Business and Finance

Year 2

Compulsory modules

• Information Management for Business

• International Business Strategy

  In this module, you’ll delve into the social issues and opportunities associated with international business, and the challenges associated with a dynamic business environment. To develop your understanding of globalisation, you’ll be provided with a thorough overview of current affairs. You’ll also explore international business, while considering issues of sustainability and equality. 
  
  By completing this module, you’ll be able to assess the management and operational environment in which international business operates, while also developing the ability to analyse specific international business, innovation and sustainability strategies pursued by firms (MNCs, SMEs, NGOs).

• Accounting for Finance Professionals

• Developing Professional Practice

  This module will help you develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for making effective career decisions and managing your future career development, including transitions into graduate employment, self-employment or further study (including professional training courses) whether in the UK or overseas. This module will support you in taking an informed and critical view of the current and future world of work and consider your future role and responsibility, not only to yourself but also to others. This module will raise your awareness of the services and support offered by the Careers Service and OBBS WAVES team. The aim is to encourage you to further develop your career by engaging in placements, internships, volunteering and other extracurricular activities offered by the University.
   

• Financial Markets and Institutions

  On this module, you’ll examine the nature of financial markets and the role of financial intermediaries. You’ll analyse the nature of market efficiency, and the extent to which asset prices reflect rational decisions in consideration of psychological or speculative factors. You’ll also explore comparative merits and the question of financial regulation. Different types of financial instruments and their valuation will also be explored.

  Upon successful completion of this module, you’ll be able to assess institution-based and market-based finance in a variety of contexts, understand the main principles underlying asset pricing models, and resolve general problems in selecting investments in a global market. 

• Corporate Finance

  This module will introduce you to the fundamentals of finance and to the finance function in a company or corporation. This will enable you to understand the sorts of decisions that are taken by financial managers along with their rationales. The content includes an explanation of the role of finance in business and the objectives of the finance function. You will also examine the decisions affecting capital structure and the cost of capital.
   

• Environmentally Sustainable Business

  You’ll look at the environmental sustainability challenges facing society and businesses. You’ll discuss key environmental issues such as:

  • global warming
  • pollution
  • biodiversity loss 
  • freshwater depletion 

  and the role of business in causing as well as responding to such issues. 

  You’ll explore macro (economic, policy, governance) as well as micro (organisational and individual) perspectives. You’ll also be introduced to a variety of stakeholder perspectives and frameworks for evaluating business responses. Through the module you’ll develop your key competencies for sustainability that are endorsed by UNESCO (2017) and the QAA/Advance HE (2021). The competencies are:

  • systems thinking
  • anticipatory thinking
  • normative competency 
  • strategic thinking
  • collaborative competency 
  • critical thinking
  • self-awareness 
  • integrated problem-solving competency.
     

Optional modules

• International Finance

  You’ll study the main forces that are shaping the international financial environment. You’ll also look at the techniques and strategies used by organisations to respond to the international financial environment when making key financial decisions. 

  You’ll look at:

  • capital flows
  • exchange rate determination
  • risk management in an international context
  • international investment decisions and 
  • the financing of international activities.

  To develop your understanding of global finance and give you insight into global financial decisions that are made in today’s world.
   

• Managing the Digital Business

  In this module, you'll critically analyse the role of digital technologies in modern businesses. You'll explore software and hardware applications and evaluate their impact on competitive strategy and organisational change. Using a multidisciplinary approach, you'll cover topics like online and mobile channels, digital marketing, and business-to-business relations. You'll develop analytical and presentation skills to provide clear and concise reports, both individually and in teams.
   
  This module prepares you to lead digital technologies in modern organisations, and it equips you with essential skills to evaluate the value of digital business development for businesses and sectors.
   

• Family and Society in Business

  Through this module you will build a comprehensive understanding of the impact of family businesses and social economy organisations (SEO’s) on the business landscape. 
  
  Firstly, you will focus on family businesses and develop your insight into the unique challenges, dynamics, and advantages of family-owned enterprises, along with the strategies for effective governance and smooth transition across generations. You will delve into the study of cooperatives, including definitions, types, principles/values, governance structures, and the benefits and challenges associated with them. You will conclude the module by examining the role of SEOs in economic development and exploring the current state of SEOs in the business landscape. You will also look at the contribution of SEOs to sustainable economic growth and societal well-being.

Year 3 (optional placement year)

Optional modules

• CHOOSE ONE MODULE FROM:

• Placement

  On this placement you will be able to access a 40-52 week work-based learning / placement opportunity to help develop your employability and enterprise skills. You will gain first-hand knowledge and experience of making applications to and working in a placement role. You will set your own work-based targets and reflect upon your progress in the role you have on your placement. Halfway through your placement you will make a presentation to your line manager and placement tutor which summarises your gained knowledge on your placement and the tasks you have/ will complete in your placement role.

• Full Year International Study Abroad

  This is your opportunity to study Business topics abroad in order to experience a different national, educational and business culture and to build on your knowledge, understanding, skills and competencies you’ve gained so far. You will undertake an international study exchange at a university outside the UK, arranged with the University’s exchanges office. This international study exchange lasts for one academic year and is taken after your second year of studies (Level 5).

• OR CHOOSE THESE TWO OPTIONS:

• Short Placement

  This 24-week placement is your opportunity to develop your employability and enterprise skills. In the UK or Europe you will gain first-hand knowledge and experience of making applications to and working in a placement role. You will set your work based targets and reflect upon your success in your placement role. At the end of the placement, you will make a presentation to your line manager and placement tutor which summarises the knowledge and skills you have developed on your placement.

• Work-based Learning

  This module is also a 24-week work-based learning opportunity for you to develop your employability and enterprise skills. As on the other modules you will have the opportunity to obtain first-hand knowledge and experience of making applications to and working in a placement role. This could include employment, volunteer work experience or undertaking a consultancy type project. 
  
  You will agree a brief before your work-based role begins,set work based targets and reflect upon your success in your placement role. At the end of the placement, you will make a presentation to your line manager and placement tutor which summarises the knowledge and skills you have developed on your placement.

Year 4 (or year 3 if no placement)

Compulsory modules

• Business and Finance Synoptic

  On this module, you’ll develop a critical stance in investigating contemporary business and finance practices and issues. Using an informed and critical perspective, you’ll independently research from a range of sources including current research, newspapers and financial data. 

  You’ll develop skills required to evaluate current practice and research in the area of business and finance, and you’ll gain a systematic understanding of its key aspects. 

• Contemporary Issues in Finance

  This module provides an opportunity for students to investigate the forces shaping the contemporary financial system. A variety of issues will be examined, taking the financial turmoil of 2007-2008 as a starting point. The emphasis will be on both the underlying causes of recent financial developments and the more general implications of these for our understanding of finance and on the possibilities open to regulatory authorities, companies, investors and other interested groups to respond to these developments.
   

• Advanced Financial Management

  This module extends the basic theory of corporate finance covered in previous years by developing more complex approaches to financial management which can guide decision-making in the face of risk and uncertainty. It also examines corporate decisions concerning capital structure and the choice between internal and external finance and sets these decisions in the context of developments in a range of financial markets. Your learning outcomes include being able to apply investment appraisal techniques to conditions of risk and uncertainty, assess the impact of cost capital for businesses and understand the key principles and techniques of risk management.

• Entrepreneurial Business Management (2 module credits)

  This module provides you with an in-depth focus on the skills involved in evaluating business ideas, the practical steps involved in launching a business and the necessary processes of winning the finance. The module also addresses those issues that ventures must consider when planning an exit strategy and so focuses attention on the purpose of business enterprise. In Semester 1 this module explores contemporary theories of entrepreneurship and applies them to real life case studies. In Semester 2 the module focuses upon the preparation of a complete plan for a new business, capable of attracting funding.

  On successful completion of this module, you will be able to apply appropriate analytical concepts to provide support for untried venture proposals, understand the range of technical issues faced by those in start-up ventures and reflect on application of entrepreneurship theory, based on experience in a practical setting.
   

Optional modules

• Choose 3 Optional Module credits from those below:

• Social Enterprise and Innovation

  The module covers a multi-disciplinary approach to contemporary issues in entrepreneurship allowing you to develop a well-rounded skill set. Throughout the module, you will learn from experts in the field and gain practical insights into entrepreneurship. You will have the opportunity to engage in practical learning, including research and working within a community of like-minded individuals, enhancing your personal and professional growth. Moreover, emphasis is placed on interaction within a research community, providing you with valuable teamwork and communication skills.
  
  Overall, this module offers you a unique learning experience that combines academic rigour with practical insights, giving you a competitive edge in the job market while developing essential research and self-development skills.

• Business Accountability and Responsibility (1 module credit)

  On this module, you’ll explore contemporary issues in accounting and finance, in relation to developing a business. You’ll engage with factors such as culture, ethics and organisational size and form, to understand how they impact finance and accounting issues for business. You’ll also have the opportunity to develop digital research skills, while engaging with online reporting by corporations. 

  You’ll develop skills and knowledge central to organisational forms, organisational life cycles and different cultures. 
   

• Business Ethics (1 module credit)

  This module is designed to address our changing world that is facing social and environmental challenges. You’ll develop the capacity to make ethically defensible decisions as members of business organisations and of society in general. You’ll analyse and evaluate the ethical propositions of others. And you’ll evaluate the ethics of different systemic models of production, distribution and exchange.Upon completing this module you will be able to evaluate and apply ethical reasoning to local and global business dilemmas and economic systems, and you’ll be able to evaluate the significance of a range of western and non-western ethical perspectives. 

• Advanced Business Analytics

• Finance and Development (1 module credit)

  Throughout this module, you’ll explore the economic challenges of financing development in developing countries, while using internal and external sources of finance. You’ll investigate the difference between development and growth, the roles of public and private sector, financial dualism, credit market failures, micro finance and international capital flows. 

  Upon successful completion of this module, you’ll be able to interpret the implications of international financial flows on development, and you’ll gain an understanding of how a viable financial system can assist in economic growth and development.
   

• Sustainable Investing