BA (Hons) Business Management (Top-Up)

Course Essentials
Entry Requirements
Course Details
Career Prospects
Teaching Methodology

Course Overview

Our business management top-up degree will help you get ready for the career you really want. The perfect choice for anyone who’s already completed a HND in business or an equivalent qualification, this course will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to excel in business management roles through six carefully selected degree modules. 

Graduating with an undergraduate degree in as little as one year, you’ll have gained the modern skills, competencies, and technological know-how required to lead and manage successfully in today’s business environment. Our aim with this newly updated business top-up degree is to help you make a valuable and lasting impact, wherever your professional career takes you. 

The BA (Hons) Business Management (Top-Up) been developed by industry experts with your long-term future in mind. When you graduate from the course, you’ll do so as a well-rounded, highly-employable and self-motivated professional ready to take on any number of roles and challenges. 

Entry requirements

At Arden University we consider applications on a case by case basis. If you have significant work experience, have qualifications you have gained elsewhere, or a degree or qualification that isn’t a clear pathway to this degree – we are more than happy to discuss your application.

What do you need to study with us?

Our aim is to make learning as accessible as possible by ensuring that you can study your degree in a flexible and convenient way. That’s why we keep our requirements simple. All you need is a laptop or desktop PC (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good internet connection. Through, ilearn, our online university campus in the cloud, you’ll be able to access your course calendar, support services, learning materials, and our online library containing almost half a million texts, as well as creating assignments, keeping notes, and collaborating with other students on your course. 

Eligibility

To be eligible for our BA (Hons) Business Management (Top-Up) course, you must have: 

  • A HND in Business or equivalent, provided that your prior learning is consistent with Level 5 of the functional areas of business such as finance, marketing, operations management, human resource management, etc. 

Course fee

International FeeFee
fee per level:£5500
UK FeeFee
fee per level:£6,935

Please note: Fees quoted relate to the intake that you enrol on (i.e. when you start your course), NOT your application date.

English proficiency 

  • IELTS 6.0 (no less than 5.5 in any element); or TOEFL iBT 80; or equivalent 
  • Alternatively, evidence you have previously studied in English, such as a letter to show that the Medium of Instruction was in English can be accepted. 

We also offer an internal English test for applicants who are unable to provide the above evidence of English proficiency.

Before you start studying

Whilst you can read your study materials on your smart phone or tablet, to make the most of your learning experience, you will need access to a laptop or computer (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good stable internet connection.

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Course details and modules

During your studies you’ll gain a wider understanding of business functions, operations, and cutting edge technologies in a range of exciting industries. You’ll also develop inspiring personal and management attributes in dedicated skills-related modules to help build your soft skills and leadership abilities. Learning research and data analysis techniques using academic and industry focused texts, articles, and reports, you’ll gain a better understanding of contemporary business and management, with the ability to analyse practical case studies drawn from a range of international organisations.  

Using our business simulation software, you’ll be able to access a virtual business and run it as your own enterprise – managing activities such as marketing, sales, finances, people, product development, operations, and your supply chain. This will give you the chance to practice making critical decisions within a safe environment, helping you develop your ability to interpret commercial information and apply your learnings to generate a profit for your enterprise. You’ll also have access to our Arden Enterprise Incubator throughout your course, which provides you with additional software and resources as well as real-world mentors and industry experts to draw knowledge from. The Arden Enterprise Incubator also gives you the chance to engage in social learning with your classmates, developing your collaborative skills and providing the opportunity for networking with fellow professionals. 

How do we assess you?

Assessments​​ 

Unlike on more traditional degree courses, you don’t need to sit any exams on the BA (Hons) Business Management (Top-Up), and you won’t need to spend the summer at home writing a dissertation either. Your assessments have been designed to help you apply your learning to real-word scenarios. This means you’ll be better prepared to apply the skills you’ve gained on the course to your professional role after graduation.  

As you work through your course modules you’ll have the chance to compete a range of useful assessment methods such as individual reports, case study analyses, group presentations, and personal independent assignments devised in consultation with your course module leader. Your assessments will have an emphasis upon personal discovery, digital technology, the application of theory to real world business, and management practice and innovative thinking.​  

We encourage you to be innovative when carrying out your assignments and assessments. You can create podcasts, videos, infographics, consultancy reports, campaigns, posters, interviews, debate sessions, and more. This approach will help you develop skills you’ll use in the real world, and most of all, is a fun and engaging way to demonstrate your knowledge and development. 

Modules

You have 1-3 years to complete this top up degree course, which means you can study at a pace that works best for you.  

Level 6 Modules

  • Business Transformation (20 credits)  
  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation (20 credits)  
  • Corporate Governance, Law & Ethics​ (20 credits)  
  • Independent Study​ (20 credits)  
  • Project Management (20 credits)  
  • International Business Management (20 credits)  

Career prospects

Perhaps you have a strong idea of where you want to go with your business top up degree, or perhaps you want to keep your career options open for now? Either way, don’t worry if you’re still a little unclear about what the future holds. Your business management degree will give you a range of in-demand and transferable skills that will help you understand how modern organisations work. This gives you the freedom to take your time deciding where in the business ecosystem you’ll fit best, be it as an entrepreneur, manager, or if you’re an experienced professional looking for a career change.

What can I do after Arden University? 

Your top up degree in business management will open up many opportunities across all aspects of the business sector. As you study with us you’ll have access to our dedicated career services portal, where you can access additional ‘bolt-on’ e-learning courses, employer presentations, and search for jobs worldwide. Of course, your course lecturers are always on-hand to provide advice and guidance when it come to your professional future. Just a few of the possible roles you might want to consider after graduation could include: 

  • Business Analyst 
  • New business owner 
  • Project Manager 
  • Data Analysist 
  • Careers is AI & Machine Learning 
  • Big Data Specialist 
  • Digital Transformation Specialist 
  • Digital Marketing Specialist 
  • People manager 

What will the BA (Hons) Business Management (Top-Up) do for me? 

As well as developing important soft skills, up-to-date knowledge of business functions, and career planning abilities, you’ll also be encouraged to develop a Personal Development Plan as you work through your degree. With support from our lecturers, this will help you track your progress and identify areas where you excel.  

​On the course, your assessments will be linked to real-world workplace issues and practices. Added to the benefits of our enterprise simulation software and Digital Business Hub, you’ll graduate with hands-on experience in problem solving and identifying areas for business growth – all highly desirable skills for today’s employers.  

The BA (Hons) Business Management (Top-Up) will also give you the chance to:

  • Gain an in-depth understanding of contemporary business functions, with particular focus on the latest digital technologies. 
  • Develop an analytical eye for important detail and through keen critical thinking abilities. 
  • Become an expert problem solver, confident communicator, and informed leader. 
  • Understand all levels of organisational structure and how to evaluate the positives and negatives of these with real-life case studies. 
  • Begin to form a clearer idea of which aspects of business you enjoy learning about the most, and develop ideas about where your career path might lie. 

Part time online learning

How does it work? 

Studying the BA (Hons) Business Management (Top-Up) online gives you the ultimate in convenience. You can enrol with Arden from anywhere in the world and study your degree from the comfort of home, without the requirement to attend classes in a physical location.  

Our online students study their degree through ilearn, Arden’s university campus in the cloud. ilearn provides everything you need to study at University. It offers an integrated virtual learning experience, including your virtual classroom, lecture theatre, and online library (which when used along with our supplementary library, Perlego, gives you access to almost half a million books and journals – yours for free while you study with us). 

ilearn is also integrated with Zoom, making it easier to chat with your course tutor during your scheduled seminar sessions. You can even integrate our study materials into your Kindle, making it possible to study wherever you have you Kindle handy.  

Studying online doesn’t mean studying alone. As well as receiving regular feedback and guidance from your course tutor, you’ll be studying with likeminded students who you can meet with through our Unitu community, and you’ll have access to community message boards to discuss your course and the topics being raised within it. We’ve even set up community boards embedded into each of the course modules so you can have discussions with your tutor and classmates on the topics you’re currently learning.  

Online learning students resident in the UK can apply for a Maintenance Loan if they cannot attend their course in person because of a disability. If you’re a student from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland you can find information on Living Cost Loans from your student finance body. 

Blended learning

How does it work?

When you choose our blended learning study mode, you’ll have eight hours of timetabled classes spread over two days at the Arden study centre of your choice. This is combined with around 25 hours of independent study, which takes place through ilearn, our university campus in the cloud. ilearn contains all the resources you need to study successfully. You’ll also have access to our online library, Perlego, which contains almost half a million books, journals, and industry literature which you can make use of throughout your studies, removing the need to buy expensive course books in order to study successfully.
 
Blended learning is the best option for students who prefer the structure of regular face to face classes with their tutor and fellow classmates, and is particularly suited to students who live within commuting or driving distance of one of our UK study centres. 

If you’re a student from the UK who is enrolling on a blended learning course with Arden (based in one of our UK study centres) then you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan to help pay for your living expenses. If you’re a student from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland you can find information about obtaining a student loan to cover your costs from your student finance body.

Please note: study centre classes are temporarily being conducted online in our virtual classroom due to Covid-19 restrictions. Face-to-face classes will resume once the current restrictions are lifted.Â