BSc Business Management with Placement

Year 1

Core Modules

• History and Philosophy of Management (20 credits)
• Marketing (20 credits)
• Business, Government and Society (20 credits)
• Employability Preparation Module (0 credits)
• Economics for Business (20 credits)
• Behaviour in Organisations (20 credits)
• Accounting (20 credits)

Year 2

Core Modules

• Data Analytics for Business (20 credits)
• Leading for Change (20 credits)
• Human Resource Management (20 credits)
• International Business (20 credits)
• The Digital Business (20 credits)
• Employability Module (0 credits)
• Sustainable Operations Management (20 credits)

Year 3

Core Modules

• Employability Module (120 credits)

Year 4

Core Modules

• Business Ethics (20 credits)
• Strategic Management (20 credits)

Optional Modules

• Consultancy and problem-solving (20 credits)
• Managing data and artificial intelligence (20 credits)
• Venture Start-Up (20 credits)
• Contemporary and Emerging Issues in Business and Management (20 credits)
• Public Sector Management (20 credits)
• Innovation Management (20 credits)
• Venture Scale-Up (20 credits)
• Supply Chain Management (20 credits)

Learning and Teaching

On the BSc Business Management programme we provide opportunities for our students to engage with subject experts including academic staff and industry guest speakers, develop skills, attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world-class library that will enhance their development as independent, lifelong learners. Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this degree programme are:

• Adviser of Studies
  To provide support and advice on decisions that might affect a student’s academic performance when needed.
• Computer-Based Practicals
  These provide students with the opportunity to develop technical skills and apply theoretical principles to real-life or practical contexts.
• E-Learning technologies
  Information associated with lectures and assignments is often communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Canvas. A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree programme through the use of, for example, interactive support materials, podcasts and web-based learning activities.
• Induction
  Formalised induction for all undergraduate students. For Stage 1 students, this includes several half-day sessions the week before the programme begins to allow students to familiarise themselves with the campus and the degree programme. During Stage 1 there are a number of follow-up sessions throughout the year. Topics such as academic writing, referencing, plagiarism, communication skills, examination preparation and managing time effectively are all covered in these practical sessions.
• Lectures
  Lectures are used to present key information about module topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading. As the module progresses this information becomes more complex. Lectures, which are normally delivered to large groups of students, also provide opportunities to ask questions and seek clarification on key issues. A number of modules will include guest lectures where an industry speaker is invited to speak about the application of the content covered in the module within their organisation. This is often an effective way for employers to meet students and inform them about placement or employment opportunities within their organisation.
• Peer Mentoring Scheme
  Students in the second and final year of their degree programme volunteer to mentor Stage 1 students to aid with the transition to university life. Each level 1 student is allocated to a peer mentor who they meet at their induction session. Peer mentors are a point of contact for questions and advice about student life.
• Self-directed study
  This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s student when important independent reading, engagement with e-learning resources, preparation for tutorials and assignments and reflection on feedback are carried out.
• Seminars/tutorials
  A significant amount of teaching is carried out in small groups (typically 25 students). These sessions are designed to explore, in more depth, the information that has been presented in the lectures. This provides students with the opportunity to engage closely with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess their own progress and understanding with the support of their peers. During these classes, students will be expected to present their work to academic staff and their peers.
• Work placements
  Students in the BSc Business Management programme will take a placement year between the second and final year of the degree programme. The School has a dedicated Placement Office which facilitates students in sourcing and securing appropriate placements which will augment their classroom-based learning experience. In addition, the School encourages students to seek other work-based and/or educational-related experiences, whether that is through the summer placement programme (a 3-4 month internship in a local organisation working on a very specific project), Erasmus programmes with other European Universities, or studying abroad in universities with which the School and/or University has an existing relationship.

Assessment

Details of assessments associated with this course are outlined below:

• The way in which students are assessed will vary according to the learning objectives of each module. Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Student Handbook which is provided to all students during their first year induction. Business Management modules are typically assessed by a mix of continuous assessments and final written unseen examinations. Continuous assessment consists of class tests, computer-generated practical experiments, real-life case study research and analysis, academic essays exploring specific current issues such as innovation, consumer behaviour, managing change etc. and individual and small group projects and presentations.

Feedback

As students progress through their course at Queen’s they will receive general and specific feedback from a variety of sources including lecturers, module coordinators, placement supervisors, advisers of study and peers. University students are expected to engage in reflective practice and to use this approach to improve the quality of their work. Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms including:

• Feedback is provided via formal written comments and marks relating to work that you, as an individual or as part of a group, have submitted.
• Face to face comment. This may include occasions when you make use of the lecturers’ advertised “office hours” to help you address a specific query.
• Placement employer comments or references.
• Online or emailed comments.
• General comments or question-and-answer opportunities at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.
• Pre-submission advice regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid. In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which you can review in your own time.
• Feedback and outcomes from practical classes.
• Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.
• Once you have reviewed your feedback, you will be encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of your work.

This degree provides graduates with the knowledge and skills to secure employment in a wide range of occupations in the public, private, and voluntary sectors. Those pursuing a career in business management

should enjoy working with people and should be effective communicators able to engage with a range of stakeholders including senior management, consumers and consumer groups, government representatives, and policymakers.

Employment after the Course

Typical career destinations of graduates include:

• consultancy,
• new venture creation,
• operations management,
• supply chain and quality,
• advertising, business development, marketing, market research, export marketing,
• human resources, recruitment, training, and development,
• new product development, accounting, finance,
• inward investment, exporting

Employment Links

Graduate employers include PwC, Randox, Deloitte, BDO, Bombardier, Google, Microsoft, Unilever, Mercer, Accenture, KPMG, Diageo, M&S, Tesco, Bank of Ireland, Local Government including Councils, Health Trusts, College and Universities, and Invest Northern Ireland.

Alumni Success

"I was attracted to Queen’s because of its reputation as a leading Russell Group University, the quality of its teaching, and the close-knit student body you become a part of. I found my lectures to be not only interesting but relevant and applicable - now as a Management Consultant at Deloitte, I find myself referencing a number of techniques and authors (Scientific Management, PESTEL, Porter, Maslow, etc.) on a near daily basis with clients. Further to this, the opportunities for further development are second to none including the clubs and societies (e.g. I was the Management Society chair) and unique alliances like the William J. Clinton Leadership Institute, where I undertook Inspiring Leader training. I attribute all of these things to helping me land a top graduate job. Many of the employers, clients, and peers are amazed at the wealth of opportunities Queen’s offered me as an undergraduate student."

Matthew Juden, Crowthorne, UK

BSc Business Management Graduate (2016)

Currently a Management Consultant at Deloitte

Additional Awards Gained

Year in Industry

Degree Plus

Prizes and Awards

A number of prizes and awards are made on an annual basis from local employers including CIMA Ireland, PwC, Bombardier Aerospace, and Allen and Overy, plus the Sir William Crawford Prize. Foundation Scholarships are also available.

Degree plus award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports, and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognized by a world-leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.