Business Management

Students are employed by an organisation throughout their course and combine full-time studies with the immediate application of work-based learning activities to connect their learning to their roles. Modules are undertaken sequentially rather than in parallel and all contribute to individual meta-skills development.

Year 1

Developing knowledge and academic skills to identify and understand the business environment in which organisations operate, purposes, structures, functions, governance, legal implications, core values and ethics, role of HR, introduction to financial and management accounting and application to business scenarios.

Year 2

Widening appreciation and analysis skills to determine scope of management operations, business development, marketing and sales, operational strategies, principles of procurement, significance of collaboration in supply chain management, key sources of finance, basic economic principles and applications to practical business situations.

Year 3

Increasing abilities to critically analyse management practices: project management within organisations, purpose, tools and techniques, risk and compliance management, practice of learning and development, digital business and data analysis, principles of cybersecurity and management of IT systems.

Year 4

Undertaking extended research and critique of a specialist area of management in a work-based and business related topic, relevant to their sector and organisation, impact of external environmental forces on contemporary strategic thinking, strategic decision-making in specific organisational settings, principal concepts of innovation, drivers within business, society and economy.

Student stories

Hear from our students and graduates about their experiences studying this course:

Learning Methods

Our Graduate Apprenticeship courses are designed to meet the national frameworks developed by Skills Development Scotland, the subject frameworks of the QAA and the skill and knowledge areas identified as crucial by industry.

To be eligible for this course students must be recruited/employed by a partner employer of the university.

Activity Summary

This course is delivered through supported online study using our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), CampusMoodle. CampusMoodle offers the flexibility of where and when students choose to study and gives them full open access to tutors and other class members. Students will have the benefit of being part of a group of learners with the invaluable opportunity of participating in active, group-related learning within a supportive online community setting. The online campus provides course materials which include:

• Online activities
• Discussion forums - student and tutor led
• Up-to-date web technology for delivery methods
• User friendly material

There will be on-campus workshops scheduled during your course of study providing the opportunity to grow your professional network, share insights and experiences and engage with staff in the campus setting.

• Webinars: 20 (may increase to 40) students per group for up to 2 hours per week over 9 weeks 
• Tutorial: online activities for 3 hours per week per module
• Project supervision: As agreed between student and supervisor
• Practical class or workshop: 20 (may increase to 40) students for 1 full day once per module
• Independent study: 3 hours online or reading per week per module
• Ongoing work based learning with Workplace Mentor

Online delivery using VLE for Blackboard Collaborate sessions for up to 2 hours per week along with additional enhancement materials. 

Modules are 10 weeks in length running sequentially for 40 weeks (4 x modules per year) and do not adhere to the traditional term calendar.

Independent Study

Most independent study will be done with the employer in the workplace, however students have full access to library, labs, and support services.

Staff Delivering on This Course

Academic staff who teach on this course have worked in a range of professional backgrounds, are ‘business-connected’ and use professional networks and their academic research to ensure teaching is professionally relevant and cutting edge.

Our staff have either achieved Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, or are working towards this. This is a professional recognition of lecturer practice, impact and leadership in teaching and learning. In addition, many have featured in the annual Support and Teaching staff with Appreciation and Recognition (STAR) awards voted by the students and organised by RGU:Union.

Employers assign a Workplace Mentor whose role will be to oversee the work based learning undertaken by the student. In addition to mentoring support for students, supplementary support may be provided by the employer, for example when subject matter experts are brought in to provide specific business or technical expertise or through access to other departments within the organisation.  This ensures that the curriculum is fully covered as the student progresses in their studies.

During the first year of study as a Graduate Apprentice, access is provided to a dedicated Graduate Apprenticeship Success Coach to help make the most of all learning opportunities.

Assessment

Typically students are assessed each year:

Year 1

• 4 reports
• 1 portfolio

Year 2

• 1 x 2 hours written exam 
• 2 reports
• 1 portfolio

Year 3

• 3 reports
• 1 portfolio

Year 4

• 2 reports
• 1 Consultancy project

As well as the summative assessment students will undertake a range of formative work based learning activities which will be contextualised within their own workplaces.

Feedback

We aim to provide feedback within 20 working days of hand-in for all written exams, coursework and practical exams.

Placements

Students will be in full-time employment throughout the duration of the course, therefore extensive use is made of work-based learning.

Job Prospects

A Graduate Apprenticeship synchronises theoretical learning with practical experience. With each course tailored to the company, the Graduate Apprenticeship programme offers benefits to both the employee and the employer, meeting the long term development needs of both business and student.

Employment: All applicants must be employed full-time in a role related to the course of study, must have the right to live and work in Scotland and be working in Scotland. The employer must commit to providing a suitable workplace environment and to offering guidance and mentoring support to the apprentice. In addition, the company must be willing to partner with the university via a Collaboration Agreement to create a setting in which the student will be able to achieve the required experience and learning outcomes.

• SQA Higher:  BBBC 

Alternative Qualifications

We welcome applications from those with equivalent qualifications or work experience which equip them with an equivalent starting point for the course. For those applicants who do not meet our Standard Course Entry Requirements, applications may be considered from those who possess one years’ relevant work experience and where the applicant has demonstrated the development of key skills evidenced through a detailed CV. Applications from students with non- standard qualifications (including Foundation Apprenticeships, Modern Apprenticeships, SVQs/NVQs and access programmes) or work experience will be considered on an individual basis.

Advanced Entry

Applicants who are interested in applying for advanced (or flexible) entry will be considered on an individual basis. Attention is drawn to the university's process for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Additional Costs

The following course-related costs are not included in the course fees:

Graduate Apprenticeship courses include an on-campus induction, together with one or two on-campus day(s) per module, therefore employers supporting Graduate Apprenticeship students need to plan for this time away from the workplace together with any associated travel and accommodation costs.

• The cost of books that you may wish to purchase.
• Accommodation and living costs
• Printing
• Re-sit fees, fees for re-assessment opportunities in a repeat year

Student Funding

Subject to meeting course entry and employer eligibility criteria, a number of fully-funded places are available for this course. 

Students should apply to SAAS to have their tuition fees paid:

As a paid employee, apprentices would not be eligible for other SAAS funding such as bursaries and student loans.  

Find out more information about funding and other frequently asked questions: