This degree has been designed to provide students with the skills required to operate as successful practising managers in a European, and increasingly worldwide, context. Students develop the skills of general management through working in multi-functional groups. The full range of management issues and problems is systematically tackled in simulated situations in operations, marketing, finance, human resource management, law and decision-making strategy. Each of the business topics is conducted in a European and international context but this is extended through taking a full course unit in a modern European language in each of the first two years of the course. The major areas of management knowledge and skills are studied in Introduction to Management, which focuses on the nature of the managerial role, and the four main areas of management - Marketing, Operations Management, Financial Control and Managing People.
Students also study either French, German or Spanish.
During this year the foundations are laid for courses in subsequent years and students' understanding of the managerial role, not only through lectures, but in particular through simulations. Students also take a course in the use of information technology for practising managers and on issues of managing IT in the organisation. At the end of Year 1, all students choose one option to study in Year 2 and subsequent years, allowing specialist skills to be developed in Accountancy and Finance, Human Resource Management, Marketing or International Marketing and Modern Languages. Year 2 Core courses studied are in Management, Business Planning and Personal and Interpersonal Skills. Students are introduced to the practices and factors involved in taking decisions at managerial level and are required to integrate skills gained in other courses to make decisions in simulated situations.