Skip to content

If you’ve completed vocational study at level 3 and you want to move into undergraduate study, this course is for you. It is a version of our course Managing in the workplace (B121) specifically designed for people working in delivering public services. This introductory Level 1 course introduces management ideas and uses activities to build on your existing knowledge and skills. You’ll use your own workplace experiences to develop an academic understanding of management and valuable study skills, which you’ll demonstrate by writing about management and reflecting on your own skills as a learner.

Please note that this course has a compulsory entry qualification - see Entry for more information.

Register for the course

This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.


Start End Fee Register
01 May 2012 Oct 2012 £450.00

Registration closes 12/04/12 (places subject to availability)

Click to register

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

Apply for financial support by 12/04/12. Final date for part-time fee grant application endorsement 22/03/12.

06 Oct 2012 Mar 2013 Not yet available

Registration closes 06/09/12 (places subject to availability)

Register your interest
06 Apr 2013 Sep 2013 Not yet available

Registration opens on 01/09/12

This course is expected to start for the last time in April 2013.
Start End Fee Register
01 May 2012 Oct 2012 £940.00

Registration closes 12/04/12 (places subject to availability)

Click to register

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

Apply for financial support by 12/04/12. Final date for part-time fee grant application endorsement 22/03/12.

06 Oct 2012 Mar 2013 Not yet available

Registration closes 06/09/12 (places subject to availability)

Register your interest
06 Apr 2013 Sep 2013 Not yet available

Registration opens on 01/09/12

This course is expected to start for the last time in April 2013.
Start End Fee Register
01 May 2012 Oct 2012 £450.00

Registration closes 12/04/12 (places subject to availability)

Click to register

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

Apply for financial support by 12/04/12. Final date for part-time fee grant application endorsement 22/03/12.

06 Oct 2012 Mar 2013 Not yet available

Registration closes 06/09/12 (places subject to availability)

Register your interest
06 Apr 2013 Sep 2013 Not yet available

Registration opens on 01/09/12

This course is expected to start for the last time in April 2013.
Start End Fee Register
01 May 2012 Oct 2012 £450.00

Registration closes 12/04/12 (places subject to availability)

Click to register

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

Apply for financial support by 12/04/12. Final date for part-time fee grant application endorsement 22/03/12.

06 Oct 2012 Mar 2013 Not yet available

Registration closes 06/09/12 (places subject to availability)

Register your interest
06 Apr 2013 Sep 2013 Not yet available

Registration opens on 01/09/12

This course is expected to start for the last time in April 2013.
Start End Fee Register
01 May 2012 Oct 2012 £835.00

Registration closes 12/04/12 (places subject to availability)

Click to register

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

Apply for financial support by 12/04/12. Final date for part-time fee grant application endorsement 22/03/12.

06 Oct 2012 Mar 2013 Not yet available

Registration closes 06/09/12 (places subject to availability)

Register your interest
06 Apr 2013 Sep 2013 Not yet available

Registration opens on 01/09/12

This course is expected to start for the last time in April 2013.
Start End Fee Register
01 May 2012 Oct 2012 £450.00

Registration closes 12/04/12 (places subject to availability)

Click to register

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

Apply for financial support by 12/04/12. Final date for part-time fee grant application endorsement 22/03/12.

06 Oct 2012 Mar 2013 Not yet available

Registration closes 06/09/12 (places subject to availability)

Register your interest
06 Apr 2013 Sep 2013 Not yet available

Registration opens on 01/09/12

This course is expected to start for the last time in April 2013.
Start End Fee Register
01 May 2012 Oct 2012 £450.00

Registration closes 12/04/12 (places subject to availability)

Click to register

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

Apply for financial support by 12/04/12. Final date for part-time fee grant application endorsement 22/03/12.

06 Oct 2012 Mar 2013 Not yet available

Registration closes 06/09/12 (places subject to availability)

Register your interest
06 Apr 2013 Sep 2013 Not yet available

Registration opens on 01/09/12

This course is expected to start for the last time in April 2013.
Start End Fee Register
01 May 2012 Oct 2012 £450.00

Registration closes 12/04/12 (places subject to availability)

Click to register

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

Apply for financial support by 12/04/12. Final date for part-time fee grant application endorsement 22/03/12.

06 Oct 2012 Mar 2013 Not yet available

Registration closes 06/09/12 (places subject to availability)

Register your interest
06 Apr 2013 Sep 2013 Not yet available

Registration opens on 01/09/12

This course is expected to start for the last time in April 2013.
Start End Fee Register
01 May 2012 Oct 2012 £835.00

Registration closes 12/04/12 (places subject to availability)

Click to register

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

Apply for financial support by 12/04/12. Final date for part-time fee grant application endorsement 22/03/12.

06 Oct 2012 Mar 2013 Not yet available

Registration closes 06/09/12 (places subject to availability)

Register your interest
06 Apr 2013 Sep 2013 Not yet available

Registration opens on 01/09/12

This course is expected to start for the last time in April 2013.
Start End Fee Register
01 May 2012 Oct 2012 £940.00

Registration closes 12/04/12 (places subject to availability)

Click to register

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

You must apply for financial support by 22/03/12

Apply for financial support by 12/04/12. Final date for part-time fee grant application endorsement 22/03/12.

06 Oct 2012 Mar 2013 Not yet available

Registration closes 06/09/12 (places subject to availability)

Register your interest
06 Apr 2013 Sep 2013 Not yet available

Registration opens on 01/09/12

This course is expected to start for the last time in April 2013.

*Fees may vary by country.

Top

What you will study

This course begins with a brief outline of the type of learning and subject areas that it covers. It then helps you to assess your own learning style and preferences, so that you will know how to tackle the work ahead.

You will look at six areas of management. These include:

  • strategy and the organisation
  • marketing
  • finance
  • leadership, management and motivation
  • managing people
  • monitoring and evaluation.

Using a textbook, you’ll carry out various activities asking you to compare the theories that you are reading about with what you see around you in your workplace. Some of the activities may be similar to those you have done in your previous work-based learning. Some of them will be new, and have been designed to help you develop your academic skills. These include: critical reading; note-taking for a range of purposes; recognising and evaluating arguments; and learning how to write clearly.

By the end of the course you’ll have developed a new, more theoretical understanding of how and why managers do what they do in organisations. You’ll build a toolkit of management concepts, theories and models that you can use to tackle workplace issues. You’ll also feel more confident in embarking on further undergraduate study.

Vocational relevance

This course is directly relevant to you if you have completed a course at level 3 in the vocational qualifications framework that contains a significant component of business administration or management. If you’re unsure if your qualification fits this description, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

Top

Entry

You must have a NVQ level 3 qualification in management, business administration or customer care, or an equivalent vocational qualification that contains a significant business-or management-related component to study this course. Check to see if you have the necessary entrance qualifications here.

This is an introductory Level 1 course. Level 1 courses provide core subject knowledge and study skills needed for both higher education and distance learning, to help you progress to courses at Level 2.

It is an ideal first course if you are thinking of studying at university level, and might want to go on to an undergraduate certificate, diploma or a degree in business studies or management. It is of particular value if you have completed or are just about to complete a competency-based qualification, and now wish to gain further understanding of the academic theories underpinning this area.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

Top

If you have a disability or additional requirement

Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader. Other alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.

If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.

You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.

Top

Study materials

What's included

Course guides, textbook, supplementary readings, website and online forums.

Computing requirements

This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.

You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.

Top

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You’ll have a tutor who will help you with the study material, mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We also offer group tutorials which you are encouraged but not obliged to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course.

Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.

You can choose whether to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) on paper or online through the eTMA system. You may want to use the eTMA system for some of your assignments but submit on paper for others. This is entirely your choice.

Top

Top

Future availability

The details given here are for the course that starts in May and October 2012 and April 2013 when it will be available for the last time.

Top

Fees 2012

See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.

Course facts

About this course:
Course code BXS121
Credits 30
OU Level 1
SCQF level 7
FHEQ level 4
Course work includes:
1 Tutor-marked assignment (TMA)
End-of-module assessment
No residential school

Study explained

Financial support
- find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
Study explained
- all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.

Your questions

We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.

Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35

Employers' questions

Contact Corporate Enquiries
Visit our website for employers or Email us



Get a prospectus

Download or
order