Business Management with a Professional Placement Year (BSc)
- Subject area: Business management
- UCAS code: 457D
- Next intake: September 2025
- Duration: 4 years
- Mode: Full time with sandwich year
Why study this course
Spend a semester abroad
Adventure into a new culture; open your mind to new ideas and experiences.
Learn from the best
Benefit from expertise and support of research-active staff in a school with the highest possible score for research environment.
Forge your own path
Freedom to personalise your degree; specialise in or combine marketing, HR, international management, logistics and operations.
Placement year
Gain industry experience in your area of choice; develop the skills, and connections to accelerate your career.
Marked for excellence
Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Organisations are constantly having to reinvent themselves, by evolving the way they operate, in order to stand-out in an increasingly saturated international business market.
This means graduates with the ability to put theory into practice, and with experience of the modern business workplace, are in high demand.
Our BSc Business Management focuses on organisations of all kinds from multinational corporations to social enterprises and charities. This holistic approach ensures you develop the skills to respond to the evolving needs of all businesses, irrespective of sector.
You’ll develop management expertise from our team of international researchers and business practitioners. They’ll introduce you to disciplines like accounting, digital technology, marketing, human resources and employment, management, and economics.
Your Professional Placement Year is an opportunity to put your university knowhow into practice as you take up a paid role and complement your academic study with exposure to real-world business scenarios.
Accreditations
Subject area: Business management
Entry requirements
We accept a combination of A-levels and other qualifications, as well as equivalent international qualifications subject to entry requirements. Typical offers are as follows:
A level
AAB-BBB
Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.
- Our grade range covers our standard offer and contextual offer. We carefully consider the circumstances in which you've been studying (your contextual data) upon application. Eligible students will be given an offer that is lower than the standard offer (usually the middle or lower end of the advertised grade range).
- Where there is no grade range advertised and/or where there are selection processes in place (like an interview) you may receive additional consideration in the selection process.
Learn about eligible courses and how contextual data is applied.
International Baccalaureate
34-31 overall or 666-665 in 3 HL subjects.
Baccalaureate Wales
From September 2023, there will be a new qualification called the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales (level 3). This qualification will replace the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (Welsh Baccalaureate). The qualification will continue to be accepted in lieu of one A-Level (at the grades listed above), excluding any specified subjects.
Other essential requirements
You must have or be working towards:
- English language or Welsh language at GCSE grade C/4 or an equivalent (such as A-levels). If you require a Student visa, you must ensure your language qualification complies with UKVI requirements.
- GCSE Maths grade B/6 or equivalent qualification (subject and grade). If you are taking A-level Maths (or equivalent), GCSE Maths is not required. Core Maths may also be accepted in place of GCSE Maths.
We do not accept Critical Thinking, General Studies, Citizenship Studies, or other similar equivalent subjects.
We will accept a combination of BTEC subjects, A-levels, and other qualifications, subject to the course specific grade and subject requirements.
English language requirements
GCSE
Grade C or grade 4 in GCSE English Language.
IELTS (academic)
At least 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subskill.
TOEFL iBT
At least 90 overall with a minimum of 17 for writing, 17 for listening, 18 for reading, and 20 for speaking.
PTE Academic
At least 69 overall with a minimum of 59 in all communicative skills.
Trinity ISE II/III
II: at least two Distinctions and two Merits.
III: at least a Pass in all components.
Other accepted qualifications
Please visit our English Language requirements page for more information on our other accepted language qualifications.
Criminal convictions
You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.
If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:
- access to computers or devices that can store images
- use of internet and communication tools/devices
- curfews
- freedom of movement
- contact with people related to Cardiff University.
Other qualifications from inside the UK
BTEC
DDD-DDM in a BTEC Extended Diploma in Business.
T level
D-M in T Level Accounting or Finance.
Please see our admissions policies for more information about the application process.
Tuition fees for 2025 entry
Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.
Learn how we decide your fee status
Fees for home status
| Year | Tuition fee | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Year one | £9,535 | None |
| Year two | £9,535 | None |
| Year three (sandwich year) | £1,907 | None |
| Year four | £9,535 | None |
The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in the second and subsequent years of a course as permitted by law or Welsh Government policy. Where applicable we will notify you of any change in tuition fee by the end of June in the academic year before the one in which the fee will increase.
Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2025/26 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees.
Fees for island status
Learn more about the undergraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Fees for overseas status
| Year | Tuition fee | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Year one | £23,700 | None |
| Year two | £23,700 | None |
| Year three (sandwich year) | £4,740 | None |
| Year four | £23,700 | None |
Learn more about our tuition fees
Financial support
Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.
Costs for sandwich years
During a sandwich year (e.g. year in industry, placement year or year abroad) a lower fee will apply. Full details can be found on our fees pages.
Additional costs
There are no additional costs.
Accommodation
We have a range of residences to suit your needs and budget. Find out more on our accommodation pages.
Living costs
We're based in one of the UK's most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.
Course structure
This is a four-year full-time programme, consisting 120 credits a year. All Students, regardless of route, take a common Year 1, which does not count towards the final degree classification. At the end of Year 1, you have the option to either stay with the general BSc Business Management degree or to move to one of the named routes if you have developed an interest in a particular area.
In Years 2 and 4, compulsory modules are determined by the choice of route but you also choose optional modules from an approved list enabling you to further tailor the degree to your interests.
Year three is spent on Professional Placement where you will put into practice the knowledge and skills you have already developed through your taught modules.
The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2025/2026 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2025.
Year one
Get to grips with the fundamentals on our universal business management first year. We’ll introduce you to disciplines including accounting, technology and economics alongside classmates from our marketing, human resources, international management, logistics and operations pathways. |
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Society and Economy | BS1001 | 20 credits |
| Operations Management | BS1002 | 10 credits |
| Introduction to Accounting | BS1503 | 20 credits |
| Management: Theory and Evidence | BS1511 | 20 credits |
| Marketing | BS1528 | 20 credits |
| People in Organisations | BS1529 | 20 credits |
| Technology and the Digital Age | BS1532 | 10 credits |
Year two
Combine theory and practice as your understanding of the basics grow. You’ll apply accounting techniques to inform professional decision-making, evolve a marketing concept from idea to implementation, assess the impact of management practices on workers and problem solve with operations management strategies. Complement your business essentials toolkit by exploring specialist principles like procurement, multiculturalism, statistics, surveys and models and globalisation. |
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Challenges in Managing and Leading Organizations | BS2002 | 20 credits |
| Excellence in Managing Operations | BS2003 | 20 credits |
| Performance and Financial Management | BS2517 | 20 credits |
| Marketing and Strategy | BS2540 | 20 credits |
| Managing People | BS2542 | 20 credits |
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Purchasing and Supply Management | BS2001 | 20 credits |
| Logistics Networks | BS2004 | 10 credits |
| Project Management | BS2005 | 10 credits |
| Inferential Statistics, Statistical Modelling and Survey Methods | BS2506 | 20 credits |
| Business, Government and Society | BS2518 | 20 credits |
| Managing in Multicultural Organisations | BS2520 | 20 credits |
| Employment Relations | BS2534 | 20 credits |
| Buyer Behaviour | BS2535 | 20 credits |
| International Management | BS2537 | 20 credits |
| Marketing Research | BS2539 | 20 credits |
Year three: Sandwich year
Apply your university know-how in the real world, as you embark on a salaried placement year.
This is your chance to enhance your career prospects by building a network of business contacts.
You’ll gain insights into organisations and industries with no long-term obligations, develop new skills and hone your competitive edge ready to stand-out in the graduate job market.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Placement | BS4020 | 120 credits |
Year four
Bring your professional experience back to the lecture theatre in your final year as you encounter current and emerging issues in business and management.
Modules in strategy, analysis and change will preface opportunities to tailor your degree to career ambitions you got a taste for on placement.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Perspectives for Contemporary Managers | BS3004 | 20 credits |
| Strategic Management | BS3543 | 20 credits |
The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.
Learning and assessment
Our teaching is heavily informed by research and combines academic rigour with practical relevance. Internationally recognised faculty, who are at the forefront of knowledge within their field, bring the lessons learned from their most recent research into the classroom, giving you access to critical business thinking and contemporary real life examples and scenarios.
We will provide your teaching and learning resources, and will be responsive to your needs and views. For your part, you will need to put in the necessary amount of work both during and outside formal teaching sessions, and make good use of the facilities provided.
Most modules involve a mixture of lectures and small group teaching (called classes, seminars, workshops or tutorials).
Lectures provide an overview of the key concepts and frameworks for a topic, equipping you to carry out independent research for the seminars and to develop your own ideas. Seminars provide an opportunity for you to explore the ideas outlined in the lectures. Seminars may take various formats, including plenary group discussion, small-group work and student-led presentations.
How will I be supported?
You will be allocated a personal tutor at the beginning of your studies. Normally, your personal tutor will teach on your own degree course and you will keep the same personal tutor throughout your course.
Your personal tutor will be able to give you advice on academic issues, including module choice and assessment. If you encounter any problems which affect your studies, your personal tutor should always be your first point of contact; they will be able to put you in touch with the wide range of expert student support services provided by the University and the Students' Union as appropriate. You are required to meet with your personal tutor three points during each academic year but you are also encouraged to get in touch with them at any other point if you need help or advice.
For day-to-day information, the staff of our Undergraduate Student Hub are available, in person, by telephone or by email, from 8am to 6pm each weekday during term time to answer your questions.
You will have access through the Learning Central website to relevant multimedia material, presentations, lecture handouts, bibliographies, further links, electronic exercises and discussion circles.
The University offers a range of services including the Careers Service, the Counselling Service, the Disability and Dyslexia Service, the Student Support Service, and excellent libraries and resource centres.
How will I be assessed?
Assessment methods vary from module to module but, across your degree scheme as a whole, you can expect a mixture of exams, coursework, essays, practical work, presentations, and individual and group projects.
Feedback
We will provide you with regular feedback on your work. This comes in a variety of formats including oral feedback, personalised feedback on written work, and generic written feedback.
You will be given general feedback following each examination period and will be able to discuss your overall performance with your personal tutor.
What skills will I practise and develop?
The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will be able to do as a result of your study at Cardiff University. They will help you to understand what is expected of you.
The Learning Outcomes for this Programme can be found below:
Knowledge & Understanding:
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:
- Understanding of the internal aspects of the structure, governance, functions and processes of organisations.
- An appreciation of the dynamic interaction between organisations and the social and economic business environment within which they operate.
- Knowledge of various processes, procedures and practices for the effective and responsible management of organisations.
- An appreciation of the importance to organisations of understanding and managing their markets.
- Understanding of how people interact within organisations and how they can be led, managed and developed.
- Knowledge of different systems and processes for the effective management of operations within and between organisations.
- Awareness of appropriate policies and strategies to meet stakeholder interests, manage risk and maximise achievement of strategic objectives.
- An appreciation of how organisations can create social as well as economic improvement.
Intellectual Skills:
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:
- Critical capacity to analyse, evaluate and synthesise information.
- Ability to solve problems.
- Competence in exhibiting balanced and informed critical arguments.
- Capability to apply relevant theories and approaches to practice.
Professional Practical Skills:
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:
- Skills in People Management.
- An ability to use research to take an evidence-based approach to management.
- Commercial acumen.
- Innovation, creativity and enterprise.
- Understand the nature and operations of a professional environment.
- Operate in the workplace confidently and professionally.
- Develop, enhance, and demonstrate work-related skills, knowledge and experience, in areas including professionalism, ethics, health and safety.
- Be able to identify and adapt to working and related practices in an employment setting and reflect critically on them
Transferable/Key Skills:
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:
- Effective self-management and a propensity for personal development.
- An ability to communicate effectively through a variety of media, and to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- A capacity to exercise co-operation skills and work effectively with others.
- Analyse and reflect on personal management skills, identifying ways to improve through personal development planning.
- Develop work-based skills and experience, building on confidence and professionalism.
Careers and placements
Career prospects
97% of our students are in employment and/or further study within six months of graduating. Our dedicated career professionals have got you covered on things like industry placements, internships, work experience and insights. You’ll benefit from career consultations, interview and CV writing workshops, industry-specific events and specialist psychometric assessment and broad skills training. |
Placements
This programme includes a professional placement year during year 3 of the four-year programme. You will be responsible for sourcing your own placement, though support will be given by the School’s employability team. If you are unable to secure a suitable placement you will be permitted to transfer to the equivalent ‘non-placement’ programme, assuming the relevant academic requirements are met. Placements can be conducted in English or in Welsh.
International Study
To give you the opportunity to gain a global perspective, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria (overall average mark of 60% or higher in the first year and a successful interview with the Director of International Exchange) you may transfer to the Semester Abroad programme. On the semester abroad programme you take six compulsory single modules in the first semester of year 2 before spending the Spring semester of year 2 at one of our partner universities abroad studying relevant modules in English.
We have exchange agreements with high ranking Business Schools and universities worldwide where you will study modules taught and assessed in English at the partner university. A list of partner institutions, all of which offer modules taught in English, can be found on our website.
Our Exchange team and the University Global Opportunity Centre work closely with you in preparation for and during your studies abroad.
Next steps
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How to apply
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HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.
