Business and Management

Business and management is the academic study of how organisations are created, led, and developed, drawing on economics, psychology, sociology, and quantitative analysis to understand how commercial and non-commercial organisations function and how their performance can be improved. It is one of the most widely studied subjects in higher education, and for good reason: understanding business and management has direct relevance to careers across virtually every sector of the economy, from technology start-ups and multinational corporations to public services, charities, and social enterprises.

At the University of Sunderland, this part-time programme is offered with a foundation year, making it accessible to students who are coming to degree-level study from a wide range of backgrounds. The foundation year provides the academic groundwork needed to succeed in the honours degree, and the part-time structure means you can fit your studies around work and other commitments. The programme is built around an industry-led curriculum that prepares you directly for working life, with an emphasis on transforming your learning through innovative teaching methods, as the current description reflects.

You will cover the core disciplines of business education, including strategy, marketing, finance, accounting, human resource management, operations, and entrepreneurship, developing both analytical understanding and the practical skills that employers in business and management roles genuinely value.

The programme includes a foundation year, a sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement, providing substantial breadth of experience. The sandwich year and placement give you extended time in professional environments, allowing you to apply academic learning in real business contexts and develop the professional confidence and networks that support career progression.

Business and management graduates work across a very broad range of sectors and roles, including management trainee programmes, marketing, finance and accounting, operations, human resources, entrepreneurship, and general management. The skills in analysis, communication, and commercial thinking that the degree develops are applicable across industries. Postgraduate study including the MBA, finance, marketing, or management is a well-established progression for those wishing to develop specialist expertise or accelerate into leadership.