Business Management with Human Resource Management BSc(Hons)

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Why choose this course?

• The University of Brighton is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) – an accreditation achieved by fewer than 6% of business schools globally.
• Explore issues relating to human resource management such as managing people, strategy and leadership.
• Focus on developing your employability skills and practical experience.
• Industry insight via guest lectures and academics with professional experience.
• A course that develops your academic, professional and personal skills.
• Tailor your degree to your interests through your choice of option modules.
• Graduate with a year of work experience when you choose a placement year.

Year 1

All our Business Management degrees share the same first year core modules which cover aspects of economics, entrepreneurship, marketing, HR, organisational behaviour, law and finance to give you a broad understanding of business principles and practice.

You can then choose to specialise from year 2.

In your first year your classes will be over three days each week and they will not start before 10am. You may have other activities on campus on other days.

Modules

• Business Economics

  In this module you will develop your understanding of key economic concepts by applying them to contemporary issues within the world of business and through the application of quantitative techniques. You will also gain an understanding of how political, economic and environmental factors influence the world of business.

• Marketing Principles

  You will gain an overview of marketing as a discipline and its core concepts during this module. You will cover areas including the role and function of marketing; the external marketing environment; internal marketing analysis tools; competitor analysis and competitive marketing strategy; segmentation, targeting and positioning; pricing strategies and tactics; and branding, differentiation and key selling points.

• Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management

  This module will introduce you to a range of concepts, principles and theories that have been adopted within the study of organisational behaviour and human resource management and will give you an insight into how people are managed and organised in the workplace. You will develop an understanding of the relationship between the internal and external environment and the role that employees play in designing and achieving organisational goals.

• Financial Knowledge and Skills for Business

  This module provides you with an introduction to fundamental concepts in the fields of financial accounting, management accounting and finance. You will develop a basic understanding of an organisation’s financial position and performance through the application of appropriate analytical tools and procedures.

• Enterprise Project and Skills

  In this module you will create a business plan, a project plan and a marketing plan that include a digital presence. You’ll integrate and apply skills and learning from other year 1 modules using project management skills to deliver a practical and applied business project, to demonstrate your understanding of market dynamics, financial structures and HRM employment strategies.

• Managing Systems and Operations

  This module will introduce you to the use of digital technologies and operations management in business. You will look at how managers use digital technologies to measure and improve operations and systems performance and gain an understanding of the processes and methods to improve these in both service-oriented and manufacturing-sector organisations. A range of contemporary issues, innovation and future trends in Information Systems (IS) and operations management will be explored.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. If you apply to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

Year 2

From your second year, through the module choices you make, you can either continue along the Business Management with HRM degree route, or specialise in economics, entrepreneurship, finance, law or marketing.

The university teaching hours are between 9am and 6pm. In year 2 the days and times you will need to be on campus will depend on a number of things including the option modules that you choose.

Modules

Core modules

• International Business Analysis

  This is your opportunity to apply both macro and microeconomic analysis to a related set of case studies. You will start by analysing an industry at a global level, move onto looking at macroeconomic data for a country that is key to that industry, and then apply microeconomic analysis to a company within that industry.

• Managing Digital Transformation

  On this module you will explore the impact of digital transformation in the context of business management. You’ll cover the evolution of information systems, the role of AI in business and different digital business models. You will examine ethical and social considerations, including data privacy and the digital divide, and the relationship between technology and inequality. Finally, you’ll look at future trends in digital business, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

• Leadership

  Study the changing nature of leadership in the business world and acquire leadership skills needed for HR managerial roles in organisations. In this module, you will develop an understanding of the relevance of the internal and external environment and be able to apply relevant theories to understand leadership.

• Business Law

  In this module you will gain an understanding of the principles of business-related law and develop an awareness of how important law is within the business context. You will examine the general principles of the English Law and its sources and consider different legal dispute settlement structures. You’ll develop an appreciation of business transactions through the basic legal concepts of contract, agency, consumer protection and negligence.

• Working Across Cultures

  This module explores the challenges, potential traps and opportunities when working across cultures. You will develop an understanding of how culture impacts on work-based relationships and organisational performance and will identify differences in multicultural behaviours and belief systems which impact on workplace practice and human relations.

Options*

• Economic Theory and Applications

  This module provides you with a firm grounding in key concepts in economics and their real-world applications with an emphasis on the importance of history, institutions and policy in economic analysis. You will become familiar with economic methods of analysis and develop a foundation of economics knowledge that will support your final-year studies.

• Personal Financial Planning

  This module is an exploration of the principles of personal financial planning and investment, integrating theory and practice. You’ll gain knowledge and understanding of the interlinked relationships between the various components which encompass personal finance matters. This includes an analysis of various generic products, incorporating the inherent elements of risk and taxation, and the techniques and stages of personal financial planning. 

• Understanding Finance Theory and Practice

  This module explores the theoretical underpinning of financial decision-making and considers approaches to the assessment of investment opportunities. This will enable the development of the knowledge and skills expected of a finance manager, particularly in relation to investment and financing decisions.

• Design and Innovation

  This module explores the relationship between innovation and design through familiar products and services. You will be introduced to the central concepts, theories and tools of design and innovation and think about their role in meeting the challenges of contemporary design-led product development. You’ll look at how design and innovation ideas have evolved over time, focusing on the key objects that best show their importance in contemporary practice.

• Applied Business Analytics

  This module will help you to develop an analytic mindset and equip you with basic data literacy that is useful for the business environment. You will look at methodologies, algorithms and challenges related to analysing and presenting business data alongside applying data analysis to support decision-making across business functions and industries.

• Sustainable Operations and Procurement

  This module introduces some of the qualitative, quantitative, analytical and problem-solving techniques commonly used by operations managers. Areas covered include the greenhouse effect and other forms of environmental impact; the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs); lean synchronisation; quality management; inventory management; material requirement planning; and enterprise resource planning.

• Information Systems and Decision-Making

  This module explores the strategies and use of information systems and analytics. You’ll gain an appreciation of the importance of digital data, information and knowledge in the digital economy, and work on the principles and practices used to manage information in organisations. You will also get practical experience of using SAP and be introduced to quantitative methods and analytical techniques used by business managers, as well as looking at issues, innovation and future trends in IS.

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Placement year

Following year 2 you can gain valuable industry experience and earn money on an optional placement year, returning to your final year with confidence, hands-on experience and contacts.

During your placement year you’ll complete a business project which is an assessed part of your degree and, depending on the topic you choose, could also provide a valuable piece of insight for your placement employer.

Previous placement companies include:

• American Express
• BMW
• Bosch
• Channel 4
• Disney
• Electronic Arts
• Hewlett Packard
• Home Office
• IBM
• Ipsos Mori
• ITV
• lastminute.com
• Microsoft
• Rolls-Royce.

Our dedicated Placements and Employability team are here to help you get a placement and support you while you’re on placement.

Final year

In your final year you will be able to tailor your course to your interests. There is an element of choice in the core modules so you’ll choose to do either four core modules and two options or five core and one option.

The university teaching hours are between 9am and 6pm. In your final year the days and times you will need to be on campus will depend on a number of things including the option modules that you choose.

Modules

Core modules

• Strategy

  On this module you’ll focus on the strategic business management of organisations in industry. You will explore and apply techniques for the analysis, development and implementation of strategies in order to achieve business goals, spanning domestic, international, global levels and in the context of the UN’s sustainable development goals.

• Researching Contemporary Issues in Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviour

  This module is an opportunity to research a contemporary human resource management or organisation behaviour issue of your choice. Through your research, you will develop and deepen your knowledge and understanding of these topics and present your findings in a final report.

Options*

• Managing, Teams and Developing People

  Using a hands-on approach, you’ll reinforce and build upon your understanding of theories and models, and apply these concepts by working in team activities involving management of yourself and others. You’ll explore common issues that are faced when working in groups and teams, equipping you with the skills to become an effective team worker and leader.

• Developing Professional Practice in Business

  For students who aren’t undertaking a work placement year, this module is an opportunity to complete a 30-hour business or consultancy project to develop skills in problem-solving, creative thinking, analysis and project management. The project can be based in a range of settings including those offered by the Community University Partnership Programme, volunteer work or part-time employment. 

• Employee Selection and Development

  You will explore and consider how recruitment, selection, training and development contribute to the function and performance of an organisation during this module, giving specific focus to contemporary labour market issues. You will also look at the theoretical perspectives that have shaped discussion around these topics and use case studies to see how these ideas work in practice.

• International Finance

  International Finance takes the areas of finance and financial management you’ve studied in a domestic setting and explores how the domestic theory alters in an international setting due to factors such as exchange rates and country risk. You will also be introduced to the international financial management complexities associated with the foreign direct investment decisions of multinational companies.

• Understanding Employee Relations

  This module provides you with a general introduction to employee relations in the UK and compares these with examples from other countries. You will develop knowledge and understanding of the practical and procedural aspects of employee relations, including union recognition, grievance and discipline, employment tribunals, collective bargaining, conflict resolution and consultation.

• Retail Marketing and Distribution

  In this module you will learn about retail marketing and distribution through practical workshops with emphasis on real-life retail situations. You’ll study topics from historical development, current industry structure, trends and projected developments. You will combine theory and practice to produce a viable strategic report about the marketplace.

• Consumer Psychology

  You will focus on the main concepts used in understanding consumer psychology and consumer behaviour in the marketplace during this module. You’ll look at how these are used in marketing to both understand consumers and create strategies to ethically influence their behaviour.

• Environmental Economics

  Issues surrounding the environment and natural resources are becoming increasingly mainstream in economics. This module follows the year 2 module of the same name and further explores how economic concepts, tools and policy instruments are relevant and are used to understand and manage environmental issues at business and government level.

• Ecommerce and Online Behaviour

  Many business disciplines need to design strategies that take into account online behaviour. In this module you’ll analyse and evaluate ecommerce systems and explore the role and impact of ecommerce technologies. You will look at some of the concepts used to understand online behaviour in the marketplace and examine how people behave as consumers in online settings.

• Organisational Change

  In this module you will develop a critical understanding of approaches that maximise the outcomes of organisational change for individuals and organisations and gain insight into change management. You’ll also look at the importance of the roles and skills in the change process for individuals, human resource management, senior and line management and leadership. 

• Commercial Law

  You will look at domestic commercial law and key aspects of commercial law as it operates internationally during this module. You’ll explore issues including the rights and duties that arise from the supply of goods in the UK and the legal problems that can occur in an international contract for the sale of goods.

• Employment Law

  During this module you will examine areas of employment legislation and the employment law system  to understand and evaluate the employment relationship. You’ll gain an overview of the influence of EU law as well as the nature of English contracts and become familiar with the major sources of employment law.

• Intellectual Property Law

  This module introduces you to intellectual property. You’ll develop an understanding of the nature of property and ownership and the law related to patents, design rights, trade marks, copyright and other forms of intellectual property, as well as gaining a practical understanding of how intellectual property relates to objects. You will also talk with non-law students whose studies need them to be aware of their intellectual property rights.

• Marketing Planning and Strategy

  In this module you will use your knowledge of marketing principles to develop a strategic marketing plan. You’ll examine the stages of developing a strategic marketing plan and consider a range of operational, tactical and strategic approaches to marketing. The module follows a similar approach to that taught by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and should be taken by any student wishing to gain CIM exemptions after graduating.

• Game Theory in Economics, Finance and Business

  Game theory is one of the most exciting, stimulating and promising subjects in modern microeconomics and is now also broadly applied in philosophy, sociology and political science among other fields. The module gives you the chance to apply game theory to financial and business analysis topics to deepen and widen your knowledge of economics, finance and business as an ongoing strategic game.

• Strategic Human Resource Management

  During this module you will explore and consider strategic human resource management practices and the changing nature of work, workplaces and workforce. You’ll critically access contemporary strategic HRM issues and develop strategic recommendations to address identified issues in actual organisations.

• Marketing Communications

  The module is an overview of key marketing communications tools, including branding, advertising, sales promotion and public relations. You will consider the main theories of marketing communications, exploring how advertising has its effect on consumers. You’ll also look at models of consumer psychology and behaviour to further understand the role of marketing communications in society.

• Happiness: Work and Society

  During this module you will analyse the concept of happiness in work and society. You’ll consider happiness at an individual, organisational and socio-economic level, exploring topics such as positive psychology, happiness and wellbeing, nurturing happiness in the organisation, the issues and challenges of measuring happiness and wellbeing, and what makes a nation happy. 

• Small Business and Entrepreneurship

  You will develop a business idea and plan using knowledge and skills developed throughout your course during this module. Students from a range of subjects take this module, creating a multidisciplinary approach to identifying and researching a business idea and developing a realistic business plan. Part of the assessment is a Dragons’ Den style presentation of your idea to a panel of local business people.

• Financial and Capital Markets

  This module will develop your understanding of the financial system and enable you to get some experience of financial markets. You’ll have an opportunity to manage a portfolio of assets and analyse the performance of that portfolio as well as explore the investment environment.

• Labour Economics

  This module builds an analytical framework for the study of recent labour market trends and issues. You will explore the determination of pay in the public and private sectors; the graduate labour market and student debt; the factors that influence internal and external human migratory patterns; the determinants of executive pay; labour market discrimination based on gender and ethnicity; and the relationship between the UK and EU labour markets.

• International Law and Socio-economic Development

  In this module you will look at the relationship between international law and development. You will get an insight into the relevant legal and socio-economic issues arising from debates on international law and development and an understanding of the role that theory, policy and practice have in international law and socio-economic development.

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Course fees

This course offers a professional placement (sandwich) year in year 3. If you choose to take this placement you will pay a reduced fee during this year. For students starting their undergraduate degree in the 2025–26 academic year, the fee for the professional placement year is £1,500 for UK students and £1,850 for international students. This fee may be subject to small increases in line with inflation.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2025–26.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

• Brighton Boost – cost of living help for our new undergrad students. Find out about how we can help with your study, accommodation or travel costs and more...
• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international undergraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• Read our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf) for more on University of Brighton tuition fees.

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