IA191-3-FY-CO:
Academic Success Skills for Students of Business

The details
2027/28
Essex Business School
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Foundation/Year Zero: Level 3
Current
Thursday 07 October 2027
Friday 30 June 2028
30
05 August 2026

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

BSC N401 Accounting (Including Foundation Year),
BSC NN43 Accounting and Finance (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N391 Banking and Finance (Including Foundation Year),
BBA N104 Business Administration (Including Foundation Year),
BBA N104CO Business Administration (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N201 Business Management (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N301 Finance (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N124 International Business and Entrepreneurship (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N124CO International Business and Entrepreneurship (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N2N5 Marketing Management (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N505 Marketing (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N505CO Marketing (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N347 Finance and Management (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N358 International Business and Finance (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N358CO International Business and Finance (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N114 Business Administration and Supply Chain Management (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N114CO Business Administration and Supply Chain Management (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N263 Business and Human Resource Management (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N133 Business and Analytics (including Foundation Year),
BSC N133CO Business and Analytics (including Foundation Year)

Module description

This module supports foundation-year students in developing the academic, research and communication practices required for successful study in business related subjects. Students will explore contemporary issues affecting businesses, consumers, markets, organisations and economies, using these topics as a basis for developing confidence in academic writing, source evaluation, evidence-based argument, academic integrity, collaborative learning and reflective practice.


The module introduces students to university-level inquiry by helping them ask focused questions, locate and evaluate credible sources, use evidence ethically, communicate ideas clearly, and interpret visual data such as graphs and tables. Students will engage with subject-specific materials relevant to their chosen degrees, including academic texts, business and economics case studies, market and policy reports, data sources, and contemporary media examples.

Module aims

The aims of this module are:



  • To develop students’ ability to communicate effectively, in both written and spoken language, in a range of academic, business, and research-informed formal settings.

  • To develop students’ basic research skills, supporting the development of a critical approach to source materials and appropriate use of sources as supporting evidence.

  • To encourage independent learning strategies and develop students’ confidence to make judgments and be evaluative.

  • To equip students with appropriate and effective academic language and University level study skills applicable to their various disciplines.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module a student will be expected to be able to:



  1. Develop time management strategies, employ self-directed learning and show an ability to reflect on one’s own goals and progress to support continuous improvement.

  2. Apply search skills when using the University library resources and internet search engines to find relevant and appropriate sources to inform academic work.

  3. Develop a focused topic or research question and use selected sources to support a clear, structured and appropriately referenced academic response.

  4. Produce written academic work which communicates ideas, information and arguments with clarity, is well-structured and context relevant, and integrates students’ own ideas with those of academic and professional sources.

Module information

Syllabus


Students will develop academic success skills through engagement with contemporary business and social issues. The module will introduce students to the practices of university-level inquiry, supporting them to become more confident, independent and research-informed learners.


Indicative areas of study include:



  • Becoming a university researcher: understanding assessment expectations, academic standards and how university work differs from school or college work.

  • From curiosity to research question: developing focused topics and research questions linked to contemporary business, consumer and social issues.

  • Finding the evidence: searching for, selecting and evaluating academic, professional, media and data-based sources.

  • Source detective work: judging credibility, bias, relevance and usefulness across different types of sources, including academic articles, reports, statistics, websites, news media and social media content as well as AI.

  • Academic integrity and ethical evidence use: referencing accurately, avoiding plagiarism, using sources responsibly, and understanding the role of evidence in academic argument.

  • Reading critically: identifying key arguments, evidence, assumptions and limitations in academic and professional sources.

  • Comparing perspectives: recognising agreement, disagreement and debate between different sources and viewpoints.

  • Reading business and society through data: understanding and interpreting visual data such as graphs, tables, charts, infographics and market statistics.

  • Understanding how evidence can mislead: exploring misinformation, selective data use, misleading visuals, unreliable sources and unsupported claims.

  • Building an evidence-based argument: using sources to develop clear, structured and well-supported academic writing.

  • Writing for business-related disciplines: developing academic paragraphs, introductions, conclusions, signposting and appropriate academic style.

  • Communicating research visually: presenting research findings through posters, visuals and concise academic communication.

  • Using feedback to improve academic work: applying feedback to strengthen research focus, source use, writing, structure and visual communication.

  • Working with others as researchers: developing collaborative learning, peer discussion and feedback skills through seminars and group activities.

  • Preparing for undergraduate study: developing confidence, independence, planning strategies and research habits for progression to degree-level study.


Case studies and examples will be drawn from topics such as:



  • Consumer behaviour, identity and everyday spending.

  • Influencer culture, digital marketing and online trust.

  • Artificial intelligence, automation and the future of work.

  • The cost-of-living crisis and student financial decision-making.

  • Sustainability, greenwashing and responsible business.

  • Fast fashion, supply chains and ethical consumption.

  • Global brands, local cultures and emerging markets.

  • Inequality, social mobility and access to opportunity.

  • Platform economies, gig work and digital entrepreneurship.

  • Behavioural economics and decision-making in everyday life.

  • Business responses to climate change and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

  • Data, evidence and misinformation in business and socio-political debates.


Sources will include academic texts, business case studies, market research, policy reports, statistical data, media sources, podcasts, documentaries and other relevant materials. Students will be encouraged to engage with a wide range of perspectives, including sources from the global South, to support a more inclusive and international understanding of business and economics.

Learning and teaching methods

Teaching and learning on this module offers students the ability to develop the foundation knowledge, skills, and competences to study at undergraduate level, through a curriculum that is purposely designed to provide an exceptional learning experience. All teaching, learning and assessment materials will be available via Moodle in a consistent and user-friendly manner.

The module will be delivered through a range of seminars, open access support sessions, and tutorials:

  • AU and SU Terms: 2 x 2-hour seminars
  • SP Term: 1 x 2-hour seminar and 1 x 2-hour group tutorial

Bibliography

This module does not appear to have any essential texts. To see non - essential items, please refer to the module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting

Additional coursework information

Formative assessment

  • Students will have a formative assessment opportunity for all summative assessments.

Summative assessment

  • Annotated bibliography (30%)

Students will identify of a set of references (a minimum of 5) with annotation which explains why each source has been selected and how they went about finding each source. The sources will be selected by students in response to a topic. Students will be able to choose from a range of topics.

  • Research-informed report (45%)

Students will produce a 1,500-word written report based on the topic explored in the annotated bibliography.
The report will require students to use evidence from relevant sources to discuss a contemporary business or society-related issue. Students will be expected to organise their work clearly, use appropriate headings, develop a reasoned discussion, and reference their sources accurately.The report should include:

  • an introduction to the topic;
  • a main discussion using evidence from sources;
  • a conclusion;
  • a reference list.

Students should use sources from their annotated bibliography, although they may add or replace sources if their research develops. Students are not required to conduct primary research.
This assessment develops students’ ability to produce clear, structured and evidence-based written academic work.

  • Research Poster (25%)

Students will produce an individual research poster based on the topic explored in their annotated bibliography and research-informed report. The poster will require students to communicate their research focus, key evidence and main ideas in a clear, concise and visually effective format.

The poster should include a title, a focused topic or research question, a brief explanation of why the topic is relevant, a summary of key points from selected sources, one appropriate visual element such as a graph, table, image, diagram or infographic, a short conclusion or key message, and a reference list.
Students will be expected to use evidence from relevant academic and professional sources and to present information accurately and ethically. This assessment develops students’ ability to communicate research-informed ideas clearly, use visuals effectively and present academic work in an accessible format.

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Mr Brendan Elsted, email: bmelsted@essex.ac.uk.
Brendan Elsted
Helen Hearn (hhearn@essex.ac.uk or 01206 872842)

 

Availability
No
No
No

External examiner

Ms Amy Aisha Brown
University of Portsmouth, London
Lecture in Academic Skills
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 6 hours, 6 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Essex Business School

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