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Studying the Business Studies with Pathways degree means you have the choice to specialise in one of6 key areas. These specialist areas (or pathways) are: Accounting, Data Analytics, Enterprise,Human Resource Management,Marketing, and Sustainability.Or, due to the flexible nature of this degree, you can opt to study a range of modules from across these subject areas, in addition to your core modules, to give you a broader understanding of global business.
This degree therefore gives you the freedom to shape your studies around your personal interests and career goals. You'll also benefit from high-quality work opportunities - either locally or abroad - thanks to our strong industry connections across the North-West and beyond, many of which have a global footprint. Combined with the chance to live, work, or study internationally, this degree equips you with the specialist knowledge, experience, and global perspective needed to become a future leader in international business.
We know that choosing to study at university is a big decision, and you may not always be able to find the information you need online.
Please contact Ulster University with any queries or questions you might have about:
For any queries regarding getting help with your application, please select Admissions in the drop down below.
For queries related to course content, including modules and placements, please select Course specific information.
We look forward to hearing from you.
When you study Business Studies with Pathways you have the flexibility to specialise in one of 6 core disciplines (Accounting, Data Analytics, Enterprise, Human Resource Management, Marketing or Sustainability), alongside your core modules, allowing you to shape and develop your own career and professional aspirations. Alternatively, you can choose from a mix of these subject areas should you have an interest in more than one of these specialisms.
In addition to gaining exposure to a range of innovative modules and subject pathways, you will have the option to develop language proficiency or study abroad through partner institutions.
The Department of Global Business and Enterprise also have strong connections to industry throughout the North-West arena and further afield. This provides you with opportunities to work at home, or abroad should you prefer, allowing you to experience other cultures and business practices, and gain valuable hands-on experience in an internationally focused environment.
In addition to equipping you with specialist knowledge and industry experience, throughout your degree you will also develop core skills such as creative thinking, project management, strategic planning, problem solving and interpersonal skills and general management skills, all of which will set you up for success as a future business leader.
Our graduates consistently go on to develop highly professional and successful careers in their chosen fields or continue with postgraduate study in business and other related master's programmes to further their learning.
Students undertaking this course will receive dedicated guidance and support throughout their first year, after which they will choose their specialist pathway from the options available each academic year, determined by student demand to provide a positive student experience.
This is a part-time course where students can take up to seven years (without placement) to complete the programme. It is possible to fully complete the programme within five years. You will normally complete four modules per year, with class contact time approximately three hours per week per module. You will be expected to undertake independent study to supplement that contact of around 10 hours per week per module. You will have 6-7 class contact hours per week on the Derry~Londonderry campus.
In this programme, a blended learning approach is adopted and a varied and stimulating mix of learning and teaching methods are embedded in modules to enhance knowledge and understanding, as well as provide opportunities for students to apply their skills. Examples of these include:
These methods advance a range of wider skills required for employment including written and oral communication skills, leadership skills, teamwork skills, negotiation skills, project planning and management skills, presentation skills, problem analysis and decision making skills and increase self-awareness. Moreover, these will provide important opportunities for students to engage with both their peers and their tutors.
Assessments are open, flexible and based on the learning outcomes outlined for each module. Learning will be assessed through a combination of both individual and group coursework as well as individual examinations (where appropriate). Assessment has been designed to reflect the need for inclusivity of varying student abilities. Assessment taken at each level of study demonstrates progression and expands on the knowledge and skills developed at the previous level. It is expected that all learning outcomes will be achieved by all student participants and where required, students will receive additional support in the form of reasonable adjustments. Any adjustments will be tailored to the individual’s requirements and best interests of the student participant.
Examples of assessment can include a range of assessment types, including digital assessment, oral assessment and written assessment.
The content for each course is summarised on the relevant course page, along with an overview of the modules that make up the course.
Each course is approved by the University and meets the expectations of:
As part of your course induction, you will be provided with details of the organisation and management of the course, including attendance and assessment requirements - usually in the form of a timetable. For full-time courses, the precise timetable for each semester is not confirmed until close to the start date and may be subject to some change in the early weeks as all courses settle into their planned patterns. For part-time courses which require attendance on particular days and times, an expectation of the days and periods of attendance will be included in the letter of offer. A course handbook is also made available.
Courses comprise modules for which the notional effort involved is indicated by its credit rating. Each credit point represents 10 hours of student effort. Undergraduate courses typically contain 10, 20, or 40 credit modules (more usually 20) and postgraduate courses typically 15 or 30 credit modules.
The normal study load expectation for an undergraduate full-time course of study in the standard academic year is 120 credit points. This amounts to around 36-42 hours of expected teaching and learning per week, inclusive of attendance requirements for lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical work, fieldwork or other scheduled classes, private study, and assessment. Teaching and learning activities will be in-person and/or online depending on the nature of the course. Part-time study load is the same as full-time pro-rata, with each credit point representing 10 hours of student effort.
Postgraduate Master’s courses typically comprise 180 credits, taken in three semesters when studied full-time. A Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) comprises 60 credits and can usually be completed on a part-time basis in one year. A 120-credit Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) can usually be completed on a part-time basis in two years.
Class contact times vary by course and type of module. Typically, for a module predominantly delivered through lectures you can expect at least 3 contact hours per week (lectures/seminars/tutorials). Laboratory classes often require a greater intensity of attendance in blocks. Some modules may combine lecture and laboratory. The precise model will depend on the course you apply for and may be subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. Prospective students will be consulted about any significant changes.
Assessment methods vary and are defined explicitly in each module. Assessment can be a combination of examination and coursework but may also be only one of these methods. Assessment is designed to assess your achievement of the module’s stated learning outcomes. You can expect to receive timely feedback on all coursework assessments. This feedback may be issued individually and/or issued to the group and you will be encouraged to act on this feedback for your own development.
Coursework can take many forms, for example: essay, report, seminar paper, test, presentation, dissertation, design, artefacts, portfolio, journal, group work. The precise form and combination of assessment will depend on the course you apply for and the module. Details will be made available in advance through induction, the course handbook, the module specification, the assessment timetable and the assessment brief. The details are subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.
Normally, a module will have 4 learning outcomes, and no more than 2 items of assessment. An item of assessment can comprise more than one task. The notional workload and the equivalence across types of assessment is standardised. The module pass mark for undergraduate courses is 40%. The module pass mark for postgraduate courses is 50%.
The class of Honours awarded in Bachelor’s degrees is usually determined by calculation of an aggregate mark based on performance across the modules at Levels 5 and 6, (which correspond to the second and third year of full-time attendance).
Level 6 modules contribute 70% of the aggregate mark and Level 5 contributes 30% to the calculation of the class of the award. Classification of integrated Master’s degrees with Honours include a Level 7 component. The calculation in this case is: 50% Level 7, 30% Level 6, 20% Level 5. At least half the Level 5 modules must be studied at the University for Level 5 to be included in the calculation of the class.
All other qualifications have an overall grade determined by results in modules from the final level of study.
In Masters degrees of more than 200 credit points the final 120 points usually determine the overall grading.
Figures from the academic year 2022-2023.
All lecturing staff within the Department of Global Business and Enterprise are Fellows/Senior Fellows of the Higher Education Academy.
The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 60% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.
Courses are taught by staff who are Professors (19%), Readers, Senior Lecturers (22%) or Lecturers (57%).
We require most academic staff to be qualified to teach in higher education: 82% hold either Postgraduate Certificates in Higher Education Practice or higher. Most academic and learning support staff (85%) are recognised as fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) by Advance HE - the university sector professional body for teaching and learning. Many academic and technical staff hold other professional body designations related to their subject or scholarly practice.
The profiles of many academic staff can be found on the University’s departmental websites and give a detailed insight into the range of staffing and expertise. The precise staffing for a course will depend on the department(s) involved and the availability and management of staff. This is subject to change annually and is confirmed in the timetable issued at the start of the course.
Occasionally, teaching may be supplemented by suitably qualified part-time staff (usually qualified researchers) and specialist guest lecturers. In these cases, all staff are inducted, mostly through our staff development programme ‘First Steps to Teaching’. In some cases, usually for provision in one of our out-centres, Recognised University Teachers are involved, supported by the University in suitable professional development for teaching.
Figures from the academic year 2022-2023.
Optional modules are reviewed on a Programme each year and we may change the options available to you, to reflect our staff expertise, changes in Programme requirements or to reflect feedback that we have received from other Students, employers or other interested parties.
If your Programme contains optional modules, you will be provided with a list of these in good time so that you can choose the options right for you each year. Sometimes, we may not be able to run a particular optional module because not enough Students sign up for it or because a member of staff is not available to teach a module. Where this may be the case, we will let you know when you are provided with your option choices, and you will be able to choose an alternative if one of your selected modules does not run.
Ulster University is situated in the heart of Derry~Londonderry, the capital of the North West. Located where the Wild Atlantic Way meets the Causeway Coastal route, and only a short distance from idyllic County Donegal.
Explore the spaces, studios and social areas you'll use while studying at our Derry~Londonderry campus. Prefer to explore at your own pace? Take the 360° virtual campus tour.
Derry~Londonderry offers a city location with a friendly vibe. Impressive, historic buildings such as our iconic Martha Magee building blend perfectly with our modern state-of-the-art teaching blocks and library facilities, including our School of Medicine.
Our Sports Yard that sits alongside the School of Health Sciences provides active spaces and an indoor gym and studios to enhance student wellbeing and experience in Derry~Londonderry.
The City of Derry is famous for its festivals, including the Foyle Film Festival, Halloween celebrations, Maritime Festival, and Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival. The vibrant nightlife - recognised with Purple Flag status for being safe and welcoming - is complemented by a wide range of cultural venues and activities, and the city’s fame has spread thanks to the popular TV show Derry Girls. Alongside being one of the most affordable places to live in the UK, the friendliness of the people of Derry~Londonderry will make your student experience truly ‘Legenderry’.
Dive deeper into the places, services and virtual experiences that will shape your student life in Derry~Londonderry.
We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.
The entry conditions below apply to applicants presenting qualifications from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland or Great Britain.
The General Entrance Requirements identify the minimum qualifications needed for application to a course at Ulster University. The minimum required for any programmes is a minimum of passes in five subjects, two of which must be at A level (grades A-E) or equivalent (three at A Level for full-time undergraduate courses) and three at GCSE level* (grades A-C/4-9) or equivalent. We may also take into account relevant work experience.
Ulster are also more than happy to accept different combinations of qualifications, e.g. An A-Level, and two BTECs, or three individual OCR or BTEC qualifications, provided the individual qualifications are accepted and are of the correct size we ask for.
The traditional two ‘A’ levels are not normally a prerequisite for participation in this course.
If you are a mature applicant who lacks formal academic qualifications, you may be admitted to the course if you can satisfy the Course Committee of your ability to complete the course satisfactorily.
GCSE Profile to include Mathematics with a minimum Grade C or accepted equivalent qualification.
GCSE Profile to include English Language with a minimum Grade C or accepted equivalent qualification.
The Course Committee can consider exemption for up to 240 credit points within the programme at level four (equivalent to Year 1 of the full time Honours degree) or level five (equivalent to Year 2). Exemption is granted on the basis of recent, relevant study. The programme is fully compliant with the University’s Credit accumulation and transfer system (CATS) and students are eligible to transfer to other relevant programmes.
What exemptions can I get?
Based on previous successfully completed accredited learning (completed within the previous 9 years) students can seek exemption from up to 2/3 of the programme. The Course Director of the programme can advise candidates as to the eligibility of their accredited course.
How do I apply for exemptions?
When accepted on the Course you are asked to complete an exemptions form, which is reviewed by the Course Director and exemptions are then agreed during the Induction process.
Graduates from this course are now working for:
With this degree you could become:
This degree is designed to equip you with the knowledge, mindset, and experience to lead in today’s global, digital, and diverse business world. With a strong emphasis on sustainability, global citizenship, and professional development, you'll build key attributes like adaptability, creativity, and resilience.
You’ll gain industry insights through modern learning environments, employer engagement, and career planning support - helping you graduate with the confidence and capability to thrive in both regional and international business settings. Graduates are well-prepared for leadership roles, as well as further study or research in related fields.
You may also proceed to postgraduate study or research in related areas. Throughout your degree you will be supported and encouraged to reflect on career choices and plan your graduate career path through employer engagement, career fairs and careers staff counsel and advice amongst others.
Work Placement/Study Abroad is an optional year for students on this programme.
In this programme there is a strong emphasis on the delivery of a quality work-based learning experience and development of graduate employability skills for students. Specifically, this programme provides opportunities to engage with Work-based Learning through the optional placement in Year 3 for full-time students.
You can opt to complete a study abroad year, a year-long paid placement with local or international employers, or by seeking your own enterprise entrepreneurship placement. These options provide you with an opportunity to focus on your skills development and apply your learning and understanding of business from the taught modules. Assessment in the placement year allows you to reflect on both your work-based skills development and learning experience whilst demonstrating impact on the host company, organisation or institution.
Satisfactory completion of the placement year will lead to the award of the Diploma in Professional Practice or Diploma in Professional Practice (International) if you complete your work placement internationally. With the option to study abroad for a year; satisfactory completion of a study abroad year will lead to the award of the Diploma in International Academic Studies.
The price of your overall programme will be determined by the number of credit points that you initiate in the relevant academic year.
For modules commenced in the academic year 2026/27, the following fees apply:
| Credit Points | NI/ROI Cost | GB Cost | International Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | £41.54 | £81.58 | £145.75 |
| 10 | £415 | £816 | £1,458 |
| 20 | £831 | £1,632 | £2,915 |
| 30 | £1246 | £2,447 | £4,373 |
| 60 | £2,492 | £4,895 | £8,745 |
| 120 | £4,985 | £9,790 | £17,490 |
A standard full-time undergraduate degree is equivalent to 120 credit points per year.
*Please note our on campus part-time undergraduate courses are not open to international (non-EU) students.
Fees illustrated are based on academic year 26/27 entry and are subject to an annual increase.
If your study continues into future academic years your fees are subject to an annual increase. Please take this into consideration when you estimate your total fees for a degree.
Additional mandatory costs are highlighted where they are known in advance. There are other costs associated with university study.
Visit our Fees pages for full details of fees.
Correct at the time of publishing. Terms and conditions apply.
Student achievements on the BSc Hons Business Studies with Pathways will be recognised by a number of prizes and awards.
See if you can access financial or other forms of support, including mentorship to excel in your studies.
It is important to remember that costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges) and normal living will need to be covered in addition to tuition fees.
Where a course has additional mandatory expenses (in addition to tuition fees) we make every effort to highlight them above. We aim to provide students with the learning materials needed to support their studies. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. Computer suites and free Wi-Fi are also available on each of the campuses.
There are additional fees for examination resits and library fines. Where a graduation ceremony is part of your course, please be aware that additional fees will apply.
Students choosing a period of paid work placement or study abroad as a part of their course should be aware that there may be additional travel and living costs, as well as tuition fees.
See the tuition fees on our student guide for most up to date costs.
Ulster continues to develop and support sustainability initiatives with our staff, students, and external partners across various aspects of teaching, research, professional services operations, and governance.
At Ulster every person, course, research project, and professional service area on every campus either does or can contribute in some way towards the global sustainability and climate change agenda.
We are guided by both our University Strategy People, Place and Partnerships: Delivering Sustainable Futures for All and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Our work in this area is already being recognised globally. Most recently by the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact rating where we were recognised as Joint 5th Globally for Outreach Activities and Joint Top 20 Globally for Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnership for the Goals.
Visit our Sustainability at Ulster destination to learn more about how the University strategy and the activities of Ulster University support each of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Ulster University Business School (UUBS) aims to be a thought-leader for sustainable business futures.
Our mission is to embolden staff, students and all our stakeholders to become sustainable business futures leaders. We aim to support and showcase sustainability research and education across Ulster University Business School.
We do so by embedding the sustainable futures agenda into five remits: sustainability performance, research and knowledge exchange, learning and teaching, student experience and communications and engagement. We are a member of PRME – the Principles for Responsible Management Education concordat.
Contact: uubssustainability@ulster.ac.uk
We support and develop ‘Education for Sustainable Development’ within the Faculty’s Learning & teaching portfolio. We do so by providing bespoke staff training on ESD and curating an ESD Resources Hub.
All UUBS undergraduate and post-graduate course are mapped against the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and students are actively involved in learning for sustainable development.
We seek to enhance the student experience by encouraging our students to become actively involved in sustainability initiatives, such as Carbon Literacy Training, the Big Spring Clean and collaborating with the Northern Ireland Resource Network.
We develop, support and disseminate sustainability-themed research within the Faculty and beyond. Our annual sustainability research networking event creates new research strands within the Faculty’s research portfolio.
We actively support out PhD community to embed sustainability in their research and provide training on methods and critical thinking on sustainability.
We partner with other institutions, such as Queen’s University Belfast and Atlantic Technological University to broaden our sustainability research and create interdisciplinary research links.
UUBS has a dedicated Sustainability Committee, tasked with developing dedicated internal and external communications and engagement activities promoting the sustainability work of the Faculty.
We host an annual Sustainability Business Breakfast, attend and speak at notable sustainability events, such as the SustainExchange Summit, the Belfast Re[Act] Festival and the NI Science Festival.
Our sustainability work is monitored on our bespoke UUBS SDG Dashboard on our dedicated UUBS sustainability webpages. Our sustainability performance team oversees the Faculty’s Academy Restaurant’s Green Academy programme and associated eco-certifications Green Key and Green Tourism Gold Award.
1. We prepare our prospectus and online information about our courses with care and every effort is made to ensure that the information is accurate. The printed version of the prospectus is, however, published at least a year before the courses begin. Information included in the prospectus may, therefore, change. This includes, but is not limited to changes to the terms, content, delivery, location, method of assessments or lengths of the courses described. Not all circumstances are foreseeable, but changes will normally be made for one of the following reasons:
2. If there are insufficient enrolments to make a course viable, it may be necessary for the University to withdraw a course. If you have received an offer for a course that we subsequently have to close, we will contact you as soon as possible to discuss alternative courses. If you do not wish to study any alternative courses at the University, you may withdraw your application by informing us by email to admissions@ulster.ac.uk.
3. Please note that the University’s website is the most up-to-date source of information regarding courses, campuses and facilities and we strongly recommend that you always visit the website before making any commitments.
4. We will include a durable PDF when we send you an offer letter which will highlight any changes made to our prospectus or online information about our courses. You should read this carefully and ensure you fully understand what you are agreeing to before accepting a place on one of our courses.
5. The University will always try to deliver the course as described in the durable PDF you receive with your offer letter.
6. At any point after an offer has been made, students will be notified of any course changes in writing (usually by email) as soon as reasonably practicable and we will take all reasonable steps to minimise their impact where possible. The University will, where possible and reasonably practicable, seek the express consent of the student in regard to any changes concerning material or pre-contract information.
7. The University website will be updated to reflect the changed course information as soon as reasonably practicable.
8. If, after due consideration, you decide that you no longer want to study your course or to study at the University because of the changes, you may withdraw your application or terminate your contract with the University. In order to do so, you should notify us in writing by emailing admissions@ulster.ac.uk (and update UCAS if applicable). We will, on request, recommend alternative courses that you could study with us, or suggest a suitable course at an alternative higher education provider.
9. If you do not agree that the changes are fair, you can seek redress under the Student Complaints Procedures.
10. Providing the University has complied with the requirements of all applicable consumer protection laws, the University does not accept responsibility for the consequences of any modification, relocation or cancellation of any course, or part of a course, offered by the University. The University will give due and proper consideration to the effects thereof on individual students and take the steps necessary to minimise the impact of such effects on those affected.
11. The University is not liable for disruption to its provision of educational or other services caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control providing it takes all reasonable steps to minimise the resultant disruption to such services.
12. The published Academic Calendar sets out the University’s standard teaching, assessment, and vacation periods. These dates do not apply to all programmes. Individual programmes may operate different start dates, teaching periods, assessment schedules, or vacation arrangements, and some may include teaching or assessment outside the standard University terms. This is particularly common for programmes with professional accreditation requirements, clinical or practice‑based teaching, placements, fieldwork, or intensive study blocks. Full‑time 12‑month programmes, particularly postgraduate taught courses, may operate across the full academic year and typically continue through the summer period without a standard vacation break.
Applicants and students should not rely solely on the central academic calendar when making decisions about accommodation, travel, employment, or other commitments. Programme‑specific schedules will normally be confirmed in programme information, offer documentation and programme handbooks.
The University takes reasonable steps to ensure the accuracy of published information but reserves the right to make changes where reasonably necessary, including to maintain academic standards or to comply with regulatory or professional requirements. Where changes materially affect students, the University will take reasonable steps to notify affected students and applicants in advance where possible.
13. Further information can be found in our terms and conditions.
The full Student Terms and Conditions is now available.
