(Postgraduate Diploma) Postgraduate Diploma
Business Administration
Withdrawn
University of Essex
University of Essex
Essex Business School
Colchester Campus & Apprenticeship Location
Postgraduate Diploma
Part-time
Business and Management
DIP N200JS
10/05/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
A minimum of three years, post-graduation work experience in a managerial position and a 2.2 Undergraduate Degree.
Applicants who possess extensive work experience, or have attained a professional qualification but not completed formal degrees will also be considered. Non-academic achievements are also taken into consideration.
You will be required to evidence GCSE grade C/4 or equivalent in Mathematics and English before you complete your studies.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 6.0
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
The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.
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).
None
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
The PGDip Business Administration is a generalist, full-time, career-development programme for applicants with at least three years of managerial experience, post-graduation, whose overall educational aims satisfy the following QAA Benchmark Statements for Masters awards in Business and Management:The PGDip Business Administration is a generalist, full-time, career-development programme for applicants with at least three years of managerial experience, post-graduation, whose overall educational aims satisfy the following QAA Benchmark Statements for Masters awards in Business and Management:
- the advanced study of organisations, their management and the changing external context in which they operate;
- preparation for and/or development of a career in business and management by developing skills at a professional or equivalent level, or as preparation for research or further study in the area;
- development of the ability to apply knowledge and understanding of business and management to complex issues, both systematically and creatively to improve business and management practice;
- enhancement of lifelong learning skills and personal development so as to be able to work with self-direction and originality and to contribute to business and society at large.
The programme covers a broad curriculum which aims to give individuals an integrated and critically aware understanding of management and organisations, and to prepare them to take on roles as managers and business specialists within these organisations.
Programme Aims
- To provide participants with an education in both the theory and practice of business and management in an organizational setting across a wide range of management disciplines
- To equip participants with the knowledge, understanding and skills to address complex issues facing organisation across a range of business functions
- To offer participants an integrated approach to the study and the practice of management in organisations that emphasises the interdependence between some of the core disciplines and practices of management and the importance of taking a holistic approach to problem-solving
- To develop the skills and the mindset required to be a responsible and effective leader in business with a deep appreciation of ethics, corporate social responsibility and human rights, and an understanding of the role and impact of business decisions on the wider environment
- To develop analytical, critical and creative skills in managing change and product/service/business model innovation while solving business and organisational problems
- To promote understanding of business decisions and policies in an organizational setting in the context of the global economy and the cultural, social and spiritual diversity to be found in communities across the world
- To develop professional, transferable skills including: numeracy, literacy, research, report writing, project management, personal and interpersonal skills, presentation skills, team-working, leadership and an appreciation of working in a multicultural environment
Programme outcomes
- Knowledge and understanding of core business and management disciplines at the postgraduate level 7
- Knowledge, understanding and critical evaluation of the key theories and concepts that underpin management disciplines and practices
- The ability to research and analyse quantitative and qualitative data as well structured and unstructured information from a variety of sources to diagnose and address organizational issues
- The ability to design and implement innovative solutions to organizational issues and lead and manage change in an organizational setting
- The ability to present and summarise arguments both verbally through presentations, debates and role-playing and in writing through reports, essays and projects and to reach a conclusion that is acceptable to stakeholders
- An awareness and understanding of the economic, cultural and ethical context in which organisations operate and their relationships with the various stakeholders in society
- An awareness and understanding of the global environment and the impact of decision making within and beyond the organisation
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: Advanced knowledge and understanding of core business functions, both from a theory and practice perspectives
A2: Systematic knowledge and understanding of the interface between business and society, the role and impact of business decisions on the wider environment
A3: Knowledge and understanding of competitive strategies and approaches to effective decision making
A4: Knowledge and comprehensive understanding of how organisations grow, innovate and develop entrepreneurial skills
A5: Knowledge and understanding of how to critically evaluate ideas, concepts and practices related to business and management.
Learning methods
The course utilises a variety of learning methods to fulfil the learning outcomes, including workshops (A1 to A5), group work (A2 to A5), case studies analysis (A1 to A5), practitioner-led seminars (A2, A3, A4), reflective study (A2 to A5), online and web-based learning (A1 to A5).
Assessment methods
The course utilises a variety of assessment methods to enable students to demonstrate learning outcome achievements, including in-class tests (A1, A4), reports (A1 to A5), individual projects (A1 to A5), oral presentations (A3, A4), case studies (A1, A3, A4).
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Application of problem solving skills, informed by the application of relevant knowledge and understanding of complex management issues
B2: Acquisition and critical analysis of structured and unstructured data and information from a wide range of sources
B3: Demonstrate creativity while addressing complex business and management issues across the range of business functions
B4: Planning and leading independent research into business and management issues
B5: Acquisition of a reflective approach to leadership and management
Learning methods
The course offers a range of learning methods to enable students to acquire, develop and practice intellectual and cognitive skills.
Lectures and workshops can play a role in providing the basic building blocks but additional methods are needed to fully develop these skills, including group work (B1, B2, B3), case studies (B1, B3), reflective learning (journals) (B4, B5), research projects (B1 to B4), online and web-based learning (B1 to B4).
Assessment methods
The range of assessment methods matches the variety of learning methods to ensure that students can demonstrate the appropriate achievement level in all the intellectual and cognitive skills.
The types of assessment include: case study and open book examinations (B1 to B5), coursework (B1 to B5), case study-based projects (B1 to B5), in-class tests (B1, B2), oral presentations (B1, B3, B4, B5), reflective diaries and journals (B4), independent research projects (B2, B4, B5).
C: Practical skills
C1: The ability to prepare arguments for discussion.
C2: The ability to collect, assess and critically analyse qualitative and quantitative data for decision making
C3: The acquisition of professional skills including communication, presentation, project management, research and report writing skills
C4: The development of interpersonal skills including self and cultural awareness and team working
Learning methods
For learning and practicing practical skills the following methods are used: workshops (C1, C2, C3, case studies (C2), group work (C1 to C4), online and web-based self-study (C3, C4).
Assessment methods
The course offers a wide range of assessment methods to permit students to demonstrate that they have achieved the necessary practical skills, including: coursework essays (C1, C3, C4), in-class tests (C2), reports (C1, C2, C3), oral presentations with audio visual aids (C3, C4), projects (C1, C2, C3), group projects (C1 to C4).
D: Key skills
D1: Communicate ideas and arguments in a coherent and effective manner.
D2: Use information technology such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases and the web in order to source, download and analyse data
D3: Manipulate numerical data and apply appropriate arithmetical, mathematical or statistical techniques.
D4: Problem-solving and analytical skills in the context of business and management.
D5: Ability to work in a team and participating in group work in undertaking research and preparing informal presentations.
D6: Reflectively analyse own performance and feedback.
Learning methods
Verbal communication skills (D1) are developed primarily through group discussion in the lectures and classes.
Written communication skills (D1) in individual tasks.
IT skills (D2) are developed as individual tasks require extensive research involving web-based material, internet and various electronic media.
Numeracy and problem solving skills (D3-D4) are developed principally through specific problem based exercises and tasks given to the students.
Working with others and team working (D5) are developed through group work involving the preparation of analytical reports and oral presentations to class colleagues.
Improvements to one's own learning and performance (D7) is developed through reflective learning, for example in the form of work diaries and one-to-one tutorials.
Assessment methods
The assessment of the majority of key transferable skills forms an integral part of the overall assessment of the finance degree schemes. However the approach to assessment varies.
Written communication skills, problem solving, numeracy and IT skills are assessed directly through in-class tests, coursework essays, and closed-book examinations throughout the course.
Verbal communication skills are assessed through sole and group presentations in-class.
Team working is assessed through group projects and case studies.
Improving one's own learning and performance is not formally assessed but students are encouraged to keep a reflective journal and participate in the online personal development planning programme available to all students.