Course overview
Study at Teesside University International Business School
See what it’s like to study at our modern, enterprising and dynamic business school
The emphasis is on developing skills relevant to the real world of work, and making practical links between theory and the demands of business management. You develop general skills in communication, teamworking, problem solving and analysis.You gain the knowledge and skills necessary to progress into an industry-level role, and apply your learning in a broad context, examining relevant topics and issues.There is an emphasis on pushing your limits, giving you the confidence to gain promotion and progress within your work environment. You explore topics that allow you to successfully manage a business regardless of the size, and develop team working and communications skills that are essential for any workplace. Emphasis is on the tactical and operational aspects of business management, enabling you to build a foundation of good practice in problem solving, analysis and managing in business. Upon completion of this course you can top-up to a full management degree with Teesside University.
Where you study
This course is delivered at Darlington College (part-time only) (call 01325 503030).
Course details
Year 1 covers the main business functions plus a personal development module. In Year 2 you will focus on international business, operations and entrepreneurial skills.
Course structure
Year 1 core modules
Analysing Financial Performance
Analysing Financial Performance equips you with techniques that enable you to participate in the analysis and efficient management of the financial resources of an organisation, and cover the planning and budgeting process through to the evaluation of performance. This process includes decision-making based on financial data, preparing budgets and analysing performance against budget, and looking at ways to add value to an organisation.
Introduction to Strategic Marketing in Business
You gain an understanding of the main theories of Human Resource Management (HRM) and how they are applied within the workplace. You gain theoretical and practical underpinning for the comprehension and analysis of the nature of HRM, including the formal systems devised for the management of people within an organisation.
Personal and Professional Development
You develop your understanding of academic and subject specific skills and acquaint yourself with a range of academic conventions and practices. If you are a work-based learner, you can develop key personal skills. You reflect on your own learning and achievement is developed to assist you to proceed to the next stage of your career. It equips and prepares you to work autonomously and become independent, in preparation for employment and higher level study.
This module looks at the nature of organisations and different approaches to managing organisations. You will also consider some of the key issues that influence people's performance in work, such as motivation management, leadership, dealing with conflict and teams.
Work Based Study
Year 2 core modules
Change Management
Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Skills for Future Ventures
International Business Environment
This module builds on the learning from the Self Analysis and Career Development module. The learning takes place in the workplace, either the normal place of work or a placement appropriate to the sector of study. The module is project based, mainly. The individual should identify a significant aspect of dysfunction in the organisation, identify the underlying factors and develop proposals for how that problem can be addressed. This will be agreed between the student, the employer and the tutor. The module also builds on the Personal Development Plan which the student produced in the Self Analysis and Career Development module in year one of the programme. The individual will reflect on the original personal development plan, drawing on and analysing the learning they have received throughout the programme together with the development of individual key skills. An updated plan will be produced.
and one optional module
Operations and Supply Chain Management
You study the fundamental concepts of operations management and its associated issues from a much wider and strategic supply chain perspective. You focus on real world cases and conduct independent evaluation on key supply-chain practices.
This module aims to introduce the fundamental concepts of project management and to build on the role of the project manager in managing teams and providing support for organisational change. It will also be a focus for understanding how to manage several projects from feasibility to post implementation stages, including risk and contingency management. The module will also introduce one of the most prominent project management software used in the industry, Microsoft Project.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
Lessons are delivered through a variety of methods including interactive presentations, lectures, group discussion and case studies. Self-study gives you the opportunity to cover a wider range of learning.
How you are assessed
You are assessed through a range of work-related assignments and work-based projects. All modules must be successfully completed to achieve the award.
Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services
Find out more about financial support
Find out more about our course related costs
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
The entry criteria are based on your ability to succeed and can be demonstrated in a variety of ways including:
a range of Level 3 qualifications (NVQ 3, BTEC Award, A Level)
appropriate training through work
English and maths at GCSE grade 4 (grade C) or above (or equivalent).
Because this course is taught at Darlington College, we are not accepting applications from international students requiring a Student Visa.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL
Employability
Career opportunities
Opportunities exist in a variety of business and management areas. Once you have completed the course successfully you can move to one of Teesside University's top-up awards such as BA (Hons) Business and Enterprise (Top-up) (Online) or BA (Hons) Management Practice.
We provide an environment that allows you to develop the extra practical employability characteristics that make you more attractive to employers in the job market.
Our award-winning careers service works with regional and national employers to advertise graduate positions, in addition to providing post-graduation support for all Teesside University alumni.