Business Management BSc(Hons)

In the first year of your Business Management degree, you will gain a firm understanding of the commercial environment and how industry can impact communities, economies and the environment. You'll explore the fundamentals of business structure including the core elements of markets and market research. This will then be explored in the light of how data management is evolving and the implications of technological advances.

Modules

Wellbeing

You will address the importance of wellbeing within an organisation and, crucially, you will explore the importance of wellbeing for your own personal and professional development.

Market Intelligence

In this module you will gain a working knowledge of robust market research methods. You will be introduced to types of market research, including primary and secondary modes, and learn how to segment markets and analyse trends, as well as different analytical methods. This will enable you to carry out research and analysis that will help you to identify market trends and gaps, using robust data to inform business decisions.

Fundamentals of Business

You'll explore the inter-relationships of functions that make up a successful business operation. You will learn about financial systems and their impact on national economies, commercial environments and national policy. You will learn about the concepts, frameworks and legal structures of the commercial business environment.

Exploring Sustainability

The module will take a proactive stance and focus on contemporary practices and positive change across a range of topics including responsible consumption, production and economic development. You will also explore potential criticisms of the concept of sustainable development, and ask whether it is truly the most appropriate way forward.

Data Management

In this module you will build knowledge of cultural contexts around Big Data, examples of data as a resource and a product and considerations for mitigating risks associated with privacy and data ethics. This will culminate in a data-centric activity where teams will aim to manage, integrate and use different forms of data to achieve specific outcomes.

Principles of Marketing

You will explore what marketing is all about in business. You will build on your existing knowledge and focus on a real business, looking at the interrelationship of how it is viewed and perceived through its marketing. This module provides a foundation on which future study of marketing can be built, particularly within the digital and social marketplaces.

You will build on your knowledge and application of sustainable practice and key management disciplines including financial management and project management. Your skills in relation to finding and applying information sources will be further developed. Live briefs and expert speakers will add context to your studies as well as an opportunity to build your collaborative skills. You will also understand business management from specialist perspectives such as risk managers and human resources managers.

Modules

Research Methods

You will develop a research project that employs both primary and secondary research methods and then present that project visually, through a poster presentation.

Risk Management

Uncertainty is a standard condition of nearly all business practices, and managed through risks. We investigate how this impacts effective leadership, company culture and productivity, risk assessments, new business opportunities, enterprise risk management, the cyber environment and fraud prevention.

Human Resource Management

You will learn best practices for recruiting and retaining talent, line managing for best results, performance management and conflict resolution. You will develop a working knowledge of Human Resource Management (HRM) in organisations, and familiarise yourself with policy structures and theory, including how these translate in everyday use.

Collaborative Working

In this module, you’ll learn about the concept of ‘design thinking’. In multi-skilled teams you’ll work on a live brief and deliver a practical project, which you’ll then evaluate through a team performance review.

Financial Management

In this module, you will acquire knowledge of financial terminology to the level where you can confidently debate the financial health of a business. You will explore differences between financial accounting and management accounting and understand the central role of cash and how finance impacts business operations.

Project Management

This module provides you with the rationale, approach, techniques and essential tools to lead, undertake or be an effective member of a project team. You will take a critical view of alternative and often complementary philosophies  and techniques such as Waterfall and Agile and you will be given the opportunity to ‘learn through doing’, applying and reflecting on the processes and tools you learn as you undertake a project.

You can choose to take an optional professional placement after your second year on a three-year programme, or after your third year if you’re studying for a degree with an Integrated Foundation Year. 

You’ll be responsible for finding your own placement, with support from the Employability Team. 

Choosing this option will enhance your industry experience and skills while studying. 

How you’ll study during your professional placement

You’ll spend time working in a professional context, as part of a business or organisation. This can be in one role, or up to three, and must be for a minimum of 24 weeks. 

You’ll develop in-demand workplace skills, deepen your insight into industry and grow your network of contacts, all of which could help you get ahead in your career after graduation. 

Throughout this year, you’ll develop a portfolio of work that includes critical self-reflection on what has been learned from the experience. You’ll be required to evidence your experiences, the skills you’ve learned and your professional growth. 

By the end of your final year, you will have the confidence and skills to organise and deliver your own complex, original, management project.

You will build your understanding of how international trade is conducted including assessment of your knowledge at government level. You will further develop your leadership capabilities and produce a portfolio that brings together all of your learning from the course. Connecting with industry both on and off campus, you will build valuable relationships to launch your career upon graduation. You will also broaden your views of strategic awareness in the commercial environment and the important areas of governance and ethics.

Modules

Professional Development

You will reflect upon your ongoing professional development journey and build a portfolio that is designed to document a wide range of skills, attributes, and experiences.  This will enable you to understand the value of reflective practice to inform professional development.  You will also learn how to apply effective reflective practice, informing personal and professional development.

Strategy

You will learn to think strategically about business objectives, engaging with a number of approaches and frameworks. You’ll engage with a variety of case studies across sectors, industries, geographical and cultural landscapes, making links among common strategic practices.

Global Economies & International Trade

You will explore different modes of entry in international markets. By the end of this module, you will produce a project proposal developed to global contexts and with a practical focus, delivered with a rationale for decisions taken. This will be based on innovative thinking designed to disrupt, involving both creativity and calculated risk-taking.

Leadership

You will explore and review a range of leadership models, styles and frameworks, enabling you to understand leadership practice and its impact in organisations. You will complete a leadership self-assessment, and be encouraged to seek external feedback to engage in a comprehensive reflection and development process.

Management Research Project

This module provides an opportunity for you to research a topic of interest, of your choice. You will produce a consultancy or transformation plan for any business or industry. The topic must be agreed by the module leader within the first three weeks of the study block.

Corporate Governance & Ethics

You will examine global corporate governance systems and assess the roles, responsibilities and challenges for board members and senior executives. This will be set with the context of stakeholder theory, corporate governance theory, policy and current issues. The context of sustainability, resilience and accepted practice will be investigated in light of boardroom and director responsibility from both ethical and legal perspectives.

You’ll deliver real products or services as you form a business team, develop a plan, create your venture and launch it to market. For each module, you’ll attend a weekly lectures and seminars, and fit online study materials around your schedule. This Business Management degree is designed to give you time to embed your learning into your entrepreneurial venture. 

This course includes a variety of different teaching methods ranging from ‘content delivery’ sessions to more collaborative seminars and workshops. This combination of teaching methods means that you are exposed to relevant frameworks and concepts, have the opportunity to enhance your understanding through discussion and can then experiment through your own practical application. 

You may also have the opportunity to take part in micro-internships with a variety of businesses, such as Wonderland Magazine and Bijoux De Mimi, and draw knowledge and experiences from guest speakers that bring their own industry expertise to your learning journey.

At Falmouth, we use a 'digitally enhanced learning & teaching' approach. Your experience will always be predominantly in-person, including seminars, tutorials and studio teaching, with some, more targeted elements, being online either live (synchronous) or pre-recorded (asynchronous). You can read more here.

There are no formal written exams with this course; all assessment is coursework-based.  

The coursework includes a varied range of assessments across the duration of the course, including reports or essays, case studies, reflections, presentations, projects, collaborative activity or portfolios. 

Assessments are distributed across the duration of the course. Developmental and formative feedback will be provided on your work within modules in order to build confidence, add knowledge and improve your skills. This will be available both in class and within a more informal environment. Each summative assessment (the final assessed work) will also be accompanied by formal feedback, providing an opportunity to reflect on your own work but also to look forward to future assessment(s).