(BBA) Bachelor of Business Administration
Business Administration
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Essex Business School
Southend Campus
Honours Degree
Full-time
None
BBA N100
08/06/2026
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
- GCSE: Mathematics C/4.
Plus a level 3 qualification:
- 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levels.
- IB: 29 points in the IB Diploma or 112 UCAS tariff points to include a minimum of 2 Higher Level subjects. Our Maths requirement can be met with either: 2 in Standard level Maths; 2 in Higher level Maths; or 4 in IB Middle Years Maths.
- We accept A-levels, AAQs, BTECs, Access to HE Diploma, T-levels and most other qualifications that hold UCAS tariff points. Acceptability of some non A-level qualifications (such as BTECs) may depend on the subject studied and units taken.
You can calculate your UCAS tariff points on the UCAS website.
Whilst International A-levels and BTECs aren't on the UCAS tariff calculator, we assign them the same tariff points as their UK counterparts.
More information about our requirements and how to apply is on our undergraduate application information page
Contextual Offers:
We are committed to ensuring that all students with the merit and potential to benefit from an Essex education are supported to do so. We make Contextual Offers, of up to two A-level grades (or equivalent) below our standard conditional offer, to applicants from underrepresented groups residing in the UK. Our Contextual Offers policy outlines the full eligibility criteria.
If you haven't got the grades you hoped for, have a non-traditional academic background, are a mature student, or have any questions about eligibility for your course, more information can be found on our undergraduate application information page.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component, or specified score in an equivalent test that we accept.
Details of English language requirements and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here
If we accept the English component of an international qualification it will be included in the academic levels listed above for the relevant countries.
Pre-sessional English courses
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Additional Notes
If you’re an international student, but do not meet the academic requirements for direct admission to this degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
- Applied Data Science: In order to be eligible for the qualifier, you must successfully complete (i.e. pass with a mark of 40 or above) the following modules: Year Two: At least three of the following: BE216 – (15 credits) International Business Management, BE218 – (15 credits) Business Research Methods, BE220 – (15 credits) Strategic Entrepreneurship, BE223 - (15 credits) Introduction to Business Analytics, BE311 - (15 credits) Corporate Finance, BE313 - (15 credits) Portfolio Analysis, BE424 – (15 credits) Principles of Operations and Supply Chain Management. Final Year: BE441 – (30 credits) Business Strategy AND at least one of the following: BE141 - (15 credits) Strategic Management Accounting, BE224 - (15 credits) Strategic Operations and Supply Chain, BE225 - (15 credits) Applied Business Analytics and Decision Making, BE228 – (15 credits) Data Mining and Visualisation, BE332 – (15 credits) Options and Futures, BE631 – (15 credits) Risk Management and Financial Institutions. Students must also have completed and pass one of the following modules (quantitative research methodology and data analysis must be utilised): BE932 – (30 credits) Research Project- Business Administration, BE933 – (30 credits) Research Project- Marketing, BE934 – (30 credits) Research Project- International Business and Entrepreneurship, BE941 – (30 credits) Research Project – International Business and Finance, BE943 – (30 credits) Research Project - Business Administration and Supply Chain Management, BE945 – (30 credits) Research Project – Business and Analytics
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
To develop an essential understanding of business management principles and their application in different organisational contexts and to acquire analytical, problem-solving, creative and learning skills for managing business ventures.
To obtain a thorough understanding of the value of managing people and organisations and appreciation of different schools of management theories in relation to acquired appropriate skills and techniques for effective problem solving and in-depth investigation of key issues in enterprise management.
To develop a critical awareness of economic, social, technological and ethical context of enterprise management.
To enable students to learn to engage in reflective practice based on the use of analytical skills, diverse tools and techniques.
To develop their ability to lead different types of business ventures where innovation, networks, ethics and sustainability are the key drivers of change and effective performance in varied environment.
To manage their own learning and personal development in the future, to learn to work in teams, and to network with different stakeholders.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: Basic understanding of theories, policies and practices of business creation and growth (BM 3.4)
A2: Studying core theoretical frameworks employed in understanding theories of international business; and key characteristics of the international business environment with a focus on economic, political, socio-cultural and technological factors and conditions (BM 3.2, 3.5, 3.7 MARKETS)
A3: Clear understanding of the theoretical frameworks used to conceptualise the international business environment (BM 3.5, 3.7 MARKETS)
A4: Critical understanding of core theoretical frameworks employed to explore and conceptualize business strategy (3.2, 3.7 BUSINESS POLICY AND STRATEGY)
A5: Studying fundamental and principles of business law and its application to the development of the firm, with a focus on the UK and the European Union (BM 3.4, 3.5)
A6: Critical understaning of concepts and context and theories of business ethics (BM 3.4, 3.5, 3.7 CONTEMPORARY & PERVASIVE ISSUES, MARKETS, CUSTOMERS AND PEOPLE)
A7: Clear understanding of concepts and theoretical frameworks of growth and development of entrepreneurial organisations, and new ventures creation under contemporary economy. (BM 3.6, 3.7-PEOPLE, OPERATIONS, CONTEMPORARY & PERVASIVE ISSUES
A8: Year 2 - Studying concepts, contexts and theoretical frameworks of business-to-business marketing (BM 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7-MARKETS, CUSTOMERS, BUSINESS POLICY & STRATEGY
A9: Critical understanding of key concepts and tools in international human resource management (BM 3.2, 3.5, 3.7 PEOPLE).
A10: Critical understanding of the key concepts in international finance -marketplaces, concepts and tools (BM 3.2, 3.5, 3.7 FINANCE).
A11: Critical understanding of enterprise development in economically diverse contexts (BM 3.2, 3.5)
A12: Basic understanding of economic principles and theories of the firm
A13: Basic understanding of accounting concepts, the context in which accounting is situated and its function in organisation management (BM 3.4, 3.6, 3.7-FINANCE)
A14: Basic understanding of the marketing concept, process and setting; application of strategic marketing planning and marketing mix for new ventures and small firms (BM 3.5, BM 3.7 MARKETS, CUSTOMERS)
A15: Studying the concept, purpose and practice of quantitative research, with a focus on the organization and analysis of statistical data (BM 3.6, 3.7. INFORMATION SYSTEMS, COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY)
A16: Clear understanding of conceptual issues of information and the practice of information management, including the meaning of working in an information society (BM 3.6, 3.7-INFORMATION SYSTEMS, COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY)
A17: Clear understanding of contexts and processes of innovation management (BM 3.6, 3.7 CONTEMPORARY & PERVASIVE ISSUES
A18: Critical understanding of the key concepts in international finance -marketplaces, concepts and tools (BM 3.2, 3.5, 3.7 FINANCE).
Learning methods
Years 0, 1, 2 and 3: Lectures and tutor-led seminars.
Directed reading.
Comparative case work in lectures and tutorials.
Individual and group tasks.
Assessment methods
Years 0, 1, 2, and 3:
Written examinations.
Assessed individual and group reports.
Assessed individual essay.
Assessed individual group presentations.
Assessed individual essay.
Individual reflective journal.
Multiple choice class tests.
Class test essay.
Case study analysis.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Basic understanding of the abstraction and synthesis of relevant data from a variety of sources (BM 4.1a, 4.1b, 4.1k)
B2: Basic understanding of the ability to undertake independent research from a variety of sources (BM 4.1k)
B3: Effective use of the abstraction and synthesis of relevant data from a variety of sources (BM 4.1a, 4.1b, 4.1k)
B4: Effective use of contemporary theories and empirical evidence, to develop an argument (both orally and in writing) and present ideas in a coherent and effective manner (BM 4.1a)
B5: Effective use of numerical (including financial) data analysis and an appreciation of the nature and limitations of basic statistical concepts (BM 4.1b, 4.1d)
B6: Effective use of independent research from a variety of sources (BM 4.1k).
B7: Critical understanding of the abstraction and synthesis of relevant data from a variety of sources (BM 4.1a, 4.1b, 4.1k);
B8: Critical understanding of contemporary theories and empirical evidence, to develop an argument (both orally and in writing) and present ideas in a coherent and effective manner (BM 4.1a)
B9: Critical understanding of numerical (including financial) data analysis and an appreciation of the nature and limitations of basic statistical concepts (BM 4.1b, 4.1d)
B10: Critical understanding of the effective use of independent research from a variety of sources (BM 4.1k).
B11: Basic understanding of contemporary theories and empirical evidence, and use of this understanding to develop an argument (both orally and in writing) and present ideas in a coherent and effective manner (BM 4.1a)
B12: Basic understanding of numerical (including financial) data analysis and an appreciation of the nature and limitations of basic statistical concepts (BM 4.1b, 4.1d)
Learning methods
Years 0, 1, 2, and 3:
Lectures and tutor-led seminars.
Directed reading.
Comparative case work in lectures and seminars.
Individual and group tasks.
Assessment methods
Years 0, 1, 2, and 3:
B1-12 inclusively assessed by: Written examinations.
Assessed individual and group reports.
Assessed individual essay.
Assessed individual group presentations.
Assessed individual essay.
Individual reflective journal.
Multiple choice class tests.
Class test essay. - Case study analysis
C: Practical skills
C1: Record and summarise transactions and other economic events (BM 4.1d)
C2: Identify and retrieve relevant data from variety of sources (BM 4.1k)
C3: Present data using the appropriate form of communication (BM 4.1e, 4.1c)
C4: Forecast short, medium, and long term objectives, opportunities and threats (BM 4.1b, 4.1k)
C5: Prepare financial analysis and projections; analyse, interpret and exrapolate data in relation to business problem and phenomena (BM 4.1d)
Learning methods
Years 0, 1, 2, and 3:
Lectures and tutor-led seminars.
Directed reading.
Comparative case work in lectures and tutorials.
Individual and group tasks.
Assessment methods
Years 0, 1, 2, and 3:
Assessed essays and other course work assignments (C 1-5)
Class tests (C1, C3)
Group work and presentations (C1-5)
Written examinations (C1-4)
D: Key skills
D1: Communicating in oral and written formats to different audiences in a coherent, cogent and effective manner;
D2: Use of information technologies including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, statistical and web-based packages to read, download, analyse and evaluate different types of data and information
D3: Preparing, manipulating, and presenting numerical data.
D4: Using and applying analytical and creative problem-solving skills.
D5: Understanding and appreciation of different communities of interest, good spoken and written communication skills, empathy and resolution of conflict.
D6: Improving time management, prioritising critical tasks, meeting deadlines, and evaluating self-learning
Learning methods
Years 0, 1, 2, and 3:
Lectures and tutor-led seminars.
Directed reading.
Comparative case work in lectures and tutorials.
Individual and group tasks.
Assessment methods
Years 0, 1, 2, and 3:
Assessed essays and other course work assignments (D1, D2, D3, D5)
Class tests (D1, D2, D3, D5)
Group work and presentations (D1, Q2, D4)
Reflective journal (D6)
Written examinations (D1, D2, D3, D5)