International Study Centre

Study Experience

Why study business and management for career success?

A student studying in class

What is business and management studies? 

Business and management studies is the study of economics and management. It covers all aspects of businesses and business processes and combines other subject areas, including:  

  • Accountancy 
  • Finance 
  • Economics 
  • Marketing 

By studying these different areas, you will gain a good understanding of how businesses work, the management skills to help with the running of businesses and the knowledge to set up your own.

Why study business and management? 

Studying business and management at university has a number of benefits: 

Develop communication skills for a global career 

You will gain key communication skills from studying business and management at university that will help advance your career. You will learn how to effectively communicate in the business world, through a range of different techniques, that will help you succeed in a global environment. From creating assignments and important documents, to developing your presentation skills, you will improve both your written and spoken communication skills. 

You will also acquire other transferable skills, useful for your career, such as: 

  • Problem solving 
  • Decision making 
  • Project management 
  • Presentation skills 
  • Numeracy 

With the range of skills and breadth of knowledge you learn while studying business and management, you will gain a complete view of how a business really works. From studying how they are formed, how they operate and how they make money, you will learn how to start your own business venture and make it successful. 

Combine your interests 

With business and management studies, you can often combine your degree with another subject, to create an education experience tailored to your own interests. Once you graduate from university, you will have the skills necessary to pursue job opportunities related to your interests. 

Open the door to a variety of opportunities 

Studying business and management studies provides a pathway to a wide range of opportunities. You will have the knowledge and skills to work a number of different industries, different job roles and different departments within an organisation – whether you are employed or run your own business. 

High earning potential 

The average starting salary for a business manager in the UK is around £24,000, with the opportunity for this to increase to £55,000+ as you gain more experience (Glassdoor 2024). As the skills you develop during a business and management degree are applicable to all industries, graduates can enjoy competitive salaries in a wide range of job opportunities. 

Business and Management graduate job prospects 

A degree in Business and Management Studies will give you access to a variety of job opportunities. Thanks to the transferrable skills you can learn and develop, you will be a desirable asset to any organisation. 

After graduation, there are a wide range of strong career prospects, with roles including: 

  • Business analyst 
  • Chartered management accountant 
  • Project manager 
  • Economist 
  • Corporate investment banker 
  • Data analyst 
  • Forensic accountant 
  • Supply chain manager 
  • Management consultant 
  • Risk manager 
  • Marketing executive 
  • Sales executive 

Why study Business and Management Studies at the University of Sussex? 

If you choose to study a business-related degree at Sussex, you will be part of the innovative University of Sussex Business School which is ranked 1st in the UK for Business and Management research income (Chartered Association of Business Schools). Here you can benefit from excellent facilities including: 

  • Flexible working spaces, including study pods and small seating areas 
  • Seminar rooms 
  • Specialist resources including a new Behavioural Lab   
  • Undergraduate social study space with computers 
  • Two postgraduate social spaces 
  • Large lecture theatres. 

Students also have access to the Bloomberg Financial Markets Lab, located in the Business School, and to Thomson Reuters service platforms. This allows you to take part in real-time financial and trading simulations supervised by academic and industry experts.  

The University of Sussex is ranked 14th in the UK for Business and Economics (Times Higher Education World University Rankings by subject 2024). By studying Business and Management at Sussex, you will be in a fantastic position for future career success. You will be joining a multicultural community taught by academics experienced in delivering lectures to a diverse audience. 

Studying Business and Management at Sussex will allow you to develop key career skills and confidence with the opportunity for a professional placement that will see you working in the industry for a year. 

Outside the classroom, you will be able to join the University’s StartUp Sussex programme. You can receive guidance on developing business ideas, access to workshops and even the chance to receive funding for your own startup. You can also join the University’s Business Society, where you can meet and network with fellow business students. 

The University of Sussex Business School is a member of the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS), and the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD). 

Degree preparation at the International Study Centre  

You can study business and management with a pathway programme at the International Study Centre. Here you can prepare to study for a business and management-related degree and develop the key academic, study and English language skills you will need at university. 

If you would benefit from extra English language and academic skills support before beginning your undergraduate degree, the International Foundation Year in Business, Accounting and Economics or the Extended International Year One in Business and Management are great places to start. Both programmes have a strong focus on preparing you to succeed in a university environment before you progress to the first year of your undergraduate degree at the University of Sussex. 

If you are ready to start your undergraduate degree in Business and Management, the International Year One in Business and Management is the programme for you. Equivalent to the first year of your undergraduate degree, the programme offers a mix of English language and academic skills development, to prepare you to progress to the second year of your degree at the University of Sussex. 

The Pre-Masters Programme in Business, Management and Finance provides a route to a variety of related postgraduate degrees at the University of Sussex. The programme is for those who already have an undergraduate degree and want to start a postgraduate degree but would benefit from extra support before doing so. Offering a mix of subject-specific and compulsory core modules, the Pre-Masters programme will prepare you to succeed in a Masters degree at the University of Sussex. 

Find out more about the entry requirements, fees and visa information for the pathway programmes at the University of Sussex International Study Centre. 

Kelu Hu from China

“The School of Business, Management and Economics building is pretty awesome with advanced technology devices and first-class expertise, and the campus is really beautiful.”

Kelu Hu from China studied International Year One Business and Management

Degree options at the University of Sussex  

There are a variety of degrees you can study at the University of Sussex once you have completed the relevant pathway at the International Study Centre. 

Undergraduate degrees 

Degree progression from the International Foundation Year: 

  • Accounting and Finance BSc 
  • Accounting and Finance (with a professional placement year) BSc 
  • Finance BSc 
  • Finance (with a professional placement year) BSc 
  • Finance and Business BSc (Hons) 
  • Finance and Business (with a professional placement year) BSc (Hons) 
  • Business and Management Studies BSc 
  • Business and Management Studies (with a professional placement year) BSc 
  • International Business BSc 
  • International Business (with a professional placement year) BSc 
  • Marketing and Management BSc 
  • Marketing and Management (with a professional placement year) BSc 
  • Marketing and Management with Psychology BSc 
  • Marketing and Management with Psychology (with a professional placement year) BSc 
  • Economics BA 
  • Economics (with a professional placement year) BA 
  • Economics BSc 
  • Economics (with a professional placement year) BSc 
  • Economics and Finance BSc 
  • Economics and International Development BA 
  • Economics and International Relations BA 
  • Economics and Management Studies BSc 
  • Economics and Politics BA 

Degree progression from the International Year One: 

  • Business and Management Studies BSc (Hons) 
  • Business and Management Studies (with a professional placement year) BSc (Hons) 
  • International Business BSc (Hons) 
  • International Business (with a professional placement year) BSc (Hons) 
  • Marketing and Management BSc (Hons) 
  • Marketing and Management (with a professional placement year) BSc (Hons) 

Postgraduate degrees 

Degree progression from the Pre-Masters Programme: 

  • Banking and Finance MSc 
  • Development Economics MSc 
  • Economics MSc 
  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation MSc 
  • Global Supply Chain and Logistics Management MSc 
  • Human Resource Management MSc 
  • International Accounting and Corporate Governance MSc 
  • International Business Economics MSc 
  • International Finance and Economics MSc 
  • International Management MSc 
  • International Marketing MSc 
  • Management and Finance MSc 
  • Management MSc 
  • Marketing and Consumer Psychology MSc 
  • Project Management MSc 
  • Strategic Innovation Management MSc 

FAQs 

What is the study of business and management? 

The study of business and management focuses on organisational operations, including leadership, decision-making, marketing, finance, and human resources. 

Is a business and management degree worth it? 

 Yes, it offers versatile career opportunities, leadership skills and a strong foundation for entrepreneurship or corporate success. 

How hard is business and management? 

Studying business and management can be challenging as it requires analytical thinking and problem-solving skills. However, the development of these skills will make you stand out when looking for a graduate job.