BA (Hons) Economics and Business with Foundation Year

This module introduces first-year students to the basic principles of macroeconomics and how the overall economy works. You will explore key economic issues such as economic growth, unemployment, inflation, and the role of government policy in managing the economy. You will learn how national income is measured and how comparative economic performance is assessed using indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The module explains how governments and central banks use fiscal and monetary policies to influence economic activity and behaviour. You will also examine how economic shocks, global events, and policy decisions affect businesses, financial markets, and households. Through engaging models and real-world examples, the module will help you understand how economic policies shape economic outcomes. It also develops your ability to interpret economic trends over time and discuss major macroeconomic challenges facing modern economies. The aim is to provide a clear foundation in macroeconomic thinking that supports further study in economics, business, and finance.

This module introduces first-year students to the basic principles of microeconomics and how individuals, households, and firms make economic decisions. You will learn how scarce resources are allocated in markets and how prices are determined through the interaction of demand and supply. You will learn about economic behaviour by consumers and how they make choices based on preferences and budget constraints, and by firms and how they decide what and how much to produce in a market setting. The module also examines market structures, including perfect competition and monopoly, and explores how these influence pricing and output decisions. In addition, it introduces the concept of market failure and the role of government intervention in improving market outcomes or not. Throughout the module, you will apply economic concepts to engaging real-world examples drawn from business, finance, and everyday economic activities. The aim is to build a strong foundation in microeconomic thinking and develop analytical skills that will support further study in economics, business, and finance.

This extended induction module supports your transition into university life and introduces you to the requirements of academic skills. It helps you build confidence, develop a strong academic identity, and understand the expectations of university study. You’ll explore key academic practices including independent learning, digital literacy, and ethical academic conduct—such as referencing, plagiarism awareness, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in line with university policy. You will also be introduced to some of the tools and databases relevant for your studies. The module is structured around seven themes identified by students as essential to their university experience: Ready to Study: Clear guidance on expectations, transitions, and workload planning. Academic Skills and Educational Gain: Development of foundational academic skills including time management, critical thinking, and digital fluency. Career Readiness and Professional Identity: Early exploration of career pathways, CV building, and professional behaviours. Personal Development and Belonging: Activities that foster confidence, inclusion, and identity within the university community. Social Engagement and Community Building: Opportunities to connect with peers, staff, and wider university life. Feedback and Reflective Practice: Structured opportunities to receive, apply, and reflect on feedback to support growth. Wellbeing and Student Support: Embedded access to holistic support services and strategies for success. This module lays the foundation for future development, including the Level 5 Professional Development module/embedded placement experiences.

This module introduces second-year students to the basic methods used to analyse economic data. Applied Econometrics focuses on how statistical techniques can be used to test economic theories and examine real-world economic relationships. You will learn how economists use data to study issues such as price levels, national income, unemployment, economic growth, and financial markets. The module explains the principles of regression analysis and how to interpret results from econometric models. Also, you will learn about common econometric problems such as omitted variables, multicollinearity, and heteroskedasticity, and how these issues can affect results. Practical learning is an important part of the module. You will use econometric software to estimate models, analyse datasets, and interpret empirical findings. The aim is to help students understand how data can support economic analysis and decision-making. By the end of the module, you will gain hands-on experience using SPSS statistical software, to apply basic econometric techniques, interpret statistical outputs, and explain the economic meaning of empirical results. This module provides essential analytical skills that support further study in economics, finance, and business.

This module explores the customer journey from first contact to long-term loyalty, helping you build knowledge into how businesses attract, win and retain customers. You will examine the marketing strategies and tactics that organisations use to acquire new customers and the approaches that keep existing ones engaged and loyal. You will be encouraged to think critically about the customer acquisition paradox, exploring why companies often invest more in chasing new customers despite research showing it can cost up to seven times more than retaining existing ones. Through interactive workshops, case studies and discussions, you will explore real-world examples of how businesses build meaningful customer relationships, use data-driven insights to improve retention and design effective campaigns that convert prospects into advocates. By the end of the module, you will not only have developed practical skills in planning and executing customer acquisition and retention strategies but also have gained deeper knowledge of how these contribute to sustainable business success. This will provide you with a valuable foundation for roles in marketing, sales and customer relationship management. To support the diverse student community, the module draws on globally relevant case studies and examples from international markets, enabling you to see how customer acquisition and retention strategies operate across different cultural, economic and digital contexts. Whether you are aiming to work in the UK, Europe, Asia, Africa or other global regions, the scenarios explored in class will help you connect the concepts to your own ambitions, professional background and future career pathway. This international perspective is designed to help you see yourself in the narrative of the module and consider how customer-focused strategies are applied in a wide range of industries and countries.

This module builds on the foundational skills and reflective practices introduced in the Level 4 'Succeeding at University' module, supporting students to deepen their professional identity and career readiness. It is designed to support students in developing the knowledge, skills, and reflective practices essential for continuous professional growth in a dynamic and evolving workplace. Through a mix of practical experience and professional development sessions, this module will enable students to explore essential themes such as personal effectiveness, leadership, communication, ethical practice, and lifelong learning. Drawing directly from work experience and/or professional setting, students will reflect on their real-world experiences to deepen their understanding of what it means to grow and succeed in their chosen field. Students may draw on case studies or sector examples to connect theory to practice. Students will engage in self-assessment, goal setting, and action planning to identify their strengths and areas for development. The module emphasizes reflective practice as a tool for professional learning and encourages learners to critically evaluate their experiences and performance in real-world contexts. Specialist areas of business such as strategy, HR, marketing, finance, operations management, ethics and sustainability will be examined in relation to potential career pathways, so that students can begin to align personal skills and behaviours with industry requirements. CPD planning (continuing professional development) will support students in taking ownership of their learning, helping to enhance professional practice and take meaningful steps towards employability.

Why do businesses need to grow and how is this achieved? This module will explore how organisations develop and implement strategies to pursue growth in a globalised and increasingly complex world. Blending concepts from strategic management and international business, you will evaluate an organisation’s internal capabilities and its interaction with the external environment. You will assess the relevance of current strategies and identify strategic priorities to support future growth. Throughout the module, you will engage with a diverse range of organisations and apply key analytical tools to real-world scenarios. You will also develop the ability to interpret financial and economic data to make informed strategic decisions. On completion, you will be equipped to think critically about strategy in international contexts and contribute to effective decision-making in dynamic business environments.

Why do some countries grow rich, while others remain poor? This module offers final-year Economics students an in-depth exploration of the key questions, theories, and empirical evidence surrounding global economic development. The module introduces you to contemporary microeconomic and macroeconomic issues in development economics, focusing on the structural, institutional, and policy factors that shape income differences and growth outcomes across countries. This module will examine major theories of economic growth and development, including classical, neoclassical, endogenous, and structuralist perspectives, and evaluate how these frameworks help explain global patterns of inequality and economic performance. A central theme of the module is understanding how factor accumulation such as physical capital investment, population dynamics, and human capital formation drives long-run growth in any economy. The content also explores pressing development challenges related to environmental constraints, technological progress, governance quality, and international integration. Through applied case studies and empirical analysis, students will engage critically with real-world development experiences across regions, including Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America. By the end of the module, you will be able to apply economic reasoning to global development problems, assess competing theories, interpret empirical evidence, and evaluate the policies and institutions that shape economic transformation worldwide.

This ultimate module provides students with the opportunity to undertake an independent study that blends learning from previous subjects. It is designed to showcase individual strengths and apply advanced knowledge to a practical business context. Students will create a professional business project that demonstrates their ability to address real-world challenges or opportunities. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, problem-solving, research planning, data analysis and professional communication skills. By completing this module, students will demonstrate autonomy, innovation and the ability to integrate theory with practice - key attributes for advancing in professional and managerial roles.