree will help you develop a wide range of skills valued by employers, including the ability to:

understand key business functions such as marketing, human resources, information management, accounting and finance, and operations in their wider organisational and social context
construct reasoned arguments and challenge assumptions
analyse and critically evaluate information
understand the nature of leadership skills and behaviours within organisations
communicate clearly and effectively
use ICT to research, identify and present information
manage your time and take responsibility for your personal development.

Career relevance

The skills and knowledge gained from this degree can open doors to various career paths. Business management graduates are well-equipped for roles in:

middle and senior management across sectors
advertising and marketing
accountancy
human resources
banking, including investment banking
sales and retail
management consultancy
business journalism
transport and logistics.

Accreditation

The Open University Business School is one of the few institutions worldwide that are triple-accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA), the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). These are internationally recognised quality standards which independently validate the quality of the School’s teaching, research and operations. The School undergoes regular reviews to ensure that standards are maintained and has successfully retained its triple accredited status since 2004. This qualification is accredited through inclusion in these reviews.

Other careers

Business graduates are highly valued by employers for their commercial awareness. As globalisation and advances in technology, communications, financial services continue to create new business opportunities, this awareness can lead to careers in areas such as management consultancy or business journalism.

Many graduate roles, particularly in business, finance, management consultancy and the public sector are open to graduates from any discipline, offering a wide range of career possibilities.

Exploring your options

Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you’ll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice. This includes online forums, website, interview simulation, vacancy service as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.

In the meantime if you want to do some research around this qualification and where it might take you, we’ve put together a list of relevant job titles as a starting point. Some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree.

business development officer
recruitment consultant
e-marketing executive
publicity officer
risk analyst

advertising account manager
management consultant
business journalist
accountant
human resources manager

sales and retail manager
business analyst
area manager
logistics manager
marketing manager.

Register for this course

Start dates

Feb 2025 - Registration closes 09/01/2025

Credit transfer: apply by 05/12/2024

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