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Business and Management is one of the most popular degrees, combining excellent academic training with good career prospects. Studying business at the University of Kent at Medway gives you an understanding of the modern world of business that will greatly enhance your employment opportunities.
Overview
Our new four-year Business and Management Retail pathway is designed for those with a drive to pursue a career in the retail sector – whether that is instore management, product development, merchandising, logistics, retail marketing or running your own retail business. The course explores fashion and food retailing, both instore and online, as well as wider retail services.
Our teaching is innovative and inspiring, with sessions delivered by industry guest speakers and alumni; field trips to the stores, warehouses and head offices of world-class retailers, and projects sponsored by retail companies that will challenge you to apply your knowledge and entrepreneurial skills.
As well as teaching you the theories and methods that are relevant to today’s retail world, your compulsory year in industry will be spent in the retail sector, enabling you to gain applied experience that will support your career aspirations in this fast-moving industry.
The programme includes a year in industry, which reflects the applied nature of the course. You spend a year between Stages 2 and 3 working in full-time employment, earning a salary and gaining invaluable experience of business management in practice.
Our applied business research is a distinguishing feature of studying at Kent Business School. Staff are passionate about their research and ensure that the management principles they teach are brought to life through practical case studies and live research and consultancy projects.
Our engagement with business and the employability of our graduates is further supported through a number of strategic business partnerships, resulting in businesses contributing to the design of modules, delivering guest lectures and offering business placement opportunities for students.
About Kent Business School
Studying at Kent Business School is an exciting life experience, especially if you are moving away from home. We have combined a solid academic portfolio with excellent accommodation options, as well as hosting plenty of social and cultural activities.
Kent Business School delivers a high standard of business education and is the largest department at the University of Kent. Our academic research and links with global business inform our teaching, ensuring a curriculum that is both rigorous and current. We are a top 30 UK business school for our academic teaching and student satisfaction.
Independent rankings
In the National Student Survey 2015, business studies was ranked 5th in the UK for student satisfaction. In The Complete University Guide 2016, business and management was ranked 2nd in the south-east for overall performance.
Course structure
The course structure provides a sample of the modules available for this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.
In Stage 2 you take two compulsory Retail modules (Managing Retail Locations and Retail Distribution and Supply Chain Management).
In Stage 3 you take two compulsory Retail modules (Retail Buying and Retail Merchandising and Sales Planning).
Based on sector research and curriculum developments, we intend to offer the following innovative new modules on this programme from 2016/17, subject to availability:
CB754 - Corporate Social Responsibility
CB367 - Introduction to Data Analysis and Statistics for Business
CB368 - Quantitative Methods for Business
Year in industry
All students spend a year in industry, supported by a dedicated placement team and a programme designed to ensure that students gain experience in the functional areas and industries of their choice. For students taking one of the specialist pathways, our strategic partnerships provide opportunities for placements in specific areas.
The placement allows you to experience, first hand, many of the issues addressed in the taught programme and to use the tools, techniques and applications in a real business setting. It will become a vital component of your CV and will give you a distinct advantage over other business graduates.
Teaching and assessment
We use a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, case-study analysis, group projects and presentations, and computer-based packages. You have approximately 12 hours of class time per week, and regular access to a personal tutor for advice on any matter concerning your studies or your performance on the course.
Assessment is by a mixture of coursework and end-of-module examinations, with the examinations normally counting for up to 60-70% of the marks for each module.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- develop understanding of a broad range of management functions and their integration, and the critical examination of management practice
- prepare students for a career in business and management
- bring critical insights from the social sciences to bear on management issues
- provide a sound academic base from which students may continue to benefit from formal and informal management education and experiential learning
- provide a curriculum that enhances further study opportunities and student employability
- develop and maintain contacts with local employers via the work placement and other programmes
- provide teaching and learning opportunities that are responsive to, and supportive of, the needs of our individual students
- develop an understanding of key concepts, skills and techniques within the field of business and management, and appreciate how these are applied in the world of work
- provide a highly supportive environment for students
- develop the study of retail in greater depth
- maintain high standards of academic rigour, currency and innovation
- develop key skills in numeracy, communication, financial and computer literacy.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- organisations, their environments and their management, including of people, operations, finance, marketing and organisational strategy
- social science concepts and theories and the ability to apply them to business and management contexts
- contemporary and pervasive issues, deepening and/or integrating core knowledge
- European and international developments relevant to management
- the processes, procedures and practices for effective management of organisations, including theories, models, frameworks, tasks and roles, together with rational analysis and processes of decision making within organisations and in relation to the external environment
- markets, customers, finance, people, operations, information systems, communication and IT, business policy and strategy, and contemporary and pervasive issues.
Intellectual skills
You develop the ability to:
- critically evaluate arguments and evidence
- analyse and draw reasoned conclusions concerning structured and unstructured problems
- apply core numeracy and IT skills to problems
- apply intellectual skills in the context of retailing and the retail industry.
Subject-specific skills
You develop the ability to:
- identify, formulate and solve business/decision-making problems using appropriate qualitative and quantitative tools
- create, evaluate and assess options, in a range of business situations, applying concepts and knowledge appropriately
- communicate effectively, orally and in writing, about business issues
- apply core numeracy and IT skills to business problems
- conduct research into business/management issues for project work, using a variety of sources and appropriate methodologies that inform the learning process
- apply intellectual skills in the context of retailing and the retail industry.
Transferable skills
You develop the ability to:
- identify and make effective use of information from various sources to assess ideas
- be an effective self manager of time, so as to plan and deliver required outputs productively
- communicate effectively, orally and in writing, using appropriate media
- work in groups and apply other interpersonal skills
- apply numeracy and IT skills appropriately
- apply a range of skills to the study of retailing and the retail industry.
Careers
We are ranked 15th in the UK for Business, Management and Marketing graduating students' career prospects according to the Guardian University Guide 2015.
The BA (Hons) Business & Management (Retail) with a Year in Industry programme will be a foundation for higher learning or prepare you for the advancement to a junior management position in industry, commerce or the public sector.
Kent Business School presents a wealth of opportunities for you to gain much more than your valuable business degree. We have strong connections with many global organisations, and provide chances for you to network with them and acquire useful connections to enable you to enhance your student experience and increase your employability. We hold events or activities with such organisations and associations that will also benefit your learning experience and enhance your future career prospects. We provide ideal facilities in an international learning environment for you to forge associations with friends and colleagues whilst at the School and after graduation, as part of the Kent Business School alumni, which will remain with you long after you graduate and may provide assistance in your future career.
At Kent Business School you will gain many of the key transferable skills employers are looking for. You are taught to analyse critically, think creatively, express your views cogently, manage your time effectively, and work well independently and in groups.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | BBB |
| GCSE | Mathematics grade C |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 15 at HL including Mathematics 4 at HL or SL |
International students
The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2016/17 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
UK/EU/International students on an approved Year Abroad for the full 2016/17 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Those on an approved Year in Industry pay an annual fee of £865 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on our funding page.
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. For 2016 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page.