Introduction to Business & Management
Business & Management degrees cover a wide range of subjects from courses that give you a strong foundation in many areas of business to courses that are industry specific, such as Hospitality Management.
Almost all Business & Management degrees start off by giving you a good knowledge of the core principles of business, before allowing you to choose more specialist modules that cater to your particular area of interest.
The majority of Business & Management degrees also involve some time in industry, sometimes up to a full year, to allow you to put your theories into practice and gain some work-based skills before graduation.
What is a Business & Management subject?
Subjects that come under the umbrella term of “Business & Management” include:
- Business
- Management
- Accounting
- Finance
- Economics
- Hospitality Management
- Marketing
- Human Resources Management
You’ll also find that Business & Management degrees are popular with students who are studying for a joint honours degree.
Common subject combinations include Business & Politics, Management & Computer Science, and Hospitality Management & Modern Languages.
What are the career options for a Business & Management graduate?
Depending on how specialised your degree course was, there are a wide variety of careers and industries open to you after graduation.
For example, if you chose to study Hospitality Management or Human Resources Management, you would expect that you would get a job in those sectors.
However, if you choose a broader course, such as Business, then there will be a number of industries where your skill set and knowledge will be valued.
Popular career paths for graduates with a degree in the Business & Management category include:
- Accountancy and Finance
- Advertising and Marketing
- Retail
- Banking
- Distribution
- Manufacturing
- Law
- Business Consultancy
- Management Consultancy
Realistically, every business and organisation needs strong leadership and effective management, so you’ll be able to use your skills no matter which career path you choose.
What skills does a Business & Management degree give me?
The employment prospects are higher for Business & Management degree students than other subjects because of the transferrable skills you learn during your course.
As well as the course specific skill set you’ll gain, you’ll also develop skills including:
- An understanding of organisational behaviour and structure
- Analytical and critical thinking skills
- A creative approach to problem solving
- Decision-making skills
- Persuasive written and oral communication skills
- Numeracy skills
- The ability to research, interpret and use business and financial data
- Self-reliance and strong initiative
- The ability to manage time, projects and resources
- Appreciation of the causes and effects of economic and other external changes
More specific knowledge includes the understanding of areas such as customers, markets, finance, operations, human resources, business policy and strategy, and communication and information technology.
Where can I study a Business & Management subject?
Almost all universities in the UK offer subjects that fall under the Business & Management umbrella. You could also choose one of the specialist “business schools” across the country.
Top places in the UK to study Business & Management subjects include:
- London Business School
- University of Oxford
- London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
- University of Cambridge
- University of Warwick
- University of Manchester
- Imperial College London
