BA (Hons) Business Studies
Kick-start your future with a Business Studies degree from the University of Stirling, and combine your course with more than a dozen complementary subjects.
Key facts
- Award BA (Hons)
- Start date September 2023, January 2024
- Duration 48 months or 36 months
- Mode of study full time, part time
- Delivery on campus
- UCAS Code N100
- Study abroad opportunities
Overview
Equip yourself with a rich breadth of knowledge in business and management with our flexible Business Studies course.
When you choose Business Studies at Stirling, you won’t just be stepping into a leading UK business school – you’ll also open the door to a world of opportunities with the freedom to access subjects from all over the University and, if you wish, combine your degree with one of 17 different subjects. From Spanish to Sports Studies, Psychology to Law, Computing to Accountancy, our flexibility is your strength as you pair your passion with an in-depth grounding in business.
This course will grow your managerial expertise and put foundations in place to ensure you continue developing through your professional life. You’ll also learn how organisations are structured, and gain insight into what makes them function best. Speakers from industry visit regularly to complement our own research-led teaching – giving you real-world and rounded knowledge of business and the tools needed to succeed in it.
Enhance your learning with Riipen
The University has a Riipen license for this course. Through this platform, you can work with global companies on real business problems that are assessed and rated. As you complete more challenges, you build a portfolio. This platform can help you boost your skills, gain career clarity, network with potential employers, and find a job you love.
Top reasons to study with us
Prizes or awards
Professor Rob Ball Memorial Prize
A prize of £100 is awarded to the graduating student with the best overall academic performance on the BA Honours Business Studies course. Rob Ball was Professor of Public Service Management and worked at the University of Stirling for many years. This prize is kindly funded by Professor Ball's family.
Entry requirements
Year 1 entry – Four-year honours
SQA Highers
AABB – by the end of S5
AABBB – by the end of S6
GCE A-levels
BBB
IB Diploma
30
BTEC (Level 3)
DDM
Widening access students
Widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry. To find out if this applies to you go to our widening access pages.
Care-experienced applicants will be guaranteed an offer of a place if they meet the minimum entry requirements.
Year 2 entry – Three-year honours
SQA Advanced Highers
ABB
GCE A-levels
ABB
IB Diploma
35
Other Scottish qualifications
Scottish HNC/HND
Year one minimum entry - Bs in graded units.
Access courses
University of Stirling access course - for mature students only. You must pass the course with 50% or above.
SWAP Access course - for mature students only.
Email our Admissions Team for advice about other access courses.
Foundation Apprenticeships
Considered to be equivalent to 1 Higher at Grade B
Other qualifications
English, Welsh and Northern Irish HNC/HND
Merits and Distinctions
English, Welsh and Northern Irish access courses
Access to Higher Education - 60 credits, minimum 45 at QCF Level 3, pass at 60% or above.
International entry requirements
Advanced entry
Year 2 and Year 3 entry
Entry into Year 2 or Year 3 may be possible depending on your HNC/HND course. To find out more go to our articulation pages.
Other qualifications
Advanced entry may be possible depending on your qualifications. For more information, contact our Admissions Team at admissions@stir.ac.uk.
Other routes of entry
If you don’t currently meet our academic requirements, INTO University of Stirling offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need to progress onto some of our courses. Explore INTO University of Stirling to see the Foundation and International Year 2 routes available.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with 5.5 in each skill
- Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) 169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill
- Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) 180 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill
- IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing
- IBT TOEFL Special Home Edition 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing
- Trinity ISE II Pass overall and Pass in each sub-skill, ISE III Pass overall and in all sub-skills, ISE IV Pass overall and in all sub-skills
- Aptis (4 skills) CEFR B2 overall and B2 in all sub-skills
- LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator - Pass with minimum 33 in each sub-skill
Last updated: 23 August 2022
For more information on ways that you can meet our English language requirements, including options to waive the requirement, please read our information on English language requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses
Course details
You can complete your Business Studies course as a four-year single honours degree, or combine it with one of 17 different degree subjects. Your first year will give you a broad grounding in business and management. You'll cover areas such as the internal and external business environment and the nature of business and markets, the nature and functions of Operations, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Finance and ICT and the importance of competitiveness.
Your second year of study focuses on fundamentals including the nature of organisations, the variety of their management objectives, and the organisation of business.
Years three and four cover international business, entrepreneurship, responsible business and ethics, strategic management and business research methods.
Finally, under academic supervision, you will complete an individual research project of your choice or you may be selected to take part in a consultancy style project working with a client organisation, often from North America, to help solve a real business problem. This is done through our relationship with Riipen.
Affiliate memberships of the Chartered Management Institute or The Institute for Consulting (or other relevant Professional bodies) are strongly encouraged. Please ask the Programme Director for information.
Modules
The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the current academic year (September 2022). Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.
Course details
Teaching
Our research-led teaching and close links to the business world shape everything you’ll learn on your Business Studies course. Teaching is delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars and workshops. In the advanced modules, a special emphasis is placed on the acquisition of skills as well as knowledge, and you’ll give presentations in various formats to help enhance your abilities in up-front communication.
Assessment
Assessment will be by exams and coursework.
Work placement opportunities
From year two you can apply for a University of Stirling internship, working for a client organisation which may be anywhere in the world, which typically last for around four weeks over the summer and provide you with vital experience and, sometimes, even job offers. These are highly desirable and make a great contribution to your CV.
Study abroad
In year three you can apply for Study Abroad, which is a fantastic opportunity to access universities around the world without paying their often very high fees. You may find you can take courses we don’t offer in Stirling although they must be consistent with your programme of study and be approved by the Programme Director.
If you study abroad, you will pay your travel and living costs.
Contact
Dr Carol Marshall, Course Director
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
| Academic year: | 2022/23 | 2023/24 |
|---|---|---|
| Scottish students | £1,820* | £1,820 * |
| Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland | £9,250 | £9,250 |
| European Union students | £15,900 | £16,400 |
| Overseas students (non-EU) | £15,900 | £16,400 |
Scottish students
* This fee is set by the Scottish Government and is subject to change.
You will be charged the annual tuition fee each year when you enrol.
Although you’re liable for annual tuition fees, students domiciled in Scotland can apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to have tuition fees paid by the Scottish Government on their behalf. If you’re unsure of your fee status, you can check your eligibility.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you’ll be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
This tuition fee may be subject to change depending on guidance provided by the UK Government.
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.
You can apply for financial assistance, including a loan to cover the full cost of your tuition fees, from your relevant funding body. Students from the Republic of Ireland are eligible for a tuition fee loan of up to £9,250 from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).
We also offer additional funding – such as our Honours Year Scholarship – for students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. See our funding opportunities below for more information.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
European Union students
Eligible EU students will automatically receive our EU Undergraduate Scholarship, which is worth up to £30,000 over the duration of your course.
Students from the Republic of Ireland should see the fee and funding information under England, Wales, NI and Republic of Ireland.
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Overseas students (non-EU)
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Funding opportunities
See what funding opportunities and loans are available to help you with tuition and living costs.
Students domiciled in Scotland
Use our scholarship finder to find funding opportunities for Scottish-domiciled students.
EU students
Eligible students will automatically receive our automatic scholarship of up to £30k, which is worth up to £30,000 over the duration of your course.
Students domiciled in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
Eligible students will automatically receive our Undergraduate Choice Scholarship, Undergraduate Merit Scholarship, and our Honours Year Scholarship, which are worth between £1,000 and £9,250.
Students domiciled overseas
The University of Stirling offers generous undergraduate funding opportunities for overseas students. To find out if you're eligible to apply for an award, use our scholarship finder.
Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
EU and overseas students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay.
After you graduate
What can I do with a Business Studies degree?
A business degree ensures you’re well placed for a variety of jobs across many different sectors. Stirling Management School seeks to directly enhance your opportunities through a range of specialist career services, and we’ve been awarded the Small Business Charter in recognition of our active participation in supporting start-ups, small businesses and student entrepreneurship – connections that directly benefit you as you build towards your future.
Find out more about how we prepare you for the world of work.
- Business Studies graduates from Stirling are working in 20 different countries for companies including Ernst and Young, the Scottish Government, EMI Music Publishing and many more.
- The ability to pair Business Studies with a wide range of other courses can broaden your expertise and give you a competitive edge in the job market.
Our Business Studies graduates have gone on to work in communications, banking, insurance, human resources, information management, advertising, retailing international trade, and research and development. They are contributing to the performance of a range of private, public and third sector organisations in 20 countries around the world, including Norway, Kenya, Singapore, Australia and the USA.
Recent Stirling graduates have started their careers in some of the following roles:
- Associate, PwC
- Commercial and Performance Analyst, SSE
- Audit Associate, Deloitte UK
- Graduate Finance Analyst, Aston Martin
Graduates who left Stirling up to ten years ago have forged careers in the following positions:
- National Marketing Manager, BT
- Partner Relationship Manager, Hewlett-Packard
- International Recruitment Consultant, Solutions Driven
- HR Business Partner, Forth Valley College
Employability skills
Your employability is one of our highest priorities, and we want to make sure you have every possible advantage when you enter the job market. Visits and guest lectures from business leaders and innovative thinkers ensure your skills are always in tune with the business world. You also have the opportunity to take our Professional Development and Practice module, which helps you develop the 'softer skills' that are sought by employers.
Your course will equip you with skills in the following, plus much more:
- Broad understanding of business
- Working in Teams
- Decision-making
- Presentation and communication
- Analytical techniques
- Research methods
- Problem solving and analytical thinking
Discover Uni
Discover Uni provides official data on each university's undergraduate courses, including satisfaction scores from the National Student Survey, details of graduate jobs and salaries, and other key information for prospective students.
What our students said
Scotland
BA (Hons) Business Studies and Spanish
Read Molly's storyI would 100% recommend doing Business at Stirling. It's opened up so many opportunities for me.
Poland
BA (Hons) Business Studies and Economics
Read Piotr's storyThe campus is so beautiful and unique, it's been a pleasure to study here.
All nationalities
BA Business Studies and Marketing
Read Meem's storyDuring my time at Stirling, I had the pleasure of completing three internships. Following my internships, I was kept on and worked with two of these companies part-time alongside my studies.
Flexible study
Are you interested in more than one of our courses? You might not have to choose between them. Here at Stirling, we believe in choice and offer more than 170 course combinations.
| Course name | UCAS code |
|---|---|
| Accountancy | UCAS code for this combination: NNF4 |
| Economics | UCAS code for this combination: LN11 |
| English Studies | UCAS code for this combination: NQ13 |
| Film and Media | UCAS code for this combination: NP13 |
| Finance | UCAS code for this combination: NN13 |
| French | UCAS code for this combination: NRF1 |
| Human Resource Management | UCAS code for this combination: NN16 |
| Law | UCAS code for this combination: MN11 |
| Management | UCAS code for this combination: N200 |
| Marketing | UCAS code for this combination: NN25 |
| Politics | UCAS code for this combination: LN21 |
| Psychology | UCAS code for this combination: CN81 |
| Spanish and Latin American Studies | UCAS code for this combination: NRF4 |
| Sport | UCAS code for this combination: NC16 |
| Modern Languages | UCAS code for this combination: NT19 |
For a combined Honours degree where the two subjects have different entry requirements, you will usually be asked to meet the higher entry requirement.
Find out more about degree flexibility and how you can take combined courses.