Entry requirementsSelected entry requirements A level: ABB. If one or more A Levels which have less than 60% theoretical content are offered as part of three A Levels, offer may be above the standard level. Unit grade information: The University of Manchester welcomes the provision of unit grade information which, like all other available information, will inform the consideration of applications. Unit grades will not normally form part of offer conditions, except for Mathematics programmes. GCSE: Minimum grade C in English Language and Mathematics. Key Skills qualification: The University warmly welcomes applications from students studying the Key Skills qualification. However, as the opportunities to take these modules are not open to all applicants, currently this is not an essential requirement of the University. International baccalaureate: 34 points overall. 6,6,5 at Higher Level. No lower than 5 in any subject. Additional entry requirements Additional entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below.
Academic titleBAEcon Business Studies
Course descriptionCourse description
The Business Studies stream within the wider BA(Economic and Social Studies) degree is a modern interdisciplinary programme focused around relevant topics found in the Economics, Accounting, Finance, Politics and Sociology subject areas. It is run by the School of Social Sciences and Manchester Business School. The core common first year introduces the majority of the transferable and intellectual skills (informatics, numeracy and study skills) required as a base for progressing on the Business Studies stream. Subject-based material relating to different disciplines is also presented. Economics, for example, is essential in understanding business, whilst mathematics, statistics, computer applications, accounting and finance provide basic building blocks for many of the courses which follow in years two and three. While such topics are useful for analysing business performance, a knowledge of Politics is required to enable understanding of the political and institutional contexts in which business operates. This contextual understanding of the business environment is also enhanced by studying one of the qualitative social sciences, such as Sociology, since appreciation of the organisational and behavioural dimension of business is essential. The second year allows you to extend this base as required, within the framework of this interdisciplinary stream. You could, for example, decide to pursue statistical or operations research options (extending numeracy) or undertake language courses (further transferable skills). It is, however, at this second level that options delivering subject-based outcomes focused towards the stream arise (business economics, business studies extended essay and presentations). While the third year delivers a greater number of subject-based options, it also includes further development of generic skills (interpersonal and team environment) by the inclusion of a compulsory business analysis project. The flexible structure of this stream means that many other modules, including those in Accounting and/or Finance, are also available to you within the second and third years of the degree. These can be taken alongside classical Business Studies options such as Business Law, Marketing, Human Resource Management, and Management of Knowledge and Technology. All of these can also be taken together with newer options based around subjects such as Globalisation, Information Technologies, or dealing with aspects of appropriate European and international issues.
Course content for year 1
The object of the first year is to provide a broad introduction to the social sciences, enabling you to make an informed choice of areas to study in your second and final years. This means that you take a mixture of compulsory and optional courses.
Course content for year 2
In the second year you have a choice of options from ten areas of study. It is at this stage that you begin to specialise, and your choice of course units will largely determine and be determined by what you intend to specialise in during your final year.
Course content for year 3
In the third year you focus your studies in either one 'Single' or two 'Joint' areas of study. If you choose to undertake a single specialisation you will take at least 80 credits in that area. If you choose joint specialisations you will need to take at least 50 credits in each. On graduating, your degree certificate will state that you have been awarded a BA Economic and Social Studies Honours degree specialising in your chosen area or areas of study.
Career opportunities
The career options are as wide ranging as the choice of courses available. For example, if you take forecasting or operations research options you could pursue a career in strategic resource management in the Government Economic Service; while choosing to specialise in structural, political and governance topics (different aspects of globalisation for example) opens up the opportunity to work as a business development officer in an international charitable NGO (non-government organisation).