This is a unique Business Management degree aimed at those who are in full-time employment and now wish to obtain a formal qualification in management.

This is a unique part-time Business Management degree offering flexibility and choice to those in full-time employment who are looking to progress their professional and personal development and gain formal qualifications without putting their careers on hold so includes:

• Individuals who bypassed university upon leaving school and went straight into employment and are now looking to strengthen their work experience with a formal qualification (advanced entry will be considered for individuals with sufficient work experience at a management level)
• Individuals looking to top up further education qualifications such as HNC/HNDs/unclassified degrees
• Individuals looking for a change in career path or work advancements that now requires a business management qualification
• Individuals looking to achieve a specific post graduate qualification in management including a range of MSc/MBA
• Individuals who wish to study whilst in full time employment
• Also opportunities for those currently not in employment

Study in Years 1,2 and 4 is via Blended learning, with course subject content and activities delivered online along with monthly Saturday workshops at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen - attendance of workshops is compulsory.   Stage 3 is delivered by supported distance learning.

Blended/Distance learning allows students to continue to work full-time without the need for a career break and provides the opportunity to enhance careers through academic study and practical translation of the theory. This can also be a great chance to meet like-minded individuals across a number of industries and develop networking opportunities.

There are qualifications at the end of each year of study within this degree so if you are not in a position to commit to the whole programme you will be able to achieve formally recognised qualifications:

BA(Hons) Business Management Exit Awards

Download a PDF of this course

Business Management

Learning materials are accessed by students through our virtual learning platform, CampusMoodle. These study materials are then consolidated with discussions and activities at our monthly workshops in Aberdeen, where students will work with lecturing staff and other students, or via discussion forums on CampusMoodle.   You will find out more about this under the 'How you will learn' section.

Assessments on the course are a combination of closed book examinations and coursework submissions with prescribed dates set in advance. Key subject areas include the following:

Stage 1

• Business Management Environment
• Financial Accounting for Managers
• Accounting for Management Decisions
• HRM for Managers
• Introduction to Marketing
• Academic and Professional Skills

Stage 2

• Operations Management
• Personal & Business Finance
• Organisational Behaviour
• Business Law
• Finance for Business Decisions
• Consumer Behaviour
• Public Relations
• Business Information Systems

Stage 3 (Runs concurrently with Stage 2)

This is for students with work experience who are seeking to bypass Stage 3 of the academic learning by marrying up the theory they have studied over Stages 1 & 2 with their own employment role and who wish to obtain an honours degree.

• Work-based Experience
• Management in Practice
• Personal Development Portfolio
• Evidence of current/prior work experience (via APL for part-time students in full-time employment)

Stage 3 (Academic Route)

Academic Route - For students with a minimum of 5 years relevant management experience they can commence at this stage of the course but it can also be undertaken by students who have completed Stages 1 & 2 but who do not wish to apply for the APL exemption above as they do not have the relevant employment role or would prefer to obtain an unclassified degree before advancing to the honours year.   This is a supported distance learning route.

This is also suitable for students with an HND in Business or Administration and in full-time employment.

Students looking to gain access to certain Masters programmes will also undertake this route and can either exit with a Graduate Certificate (subject to formal approval) or a degree.

Modules

24 Sept –18 Nov 2012

• Business & People Skills

19 Nov – 20 Jan 2013

• Information Technology

21 Jan – 17 Mar 2013

• The Management Environment

18 Mar – 19 May 2013

• Managing Finance
• New Business Project*
• Business Consultancy Project*

*New Business Project/Business Consultancy Project  – submitted in July 2013.

Stage 4

• Business Strategy
• Corporate Governance
• Human Resource Management
• Quality Management
• Marketing Communications
• Research Methods: Proposal
• Dissertation

Please note that subjects can change as we continuously update the course content.

For Stage 1 of the course there is a compulsory induction session on 29th September 2012 (9.30am – 5pm) where students are trained in the use of the necessary software. Students must have access to a computer on a regular basis to be able to undertake this course of study.  Distance Learning students will undertake an on-line induction.

The BA (Hons) Business Management is a blended/distance degree course taught through CampusMoodle, the university Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) which offers students flexibility of where and when they can study, and attendance at monthly Saturday workshops, with the exception of Stage 3 Distance Learning.

CampusMoodle offers full open access to tutors and other class members. Students have the benefit of being part of a group of learners with the invaluable opportunity to participate in active, group-related learning within a supportive online community setting. The online campus provides students with course materials which include:

• Online activities
• Discussion forums - student and tutor led
• Up-to-date web technology for delivery methods
• User friendly material

All students are required to fully participate in their online learning experience and engage with the learning process. As online learners, students are part of a 'virtual cohort' and the communication and interaction amongst members of the cohort is a significant aspect of the learning process with a particular emphasis on group-related activities. However, a collaborative learning environment also requires that students become independent 'open learners' and take responsibility for when, where and how their learning occurs.

Once you have received an offer for the course and before enrolment, all successful applicants are offered the chance to log into our virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle.  This gives you the opportunity to view course information, ask questions and find out more before you start the course.

Each application is individually assessed based on previous qualifications and the level of business and management experience.

We welcome applications from students who have non-standard qualifications or indeed no qualifications but practical experience.

• Scottish students can apply for the part time fee grant or the part time fee waiver if they are studying the part-time route.
• English students can apply for loan funding through Student Finance England if they are studying the full-time or the part-time route.
• All students are eligible to pay their fees on an installment basis according to the University payment system.
• Many of our existing students on this course are funded wholly or partially by their employer.  Arrangements can be made for the employer to be invoiced.

For further information please contact us or visit Student Finance .

All course fees are reviewed annually and subject to change.

Applications for admission to part-time courses should be made online directly to the University's Admissions Office online at www.rgu.ac.uk/applyonline.

If you have any queries, please contact our Admissions Office: 

• Email PGOffice@rgu.ac.uk
• Call +44 (0) 1224 262132

If you are an International Student and would like further information and application advice:

• Complete our International Enquiries form
• Call 0044 1224 262726
• Email international@rgu.ac.uk

Further details are also available from the Course Leader:

Susan Lawrie

Aberdeen Business School
Robert Gordon University
Garthdee Road
Aberdeen AB10 7QE

Tel: +44 (0)1224 263861
Email: s.lawrie@rgu.ac.uk

This course will contribute to your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and prepare you for continuing or entering careers in the following fields:

• accountancy and finance
• personnel and human resource management
• marketing and market research
• business strategy
• small business management and startup
• operations and logistics
• e-business and business systems
• public sector management
• project evaluation
• banking and insurance
• retail management

The University supports career development and offers online and offline advice and services through the RGU Careers Centre