BA (Hons) Business Studies by distance learning provides a flexible honours degree programme leading to a broad range of career options in Business.

• 200 UCAS tariff points or equivalent

Note that you can apply to start your studies at any time of the year. There are no set term times.

Entry to level 1 or the full programme

1. Students under the age of 21

Students under the age of 21 will be expected to meet the following requirements:

• 200 UCAS tariff points or equivalent or
• pass in a relevant Access course or International Foundation Programme.

In addition to the above, we require GCSE Maths grade C and English grade C or equivalents, unless competency is part of the qualification gained.

2. Mature students

We also welcome mature student applicants and those with relevant professional and vocational qualifications; these will be dealt with on an individual basis and may require an interview.
Mature students may study individual modules without the qualification requirements. Upon successful completion of two or more modules, they may then register on the full programme.

3. English language requirements

All students for whom English is not their first language must have an IELTS score of at least 6.0 or equivalent, with a minimum of 6.0 in both reading & writing (and a minimum of 5.0 in listening & speaking).

Entry on a modular basis

As stated above, mature students may study individual modules without meeting the entry requirements, and upon successful completion of two or more modules they may register on the full programme.

Entry to levels 2 or 3 and 'top-up' of existing credit

Students that apply to enter Year 2 or 3 of the programme may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) processes, or through an approved articulation agreement. Therefore, such applicants must be able to demonstrate and evidence that they have the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which they are seeking exemption. However, we are unable to accredit prior experiential (non-certificated) learning.

Technical requirements

To participate in the programme you need:

1. Regular access to a PC or Mac, be capable of running standard MS Office software (or equivalent) for producing word-processed documents, spreadsheets and presentations.
2. Reliable Internet access; at least a 56K modem connection, but broadband is highly recommended. For each module that you take, you will be expected to spend approximately 3-6 hours online per week, participating in discussions and accessing additional resources. (You may find it beneficial to spend more time online to investigate more fully any areas that are of particular interest to you.)
3. An Internet browser capable of running UEL Plus (UELPlus Vista edition 4), the platform used by UEL in delivering this programme. For further information, see UELPlus’s tune-up page at: http://www.webct.com/tuneup/viewpage?name=tuneup_browser_tuneup_information
4. Access to reliable email. (Email facilities are provided by UEL Plus, but additional email is recommended in case of any technical problems with UEL Plus.)
5. Access to a printer is recommended.

• demonstrate progress towards achieving your goals as an employee, owner / manager or entrepreneur in business or the non-profit sector, or in further study within the academic community
• develop academically so that you have a detailed knowledge of business and management practices, can critically evaluate that knowledge and apply it in complex situations which may be characterised by contested and contradictory information
• develop relevant transferable and practical skills so that you can manage your own learning and are confident in applying these transferable and practical skills
• explore how organisations work with their customers and markets
• develop a broad and deep understanding about key management areas such as finance, people, operations, information and marketing within the context of the business environment

Knowledge and understanding

• You will be able to explain and comment critically upon the concepts and techniques in multi-disciplinary business subjects.
• You will be able to explain why business concepts and techniques were developed by identifying relevant problem situations.
• You will be able to apply the relevant business concepts and techniques to resolve multi-faceted business problems or issues.

'Thinking' skills

• You will develop an understanding of the theoretical basis of the concepts or techniques drawn from a wide range of business disciplines.
• You will be able to critically assess these concepts or techniques.
• You will be able to incorporate the full range of multi-disciplinary approaches, as appropriate to the problem or issue being discussed.

Subject-Based Practical skills

• You will be able to prepare and present solutions to business based problems or issues.
• You will be able to undertake a major self-managed activity, the project, which will address a topic of your choice relevant to your future career. (Note that combined honours students may undertake the project in their major or joint discipline.)
• You will have demonstrated competence in using a broad range of Information Technology resources to enhance both your learning and its application to problem resolution.

Skills for life and work

• You will be able to work effectively meeting deadlines and targets.
• You will have confidence in explaining, defending and summarising your views to your peers on complex issues and problems.
• You will develop high level skills in identifying problem parameters and selecting and implementing solutions.
• You will be able to place your Business Studies degree from UEL in the context of your life long learning.

We expect that you will take at least three years to complete this programme. This would require you to complete two modules for each assessment point over the three years. However, it is likely that many students will vary from this, either by taking fewer modules at a time or by taking breaks between periods of study to accommodate any external factors such as domestic commitments.
The maximum duration for this programme is 8 years, and the maximum time for any one module is 3 years. Our Distance Learning Student Advisors can help you to decide on and plan for an amount of study that suits you.

You can commence your studies at any time – enrolment on this programme is not tied to the academic year. We will work with you to determine a realistic plan, based on the amount of time you have available for study, the dates for exams and assessments, and your preferred completion rate.
There are three assessment points for most modules, in January, May / June and August / September. These are the points when you will be required to submit your coursework or take exams. When you make your decision on which module(s) you will study, our Distance Learning Student Advisors can help you to select the assessment point that you will aim for.

This programme is part of a modular degree scheme. To graduate as an honours degree student, you will need to complete six modules at level 1, six at level 2 and six at level 3.
It is possible to bring together modules from one field with modules from another to produce a combined programme. We offer subjects in a variety of combinations:

• Single 120 credits at levels one, two and three
• Major 80 credits at levels one, two and three
• Joint 60 credits at levels one, two and three
• Minor 40 credits at levels one, two and three

The following are the core and optional requirements for the single, major, joint and minor routes for this programme.

In order to gain an honours degree you will need to obtain 360 credits including:

• A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
• A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
• A minimum of 120 credits at level three or higher

In order to gain an ordinary degree you will need to obtain a minimum of 300 credits including:

• A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
• A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
• A minimum of 60 credits at level three or higher

In order to gain a Diploma of Higher Education you will need to obtain at least 240 credits including a minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher and 120 credits at level two or higher

In order to gain a Certificate of Higher Education you will need to obtain 120 credits at level one or higher.

In order to gain an Undergraduate Certificate you will need to obtain 40 credits at level one or higher.

In order to gain an Associate Undergraduate Certificate (un-named / generic) you will need to obtain 20 credits at level one or higher.
Only one final award may be obtained.

Knowledge and understanding is developed through

• A study guide that helps learners to make the most effective use of the core textbook and other resources.
• The study guide provides clear structuring, routeing and signposting, to establish a context for learning.
• The study guide highlights key concepts, models and frameworks and clearly indicates to the student the sections of the textbook that they must study.
• In some areas, the study guide adds extra content, or integrates additional resources (such as journal articles) to support those topics not covered by the core textbook.
• Self-assessment questions enable students to check their progress – by comparing their answers with sample answers, they can assess for themselves how well they have met the learning outcomes for a particular section of the study guide.
• Students have access to online journal articles via the Athens access management system.
• UEL Plus enables electronic contact with the tutor and other students using email, chat and discussion boards.

'Thinking' skills are developed through

• The study guide, which uses a variety of activities, self assessment questions and other formative assessments.
• The activities help learners to understand or master a new topic or skill. They generally require students to engage with the topic in some way. Some examples of types of activities are those which require students to:
  • apply concepts or frameworks to their own situations
  • apply concepts in solving problems or evaluating scenarios
  • reflect on or analyse topics
  • carry out further research related to topics of study
• Feedback will be provided for all activities. This may take the form of:
  • identifying a right or wrong answer
  • giving examples, alerting students to key points

Practical skills are developed through

• Activities relevant to business and management – examples, activities and self-assessment questions that will help to build students’ practical skills.
• The use of Information Technology
• Completion of individual / group assignments

General skills are developed through

• The skills curriculum, which is embedded in core modules at levels 1, 2 and 3.
• The use of an online community, which will help develop skills in communication and in cooperative tasks. Dedicated student advisors are available.
• Presenting ideas or arguments in a clearly structured manner
• Being able to produce clearly argued solutions when problem solving

Knowledge and understanding is assessed by

• Coursework
• Examinations

'Thinking' skills are assessed by

• Coursework
• Examinations
• Project work

Practical skills are assessed by

• Practical reports
• Case study exercises
• Project work

General skills are assessed by

• Project work
• IT exercises
• Personal development planning