Business and Management

Business and Management

There are business leaders that generate profit. And there are business leaders that generate profit while also creating a positive impact on people and the planet. At Kent Business School, we’re committed to nurturing the latter.

Our BSc Business and Management equips future business leaders with everything you need to become a responsible, ethical and successful business leader or entrepreneur.

You’ll gain a broad understanding of all business and management disciplines from operations to marketing, accounting to management theory.

Employers will value the skills you’ll gain in teamwork, data analysis, communication and real-world problem solving. And as a graduate of one of just 1% of business schools in the world to hold the coveted triple crown accreditation, your education will stand out from the rest.

Year in Industry

Taking a year in industry in the UK or abroad is the perfect way to put into practice the skills you’ve learnt, and build important industry connections.

Year Abroad

Expand your horizons and tailor your degree to suit you with a year abroad, where you'll study at one of our partner institutions for a year. Studying abroad helps you grow in confidence and enhances your employability. You'll make friends in the country you're studying in and meet other adventurous students from around the world.

Foundation Year (Canterbury Campus)

A course with a Foundation Year provides a pathway into degree-level study for students from a wide range of educational backgrounds and qualifications. It is the perfect option if you have school-leaving qualifications below the level required for direct entry onto a degree programme. It offers one year of full-time study prior to the start of your BSc course.

Accelerated Degree Course (Medway Campus)

If you’re ambitious, career-driven and motivated to become a responsible business or entrepreneurial leader of the future, this accelerated business degree is purpose-designed for you.

Why study a 2-year accelerated degree course?

Graduate faster with a high-quality degree completed in just two years, saving time and money.

• Study over four terms a year at the same intensity as a three-year degree.

• Balance work and life more easily with a condensed termly timetable.

• Gain the in-demand skills employers want, and start driving your career forward from day one.

• Apply your learning in a final-term live consultancy project with real businesses, or develop your own venture with support from our ASPIRE entrepreneurship mentors.

Our accelerated Business and Management programme lets you fast-track your studies without compromising on quality. In just two years, you’ll gain the full depth of a traditional degree while studying at our welcoming, diverse Medway campus, with its easy access to London and the South-East. From day one, you’ll have dedicated support to help you build the skills employers value and shape your career path.

Across two years, you’ll develop a strong foundation in core business and management disciplines — from operations and social media marketing to project management and international business — while preparing for a data- and AI-driven world. You’ll gain sought-after skills in teamwork, communication, data analysis, digital literacy, and real-world problem-solving - the qualities employers look for most. And as a Kent Business School graduate, your fast-tracked, top-quality education at a top 1% triple-crown accredited business school will give you the confidence and experience to stand out in a competitive graduate market.

Year 0 (Foundation)

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Global Market Dynamics

How do businesses function effectively in a global context? How do they understand their markets and consumers while managing and leading responsibly?

You’ll address these questions by exploring the importance of globalisation to business and finance. You’ll learn about the dynamic nature of marketing through concepts such as the marketing mix and in the process develop a holistic understanding of what is happening in the rapidly-changing global marketplace.

By taking a case-study based approach, you’ll gain essential insights into the contemporary business world and develop critical skills and confidence to prepare you for the rest of your degree.

Academic Skills Development

Unlock your potential and gain the essential skills for academic success at university. You’ll develop effective study habits, learn to manage your time, and gain strategies for independent learning. You’ll conduct academic research, by learning to find, evaluate, and use academic sources, while avoiding plagiarism. Your writing skills will be developed through extended writing activities, referencing, proofreading, and editing. You’ll also improve your communication skills by learning how to structure a presentation and use visual aids. You’ll develop your critical thinking through analysis, evaluation, and argumentation. By the end of this module, you’ll be building towards working at Level 4.

Business Decision Making

How do businesses operate today? What are their key functions and how are they organised? Most importantly, what do managers need to know in order to make sound decisions?

You’ll develop a broad understanding of essential business management and accounting models, exploring theories that are integral to how businesses work. By looking at fundamental business strategies and different tools of analysis – like break-even calculations, ratio analysis, capital appraisal models, and decision trees – you’ll develop your understanding of the basics of business and start building up your skills in Excel.

Analysing Global Dynamics with Data

Throughout the course, students actively engage in discussions and practical applications, preparing them to confront complex global economic challenges armed with a data-driven approach. By the end of the course, students emerge equipped with the necessary skills to analyse economic data effectively and contribute meaningfully to informed decision-making in the global economic landscape.

Foundation Project: Research and Reflection

Dive into a project that sparks your curiosity and hones your academic skills, as you choose a topic you’re passionate about and transform your research into a compelling essay. This module allows you to develop and apply the learning from your Autumn term module ‘Academic Skills Development’.  You will improve your research and writing skills further and refine your use of sources. While you conduct your reading and research, you’ll engage in reflective practices improving your ability to assess and evaluate your learning using various reflective models.  Independence and time management are key skills you’ll develop as you navigate this module.  To maximise your experience, you are expected to prepare and actively participate in our regular tutorials.  These are designed to provide invaluable opportunities to seek guidance and develop your project.

For full details of module content, please see website for details.

Year 1

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Introduction to Management

How do you effectively manage people in organisations? In this module, we’ll tackle that question by exploring decision-making processes concerning work design, organisational structure, and accountability.

We'll consider classical management perspectives such as scientific management and human relations theory, as well as contemporary issues like culture management and diverse leadership styles.

Financial Accounting for Decision Makers

How do companies measure, assess and communicate their financial performance? Managers prepare, read and interpret financial information daily and they use it to communicate company financial results to a variety of stakeholders.

In this module you’ll learn how sole traders and limited companies record accounting transactions using bookkeeping and how they summarise and report their financial results to external stakeholders using financial statements.

Business Skills for a Sustainable Tomorrow

Given the startling pace at which human-driven changes are occurring to our social and ecological systems, what skills do you need to be ready for whatever challenges await you when you graduate?

You’ll look at the biggest challenge facing businesses in every industry today: how to organise themselves in ways that ensure a sustainable future for the global community. You’ll look at various case studies to examine the impact climate change is having on business. You’ll also consider the key theories, concepts, and practices of sustainable business, including the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Economics for Business

Economics are a crucial tool for business to utilise to help make informed decision that support success and drive growth. Devloping a knowledge of microeconomics will help you understand how millions of consumers and producers make decisions, how they interact and use scarce resources.

You will learn how to apply microeconomic theories and tools to understand consumer and producer behaviour, resource allocation, and pricing policy, including cost and benefit analysis. The application of microeconomic theory to real-world situations will help you make efficient decisions as a manager and as an entrepreneur.

Introduction to Marketing

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.

Business Analysis Tools

Excel is the industry standard software for data processing and modelling, so if you want to hit the ground running in your career, mastery of Excel is crucial. You'll learn the techniques of Excel and spreadsheet modelling through realistic problems and extensive exercises, giving you real hands-on experience to make rapid progress.

By the end of the module, you wont only have mastered excel to report, model and forecast for businesses, you'll have also developed the confidence you need to present your insights to managers, stakeholders and business leaders.

For full details of module content, please see website for details.

Year 2

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Compulsory modules currently include the following:

Business Ethics and Sustainability

This module aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills to identify, analyse, and evaluate ethical issues in business. Through critical reflection and analytical argumentation, you’ll develop the ability to articulate your views and critique opposing perspectives on ethical matters.

The focus of this module is on gaining an in-depth understanding of business ethics and cultivating critical thinking skills, enabling you to emerge as a conscientious leader in your field. Corporate social responsibility and sustainability are central themes due to the growing interest and expectations from stakeholders on environmental and social performance.

Operations Management

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.

Human Resource Management

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.

Project Management

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.

Enterprise and Entrepreneurship

Are you interested in starting your own business? What are the tools and skills you need to do so? Why are startups becoming more popular? We’ll delve into the social and economic changes that have raised the status of enterprises, small businesses, and entrepreneurial ventures in the global economy.

We’ll consider entrepreneurs, their characteristics and motivations, and the barriers and issues that they face when planning and establishing a new startup venture. You'll learn what makes new ventures grow and succeed, and evaluate the practical decisions that entrepreneurs need to make to maximise the chances of their business succeeding.

Optional modules may include the following:

Thriving and Leading in Today's Dynamic Workplace

Gain an in-depth and critical understanding of the complex and volatile work environments they may experience in the workplace.

Management Accounting for Decision Makers

Managers use financial controls for daily decision-making, with profit planning being vital for business sustainability and growth globally. They prepare profit plans by integrating strategic, marketing and financial analysis.

International Marketing

International Marketing offers companies the opportunity to expand their business and reach new customers on a global scale.

Decision Analysis

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.

For full details of module content, please see website for details.

Year 3

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Compulsory modules currently include the following:

Business Strategy

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.

Leading People and Organisations

In a world characterised by perpetual transformation, how can emerging business leaders navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities that shape corporate strategy? Through engaging and interactive sessions, you’ll explore the complexities inherent in leadership principles and strategic decision-making.

This module emphasises hands-on learning, ensuring that you gain the knowledge and essential practical skills needed for effective leadership in contemporary business environments.

Optional modules may include the following:

Digital and Social Media Analytics

As digital marketing and social media become increasingly important to business strategy, knowing how to use analytics to drive success has never been more important.

Cross-cultural Management

What is the impact of a changing world on cross-border management? How can culture, organisation, communication, leadership, and ethics be managed effectively in different locations? The current era offers unprecedented excitement and opportunities for learning.

Data Intelligence and Predictive Analytics

In today's business context there is a wealth of data available. Many businesses currently struggle to transform that data into useable information that they can use to make meaningful decisions.

Behavioural Science in the Workplace

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).

People Operations: An Analytic Approach

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.

New Venture Creation

How do you think creatively for business and startup planning? You'll address opportunity recognition, product development, business proposal creation and entrepreneurial finance.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Understand corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability through ethical theory and stakeholder perspectives.

Services Marketing

Many developed economies are dominated by services, so it’s increasingly important to understand the customer decision making process involved with service encounters, as well as what’s involved in delivering quality service experiences and understanding how to positively influence customer perceptions at key touchpoints in the service delivery process.

KBS Challenge

Do you have what it takes to be a management consultant? Do you have the skills to be able to respond to the real-world problems that businesses are facing today?

For full details of module content, please see website for details.

Accelerated Course

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Stage 1

Your first year of study comprises six compulsory modules completed during the autumn, spring and summer terms. You progress onto Stage 2 in late summer of your first year.

Compulsory modules currently include the following:

Introduction to Management

Economics for Business

Introduction to Marketing

Future-Focused Business and Study Skills

Introduction to Financial Management

Data for Decision Making

Stage 2

Your first year of study ends with Becoming Career Ready and AI and Innovation in Business in late summer. These modules are compressed into six weeks, allowing you to undertake work experience or part-time work.

Your second year of study begins in the autumn term with Human Resource Management and Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. The remaining Stage 2 modules are studied in the spring term before you move onto Stage 3 in the summer of your second year.

Compulsory modules currently include the following:

Operations Management

Human Resource Management

Project Management

Enterprise and Entrepreneurship

Becoming Career Ready

AI and Innovation in Business

Stage 3

You study all compulsory modules in the summer and late summer of the second year of study. You also choose to complete either Business Consultancy Project or ASPIRE Entrepreneurship/Intrapreneurship Project.

Compulsory modules currently include the following:

Business Strategy

Management and Organisational Behaviour

Digital and Social Media Marketing

International Business

Stage 3 optional modules may include the following:

Business Consultancy Project

ASPIRE Entrepreneurship/Intrapreneurship Project

For full details of module content, please see website for details at https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/2027/6562/business-and-management-medway-accelerated.