Business and Management
with a Year Abroad
At Medway, you’ll gain the skills to aspire, grow and lead.
At Medway, you’ll gain the skills to aspire, grow and lead.
Think you've found the right course? We still have spots available through Clearing. Apply now to secure your place and join our dynamic and welcoming community at Kent this September.
Apply nowIf your ambitions include leading a business or building your own, choose this course. As a graduate made at Kent Business School, you’ll have the skills and confidence to lead and inspire others, be innovative, and manage sustainably.
Kent Business School is a supportive community, where you’ll work closely with your academic adviser and other academic staff. They are experts in all areas of business who will expose you to the right mix of detailed theory and hands-on experience.
You’ll gain important leadership skills across a variety of business areas and learn how businesses operate. Topics covered include management principles, marketing, accounting and the international business environment. As you progress, you’ll be introduced to the advanced concepts of many business and management disciplines with the flexibility to tailor your course to suit your interests.
The year abroad at one of our partner universities will allow you to experience another country and culture as you study and build valuable experience that bolsters your CV.
Love the sound of this course, but want a traditional self-contained campus? Our course at Canterbury might be for you.
Gain work experience with a paid year in industry.
Study at a ‘Triple Crown’ business school accredited by AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS.
Take a ‘selfie year’ and bring your business ideas to life at our aspire centre.
in the UK for Business and Management (The Guardian University Guide 2024).
Providing an excellent student experience at Medway.
At Kent, you’re more than your grades. We look at each student’s circumstances as a whole before deciding whether to make an offer to study here. We also take this flexible approach when we receive your exam results.
Check our Clearing vacancy list or call us now +44 (0)1227 768896 to find out if we have a course that’s right for you. See our Clearing website for more details on how Clearing works at Kent.
Your first year is a compulsory introductory year, designed to provide you with a solid foundation in the understanding of business practices and their related functions, such as marketing, human resource management, and accounting. The analysis of the fast-changing business environment and the development of software and employability skills complement the business-related content.
Every lecturer we had was an expert in their field – we had some of the best people teaching us.Zaid Mahmood
Your second year allows you to tailor the programme to your aspirations and interests. There are a variety of module choices available, ranging from marketing analytics to retail and entrepreneurship. In the second year you will develop your understanding on key concepts and theories to enhance your intellectual agility and provide an opportunity to apply theory to practice.
The law affects how we conduct business in the real world and online. You'll gain an understanding of how the law governs business transactions; what is required for legally compliant contracts; the obligations and responsibilities that can arise in commerce, and how businesses can avoid legal disputes.
We make the law accessible by enabling you to apply the legal knowledge you gain to business-related client disputes. By learning how to analyse and argue legal issues, you'll become more confident in solving problems based on clear thinking and evidence, as well as expressing and defending your ideas across different audiences. By becoming aware of those parts of the law that you are most likely to encounter in your future careers, you’ll better understand the legal obligations you have to others, and those they, in turn, have to you.
The importance of business ethics within organisations has drastically increased in the last decades and the issues of ethical relevance have expanded greatly. How can a business and the people who are a part of it ensure that it acts ethically given the expansion of ethical scrutiny into contemporary organisations?
You'll learn to apply different ethical concepts and frameworks to the analysis of practical problems in business and management. This will enable you to develop a greater ability to articulate a complex argument and enhance your critical thinking skills, so you can ensure your career is spent building better business, for a better tomorrow.
This module explores the ever-changing trends of retailers both in the UK and globally. It will explore the dynamics of multi-channel retailing following the development of on-line retailing. It will also consider the store design and visual merchandising techniques that influence the characteristics of the retail brand and environment, which encourage a satisfying retail experience. The learner will understand how to analyse and interpret how the location of products in line with store purchasing and marketing policies influences sales and profit. The complexities of store management will further be explored.
Indicative topics are:
The dynamics of retail management and the macro environment
Retail theories and strategic approaches
Store formats
Store location and international factors
E-Retail
Store design and visual merchandising
Store operational management
Customer service and the customer experience
Commercial management and selling skills
Case Studies of Food and Fashion retailing
Why are entrepreneurs important? You'll learn about the diverse nature of entrepreneurs, their characteristics and motivations and the barriers and issues facing them when planning and establishing a new venture. Understand the barriers to start-up enterprise growth and success, and evaluate and apply a range of strategic decisions to maximise the viability of the enterprise. You’ll apply theory to practice, using your theoretical insights to develop an innovative enterprise of your own.
The law expects businesses to be governed responsibly, and the individuals within them to be mindful as to how they fulfil their legal obligations to their customers, the environment, their workforce and the public. You'll learn about key aspects of negligence, company, employment and discrimination law, from how organisations are legally structured, to their responsibilities to those over whom they have a duty of care.
You'll consider current news on legal issues and apply the law to real world business situations, increasing your knowledge of relevant business law. You’ll learn how to analyse and solve problems, and appreciate how the law impacts different cultures, backgrounds and circumstances both domestically and internationally.
Learning the law challenges you to question assumptions and look at both sides of an issue or dispute. Often you expect a particular outcome, only to find a court decided the opposite – and when you see the real impact this has on people’s lives and livelihoods, it can seem unfair or unsettling. Gaining the ability to navigate such ambiguities and realities is crucial for your future studies and career, helping you to develop an enquiring mind and equipping you to behave responsibly, fairly and with integrity in business.
Business is more international than ever, crossing cultures and borders across the globe. Through the study of macroeconomics you'll learn how to interpret macroeconomic trends, forecast the movement of the economy and understand the importance of international trade. Equipped with advanced tools of analysis, you will skilfully interpret the ever-changing world economy and become an effective decision maker across pricing, production and investment.
Going abroad as part of your degree is an amazing experience and a chance to develop personally, academically and professionally. You experience a different culture, gain a new academic perspective, establish international contacts and enhance your employability.
Students on a four-year degree programme spend a year between Stages 2 and 3 at one of our partner universities in Europe or Asia. For a full list, please see Go Abroad. Places are subject to availability, language and degree programme.
You are expected to adhere to any academic progression requirements in Stages 1 and 2 to proceed to the year abroad. If the requirement is not met, you are transferred to the equivalent three-year programme. The year abroad is assessed on a pass/fail basis and does not count towards your final degree classification.
Kent Business School has excellent links with business schools globally, including in China, USA, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden and Italy. Our wide array of exchange partners give you the opportunity to gain international experience. Our partners are committed to enhancing their international outlook while providing excellent teaching. You will gain invaluable work experience, develop your understanding of a new culture and improve your language skills.
Our exchange partners include these top ranked institutions amongst others:
Your final year has a greater focus on developing your strategic thinking. In modules such as leadership and corporate strategy, strategic marketing and critical approaches to human resource management and organisational behaviour you will develop your critical and analytical thinking. The research project gives you the opportunity to develop your research skills and deepen your knowledge on a specific business aspect.
The law affects how we conduct business in the real world and online. You'll gain an understanding of how the law governs business transactions; what is required for legally compliant contracts; the obligations and responsibilities that can arise in commerce, and how businesses can avoid legal disputes.
We make the law accessible by enabling you to apply the legal knowledge you gain to business-related client disputes. By learning how to analyse and argue legal issues, you'll become more confident in solving problems based on clear thinking and evidence, as well as expressing and defending your ideas across different audiences. By becoming aware of those parts of the law that you are most likely to encounter in your future careers, you’ll better understand the legal obligations you have to others, and those they, in turn, have to you.
The importance of business ethics within organisations has drastically increased in the last decades and the issues of ethical relevance have expanded greatly. How can a business and the people who are a part of it ensure that it acts ethically given the expansion of ethical scrutiny into contemporary organisations?
You'll learn to apply different ethical concepts and frameworks to the analysis of practical problems in business and management. This will enable you to develop a greater ability to articulate a complex argument and enhance your critical thinking skills, so you can ensure your career is spent building better business, for a better tomorrow.
Indicative areas to be covered are:
Introduction to Business/Management Projects
Research Methodologies
Literature search and Literature Review
Data collection and questionnaire
Structuring a Project Report
Data Analysis
Presentations
This module investigates the importance of having a dynamic buying function in retailing to meet the ever-changing needs of the consumer and maintain a profitable business. It explores both Fashion and Food retailing, and the differences between these industries. It considers how different strategic approaches influence new product design and purchasing, as well as the importance of economic, legal and financial issues. Students will acquire expertise in how to plan and develop a range of products; how to develop pricing strategies, and how to work with strategic suppliers and partners to get a product that exceeds consumer needs to market ahead of the competition.
The key elements of the curriculum are as follows:
• Organisational approaches to buying and the impact on the brand
• Process models of buying
• Competitor analysis
• Impact of trends and fashion on new product development
• Impact of innovation and technology on new product development
• Range planning
• Quality strategies and quality assurance
• Supplier selection and management
• Sustainability of product sourcing
Whether you want to launch a business or save an entrepreneurial idea for later, working on your own business plan will help you to develop your problem-solving skills and demonstrate your overall business acumen – as well as potentially kick-start your future.
Utilising the knowledge and experience you have gained during your years at university and in industry, you'll produce a tailored business plan to a commercial standard. You'll gain an enhanced understanding of the issues that need to be addressed in setting up a new business, and develop the skills to create, run and pitch your own enterprise.
Your ability to think through the challenges of creating a new enterprise – and produce a coherent, convincing and commercial-ready plan – will showcase your value to potential employers and put you in the driving seat when launching your own business.
The law expects businesses to be governed responsibly, and the individuals within them to be mindful as to how they fulfil their legal obligations to their customers, the environment, their workforce and the public. You'll learn about key aspects of negligence, company, employment and discrimination law, from how organisations are legally structured, to their responsibilities to those over whom they have a duty of care.
You'll consider current news on legal issues and apply the law to real world business situations, increasing your knowledge of relevant business law. You’ll learn how to analyse and solve problems, and appreciate how the law impacts different cultures, backgrounds and circumstances both domestically and internationally.
Learning the law challenges you to question assumptions and look at both sides of an issue or dispute. Often you expect a particular outcome, only to find a court decided the opposite – and when you see the real impact this has on people’s lives and livelihoods, it can seem unfair or unsettling. Gaining the ability to navigate such ambiguities and realities is crucial for your future studies and career, helping you to develop an enquiring mind and equipping you to behave responsibly, fairly and with integrity in business.
Students will be expected to develop the ability to use appropriate techniques of analysis and enquiry within supply chain and service management, and to learn how to evaluate the alternatives and make recommendations. Topics include:
• The nature of services and service strategy
• Supply chain management
• Managing quality within supply chains
• Service development and technology
• Service quality and the service encounter
• Project/Event management and control
• Managing capacity and demand in services
A well-executed corporate social responsibility strategy can enhance a company's reputation and brand image. By studying socially responsible management you’ll make sense of societal changes and what it means for you and your future in business. Key components of corporate social responsibility and ethical theory are applied in the context of social issues. You’ll gain a strong understanding of the ethical concerns in business through the study of example cases involving key issues such as shareholder activism, employee discrimination, working conditions, ethical issues in marketing, accountability and collaboration with civil society organisations. You’ll begin to see the importance of a collaborative approach with internal and external stakeholder groups as you apply key concepts, theories and frameworks related to social responsibility in different contexts.
Our enthusiastic team of international teaching staff are all experts
in their field of study and are regularly published in leading journals
worldwide. They guide and support your learning, bringing their subject
to life and drawing you into the conversation.
We use a variety of teaching methods, including;
Classroom-based learning is supported by the latest online technologies and learning platforms.
Your progress is assessed through coursework and exams. Coursework takes a variety of forms and includes;
Exams are individual written assessments tested under time-controlled conditions.
As part of your studies it is also possible to take a foreign language module in stage 1 and for students going on a Year Abroad in year 1 and 2 subject to programme requirements. Alternatively, our university also offers language courses as part of extra-curricular activities.
To proceed to the next year you must achieve satisfactory results. Your final degree is based on marks gained in the second and third years (and Placement Year/Year Abroad if chosen) and credits which you build up throughout the whole programme.
Undergraduate students can expect around 8 contact hours per week, depending on year of study and optional module choices made. The remainder of the working week consists of self-guided study based on degree programme content and requirements of specific modules. For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours, which include both direct contact hours and private study hours. The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules. Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
For programme aims and learning outcomes please see the programme specification.
Our graduates look to make their mark on the organisations they join, whether they are large multinational companies or small local firms in Kent.
Kent Business School students make their ambitions known, working at companies like:
The 2024/25 annual tuition fees for this course are:
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
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.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Fees for undergraduate students are £1,850.
Fees for undergraduate students are £1,385.
Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
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In the QS World University Rankings 2024, Kent has been ranked 39th within the UK and is in the top 25% of Higher Education Institutions worldwide.
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Kent has risen 11 places in THE’s REF 2021 ranking, confirming us as a leading research university.
An unmissable part of your student experience.