Business and Management (Economics) – BA (Hons) – Bath Spa University Skip to main content

Business and Management (Economics)

BA (Hons)

Undergraduate degree - single honours

Award
BA (Hons) Business and Management (Economics)
School/s
Bath Business School
Campus or location
Newton Park
Course length
Three years full time, or four years full time with professional placement year. Part time available.
UCAS codes
Institution Code: B20
Course Code: HH98 or HH99
Campus Code: A,BSU

Entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed under 'Typical offers' in the main column below. For combined courses, please check both subjects. If your qualification is not listed, please email admissions@bathspa.ac.uk with your specific details.

See how the world of business and management is changing through the lens of economics in this hands-on and socially-focused degree.

  • Apply your economic thinking to business and prepare for a career in a wide variety of sectors.
  • Get real-world experience on a ten-month or ten-week work placement and to apply what you’ve learned.
  • Tackle contemporary issues in business using data to see the world as it really is

Times Higher Education awards shortlist graphic

Our BA (Hons) Business and Management (Economics) degree offers a diverse programme that will equip you with the business skills to work in a range of sectors. Your chosen pathway in Economics will provide a good foundation for you to build a career in business and management.


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“The Bath Business School team are very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and dedicated to helping you achieve your potential.”

Alex Appleton, Business and Management graduate

What you'll learn

Overview

Economics is about choice and the impact of our choices on each other. When you study economics you gain a toolkit of skills, approaches and ways of thinking that you can apply to a wide range of problems.

The Economics pathway of this Business and Management degree will enable you to address global challenges and local opportunities by applying economics to policy problems - focusing on issues such as climate change, sustainability, wellbeing and obesity, inequality and unemployment.

Course structure

Year one
The first year ensures you have a broad and grounded knowledge of business today, giving you a platform to develop specialised knowledge as you progress through the course.

You'll explore how organisations work, how they are managed and how they interact with the business environment. You'll gain an understanding of the fundamental principles of economics, including microeconomics and macroeconomics. You'll also develop management skills in gathering and assessing information and data, in making and communicating decisions and in evaluating their effect.

Year two
In year two, you'll specialise in economics as well as learning about the functions of a business and how these interrelate. You’ll start to form opinions about how businesses manage the challenges they encounter on a daily basis. You will learn to apply economic reasoning to the study of relevant problems and policies in economics. You will demonstrate an understanding of the graphical and statistical representation of economic ideas using the appropriate techniques. You will have the opportunity to work on projects using business techniques to solve problems, while starting to develop your employability skills before seeking a work placement.

At the end of the second year you have the option to choose either a ten-month placement or a shorter ten week placement in a business. This is an invaluable chance to apply your newly gained economics knowledge and business skills in the real world, making you even more attractive to employers.

Year three
In your final year, you'll practice, develop, challenge and explore all your business learning, and examine management as an integrating activity.

In your economics-related dissertation you'll explore in depth a topic that especially interests you - be it sustainability, real estate, wellbeing or the economic implications of current affairs - exhibiting an appropriate depth of analysis. You’ll also have the opportunity to work individually or with colleagues to develop and set up a business.

How will I be assessed?

You'll be assessed in a wide range of ways that will test your business knowledge and management skills. These could include presentations, work related projects, group-work, computer based simulations, podcasts, examinations, essays, videos and business reports.

How will I be taught?

We offer variety in the way we teach: sometimes we will set you problems so you can find the answers for yourself, sometimes we will lecture. Most modules use a mix of lectures and small group seminars. There is a good blend of online activities using our Virtual Learning Environment, Minerva. We invite business leaders in to talk about their experience and we arrange visits to local businesses. All of our teaching methods facilitate your development as a self directed learner.

You’ll be given personal support in your study – we are a friendly team of academics who are committed to helping students achieve their goals.

To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our Learning and Teaching Delivery Statement.

Course modules

This course enables you to develop your own learning pathway, depending on your interests. There are a selection of core and optional modules each year. Core modules will depend on your chosen pathway and you can choose optional modules to complement or diversify your core skill-set each year. The programme document gives you more information on module choices.

Year one (Level 4) modules
  • The Business Environment
  • Organisational Behaviour and Management
  • Economics and Globalisation
  • Managing Data
  • Design Thinking for Enterprise
  • Professional Practice
Year two (Level 5) modules
  • Creativity for Business
  • Innovation Management
  • The Marketing Business
  • Human Resource Management
  • Financial Accounting
  • Operations and Project Management
  • Destination Management
  • International Business
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Applying Economics
  • Festival and Events Management
  • Law for Business Enterprise
  • Fashion Marketing and Management
  • Work Placement
  • Professional Placement Year
  • Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Year three (Level 6) modules
  • Business and Management Project
  • International Marketing
  • Management Accounting
  • Strategic Human Resource Management
  • Enterprise: Creating your Business
  • Organisational Strategy
  • Managing Sustainability
  • New Trends in Management
  • Cross Cultural Management in International Business
  • Business Placement
  • Tourism: Contemporary Issues
  • Creating and Hosting Festivals and Events
  • Advanced Economics Issues
  • Exploring Law in Business
  • Business and Academic Skills
  • Fashion Marketing Visualisation
  • Successful Freelancing
  • Leadership and Management.

Opportunities

Study abroad

As part of your degree, you could study abroad on a placement at one of Bath Spa’s partner universities.

Business community projects

We give you the opportunity to work with regional and national businesses. You’ll be working on live project briefs, helping organisations find creative solutions to their business issues.

Professional accreditation

Depending on your pathway and the modules you study, you can gain accreditation by professional bodies and get exemption from professional exams.

Work placements, industry links and internships

In addition to the business community projects, you’ll have fantastic opportunities to work closely with business and industry through placements, projects and internships.

Careers

Employers such as Logica, NHS, Liberty, Ocado, IBM, Marks and Spencer, American Express, Sky and Numatic International have recruited graduates from this course. Students have also gone into roles including Business Analyst, IT Services Analyst, Project Officer, Business Development Manager, Account Executive and Brand Planner.

Recent Business and Management graduates have gone into the following roles: Sales Campaign Manager, Social Media Marketing Manager, Stock Purchaser, Financial Planner, Product Development Advisor, Supply Analyst, Data Analyst, Marketing Executive, Strategist, Operations Manager, Marketing Analyst, Management Analyst, Social Media Content Creator, SEO Consultant, Marketing Executive, Merchandiser, Specialist Recruitment Consultant, Retail Systems Manager, Client Services Manager, Media Editor, Human Resources Officer and Catering and Events Manager.

Global Citizenship

If you’re a full-time undergraduate student starting your first year at Bath Spa University, you can apply for the Certificate in Global Citizenship, which you’ll study alongside your degree.

You’ll gain global awareness and add an international dimension to your student experience, and funding is available. On successful completion of the programme, you’ll be awarded a Certificate in Global Citizenship. This is in addition to your degree; it doesn’t change your degree title or results.

Adobe Creative Campus

Develop a wealth of indispensable digital skills that you can take into your future career. One of only three Adobe Creative Campuses in the UK, we provide all Bath Spa students with access to the full Adobe Creative Suite, giving you the tools to communicate creatively, whatever your course or chosen professional field.   

Professional placement year

Overview

This optional placement year provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months. Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.

By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of 'with Professional Placement Year' to your degree title.

Preparation

Before your Professional Placement Year, you'll work to secure your placement, constructing a development plan with your module leader and your placement coordinator from our Careers and Employability team.

How will I be assessed?

On your return to University for your final year, you'll submit your Placement Portfolio, detailing your development on your placement.

Facilities and resources

Where the subject is taught

You'll have access to excellent facilities at our Newton Park campus and city centre studios as well as online resources. These include:

Resources

Our libraries offer a wide range of business resources, including a wealth of online material that can be accessed on- and off-campus, enabling you to work at times that suit you.

Fees

Please note: Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland are not generally eligible for the UK (Home) fee status. Please refer to the international student rate. Irish citizens and those granted Settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme are eligible for UK (Home) fee status. There are also other circumstances where this may apply: See UKCISA for more information.

UK students full time

2023/24 Entry

Course fees
Year 1 £9,250
Year 2 Published Jan 2024
Year 3 Published Jan 2025

2024/25 Entry

Course fees
Year 1 Published Jan 2024
Year 2 Published Jan 2025
Year 3 Published Jan 2026

2026/27 Entry

Course fees
Year 1 Published Jan 2025
Year 2 Published Jan 2026
Year 3 Published Jan 2027
UK students part time

2023/24 Entry

Course fees
Year 1 £4,625
Year 2 Published Jan 2024
Year 3 Published Jan 2025

2024/25 Entry

Course fees
Year 1 Published Jan 2024
Year 2 Published Jan 2025
Year 3 Published Jan 2026

2026/27 Entry

Course fees
Year 1 Published Jan 2025
Year 2 Published Jan 2026
Year 3 Published Jan 2027
International students full time

2023/24 Entry

Course fees
Year 1 £15,050
Year 2 Published Jan 2024
Year 3 Published Jan 2025

2024/25 Entry

Course fees
Year 1 Published Jan 2024
Year 2 Published Jan 2025
Year 3 Published Jan 2026

2026/27 Entry

Course fees
Year 1 Published Jan 2025
Year 2 Published Jan 2026
Year 3 Published Jan 2027
All students full time - with professional placement year

During the placement year, the fee is reduced to 20% of the full time fee. Otherwise, fees are the same as for full time study. This applies to UK, EU and International students.

Interested in applying?

What we look for in potential students

We’re looking for individuals who are enterprising and creative. You’ll need to have drive, motivation and the get-up-and-go to achieve in a challenging environment.

Typical offers

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed below:

  • A Level – grades BBB-BCC preferred.
  • BTEC – Extended Diploma grades from Distinction Distinction Merit (DDM) to Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) accepted in any subject.
  • T Levels – grade Merit preferred.
  • International Baccalaureate – a minimum of 28 points are required.
  • Access to HE courses – typical offers for applicants with Access to HE will be the Access to HE Diploma or Access to HE Certificate (60 credits, 45 of which must be Level 3, at Merit or higher).

English Language Requirements for International and EU Applicants

IELTS 6.0 - for visa nationals, with a minimum score of IELTS 5.5 in each element.

Course enquiries

For further information about the programme or entry requirements, please email us at admissions@bathspa.ac.uk.

How do I apply?

We've closed this course due to a high demand for September 2023 entry, and will reopen it in September for 2024 entry. For more information on the application process, please contact our Admissions service on +44 (0)1225 876 180 or admissions@bathspa.ac.uk.

Get ahead

You’ll already be actively interested in business through activities such as looking at business news online and relevant specialist online journals e.g. Marketing Week online.

Course leader: Inna Pomorina
Email: i.pomorina@bathspa.ac.uk

Three year course

Website feedback to web@bathspa.ac.uk