Business Administration
Entry requirements
Personal Statement:
In personal statements we are looking for:
- a person with an active interest in understanding people, work and organisations, with evidence of subjects/issues that have particularly interested the applicant through work, project or other experience
- experience of working with others and developing transferable skills. This does not have to be work experience (although this is one way of demonstrating that those skills have been acquired). It could also be involvement in the running of a society or a position of responsibility within the applicant's school or college
- overseas applicants would usually be required to have some work experience in order to support their application for the programme.
A Levels
Typical Offer: AAA
In exceptional circumstances we may make a slightly lower offer.
Essential:
- General Studies is excluded and Critical Thinking will not normally form part of an offer
- grade B in GCSE Maths and English required
- languages which are intended for non-native speakers are not normally acceptable when taken by native speakers of that language
- preference will be shown to applicants with a strong GCSE profile which should include a high proportion of A or A* grades.
Preferred Subjects:
We prefer A-level (or equivalent) combinations that demonstrate a broad skill set that includes both numerical skills, such as those in Mathematics or science based subjects, and discursive reasoning skills such as those developed in essay-based subjects such as History or English. Students with narrow combinations in only one of these areas (for instance: Mathematics, Further Mathematics and a science; or, three sciences; or, English Language, Literature and History) will be less likely to receive an offer.
We accept Business Studies A-level although it is not a pre-requisite. Many students make a great success of their time on the programme without having taken a business-related qualification before.
Any non-English language A level qualification will only be included in the offer if it fulfils the following conditions:
- it must not be your first language
- it must not be a language commonly spoken by your immediate family or community
- it must not be a language widely spoken in the country of present or former residence.
Additionally, applicants should offer no more than one of the following subjects:
- Accounting
- Applied Business Studies
- Applied Science
- Art and Design
- Commerce
- Communications Studies
- Dance
- Design and Technology
- Drama/Theatre Studies
- Film Studies
- Food, Science and Technology
- Home Economics
- ICT
- Leisure Studies
- Media Studies
- Music Technology
- Performance Studies
- Performing Arts
- Photography
- Physical Education.
Overview:
We seek to recruit the best students from around the world. We look for applications from students whose subjects demonstrate a range of conceptual, numerical, analytical and discursive abilities at the highest level.
Access to HE Diploma
Pass an Access to HE Diploma and obtain grades of Distinction in units which have a total value of at least 12 credits and Merit in units which have a total value of at least 21 credits. No more than 30 credits must be from units within the Business Studies subject area.
Level 2 units to include Passes in GCSE equivalent units in Maths and English.
BTEC
We consider applications from students with BTEC Level 3 qualifications in E-Business, ICT, Business, Health and Care, Public Services, Engineering and Science. Applications will be considered from students taking the Extended Diploma (180 credits), the Diploma (120 credits) in combination with one A level, or the Subsidiary Diploma (60 credits) in combination with two A levels. Whichever route applicants take, they should be studying units which provide a preparation for both numerical and essay-based study and explain this in their personal statement.
Essential level 2 requirement
GCSE Mathematics and English at Grade B or above are also required.
Cambridge Pre-U
Typical Offer: D3, D3, D3
Please see A Level section for details of preferred subjects and subject combinations.
Diplomas
We consider applications from students studying for Diplomas in the following Lines of Learning: Creative and Media; Engineering; IT; Society, Health and Development; Business Administration and Finance; Land-based and Environmental Studies; Public Services. Applicants should take, for their Additional and Specialist Learning, an A Level which is not one of those on the above list. Ideally, the chosen A level would broaden the applicant's study skills, e.g. by offering a humanities subject with Engineering or ICT or a quantitative subject with Creative and Media.
The Extended Project should be a piece of written work such as a piece of applied research. We would invite applicants to explain what they are learning from the extended project within their personal statements.
A typical offer would be: Grade A across the Principal Learning and Extended Project and Grade A in the A level taken for the Additional and Specialised Learning.
Essential level 2 requirement:
GCSE Mathematics and English at Grade B or above are also required.
European Baccalaureate
Typical Offer: 80%.
French Baccalaureate
Typical offer: 15/20 overall, with a minimum of 14 in English Language, Maths and an essay based subject.
International Baccalaureate
Typical Offer: 38 points. No subject below 5 points, including English and Mathematics. Subjects and grades may be specified in the offer.
International Students
We accept a wide range of non-UK qualifications as entry either to our Foundation Year or directly on to the first year of our undergraduate programmes. For further information please visit our International Office web page.
The minimum requirement for Business Administration is IELTS 7.0 with no less than 7.0 in any subject. Applicants should submit their results by 31st July. For a list of other English language qualifications we accept please go to our English Language Requirements web page.
Irish Leaving Certificate
Typical Offer: AAAAAB-AAAABB at Higher level. See A Level entry for subject preferences.
Non-academic Criteria
While academic achievement is an important part of considering your application, we place a strong emphasis on non-academic attributes. Not only do we look for high achievers academically, but also those who demonstrate a wide range of outside interests and a well developed, balanced personality. We have a strong emphasis on the balance between theory and practice - practical, industrial, entrepreneurial or voluntary work will support your application. Your personal statement and the referee's report will be considered when we evaluate your application and should therefore emphasise these issues.
Scottish Highers
Typical Offer: AAAAA at Higher Level to include AA at Advanced Higher Level. See A level entry for preferred subjects at HL.
Welsh Baccalaureate
We welcome applicants offering the Welsh Baccalaureate Core alongside A levels; we are aware of the range of skills and qualities which it develops and of the additional work which it demands. Please see the A level entry for subject combination details.
