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Business and Management
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Studying a business and management course with The Open University is all about you: where you are now, and where you want to be in the future. Starting from your own experience, you’ll develop and extend your knowledge, skills and practice – whether you’re looking for a one-off piece of professional updating or aiming for a qualification such as a diploma of higher education or a business degree.
We now offer foundation degrees and diplomas of higher education in Business, Financial Services, Leadership and Management, Retail Management, and full degrees in Business Studies and Leadership and Management. We also offer Professional Certificates in both accounting and management. Specialist courses in finance and accounting will help you develop essential skills, or provide a route into the accounting profession – and you can opt to study accounting, economics, international development, French, law or Spanish as part of our innovative and well-respected Business Studies degree.
Employers are attracted by the relevance and accessibility of our programmes too – in fact, 75 per cent of the FTSE 100 companies sponsor, or have sponsored OU students. So whether you’re developing your current role or heading for a new career, you’ve come to the right place.
Degrees
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More about DegreesMore about Degreesundergraduate.qualification.business-and-management,qualification,,degree,1Undergraduate or bachelors degrees are nationally recognised qualifications consisting of academic study designed to that help you gain a thorough understanding of a subject.
For a degree in a named subject, such as business studies or humanities, you'll study mainly in your chosen subject, although you may be able to include some modules from other subjects.
With The Open University you could also study an Open degree where you can combine a range of modules from similar or different subjects to suit either your particular career or personal interests.
You can use a degree to:
- change careers or progress your current career,
- gain an in-depth knowledge and understanding of a subject you are interested in,
- gain professional recognition,
- go onto postgraduate study, such as a diploma or masters degree.
)
Undergraduate or bachelors degrees are nationally recognised qualifications consisting of academic study designed to that help you gain a thorough understanding of a subject.
For a degree in a named subject, such as business studies or humanities, you'll study mainly in your chosen subject, although you may be able to include some modules from other subjects.
With The Open University you could also study an Open degree where you can combine a range of modules from similar or different subjects to suit either your particular career or personal interests.
You can use a degree to:
- change careers or progress your current career,
- gain an in-depth knowledge and understanding of a subject you are interested in,
- gain professional recognition,
- go onto postgraduate study, such as a diploma or masters degree.
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Business Studies
This is a flexible degree that’s accessible and relevant to your workplace. You’ll study how organisations work, how they’re managed, and the external world in which they operate. -
Computing & IT and a second subject
With this flexible joint honours degree specialise in computing & IT and combine it with a second subject: business, design, mathematics, psychology or statistics. -
Leadership and Management
This degree will provide with you with a good understanding of leadership and management and their impact on organisations, including wider considerations in the external environment. -
Open degree
The BA/BSc Open Degree is a qualification that gives you a huge choice in terms of subjects and modules that you study to make up your degree.
Foundation Degrees
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More about Foundation degrees
More about Foundation degrees
undergraduate.qualification.business-and-management,qualification,,foundation-degree,1Foundation degrees are nationally recognised qualifications focusing either on a particular job or profession; they combine work place learning with academic study. Designed and developed with external partners, you must be working either as a paid employee or as a volunteer in a related work setting.
A foundation degree is equivalent to two thirds of an honours degree. They aim to enhance the professional and technical skills of staff within a profession or those intending to go into that profession.
You can use a foundation degree to:
- change careers or progress your current career,
- gain technical and professional skills,
- gain professional recognition,
- achieve a full honours degree through further study.
Most of our foundation degrees are also offered as diplomas of higher education for those living and working in Scotland.
)
Foundation degrees are nationally recognised qualifications focusing either on a particular job or profession; they combine work place learning with academic study. Designed and developed with external partners, you must be working either as a paid employee or as a volunteer in a related work setting.
A foundation degree is equivalent to two thirds of an honours degree. They aim to enhance the professional and technical skills of staff within a profession or those intending to go into that profession.
You can use a foundation degree to:
- change careers or progress your current career,
- gain technical and professional skills,
- gain professional recognition,
- achieve a full honours degree through further study.
Most of our foundation degrees are also offered as diplomas of higher education for those living and working in Scotland.
-
Business
This foundation degree will suit you if you work in a business organisation and want to boost your career prospects. -
Financial Services
This foundation degree will give you the knowledge, competencies and business skills to develop and progress a career in the financial services industry. -
Leadership and Management
If you’re in a leadership role – or heading that way – and you need a qualification, this degree is for you. -
Retail Management
This foundation degree provides you with knowledge to give you a clear understanding of the key management functions of a retail business and its trading environments.
Diplomas of Higher Education
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More about Diplomas of Higher Education
More about Diplomas of Higher Education
undergraduate.qualification.business-and-management,qualification,,diploma-he,1A Diploma of Higher Education (Dip HE) is equivalent to two thirds of an honours degree. They are nationally recognised qualifications focusing either on a particular job or profession, or academic study.
Dip HEs are designed to increase the professional and technical skills of staff within a profession or extend your knowledge and understanding of a particular subject. A Dip HE shows that you are capable of extended study at university level.
You can use a DipHE to:
- change careers or progress your current career,
- gain technical and professional skills,
- gain a greater knowledge and understanding of a subject you are interested in,
- gain professional recognition,
- achieve a full honours degree through additional study.
The Diploma of Higher Education might be of particular interest to those living and working in Scotland.
)
A Diploma of Higher Education (Dip HE) is equivalent to two thirds of an honours degree. They are nationally recognised qualifications focusing either on a particular job or profession, or academic study.
Dip HEs are designed to increase the professional and technical skills of staff within a profession or extend your knowledge and understanding of a particular subject. A Dip HE shows that you are capable of extended study at university level.
You can use a DipHE to:
- change careers or progress your current career,
- gain technical and professional skills,
- gain a greater knowledge and understanding of a subject you are interested in,
- gain professional recognition,
- achieve a full honours degree through additional study.
The Diploma of Higher Education might be of particular interest to those living and working in Scotland.
Certificates of Higher Education
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More about Certificates of Higher Education
More about Certificates of Higher Education
undergraduate.qualification.business-and-management,qualification,,certificate-he,1A Certificate of Higher Education (Cert HE) is a nationally recognised qualification focusing on either a particular job or profession, or academic study. Equivalent to the first year of a full honours degree, they are the most basic level of qualification that can be gained in higher education and show that you are capable of studying successfully at university level.
You can use a CertHE to:
- gain confidence to study successfully at university level,
- change careers or progress your current career,
- build on your existing experience and gain new skills,
- gain a broad introduction to a subject you are interested in,
- achieve a foundation degree, DipHE or full honours degree through additional study.
)
A Certificate of Higher Education (Cert HE) is a nationally recognised qualification focusing on either a particular job or profession, or academic study. Equivalent to the first year of a full honours degree, they are the most basic level of qualification that can be gained in higher education and show that you are capable of studying successfully at university level.
You can use a CertHE to:
- gain confidence to study successfully at university level,
- change careers or progress your current career,
- build on your existing experience and gain new skills,
- gain a broad introduction to a subject you are interested in,
- achieve a foundation degree, DipHE or full honours degree through additional study.
OU Certificates
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More about OU Certificates
More about OU Certificates
undergraduate.qualification.business-and-management,qualification,,certificate,1OU Certificates are specially designed Open University qualifications focusing either on a particular job or profession, or academic study. For example The Open University's Certificate in Supporting Learning in Primary Schools is designed for teaching assistants and other kinds of classroom support staff, including volunteers. Not all OU Certificates are entry level qualifications.
You can use an OU Certificate to:
- enhance or progress your current career,
- gain a greater knowledge and understanding of a subject you are interested in.
)
OU Certificates are specially designed Open University qualifications focusing either on a particular job or profession, or academic study. For example The Open University's Certificate in Supporting Learning in Primary Schools is designed for teaching assistants and other kinds of classroom support staff, including volunteers. Not all OU Certificates are entry level qualifications.
You can use an OU Certificate to:
- enhance or progress your current career,
- gain a greater knowledge and understanding of a subject you are interested in.
Getting started with an Access module
There are two ways to start a qualification. If you haven’t studied for a long time or need to build your confidence, beginning your studies with an Access module may be the right choice for you.
Choose a qualification to find out more.
Study a module as a standalone course
You can study a single module on its own for personal interest or to improve your career prospects. See the list of all our individual courses in Business and Management.
Postgraduate options
If you already have a degree, you may want to see postgraduate courses and qualifications in Business and Management
Undergraduate
International students
If you want to study for an undergraduate qualification and you are living outside the UK and Republic of Ireland, visit our international prospectus.
Your questions
Try our frequently asked questions.
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