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BSc (Hons) - Business Management (Top Up)

If you already have a strong foundation in business and management through a Higher National Diploma (HND) or equivalent qualification, our BA (Hons) Business Management (Top Up) degree gives you the perfect opportunity to convert your existing credits into a full honours degree. Our one‑year course offers the same rich learning experience as our full undergraduate route, with the added benefit of specialising in the areas that inspire you and align with your career ambitions.

Throughout the course, you’ll explore the evolving nature of business and examine how organisations must adapt to an ever‑changing world. You’ll be encouraged to think critically, creatively, and strategically, building an understanding of how today’s decisions shape tomorrow’s society. This forward‑thinking approach will prepare you to lead teams, manage innovation, and navigate the complexities of a business landscape where many future job roles do not yet exist.

Your studies will immerse you in a truly international learning environment. Joined by students from our partner institutions and peers from around the world, you’ll expand your global perspective while building valuable personal and professional networks. This diverse community enriches class discussions, offering insights into different business cultures, markets, and leadership styles.

At the heart of the course is the Cumbria Business School’s commitment to “lived experiences.” Your learning will extend far beyond the classroom through guest speakers, hands‑on workshops, field trips, and purposeful European residentials. Our passionate and experienced academics will guide your development, tailoring sessions to your interests and helping you grow into the professional you aspire to become.

By completing 120 credits of study, you’ll have the opportunity to graduate with an honours degree in Business Management and a strong competitive edge in the job market. With excellent industry links, high levels of contact time with tutors, and opportunities to engage with a dedicated Business Society, you’ll be equipped with the practical knowledge, confidence, and graduate attributes needed to thrive in a wide range of business and management roles.

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Course Overview

This is the opportunity to be fully immersed in an international experience. Joined by some of our partner institution students, you will study alongside students from all over the world, presenting the opportunity to develop your personal and business network.

You will study modules equivalent to 120 credits and have the opportunity to be presented with an honours degree in Business Management.

By the end of this programme, learners will be able to demonstrate:

Additonally, you will achieve Digital Badges, through our UoC Digital training programme and be offered to join our student led initiatives, such as the Business Society.

The Cumbria Business School places its priority on ‘lived experiences’. This philosophy shapes our approach to teaching and Learning. With excellent guest speakers, passionate and dedicated lecturers, unique field trips, we offer you a transformational opportunity.

On this course you will...

A broad, analytical, and integrated understanding of business and management in a range of contexts.
Detailed knowledge and skill set associated with working in and managing business, people and teams in a range of sectors.
Knowledge, skills and behaviours associated with employability and career progression to management level.
An understanding of impact, ethical and sustainable business practices.
A commitment to continual learning and development within a business environment.
Confidence in dealing with the digital world and its impact on business, adapting to the opportunity’s new digital tools and technologies offer, and managing threats or challenges digital may present.

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Key Details

Recruiting toUK / RoI / Settled in UK
EU / EEA / International
Course LocationLancaster
Institute Institute of Business, Industry and Leadership
Mode of DeliveryFace to Face, Blended
Course DurationFull-time: 1 Year
Part-time: 2 Years
Course Start PointSeptember
AwardBSc (Hons)
More informationProgramme Specification
Prospectus
Open DaysLancaster
All

Minimum entry requirements

A foundation degree, HND or equivalent Level 5 qualification at a minimum merit standard

Honours degree

UK Tuition fees

£9,790

Entry in academic year 2026/27

International Tuition fees

£16,000

Entry in academic year 2026/27

Tuition Fees Policy

Working with

Course Structure

What you will learn

This one year of study is the opportunity to share your brand. This is the space of confirming your position in the world of Business, the starting point of your legacy.

Here, you will apply your comprehensive understanding of business and the intricacies of Innovation, Transformation and Consultation

Alongside our Innovate and Transform modules, you will also complete a dissertation, an independently researched project or a Consultation project allowing you to apply your research and analysis skills to a business topic of your choice.

Year one

Innovation and Sustainable Enterprise
This module opens up the concepts of entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship and the strategic planning process needed to move from an idea to a value-generating product or service. The primary objective is to foster an entrepreneurial mindset, encouraging students to identify and seize opportunities, think creatively, and take calculated risks. Through an exploration of key concepts, case studies, and real-world examples, the module aims to instil a deep understanding of the entrepreneurial process, from idea generation to business development. Furthermore, the module seeks to cultivate innovation by emphasizing the importance of adaptability, resilience, and continuous learning. Ultimately, the aim is to empower students to become not only successful entrepreneurs but also innovative problem solvers in various professional contexts.
Business Research Project
The aim of this module is to develop a sound and critical understanding of a range of business and management research methodologies and their relevance to a wide array of fundamental and applied research contexts. The module provides students with the opportunity to initiate, plan, develop and undertake a research project, using a systematic approach to research based on individual initiative and pathway of study. Projects may be either a traditional dissertation, the development of a start-up organisation, campaign or a client project.
Managing and Leading Change in Organisations
This undergraduate module is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of change management, organisations and systems transformation. It explores the theoretical foundations, practical approaches, and case studies related to leading and navigating organizational change effectively.

Teaching & Assessment

How you will learn

We use a variety of approaches to learning and teaching to make sure you develop an appropriate level of understanding of concepts, knowledge, theories and practices, alongside academic and work-related skills. On your programme you can expect to participate in all the following: lectures, group projects, problem-solving exercises, practical workshops and masterclasses, seminars, one-to-one tutorials.

How you will be assessed

Written work is central to a degree course and many of the learning approaches and emphasis is put upon clarity of style and argument as well as presentation. Different forms of written language will be explored to ensure appropriate critical skills and creative authorship are examined. Written work can be either formatively or summatively assessed and this is always made clear in the assessment brief.

Written work
Digital Portfolios
Mock Interviews
Presentations
Posters
Self-Assessment
Assessment Criteria and Rubrics are connected to each individual module and respond to the learning outcomes.
Anonymous Marking is employed where possible, usually in contextual modules against written assignments. Your work is submitted anonymously so that first and second markers can assess your work without influence or bias.

Career outcomes

A business management degree prepares you for a variety of careers in organisations and management. Whether working for a large, multi-national company or small, independent business in sectors as diverse as digital business, defence, utilities, fashion, health, marketing, I.T., education – all require well equipped managers with a clear understanding of systems, efficiency and operational issues and skills in leadership, teamwork and communication. Opportunities for business graduates are numerous and exist both in the private, public and voluntary sectors. The skills you will gain from a business degree will allow you to contribute to your chosen organisation quickly and effectively. Some examples of our past graduates’ employment include:

Entrepreneurs
Consultants
Project Managers
Managers in health care organisations
Accountants
Marketing officers and managers
Financial Analysts
HR managers
Financial Advisors
Hospitality Managers
Teaching
Bank managers
CEOs

Graduates may also progress to further study on a variety of Masters programmes (including the MBA and specialist business degrees e.g. in Marketing, Project Management and HRM) and or research degrees including MPhil, PhD, DBA or DProf.

Overview

A foundation degree, HND or equivalent Level 5 qualification at a minimum merit standard. Applicants from courses based at institutions other than University of Cumbria will be assessed on their suitability depending upon the modules they have studied.

Fair Admissions

When you apply, our Admissions specialists will review your whole application. We are looking for your potential to succeed so will assess your qualifications, any relevant work experience, your personal statement, and references.

Where you have received a conditional offer subject to achieving particular grades/UCAS tariff scores, and do not quite meet these scores, please try not to worry, where vacancies exist our Admissions specialists will review your whole application again and take account of any mitigating circumstances and reassess your suitability for the course.

Selection Criteria

As part of the application and selection process, we are looking for your commitment to this programme. In your personal statement, you should demonstrate your motivation for choosing this course and reflect upon any practical experience you have gained.

Contextual Admissions

Going to higher education can transform a person’s life. We use contextual admissions to make sure that we are accessible to everyone who has the potential to succeed. Qualifications and grades are important, but they are considered alongside other information that helps universities to identify potential and widen access to university level study. For some individuals, the disadvantages they have experienced in their life mean that they have not been able to demonstrate their full academic potential. Where a person lives and their personal circumstances can all affect their educational attainment.

We take this context into account and look for an applicant’s potential when making admission decisions. The University of Cumbria will make offers at the bottom of any UCAS Tariff range to applicants that live in postal code regions with the lowest participation in Higher Education (Polar 4 quintile 1 – you can check your postcode here), applicants that are estranged from their parents, are care leavers or have caring responsibilities or are in receipt of or received free school meals during their secondary education. Attendance at our Masterclasses and Summer Schools will also allow applicants to receive an offer lower within the tariff range. (T&Cs apply).

Contact ugadmissions@cumbria.ac.uk for more information.

Returning to Education

If you are over 21 and returning to study after being in relevant employment for a minimum of 3 years and do not meet the published entry requirements for Year 1 of our degree courses, please do not assume you are not qualified to join us. Our experienced Admissions and Academic staff will review your prior qualifications and professional experience to support your application.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

UK Tuition fees

£9,790
Entry in academic year 2026/27

International Tuition fees

£16,000
Entry in academic year 2026/27

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

International Finance

At the University of Cumbria, we offer affordable tuition fees for international and EU students looking to study at one of our main four campuses. No matter your choice of course or career path, our International Team is here to support you.

More Information

We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us. This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000..

Student Finance

Additional Costs

There will be some additional costs associated with the course including stationery, textbooks, field trips and membership fees although some of these features are optional. Books are reviewed annually and are therefore subject to change, course welcome information will provide you with an indicative list for the year. Books and Journals Most core text books are available via the University's library, however students may wish to buy copies of any texts used to support your learning on your course. This could cost between £50 - £100 per year. Stationery Students should budget for stationery and consumables for your own personal use. This should include notebooks, pens and pencils for taking notes in class and/or in the field. Students should also budget for the purchase of USB pen drives, as well as occasional printing and photocopying costs incurred in the preparation or submission of coursework. Whilst you will choose how much you need, expect to pay around £30 - £40.

Books and Journals

A list of books are made available for each module studied

Stationery

We would encourage all students to either purchase or loan a laptop for their studies

Clothing and Equipment

Nothing specific

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Location
Lancaster Campus
Lancaster is the Red Rose heartland, a student haven full of history and culture. With iconic stone architecture, parkland, and a caring community, this is the place to get involved. The campus houses top-quality facilities tailored to the needs of life-savers, world changers, and future leaders.
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BSc (Hons) - Business Management (Top Up)