Business and Retail Management 2012
"The quality of teaching in the specialist retail areas such as location management and international retailing is second to none."
Chris Gallon
The Business and Retail Management degree at Surrey was introduced in 1989 as one of the first of its type to be developed. 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.
In addition to studying a range of key business and management topics, you will have the opportunity to study a range of specialist topics that will enable you to develop an 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.
Factfile
| Minimum Entry Requirements | A level grades AAB All applicants should also adhere to the University's General Entrance Requirements. |
|---|---|
| Required Subjects | GCSE Mathematics grade B (or equivalent). |
| English Language Requirements | An IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent with no less than 6.0 in any component for non-native-English-speaking applicants. Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre. |
| Other Suitable Qualifications | BTEC National Diploma - DDD Other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis. |
| Selection Process | Offers are usually made in terms of grades. We do not include General Studies in our offers. We invite suitable candidates to visit the University to find out more about the programme and meet staff and students. |
Degrees
Degree Programme
BSc (Hons) Degree
| Degree | UCAS code | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| * Programme includes a professional training year | ||
| BSc (Hons) Business and Retail Management | N240 | 3/4* years |
Degrees
Degree Programme
BSc (Hons) Degree
| Degree | UCAS code | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| * Programme includes a professional training year | ||
| BSc (Hons) Business and Retail Management | N240 | 3/4* years |
Our Degree
Retailing is a dynamic industry, consisting of sectors such as food, fashion, consumer goods, financial services and leisure, which comprise some of the largest companies in Europe. This degree aims to provide you with the skills and knowledge required to be a successful retail business 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 your first year, you will be given an introduction to the retail industry. You will also be introduced to the complexities involved in managing a large-scale retail business. As you progress, you will learn about the importance of store location and its significance in the performance of retail stores. You will develop an understanding of the logistics involved in getting products to consumers and the importance of retail buyers in this process.
In your final year you will develop an understanding of international retailing and the marketing challenges faced by organisations operating on a global platform. This knowledge, combined with the awareness and skills you will develop in measuring performance, the role of branding, pricing strategy, quality control and consumer behaviour, is aimed to ensure that you can become an effective retail manager.
We are the only business school in the world to hold simultaneous accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Other degrees you may be interested in:
Accounting and Finance
Business Management*
International Business Management
International Hospitality Management
International Hospitality and Tourism Management
Tourism Management
* Programme also offered as a joint degree with French, German, Spanish or English.
Programme
Programme Overview
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.
At Level 1 all of the modules are compulsory and languages can be studied as optional modules. The compulsory modules 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.
At Level 2 and Level 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 business, entrepreneurship, finance and international trade.
Programme Structure
Level 1
Core modules:
- Business Communication Skills
- The Retail Industry
- Operations Management
- Business Environment
- Business Information Skills
- Retail Operations
- Introduction to Accounting
- Marketing Principles
- Optional language modules
Level 2
Compulsory modules:
- Managing Retail Locations
- International Fashion Marketing
- Business Finance
- Business Delivery Skills
- Consumer Behaviour
- Managing Organisations and Human Resources
- Two optional modules
Level P
- Optional professional training year
Level 3
Compulsory modules:
- Business Strategy
- Retail Buying
- Retail Logistics
- International Retailing
- Four optional modules
Optional modules at Levels 2 and 3 are chosen from topics in the following areas:
- Finance
- Marketing
- Retail management
- Human resource management
- Entrepreneurship
- Operations management
- International trade
- Languages
Professional Training
The optional professional training year allows you to consolidate the management education you have acquired and provides a platform on which you can build when you return to your studies. It gives a valuable opportunity to put your management learning into practice in real organisations in the UK, with some placements available overseas.
The School of Management has many years’ experience of helping students secure 1-year paid placements appropriate to their degree programme or career direction and has partnerships with a range of excellent companies, such as House of Fraser, John Lewis Partnership, Waitrose, Fortnum and Mason, and Majestic Wine Warehouses.
Why Surrey?
Key reasons to study Business and Retail Management 2012 at Surrey
- One of the leading centres in retail management education in the UK, with expertise in a variety of areas
- An excellent reputation in the retail industry
- A truly international and multicultural environment in which to learn
- Close proximity to London, one of the world's leading retail and marketing centres
- Professional placements with leading UK and overseas companies
- Academic staff with excellent retail industry experience
- Dedicated student support networks and services
- Integrated technology is utilised to enhance your learning
- International student exchange opportunities around the globe
- A strong entrepreneurial culture is encouraged throughout our programmes
Careers
Top for Jobs
Graduates over the last few years entered employment with organisations such as:
- Fortnum and Mason, London – Customer Services Supervisor
- Nestlé - Insight Manager
- Sainsbury's - Insight Executive, Competitor and Market Intelligence
- Tesco - Site Research Analyst
- McKinsey & Company – Junior Analyst
- Mothercare – Buyer
- Topshop – Merchandising Administrative Assistant
- Resource Solutions – Recruitment Consultant
- Schindler – Marketing and Sales Assistant
Career Opportunities
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 business and retail management and the work experience gained during the professional training year, many of our students have undertaken successful careers within the retail sector in marketing and PR, buying and merchandising, supply chain, store operations, location planning and consumer analysis.
Other graduates 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.
More
Teaching
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.