Undergraduate BSc (Hons)
Business Analytics and Management
with a Foundation Year
Want to be the kind of leader who can succeed based on your data-driven decisions?
Want to be the kind of leader who can succeed based on your data-driven decisions?
If you have a passion for numbers and want to apply them to real life settings, this course is for you.
Businesses rely on data to make decisions across all their core functions. Whether it’s data on employee performance, supply chains, or market trends, managers today need to be able to work with numbers. On our BSc Business Analytics and Management course, you’ll learn the skills to interpret, analyse and present data to influence and facilitate good business decisions while developing your understanding of other key business functions.
You’ll learn coding and master Excel with support from our expert staff who have endless experience working with real companies. With their help and your passion, you will graduate a confident business leader, ready to make decisions, solve problems and find innovative solutions.
The foundation year is for students whose school-leaving qualifications are below the level required. It offers one year of full-time study prior to the start of your BSc course.
Gain CV boosting work experience.
Study at a Triple Crown Accredited business school.
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).
Our expert teaching staff appear in the top 2% of researchers worldwide.
CDD
MMP
80 Tariff points from your IB Diploma, Typically H5, H4, H4 or equivalent
Mathematics grade 4 / C and English grade 4 / C.
N/A
The University will consider applicants holding T level qualifications in subjects closely aligned to the course.
Access to HE Diploma in (subject being taken) with a minimum of 45 Credits at level 3 with 9 credits at Distinction and 12 credits at Merit
We consider all applications on an individual basis during Clearing and you're encouraged to get in touch to discuss your grades. You're most likely to be offered a place in Clearing for this course if you hold the following subjects:
GCSE / IB - Mathematics
The Foundation Year aims to extend access to university education to students from a wide variety of educational backgrounds and age groups and prepares these students for our three or four-year degrees.
After successful completion of the foundation year, you can transfer on to the three or four-year Business and Management programmes. Please refer to the BSc Business Analytics and Management, BSc Business Analytics and Management with a Year Abroad or BSc Business Analytics and Management with a Year in Industry programme for more information about specific modules.
What do economists do? This module will introduce students to a wide range of thinking and economic analysis. It will explain how economists think, use evidence and draw conclusions. Different perspectives will be compared and the power of economic reasoning to explain and predict the world will be evaluated. Of particular focus will the differences in economic outcomes between firms, people and countries,
How to study economics and other social sciences Economics like other social sciences demands a high degree of numeracy, the ability to read, understand and communicate a large body of readings, the ability to draw and defend your own conclusions. These core learning skills will be embedded in the course and assessed through assignments and exams
Through this module, students will develop their analytical and problem solving skills to successfully complete other related modules on the IFP. The programme of study will be divided into lectures in calculus, algebra and statistics.
As part of the orientation process, students will take a pre-course test which, along with other factors, will determine whether they go into the upper or lower band. This will involve an in class test in the first week. Students will then be grouped according to their mathematical ability and academic focus. The teaching in the upper bands will be geared more towards systematically working towards a solution while that in the lower bands will deal with mathematical techniques.
Make rapid progress in understanding European and international business ahead of your undergraduate degree. Through our expert teaching and hands-on projects - including a Dragon's Den style presentation - you will quickly get up to speed with the topic of international business, while learning and developing your own leadership style. You’ll gain the knowledge, skills and confidence that create a strong foundation in international business for your undergraduate degree and beyond.
Through this module, students will improve the transferable academic skills necessary to successfully complete their other modules on the IFP and to succeed on their future undergraduate programmes. The programme of study will cover the development of critical and analytical skills.
Students will attend regular seminars/workshops each week, focusing on furthering their academic skills. They will receive input on developing a research topic; writing and presenting a proposal; developing research questions; and engaging in reflection on the research and writing process. Students will also review how to write an annotated bibliography; briefly revisit how to plan and write an essay and how to undertake research; and practice presentation skills. They will have the opportunity to meet with their tutor regularly during the term for tutorials, to discuss their individual projects and progress on the module.
Through this module, students will develop the transferable linguistic and academic skills necessary to successfully complete all the other modules on the IFP. The programme of study will cover academic writing, reading, speaking and listening skills.
There has never been a higher demand for business analysis globally. When you study with Kent Business School you'll also be in demand as a talented, skilled and knowledgeable analyst. You’ll learn the key essentials of business analysis, getting you ready for your degree and your career. From strategic positioning to Excel analysis, you’ll be prepared to hit the ground running as an undergraduate student and build the foundations of an exciting and successful career.
Your first year is an introduction to the world of business analytics. You'll learn the ins and outs of a number of areas including accounting and marketing, while also building up your programming and mathematical skills. By the end of this year you’ll have set a foundation for you analytical skills that can be applied across the different areas of business.
Data is everywhere and crucial for business decisions, so if you can make sense of data, you can deliver success and become a valuable asset to any business. You’ll get a full introduction to the world of data analysis for business, so you’ll be ready to develop as an analyst. Through collecting, interpreting, evaluating and using data through a hands-on approach, you’ll make rapid progress and be ready to start a career in any business environment.
Excel is a highly demanded skill by employers, in both starting your career and making rapid progress throughout it. You’ll master the fundamentals of this powerful tool and also be introduced to some more advanced technologies that will give you an even greater edge in the workplace. Learn to think creatively through the application of analytics and Excel techniques to real world business problems.
What are the best ways to manage people in organisations? How are decisions made about the design of work, the structure of an organisation, and who is accountable or responsible for different activities? What are the best ways to manage people in organisations? How are decisions made about the design of work, the structure of an organisation, and who is accountable or responsible for different activities? You’ll understand the practices of contemporary organisations by looking at a wide range of different theories of management, starting with classical management perspectives like scientific management or human relations theory and then considering more contemporary issues like culture management and leadership styles. Using case studies, you'll develop key skills like critical thinking and be able to reflect on the ethics and fairness of contemporary forms of work.
Marketing is an exciting and dynamic field that offers endless opportunities for innovation, creativity and growth. With advancements in technology, shifts in consumer behaviour and emerging trends, marketers have the opportunity to explore new strategies and tactics to help firms effectively reach and communicate with their target customers.
Creating brand awareness, engagement, satisfaction and loyalty is vital for sales growth in competitive and dynamic markets. You'll learn how to develop and implement effective marketing plans and strategies as well as exploring how key elements of the marketing mix can be used to create and communicate a distinctive value proposition that helps a product or service stand out from the competition. You'll gain the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to develop, deliver and refine digital marketing strategies that make employers sit up and take notice.
Who do you want to be when you graduate? What are you career ambitions? This module seeks to help new KBS students to start thinking about their emerging professional identity and future career goals. It helps students to begin to take a reflective approach to their career development and supports them to see the relevance of their learning to the graduate labour market. It encourages students to see the importance of gaining relevant work experience prior to graduating and what they need to do to secure this. It also introduces them to the employability enhancing opportunities and the support available to them from across the University, professional bodies, and external organizations.
What are the key numerical skills that students need to be able to analyze and present business data in meaningful ways? This module will develop and consolidate students' skills and knowledge in mathematics, instilling a firm conceptual understanding of core mathematical concepts, introducing them to applications relevant to business analytics and equipping them with basic knowledge of using Excel to solve mathematical problems.
The module will explore topics such are basic algebra, matrices and vectors, differential calculus, functions of one variable, integral calculus, and financial mathematics – applying each of these to practical business analytics problems. On this module, students will develop their highly-transferrable, numerical skills so that they can succeed on business analytics modules in subsequent years.
This module provides an introduction to object-oriented software development. Software pervades many aspects of most professional fields and sciences, and an understanding of the development of software applications is useful as a basis for many disciplines. This module covers the development of simple software systems. Students will gain an understanding of the software development process, and learn to design and implement applications in a popular object-oriented programming language. Fundamentals of classes and objects are introduced and key features of class descriptions: constructors, methods and fields. Method implementation through assignment, selection control structures, iterative control structures and other statements is introduced. Collection objects are also covered and the availability of library classes as building blocks. Throughout the course, the quality of class design and the need for a professional approach to software development is emphasised and forms part of the assessment criteria.
The module is designed to teach students how to prepare, read and interpret financial information with a view to their being future business managers rather than accountants.
The module will begin with a brief demonstration of bookkeeping using an easy understandable approach. Students will be shown how to prepare financial statements from a trial balance and make adjustments to the figures given by acting on information given in a short scenario.
The regulatory framework of financial reporting will be considered with annual reports and accounts of a variety of organisations. The module will end with an analysis of financial statements with students shown how to interpret data and make sensible recommendations.
In your second year, you’ll strengthen your data skills through the modules that you’ll study. You’ll learn about core business functions like human resource management (HRM) and operations management while also focusing on the three essential areas of business analytics: predictive, prescriptive, and descriptive analytics. By the end of this year you’ll have a command of data analysis techniques and develop the confidence to present your findings in persuasive ways that you can apply to any real-life setting.
Operations management is the highly important activity of managing the resources devoted to production and delivery of products and services.
We'll explore conceptual, analytical, and practical aspects of how to effectively manage operations in manufacturing and service companies. We’ll look at various types of businesses including in the private, public, and third sector as well as start-up organisations.
You’ll develop highly sought after knowledge, understanding, skills and abilities in analysing, judging and decision-making in these areas. All of these will be very valuable when starting out in your career.
What are the key policies and practices that shape how we manage people in organisations? You'll learn about all areas of human resource management theory and practice — from planning and recruiting for your human resource requirements through to effective performance and reward management, employee relations and the ethical treatment of staff.
By the end of the module, you will have increased your awareness and developed your knowledge and skills in effective management by looking at practices currently applied within organisations. This skill set is crucial as you progress in your career in HR management through this module, you should have everything you need to thrive in your career.
Project management has rapidly emerged as an essential discipline for businesses seeking to achieve strategic and sustainable goals. It can be applied across industries, offering indispensable tools for organisational development. Whatever field you are working in, project managers are in the driving seat of progress.
This module provides in-depth insights into project management concepts, principles, and applications, giving you essential approaches, tools, and techniques which you can apply to various contexts.
You’ll enhance your analytical, critical and reflective thinking skills. By integrating project management expertise with discipline-specific knowledge, you’ll have a competitive edge when you finish the module, enabling you to succeed in both project and non-project-oriented careers.
Python has become the most popular general-purpose programming language. It enables fast development, has great community support, and is an industry-standard tool for visualising and analysing business data.
Developing computer programming skills is an important tool in business analytics. You’ll explore the fundamentals of programming, covering essential concepts such as flow control and loops, before advancing into the realm of object-oriented programming.
You’ll explore the practical applications of Python packages, focusing on those specifically relevant to business analytics. These include solving equations, data visualisation, and generating descriptive statistics. Through hands-on exercises and real-world examples, you’ll develop a robust skill set, making you proficient and confident in using Python for effective business analytics.
In today's business environment, a wealth of data is available but many businesses find it difficult to transform that data into usable information that can shape meaningful decisions. In this module, you’ll learn to extract insights from historical data through interactive visual analytics, communicate complex information effectively, and gain hands-on experience using data to drive positive change in business, environment and society.
You’ll also explore advanced pattern recognition and forecasting techniques, enabling you to foresee future outcomes and trends. You’ll explore real-world case studies from diverse industries, giving you a deep insight into how data analytics is integral to the supply chain management, marketing, healthcare, and finance sectors.
By the end of this module, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to transform data into actionable insights and predictions, positively impacting any organisation you work for and driving growth.
Making decisions is crucial for managers and businesses, as they shape our lives and impact outcomes at work. However, making smart decisions in the face of complexity and uncertainty can be challenging. How can data support our decisions in such uncertain contexts?
Together we’ll explore various quantitative and graphical methods that help identify, represent, and evaluate different options. These can help us make optimal decisions. We’ll guide you through the decision-making process in organisations, using an evidence-based approach drawn from research in behavioural psychology, economics, error management, and intuitive judgment. These tools will help you to make sound decisions in uncertain situations, enabling you to influence and lead effectively.
By the end of the module, you’ll have a deep understanding of informed decision-making methodologies. You’ll learn how to analyse problems, identify potential solutions, and evaluate outcomes in uncertain conditions. You'll be able to make decisive decisions supported by data and evidence in order to drive growth and deliver results for businesses.
Your final year gives you the chance to showcase how you’ve grown on the course. You’ll take essential modules in leadership and strategy as well as learning about key topics like simulation modelling. You’ll also choose from optional modules in far-reaching areas of business activity. You’ll graduate, ready to take on any analytical task a business can throw at you, with the skills to be a confident business leader, ready to make decisions and solve problems at a high level.
In the rapidly evolving world of business, developing and implementing effective strategies is vital for success. This module equips you with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in the field of strategic management.
You’ll engage in rigorous analysis and critical thinking to explore a range of strategic concepts. These include the fundamentals of strategic planning, advanced topics in supply chain dynamics, and issues such as quality management, technology-driven innovation, and project/event management.
Throughout the module, you’ll engage in interactive discussions, group projects, case studies, and hands-on exercises to enhance your problem-solving and decision-making skills. By the end, you’ll have the ability to analyse and apply critical thinking to evaluate strategic alternatives and make informed recommendations.
Prescriptive analytics goes beyond simply describing past events or predicting future events. It provides insights into what actions organisations can take to make better decisions. Together we’ll learn how to formulate complex problems mathematically and solve them using various techniques.
You’ll discover how to turn data into optimal decision-making strategies by creating powerful mathematical models known as Linear Programming (LP). Through exploring different LP solutions and conducting sensitivity analyses, you’ll be able to inform better decision-making with data.
Additionally, you’ll delve into network models, tackling problems such as transportation, assignment, shortest path, maximum flow, and minimum spanning tree. You’ll learn how to model these scenarios and explore common approaches to solve them effectively. You’ll focus on solving optimisation problems using Excel Solver, which will give you practical skills for real-world scenarios.
Simulation modeling is increasingly important in business, used in industries, consulting and policy-making. With many software options available for simulation modeling, it's essential for business graduates to understand its philosophy and techniques. We'll learn how to use simulation modeling as a powerful tool for decision-making in complex systems, with a focus on practical applications, analyzing computer models of real-world processes. Through this, you'll gain skills in building and analyzing simulation models, empowering you to estimate and compare alternatives in different situations. Ultimately, you'll be equipped to tackle the challenges of decision-making in complex scenarios through simulation modeling.
Big Data and Machine Learning are making big changes in many industries, affecting how computing and cloud technology function. We'll study the basics of processing big data and learn to use practical tools through real-world examples and hands-on exercises. You'll also learn about various machine learning techniques, including supervised, unsupervised and reinforcement learning. Starting with simple linear regression, you'll progress to advanced topics like neural networks and convolutional neural networks and also explore important concepts like the bias-variance trade-off for model selection. In addition to model training, you'll also learn how to evaluate model performance using standard metrics, refining your skills in the process.
An introduction to the concept of behavioural science and how its insights can be applied to the workplace. Behavioural Science is drawing from multiple scientific disciplines (e.g. psychology, behavioural economics). It aims to give new insights into how our minds operate in the modern business world. Applied to the workplace it can help us to shed new light onto a wide range of issues relating to HR. You'll gain a first insight as to how the developing cross-disciplinary field of behavioural science and provide you with novel tools to overcome organisational challenges. For example, you'll cover how behavioual sciences can help us to understand how our decision making can be inherently biased and affect selection and assessment processes or equality and inclusivity within the workplace, how humans are motivated, how the workplace environment can be affected by workplace interactions both between individuals and teams, or how stress or wellbeing are influenced by a number of workplace factors.
The law expects businesses to be governed responsibly and 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 study negligence, company, employment and discrimination law, emphasizing responsible business governance and individual accountability. By analysing current legal issues and applying them to real-world scenarios, you'll enhance problem-solving skills, understanding of diverse impacts and ethical decision-making in business. Navigating complexities and ambiguities fosters critical thinking and integrity, preparing you for future studies and careers.
Study the different ways in which people operate within organisations. You're introduced to the strategic use of data in people operations to tackle workplace challenges effectively. You'll learn various methodologies for analysing and interpreting data to improve organisational performance and employee well-being. Explore diverse data collection, processing and utilisation techniques. Through practical exercises and case studies, you'll learn to extract valuable insights, recognise patterns and make informed decisions to optimise human capital management. Ethical considerations such as privacy and confidentiality are emphasised, ensuring responsible data usage. You'll leave with a thorough understanding of how data-driven approaches can positively impact organisational culture and productivity.
How do you think creatively for business and startup planning? You'll address opportunity recognition, product development, business proposal creation and entrepreneurial finance. Through teamwork, you'll develop leadership, problem-solving, communication and analytical skills. Analogies from diverse cultures aid personal connections, while the curriculum emphasises sustainability, lifelong learning and systems thinking. You'll gain entrepreneurial confidence, adaptability, opportunity recognition, risk management, and innovative mindset for diverse career paths.
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 through lectures, seminars, workshops and PC labs.
Your progress is assessed through a mix of coursework – including reports, essays and presentations - and exams. 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
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.
Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules.
Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
For programme aims and learning outcomes, please see the programme specification.
Kent Business School students find work in public and private sector management both overseas and in the UK in a wide range of companies and organisations, including:
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.
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
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.
Next steps
If you are from the UK or Ireland, you must apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not from the UK or Ireland, you can apply through UCAS or directly on our website if you have never used UCAS and you do not intend to use UCAS in the future.
We welcome applications from students all around the world with a wide range of international qualifications.
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