Bachelor in Business and Management (Top-up Degree)
Malta Business School - Courses
Administration Leadership Management Project Management Strategy
Start DateApril 2025 |
BasisFull-Time, Part-Time |
CertificationMQF Level 6 |
PrerequisitesSee Below |
LocationRemote / In-Person |
Course Fees€4,000 |
Duration1 Year |
Introduction
The aim of the BBM program is for the learner to be industry-ready with a comprehensive skill set that includes both the theoretical and practical aspects of business and management. The focus is on the application of theory into practice. The program highlights work-based learning, and work placements are planned throughout the program. This strong emphasis on the practical aspects of work encourages the development of ambitious learners who, in turn, are attractive candidates for future employers.
What you'll learn
On completion of this Bachelor’s degree in Business and Management learners will be able to:
Knowledge
- Critically understand the role of business and management theoretical concepts, frameworks, principles and methodologies, within a complex and fast-changing business environment, in a range of business areas such as human resources, operations, technology, finance, marketing and strategy
- Evaluate and critique a range of theories, approaches and principles of business and management in fields such as organizational communication, personal development, entrepreneurship, international business, economics (micro and macro) and project management
- Make value judgements based on ethical considerations in their field of work
- Use decisively a range of relevant tools, strategies, methodologies and approaches and keep up-to-date with the latest innovations in the world of business and management
Skills
- Communicate in a range of techniques and over a variety of mediums (face-to-face and using ICT) in an effective and clear manner to management, employees, clients, and other stakeholders using different tools, mediums and channels
- Display a range of personal skills including the capability for lifelong learning, interpersonal and transferable skills, time management, being proactive, working towards deadlines, communicating effectively and articulately, and ethical leadership skills which are essential for a career in business and management
- Gather data using procedures, techniques and methods relevant to the study focus (quantitative and qualitative research), and carry out critical interpretation of the data using ICT techniques and skills, while linking results with appropriate theory
- Use a professional approach to evaluate, critique, and offer suggestions to a range of business and management activities, such as in marketing, finance, and operations, while keeping in mind the connections and relationships between them
- Apply principles of business sustainability to design, develop and implement business plans and decisions
- Develop work-related skills to deal with organisational issues and be able to use problem-solving skills to produce solutions and action plans
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the core principles of business and management such as organisational behaviour and human resources, operations and projects, finance, international business, strategy, marketing, personal development, and entrepreneurship
Critically and creatively interpret, analyse, and appraise detailed theoretical and practical knowledge that underpins the core principles of business and management
Competences
- Actively engage in work-related activities, projects and group work, that encourage the development of team performance and collaboration
- Develop an entrepreneurial mindset and behaviours, exhibiting creativity and innovation in the management of different resources (such as human, operational, and financial resources)
- Exhibit autonomous and open-minded learning skills in order to further their continuous professional growth and undertake further studies
- Take responsible decisions including when working in a team, or when managing others.
- Display creativity and openness in critical thinking skills
Who's it For?
This qualification is designed for:
- Adult learners who wish to follow a career in business
- Working professionals who have been working for a number of years and who would like to acquire knowledge and skills in business and management and thus move ahead in their careers
- Prospective learners with a Level 4 or a Level 5 qualification who are interested in further developing their education
Prerequisites
For entry directly onto Year 3 of the Bachelor in Business and Management to exit with the Bachelor in Business and Management top-up degree qualification, the following are the entry requirements:
- One Level 5 qualification, in business or a related area, of at least 120 ECTS or equivalent, and at least 18 years of age. OR
- One Level 5 UK Higher National Diploma or Extended Diploma qualification, in business or a related area, of at least 120 UK credits or equivalent, and at least 18 years of age
- All learners must have proficiency in the English language (evidence of use of the English language at work, 0-level pass in the English language, English as the national language or mother tongue, or other equivalent foreign qualifications equating to Common European Framework (at B2), such as IELTS (overall score of 6.0 with no element less than 5.5), Cambridge English (overall score of 169 with minimum scores of 162), TOEFL (at 72) and others
Course Modules
Competences:
- Formulate a dissertation proposal based on a business or management research challenge (problem or opportunity)
- Conduct in-depth research, which shows familiarity with the research topic, other studies, and theories
- Evaluate and select appropriate research methodologies and tools
- Analyse and interpret data and present findings
- Draw conclusions and make recommendations
- Present research in an appropriate academic manner
- Elements of appropriate research proposals/research
- The attributes of focused research question/s and ways of crafting well-defined problem statements
- The role and sourcing of primary and secondary research
- The key stages and effective monitoring of a successful dissertation plan
- Review and identify relevant and current literature and sources
- Discern underlying theories, within and between a range of relevant literature
- Critically evaluate a range of seminal, primary, and secondary literature
- Ethically collect relevant data to inform the research study
- Conduct data analysis and critical interpretation to reach informed conclusions based on research theories
- Justify the use of research methodologies and tools selected to collect and process primary data
- Identify and assess potential ethical issues that need to be taken into consideration
- Justify the procedures, techniques, and methods used for the collection, classification, and analysis of data
- Adopt and apply an open-minded and creative approach to research
- Draw valid and unbiased conclusions and make recommendations based on the research conducted
- Identify and evaluate the limitations of the research study
- Articulate personal reflections outlining the entire research challenge process
- Present the research in an appropriate academic manner applying consistency and communication logical throughout
- Select and apply correct terminology and linguistic flow in the written presentation
- Apply a logical and consistent structure to the written report
- Demonstrate proper and accurate use of the Harvard referencing style in text and in the bibliography
- Record the method/s of collecting, processing, and preparing data
- Discuss the validity and reliability of research methods
- Acknowledge all sources of information.
Module-Specific Digital Skills and Competences
- Search, gather, communicate, and share related information using digital resources
- Identify reliable, authoritative, and current digital sources
Competences:
- Design, organize, and lead a team with the goal of bringing new products and services to market
- Manage your personal brand using information communication technology tools
- Design, develop, and communicate business initiatives that are aligned with business sustainability
- Facilitate positive business outcomes through effective negotiation and persuasion skills
- Theories of team development such as Tuckman’s, Belbin, and Lencioni's 5 Dysfunctions of a team
- A range of different types and functions of information communication technology tools
- Types of stakeholders and power-interest grids
- A range of business initiatives that meet Business Sustainability goals (such as environmental responsibility, corporate social responsibility, and community development)
- The role and application of negotiation and persuasion skills
- Apply negotiation skills for win-win outcomes to implement the new business opportunity
- Assess and select appropriate information communication technologies to improve company performance
- Evaluate stakeholders and assess their own personal power-interest grid
- Develop a plan for operational, personal, and strategic networking
- Apply problem-solving skills to resolve issues that can derail the business opportunity
- Assess your current networking and selling skills
- Transform an initial idea into a fully-fledged business opportunity and effectively communicate this opportunity through a business plan
- Effectively present and communicate opportunities to technical and business-oriented audiences
- Use relevant and appropriate terminology when discussing and exchanging views in a business context
- Communicate and articulate their ideas clearly in writing and orally
- Adapt to changing circumstances that occur during the entrepreneurial process
- Appropriately and accurately apply the Harvard referencing system
- Acknowledge all sources of information
- Individually carry out further research in this area
- Search, gather, communicate and share related information using digital resources
- Identify reliable, authoritative, and current digital sources
Competences:
- Evaluate their own work placement experience using a range of tools, models, or frameworks
- Appraise their own personal development during the work placement experience
- Research, develop, and implement a plan, including appropriate strategies, to build their own professional networks
- Reflect upon, assess, and identify lessons learned from at least one work placement challenging situation
- A wide range of creativity and problem-solving skills
- The different professional self-assessment tools and how they work to identify areas and needs for continued professional growth
- A wide spectrum of transferable employability skills (such as organisational skills, time management, communication skills, teamwork and collaboration skills, adaptability, problem-solving and others) and how to harness these in different professional contexts
- Career paths and trajectories within the chosen industry
- Self-assess own effectiveness in managing time and demonstrating resilience when engaged in competing academic and workplace activities
- Develop an informed career development plan to reflect own career path and journey following this course of study
- Assess and select appropriate strategies to present and promote self in the chosen industry
- Evaluate own progress/development in at least 2 employability skills following the work placement experience
- Reflect on organisational performance factors, and their impact, during own work experience at the placement organisation
- Reflect on individual performance factors, and their impact, during your own work experience at the placement organisation
- Use relevant and appropriate terminology when discussing and exchanging views in a business context
- Discuss communication strategies and techniques that can be used to build your network
- Communicate and articulate their ideas clearly in writing and orally
- Confidently give a formal presentation to a variety of audiences
- Examine at least two employability skills learned during your work placement experience
- Identify strategies to build new professional relationships
- Appropriately and accurately apply the Harvard referencing system
- Acknowledge all sources of information
- Individually carry out further research in this area
- Search, gather, communicate and share related information using digital resources
- Identify reliable, authoritative, and current digital sources
Competences:
- Leading by example through the application of ethical and value-based leadership
- Recognising potential in people and applying appropriate and effective ways of developing leaders
- Comparatively, assess different leaders from a range of workplace contexts
- Critically apply EQ and IQ strategies to identify and overcome people's challenges
- The key components and characteristics of effective leadership such as effective communication, designing a shared vision, and strategic thinking and planning
- The difference between manager and leader roles and their characteristics (such as designing vs implementing business plans, inspiring vs managing people, focusing on goals vs focusing on tasks)
- A range of leadership styles and approaches (such as transformational, strategic, transactional)
- The importance and elements of business values and ethics, including the 3 parts to the discipline of business ethics
- The key constructs of EQ and IQ and how the two complement each other for effective leadership (IQ – analysis & judgement, planning & organizing, strategic perspective, and creativity & risk-taking; EQ – self-awareness, self-regulation, intrinsic motivation, empathy, and social skills)
- Assess and select appropriate leadership approaches within a business context
- Develop a leadership matrix to measure and evaluate own leadership skills
- Measure and reflect on your own IQ and EQ and ways of further developing these areas
- Communicate and get buy-in for ideas to further encourage positive behaviours, attitudes, and values in the workplace
- Reflect on their own approach towards the workplace and how this impacts their own performance
- Recognise own levels of IQ and EQ in responding to and addressing a range of workplace challenges
- Assess the reasons why organisations need business ethics
- Evaluate business ethics dilemmas that can occur at your workplace
- Use relevant and appropriate terminology when discussing and exchanging views in a business context
- Communicate and articulate their ideas clearly in writing and orally
- Confidently give a formal presentation to a variety of audiences
- Outline the historical rise of ethics and identify common ethical principles from a business perspective
- Assess and make recommendations for enhancing existing business ethics and positive values in a specific organisation
- Appropriately and accurately apply the Harvard referencing system
- Acknowledge all sources of information
- Individually carry out further research in this area
- Search, gather, communicate and share related information using digital resources
- Identify reliable, authoritative, and current digital sources
Competences:
- Assess current performance taking into consideration the internal and external environment of an organisation
- Monitor and assess the business's current state against future goals to identify areas requiring change
- Develop different strategic options to achieve business goals
- Devise solutions to implementation challenges for the achievement of strategic goals
- Core constructs of strategic planning such as the different levels of strategy, quantifiable progress, short-medium, and long-term goals
- The key steps in strategic planning include an understanding of the vision, mission, and values of the organisation
- The organisational attributes that can be leveraged for success such as tangible and intangible resources, technological assets, and human resources
- A range of ways of making value judgments on the suitability of fit between organisational strategy and the current business environment (micro and macro influences)
- How to conduct a strategic gap analysis using a range of tools such as VRIO analysis, Core Competencies analysis, Value Chain analysis, and others
- Effectively conduct a strategic gap analysis and identify opportunities/options
- Propose at least 4 strategic options to achieve business goals
- Select with justification the most suitable strategic option
- Create a workable (SMART) plan to ensure the implementation of the strategic option
- Evaluate the goals and objectives of an organisation
- Assess the resources and capabilities of an organisation
- Assess the external competitive environment of an organisation
- Criticise the strengths and limitations of the tools, frameworks, and models used to arrive at one option
- Evaluate methods to measure the success of the plan
- Identify and apply the most appropriate way to communicate the strategic plan within a specific organisation
- Use relevant and appropriate terminology when discussing and exchanging views in a business context
- Communicate and articulate their ideas clearly in writing and orally
- Discuss the need for a strategy
- Discuss common reasons for failed strategy implementation
- Appropriately and accurately apply the Harvard referencing system
- Acknowledge all sources of information
- Individually carry out further research in this area
- Search, gather, communicate, and share related information using digital resources
- Identify reliable, authoritative, and current digital sources
Course Provider
About MBS
It's Mission and Vision:
It's Mission and Vision:
"Helping adults achieve their personal and professional development goals to create value for themselves, their organisations and their communities. The motto of our school has always been, Applying Knowledge for Success. This means that we not only promote the acquisition of knowledge through various methods of learning, but also aid in the development of our learners’ abilities to apply that knowledge to their careers and personal lives, driving them towards success."