Business Studies (3 Years) [BAEcon]

The Business Studies stream within the wider BA(Economic and Social Studies) degree is a modern interdisciplinary programme focused around relevant topics found in the Economics, Accounting, Finance, Politics and Sociology subject areas. It is run by the School of Social Sciences and Manchester Business School.

The  First Year introduces the majority of the transferable and intellectual skills required as a base for progressing on the Business Studies stream. Subject-based material relating to different disciplines is also presented. Economics, for example, is essential in understanding business, whilst mathematics, statistics, computer applications, accounting and finance provide basic building blocks for many of the courses which follow in years two and three. While such topics are useful for analysing business performance, a knowledge of Politics is required to enable understanding of the political and institutional contexts in which business operates. This contextual understanding of the business environment is also enhanced by studying one of the qualitative social sciences, such as Sociology, since appreciation of the organisational and behavioural dimension of business is essential. The structure of the first year of the Business Studies stream of the BA (Economics and Social Studies) programme is flexible so that at the end of the first year it is possible for a student who had initially applied for the Business Studies pathway for instance to change within the stream, and perhaps change to the  Business Studies and Economics, Business Studies and Sociology or Business Studies and Politics specialisations, depending on their academic interests.

The  Second Year allows you to extend this base as required, within the framework of this interdisciplinary stream. You could, for example, decide to pursue statistical or operations research options (extending numeracy) or undertake language courses (further transferable skills). It is, however, at this second level that options delivering subject-based outcomes focused towards the stream arise (business economics, business studies extended essay and presentations) it is also in the second year that you can specialise more with the other area of your specialisation. 

The Third Year delivers a greater number of subject-based options, it also includes further development of generic skills (interpersonal and team environment) by the inclusion of a compulsory business analysis project. The flexible structure of this stream means that many other modules (inc. those in Accounting and/or Finance) are also available to you within the second and third years of the degree. These can be taken alongside classical Business Studies options such as Business Law, Marketing, Human Resource Management, and Management of Knowledge and Technology. All of these can also be taken together with newer options based around subjects such as Globalisation, Information Technologies, or dealing with aspects of appropriate European and international issues. 

Students may apply to spend one semester studying abroad during the second year of their degree. The Study Abroad website contains further information.

School of Social Sciences

See: School Disciplines

Contact name: Amanda Grimshaw

Telephone: +44 (0)161 275 1473

Facsimile: +44 (0)161 275 4751

Email: socialsciences@manchester.ac.uk

Website: www.manchester.ac.uk/socialsciences

• Business and Management
• Economics
• Social Sciences