The chance to be taught by lecturers and tutors who have been in the world of business first-hand creates a pleasant learning environment; something I feel could not be matched by other business schools.
The Business and Retail Management degree at Surrey was introduced in 1989, one of the first of its type. The degree has been designed to equip you with essential management skills, together with the specialist knowledge of the retail industry that you will need for a successful career.
Retailing is a dynamic industry, consisting of multiple sectors such as food, fashion, consumer goods, financial services and leisure, which include some of the largest companies in the world. This degree aims to provide you with the skills and knowledge required to be a successful retail business specialist (for example, retail analyst, retail buyer, brand communication manager or project manager). You will gain an excellent business education and the specialist approach needed for your chosen career. The programme is based around a core of business and management subjects, combined with industry-related retail modules.
In addition to studying a range of key business and management topics, you will study specialist areas that will develop your understanding of the working realities of retail management, operations and relevant retail concepts. You will learn to apply and evaluate appropriate techniques and frameworks that lie at the heart of successful retailing.
The programme consists of compulsory and optional modules which you study to earn credits towards your final degree. You will study for 120 credits per level, where each of the modules is worth 15 credits.
In Year 1, all of the modules are compulsory. They will enable you to develop fundamental and retail-specific management skills and knowledge. A compulsory module, fundamental to management, such as Business Communication Skills, looks at a wide range of communication channels at work and how we interact with people and organisations effectively using modern technology. A retail-specific compulsory module, such as The Retail Industry, facilitates your understanding of the fundamentals of retail activity.
Compulsory modules:
In Years 2 and 3, you will study a combination of compulsory modules based on fundamental management topics, such as Consumer Behaviour and Business Strategy, and retail management-specific topics such as Managing Retail Locations and Retail Buying. You will be able to choose from a wide selection of optional modules based on a variety of management topics, including marketing, entrepreneurship, finance and international trade.
Compulsory modules:
Two optional modules
The optional Professional Training placement year allows you to consolidate the management education you have acquired and provides a platform to build on when you return to your studies. It gives you a valuable opportunity to put your management learning into practice in real organisations in the UK, with some placements available overseas. We have partnerships with companies such as Marks & Spencer, House of Fraser, Debenhams, John Lewis Partnership, Waitrose, Fortnum and Mason, and Majestic Wine Warehouses.
Compulsory modules:
Four optional modules
Optional modules in Years 2 and 3 include:
We are one of only 14 business schools in the UK to hold accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the Association of MBAs (AMBA).
The optional Professional Training placement year allows you to consolidate the management education you have acquired and provides a platform to build on when you return to your studies. It gives you a valuable opportunity to put your management learning into practice in real organisations in the UK, with some placements available overseas.
We have partnerships with companies such as Marks & Spencer, House of Fraser, Debenhams, John Lewis Partnership, Waitrose, Fortnum and Mason, and Majestic Wine Warehouses.
Each of our modules is designed to involve 150 hours of student work. This time will be spent in lectures, laboratories and tutorials, and includes private study on your own or in small study groups. You will also write essays and assignments that draw on your understanding of a particular area.
Our staff members are innovative in delivering engaging learning sessions that bring together theory and practice for your intellectual and professional development.
There is great demand for our Business and Retail Management students. Thanks to a degree programme that examines the most up-to-date issues in retail commerce, ample opportunities to learn from and interact with ‘real’ retail practitioners and the work experience gained during the Professional Training placement year, many of our students have undertaken successful careers within the retail sector. Our graduates are working in areas ranging from marketing and PR, buying and merchandising, and consumer analysis to supply chain, store operations and location planning.
Others have gone into banking, accounting and consulting. Overall, graduates of this degree have proven to be highly employable across a wide range of organisations, not just limited to retail.
Graduates over the last few years entered employment with organisations such as:
Come to one of our Open Days, when you can tour the campus, speak to students and academic staff, see our student accommodation and ask as many questions as you like. In the meantime, order a personal prospectus – tailored to only include the subjects that interest you.
GCSE English Language at grade C or above and GCSE Mathematics at grade B or above (or equivalent).
Offers are normally made in terms of grades. Suitable candidates will be invited to an Applicant Day. During the visit to the University the candidate can find out more about the programme and meet staff and students.
Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 6.5 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill (or equivalent).
We offer intensive English language pre-sessional courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
| Award | Course Length | Professional Training | UCAS code | KIS code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSc (Hons) | 3 years | N240 | View KIS data set | |
| BSc (Hons) | 4 years | N240 | View KIS data set |
We offer a range of bursaries, scholarships and other financial support.
See course information for students applying to start in September 2013.
Phone: +44 (0)1483 681 681
