Business Studies Schools and Programs in The United Kingdom

Business Studies Studies in The United Kingdom

Business studies in the United Kingdom is a broad degree about how organisations work: management, marketing, operations, economics, people and strategy. It appears under several names, such as Business Studies, Business Management or Business and Management Studies, and it can usually be combined with a placement year in a company. This directory lists 22 schools for business studies in the UK, three of them in Manchester and two each in London, Canterbury and Oxford.

How the degree is organised

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the first degree is a bachelor's degree with honours, a level 6 qualification that normally takes three years full time and is awarded as a BA or a BSc. The University of Sussex offers a three-year BSc (Hons) in Business and Management Studies and the University of Surrey a three-year BSc (Hons) in Business Management. Both are also offered with a placement year; at Surrey that version takes four years, and the placement year is charged at approximately 20% of the UK full-time fee.

In Scotland, degree-level study usually takes four years. The BA (Hons) Business Studies at the University of Stirling lasts 48 months, with start dates in January and September, and applicants with higher grades can enter directly into the second year and finish in three years.

After the bachelor's degree, a taught master's (MSc, level 7) usually takes one year. The Management MSc at Sussex lasts one year full time and accepts graduates of any subject. The Management MSc at Cranfield University lasts 12 months, with 140 credits of taught modules and a 40-credit business project. A doctorate (PhD) is a level 8 qualification.

What students learn

The first year gives a common base. At Sussex its core modules include Introduction to Economics, Sustainable Business Management and a module on digital, data and decision-making skills; the second year adds operations and project management, and the final year strategy and research methods. Stirling uses business simulations and lets students complete a live consultancy project, and the Sussex master's includes a consultancy project with local organisations. Stirling also states that the university is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Where to study

In Manchester the directory lists The University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and Salford Business School. Other examples in England are the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton, the University of Surrey in Guildford, the University of Kent in Canterbury, Cranfield University, the University of Oxford and the University of Northampton. In Scotland there are the University of Stirling and The University of Edinburgh, and in Wales Cardiff University. The list also includes providers of other kinds, such as Oxford Scholastica Academy, which runs academic summer schools in Oxford for students aged 12 to 18 and is not affiliated with the University of Oxford.

Admission and English level

Universities and colleges set their own entry requirements, usually stated as A levels. UK ENIC, the official organisation for the recognition and comparison of international qualifications, issues statements that compare a foreign qualification with the UK system. The courses cited here typically ask for ABB at Sussex and Surrey; Stirling asks for BBB for first-year entry and ABB for second-year entry. For English, Stirling requires IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill, and the Sussex master's asks for 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component.

Undergraduate applications are sent through UCAS, with a maximum of five choices. For 2027 entry, the equal consideration date for most undergraduate courses is 13 January 2027 (18:00 UK time); for the universities of Oxford and Cambridge it is 15 October 2026. Many universities accept international applications until later in the year. Master's applications go directly to the university: Sussex asks for a lower second-class (2:2) honours degree or above.

Costs and visa

Fees depend on fee status. For September 2027 entry, Surrey lists £10,050 for UK students and £24,600 for overseas students on its Business Management BSc. The Sussex Management MSc costs £15,450 a year for home students and £25,700 for international students.

International students normally need a Student visa for a full degree. According to GOV.UK (checked on 8 October 2026), applicants must be 16 or over, hold an offer from a licensed student sponsor and prove English equivalent to CEFR level B2 for degree-level study. The application costs £558 from outside the UK, plus a healthcare surcharge of £776 per year for students. Applicants must also show living-cost funds of £1,529 per month for courses in London or £1,171 per month elsewhere, for up to nine months, and can apply at the earliest six months before the course starts.

Careers

Stirling states that its Business Studies graduates have gone on to work in communications, banking, insurance, human resources, advertising, retailing and international trade. Sussex mentions generalist or specialist management roles in fields such as marketing, social enterprise or human resources, and names management consultancy and business analysis among the roles its master's leads to. After the degree, the Graduate visa allows a stay of 18 months for applications made on or after 1 January 2027.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a business studies degree take in the UK?

Three years full time in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or four with a placement year, and usually four years in Scotland. A taught master's normally adds one year.

Can I take a master's in management without a business degree?

Often yes. The Management MSc at Sussex accepts a 2:2 honours degree or above in any subject.

How much does a business degree cost for international students?

Each university sets its own fee. For September 2027 entry, Surrey lists £24,600 a year for its Business Management BSc, and Sussex lists £25,700 for its one-year Management MSc.