BSc Business and Management (Entrepreneurship and Innovation)
This pathway equips you with the management skills and practical entrepreneurial techniques to start a new business. It also prepares you for leadership and managerial roles in a range of business environments.
At a glance
- Understand the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, including start-ups and practical entrepreneurial techniques
- Explore the interaction between business management and the creative spirit of entrepreneurship
- Diverse ways of learning, from small group seminars to large lectures taught by academics and industry practitioners
- Subject area(s)
- Business & Management
- Start Date
- September 2024
- Duration
- 3 years (4 years with placement year/study abroad)
- Attendance
- Full-time
- UCAS Code
- N298/N289/N199
- Programme Director
-
Dr Andrew Hull
Overview
This programme combines the rigour of a management degree with the creative, entrepreneurial spirit of start-ups and innovation-driven businesses. By choosing the BSc Business and Management (Entrepreneurship and Innovation) pathway, you will gain the expertise to embark on your own business venture, with modules covering opportunity recognition and evaluation, financing, “growth-hacking”, and resource management.
In the first year you will study core modules in a variety of business and management disciplines, giving you a solid foundation in business, marketing and accounting.
In your second year you will build upon this knowledge and incorporate the key principles of entrepreneurship.
In the third year you will have the option to apply for either a paid work placement or to study abroad. These are great opportunities to enhance your CV, further develop your skills and apply your knowledge in a real work environment.
In your final year you will advance your study further by exploring topics such as Financing for Entrepreneurship and an individual project to consolidate your knowledge. You will also have the option to run your own business with support and mentorship from the Henley Centre for Entrepreneurship.
Our BSc Business and Management pathways have been designed to allow you to focus your degree even further and tailor it to your specific interests. Here is a guide to help you understand them.
In year one of your studies you will focus on gaining core knowledge of Business and Management. The content of the first year will be the same for all pathways as well as the general BSc Business and Management degree. At the end of year one you will be able to transfer to a pathway of your choice or continue general programme. You are not tied to a specific pathway at this point.
| Year of study | % weight of modules |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | 100% compulsory modules (all pathways) |
In year two you will gain a more in-depth understanding of Business and Management. You will now start to focus your degree further with modules that are specific to the pathway of your choice. Some pathways give you the opportunity to start to tailor your degree with optional modules. At the end of the second year, you will not be able to choose a different pathway again, although you will have the opportunity to transfer back to the general programme.
| Year of study | % weight of modules |
|---|---|
| Year 2 | 50% compulsory modules (all pathways) |
| 50% mix of further compulsory and/or optional modules (pathway dependent) |
Between your second and final year you will have the option to do a work placement or study abroad year. Opting for the year can be beneficial for your career prospects and considerably enhance your CV, setting you on the right path for a successful career.
| Year of study |
|---|
| Work Placement/Study Abroad (Optional) |
In your final year you will consolidate your knowledge, preparing you to enter the world of work. You will have more flexibility with optional modules, with compulsory modules still relevant to the pathway you have chosen.
| Year of study | % weight of modules |
|---|---|
| Final year | 100% mix of optional and compulsory modules (pathway dependent) |
Part 1
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
Management Debates: ways of thinking about business (MM1F19)This module introduces students to key ideas and debates that pertain to the study of business and management. It exposes students to the intellectual foundations on which many well-known management frameworks are built. In doing so it requires students to consider business decisions from different disciplinary perspectives including economics, psychology, history and law, and to recognise the value of these competing viewpoints. Academic authors
Mads Wedell-Wedellsborg
Professor Peter Miskell
|
40 Credits |
Business in Practice: Markets, Marketing and Management (MM1F20)The aim of this module is to provide students with a foundation in business and management practices and theories. These provide the necessary context when students specialise in their later studies. Read moreThe module will introduce students to the competitive environment, markets, strategy, marketing, operations, organisational behaviour and entrepreneurship. While students will learn the core concepts which underpin these areas, they will also gain an understanding of the inter-relationships between them. While there is a strong emphasis on key theories and frameworks, students will be required to apply them to current business cases which will help them as they start their careers in whatever industry they choose. Academic authors
Dr Andrew Hull
|
20 Credits |
Business in Practice: Accounting for Managers (MM1F27)The aim of this module is to provide students with a foundation in how businesses use accounting information. It will introduce students to management accounting and financial accounting, and it will provide the necessary foundation in accounting to allow them to specialise in their later studies Read moreAcademic authors
Sian Weatherburn
|
20 Credits |
Business in Practice: Data Analytics (MM1F28)Acquiring, managing, and analysing data is an important business activity that allows organisations to make strategic use of their data assets. Read moreAnalysing historical data can give companies insight on how to optimise a wide range of functions related to accounting and management. Furthermore, constructing predictive models can facilitate the process of classifying future events and making informed data-driven decisions. This introductory module aims to expose students to key concepts in data analytics by introducing two stages of data analytics (a) descriptive analytics and (b) predictive analytics, as well as visualisation techniques for qualitatively summarising data. Academic authors
Dr Markos Kyritsis
Dr Nico Biagi
|
20 Credits |
Developing Professional Excellence (MM1F29)The module focuses on developing students’ understanding of the graduate and placement recruitment process from the perspective of the recruiter and the organisations. For that purpose, the module draws on the skills and learning from the first two terms to provide students with an experience of the recruitment process, beginning to end. Read moreThe module will enable the students to use their learning so far to appreciate the economics of recruitment, the context of different organisations (businesses and sectors), the different talent management strategies and needs, the rationale for employing specific process and procedures, and what are the next steps in developing a successful, high-performing and engaged workforce. The module is designed to be delivered in the summer of part 1. The lectures and seminars run ahead of placements and internships applications. Therefore, it equips the students to make better choices and improved applications, strengthening their success rate of obtaining placements, internship and future jobs upon graduation. Academic authors
Dr Can Ererdi
Dr Olena Khlystova
|
20 Credits |
Part 2
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
Building competitive advantage: Business Strategy and Operations (MM296) |
20 Credits |
Managing work and people: Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Mgt (MM297) |
20 Credits |
Social Responsibility in Action (MM298)Students are expected to draw on knowledge and experience gained during the course, and to apply it to a contemporary management problem or issue related to social purpose of the business and 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. The practical actions are developed in conjunction with specific organisations and address a topic relevant to Principles for Responsible Management Education’ (PRME). PRME is a United Nations-supported initiative founded in 2007 in support of the Sustainable Development Goals and is governed by the UN and the business school accreditation bodies. Henley Business School is an advanced signatory to PRME.
Read more
Academic authors
Dr Irina Heim
|
20 Credits |
Practice of Entrepreneurship (MM270)This is a dynamic and experiential module aiming to give students a strong understanding of key dilemmas likely to be faced by first time entrepreneurs. Read more The module develops student's entrepreneurial skill and confidence to put plans into action. Students gain understanding of the practice of entrepreneurship as informed by theory, role play and guest lectures. This will include exposure to the experience of successful entrepreneurs. Students are given a solid understanding of the realities of business start-up. First time founders face many unfamiliar challenges such as: Do I start by myself or do I need a co-founder? How to allocate equity in the business? When to raise finance, how much and from whom? How to manage growth? When it is better to cut your losses and how to cope with failure? When and how to adjust business models? etc This module examines some of the key dilemmas faced by entrepreneurs and explores the range of options available to founders, and the long-term and often cumulative consequences of their decision making. Academic authors
Dr Rifat Kamasak
Dr Aaron Ahali
|
20 [10 ECTS credits] |
Digital Entrepreneurship in Practice (MM288)Digital enterprises face a range of challenges that differentiate them from non-digital start-ups. They often operate in hyper-competitive winner-takes-it-all markets from inception. To succeed in this environment, they need to leverage digital technologies to shape novel business models, market their products and services and develop monetization strategies until they find product-market-fit, and achieve a scalable method of customer acquisition, typically by targeting global markets from the outset. The module discusses how digital entrepreneurial ventures take advantage of the tensions and opportunities arising from current technological change. It then explores the approaches, methods and strategies employed by entrepreneurial, digital companies in validating and developing products, gaining market and customer traction, competing for scale in hyper-competitive markets as well as in monetizing their product, service and data offerings. It explores entrepreneurial marketing methods used by digital entrepreneurs including approaches to customer development. Finally, it also discusses data-driven decision making processes. Academic authors
Dr Matteo Borghi
|
20 |
Sales and Business Development (MM2100)This module introduces students to sales and in particular the sales process and selling. It adopts a highly practitioner-oriented view of sales. It explains to students the different approaches and sales models, with a specific focus on direct and online sales. Students will understand the modern role of sales as a philosophy, culture, process and strategic business development role for companies. Students will understand and assess how sales activities influence the direction and decisions related to marketing, logistics, manufacturing, finance, resource capability and allocation. A customer centric approach to the stages of the sales funnel will be discussed, and marketing activities (digital and traditional acquisition medium channels) to capture and nurture leads, prospects and clients through the modern customer journey. At the same time, the module offers a practical approach to the foundations of individual skills and behaviour required from a salesperson. Academic authors
Dr Fabio Goncalves de Oliveira
|
20 |
Part 3
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
Developing Personal Leadership (MM304)
This module is specifically aimed at giving students a comprehensive view on personal leadership development and how to plan their own leadership skills strategy. The students will be expected to examine the concepts, theories, and evidence needed to develop their understanding and competencies associated with leadership development and explore different approaches for leadership development planning and action. This includes developing self-awareness, contextual awareness and how to design a learning agenda.
Read more
Academic authors
Dr Tatiana Rowson
Dr Linghe Lei
|
20 |
Financing Entrepreneurship (MM361)Why do entrepreneurs often fail to enter a market? Entrepreneur with innovative products often find access to finance and sharing equity problematic. Read moreThis module introduces students to the various forms of financing for entrepreneurship as a process of entrepreneurship (e.g. debt, equity financing, non-for-profit and alternative financing). It introduces an entrepreneurial ecosystem approach , entrepreneurial planning, and strategies to finance new ventures. Using the entrepreneurial ecosystem approach and entrepreneurship process, the module will critically examine the nature, role and importance of different sources of finance for entrepreneurial ventures, strategies and business planning to raise finance at different stages of firm growth. Academic authors
Professor Maksim Belitski
|
20 [10 ECTS credits] |
Applied Entrepreneurship A (MM313A)The aim of the module is for students to further develop and demonstrate the entrepreneurial skills developed through their degree in a significant capstone project. Students will work on two projects: Firstly, as Founders, students will work as solo-founder or in a small team on their own
Academic authors
Professor Norbert Morawetz
|
40 |
You will also choose 40 credits of optional modules in Part 3.
At Part 3, students who have completed MM313A Applied Entrepreneurship will be eligible to take the Module MM313B Applied Entrepreneurship B, where they can continue to run the business they have created full-time.
Example modules include (please note that all modules are subject to change):
| Optional modules | Credits |
|---|---|
Applied Entrepreneurship B (MM313B)This module is for students who want to develop a venture idea they have started as part of the module MM313A Applied Entrepreneurship and develop it into an operating business. Students will work continuously on their own business idea, learning as they experience the realities of entrepreneurship and business start-up. This may involve setting up a company, developing a prototype product or service, acquiring users and customers, raising finance, making sales, as well as managing and growing the start-up team. Students will learn practical entrepreneurial skills, enabling them to be effective in both developing their venture and reflecting on their personal and business performance. Academic authors
Professor Norbert Morawetz
|
40 |
Project Management (MM396)Projects have become an important mode of organising work in many organisations and industries in response to the need to develop and deliver complex one-off goods and services and to manage change initiatives. Read moreThis module is designed to provide the theoretical and practical grounding for those working in and leading projects. The assignment includes project-based group activities to develop critical understanding of tools and techniques in practice. Academic authors
Nigel Spinks
|
20 [10 ECTS credits] |
Information systems and digital business (MM3101)Information systems are the means by which people and organisations, utilising technologies, gather, process, store, use and disseminate information. Digital business makes effective use of information systems to enable organisations to create value throughout the value chain. Read moreThis module covers key concepts, theories, techniques, and issues towards an e-enterprise. It emphasises the importance of aligning business and IT strategies through an understanding of the structure and function of information processed by IT systems from both business and technical perspectives. Academic authors
Professor Keiichi Nakata
|
20 [10 ECTS credits] |
Corporate Strategy (MM393)This module turns attention from companies with a single primary line of business to the strategies of multi-business firms, termed corporate strategy. Corporate strategy is concerned with the scope of the firm, requiring policy choices over the selection of industries and markets in which to compete. Read moreIt includes choices over diversification, vertical integration, acquisitions, and the allocation of resources among different businesses. Creating advantage at the corporate level requires differentiating from competitors rather than mimicking them, making corporate decisions in an integrated manner, and recognizing the trade-offs in organizational choices arising from the fact that multi-business firms can add value to their underlying businesses in many ways. Academic authors
Dr Angela Garcia Calvo
|
20 [10 ECTS credits] |
International Marketing (MM335)This module will introduce students to marketing in an international context. This module aims to enable students to understand the complexity and variety of factors playing a role in designing and implementing international marketing programmes. The module also aims to stimulate students' critical and independent thinking in addressing topics from a theoretical as well as an empirical perspective. Most organisations out-grow their domestic markets and are faced with challenges in opening up export opportunities and spreading their operations internationally. In an increasingly digital era, trading across geographic and political borders is ever more commonplace. While these options provide growth for organisations, they also present significant hurdles. This module discusses the reasons for operating outside the domestic market, explores the analyses necessary before selecting entry strategies and deciding on an international marketing strategy, and considers the implications for marketing operations of organisations trading across cultures. Academic authors
Melisa Mete
|
20 [10 ECTS credits] |
The Dark Side of Marketing (MM3104)The module considers exactly what it says – the dark side of marketing. Marketing is often presented as a solution to business problems. But marketing can itself cause problems for consumers. Read moreThis module focuses on exploring the conflicting, controversial and moral challenges facing marketing in specific contexts. We will be discussing the non-traditional and unspoken yet critical topics of marketing practice. Our focus areas are those having a global impact and that touch upon pretty much every individual on the planet. It is an integrative module that combines marketing with other science subjects (eg., nutrition, law and others). This module will explore marketing and its effects on consumers’ physical and mental well-being and alleged exploitation of vulnerable consumers. This module is critical, applied and contemporary. It looks at current issues and asks how you can use your marketing skills to help resolve some practical consumer and societal problems, and how marketing should be transparent, honest and true. We will explore ways to make consumer lives truly better, easier and happier. This is NOT a traditional or foundational marketing module but one that will challenge the very way you view and think about marketing. In this module we will explore marketing that you perhaps didn’t know existed. Academic authors
Dr Irute Karanicholas
|
20 [10 ECTS credits] |
Modules or course content marked as optional are indicative and may be subject to change. Please note, constraints in timetable scheduling may mean you are unable to take some optional modules at the same time as others.
Our undergraduate degrees are taught through a mix of lectures, group projects and interactive classroom lessons. This gives you the opportunity to discuss, explore and then apply the subject content in depth with your lecturers and fellow students.
Through exploring and tackling real-world challenges, you will also be able to develop your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Modules are assessed through written assignments, in-class tests, group presentations and formal examinations. This helps you graduate as a rounded individual and develops your transferable skills, which are highly sought after by leading graduate employers.
Each academic year you will be required to complete a number of compulsory and optional modules, totalling 120 credits. A typical 10 credit module requires a total of 100 hours of study. This includes contact hours with lecturers as well as independent study.
Typical offer
A Level: ABB
International Baccalaureate: 32 points overall
GCSE: Maths and English at grade B (5).
BTEC: DDD
Contextual offer
A Level: BBC
For more information on contextual offers, please visit the University of Reading webpage
Tuition fees for undergraduates at University of Reading are:
- £9,250 a year, for the full course duration, for UK if you started your undergraduate course in September 2020 onwards*.
*This fee capped for the full duration of your course.
Your fees will be fully covered by a loan from the Student Loan Company, in line with its published repayment terms and conditions.
Government Funding
UK students can get government loans to help towards their living costs, known as ‘maintenance loans’. If you choose to take out both a fees loan and a maintenance loan, these will be rolled together and repaid only after graduation through the tax system, as a proportion of your income. To find out when you will start repaying your student loan, visit the government website for the latest information.
UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes
UK/Republic of Ireland undergraduate tuition fees are regulated by the UK government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.
EU student fees
With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.
The International Undergraduate 2024/25 fee level for this programme is £22,350. There may be financial support available - consult your local British Council/Education Counselling Service.
Please see the University's financial pages for further information on international fees.
You can apply online for all of our courses via the national admissions service, UCAS.
Henley Careers
Our aim at Henley Careers is to empower and enable you to leave the Business School confident in being able to progress your career forward successfully.
We are committed to enable you to take a strong career leadership approach to your career planning. We will work with you to help you understand yourself better, as well as truly understand the obstacles and opportunities around you. Research both at Henley and other leading Business Schools shows that people who are self-reliant and usually achieve higher levels of success. We therefore encourage your job search to be driven by you and your needs, but along the way, we provide you with advice and insight regarding your strategy.
You can book a telephone or video appointment with your dedicated Careers Consultant to get support and advice for your career planning or professional development. We also hold numerous events to help you learn about different careers and develop your skills, such as Monday Night Employer Panels, Success Studios and Resilient You.
A work placement offers you an enormous range of benefits – both during your degree and beyond.
On most of our undergraduate courses you can choose to do a 9 to 12-month placement in your third year, before returning to complete your final year at the Business School. This will appear on your degree transcript and offers many of the following benefits:
- Put your learning into practice
- Enhance your CV by developing sought-after skills such as time and project management, teamwork, commercial awareness, and communication
- Build a professional network - a successful work placement can lead to the offer of a permanent role with the same organisation upon graduation
- Gain a wealth of knowledge, experience and transferable skills to set you on the right path for a successful career
- Gain insight into the real world of business
How we support you
Our dedicated placement team, who all have a background in industry and graduate recruitment, will provide you with expert advice and guidance – from helping choosing the right Industry Placement through to supporting you while working during your third year.
You will start to consider what kind of work placement you would like to pursue in your first year. Students returning from their work placement will give presentations and share their experiences with you, providing a valuable insight into what you can expect.
You will receive ongoing support during your work placement, with your tutor visiting twice during the year to discuss your experience and performance. You will also develop and agree a training plan with your placement tutor and line manager.
Work placement destinations
Recognising that the majority of our students prefer to remain in and around Reading during their placement year we work with leading graduate employers in the region.
We also encourage and support students who wish to do their placement year in London, or other cities in the UK or abroad.
Study abroad
Most undergraduate students have the opportunity to benefit from our international links and spend time studying overseas. Find out more: https://studyabroad.reading.ac.uk/outgoing/
Contact us
If you have any questions regarding Accounting, Business & Management Courses, please contact us by:
Email: UG-BMAP@henley.ac.ukTelephone: +44 (0)118 378 5058
