Business Management and Psychology

Business Management and Psychology - BSc (Hons)

Expand your knowledge of business management, develop your understanding of why people behave in certain ways and learn more about your own mind, emotions and actions on our Business Management and Psychology course. You will gain valuable skills and insight in both subjects to enable you to pursue a range of diverse career paths.

Year of entry

2023 - for 2024 entry see here - for 2023 entry see here

Course type

Combined Honours

Location

Keele University campus

Subject area / School

Keele Business School School of Psychology

UCAS code

CN89

Duration of study

3 years / 4 years with international, placement or entrepreneurship year

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Why study Business Management and Psychology at Keele University?

This programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society, subject to passing your final year project and achieving a minimum 2:2 degree award

No. 1 in the UK for Business Studies (National Student Survey, 2020)

Spend a year working in industry, study abroad or undertake an entrepreneurship year

Study alongside innovative companies based in Keele Business School

Personalise your studies with a variety of optional modules

Course overview

Gain an in-depth understanding of two fascinating subjects on this Business Management and Psychology BSc and gain high-value skills that aim to boost your employability.

In your first year you will begin your studies with business management modules that will introduce you to areas such as the macro-environment where you will enhance your understanding of the different political, social, technological, economic, and cultural factors that can have a major impact on international businesses. You will investigate the unique nature of a firm's international operations and enhance your comprehension of international business strategy.

Psychology is the study of mind and behaviour. From biological influences and social pressures to environmental factors that affect how people think, act, and feel - psychology underpins all that we are and everything we do.

You will gain the fundamental skills in psychology such as research design, statistics, qualitative and survey methods. This will enable you to conduct your own research and critically analyse that of others. In your final year you will work with one of our expert academics to complete a research project from a menu of topics.

As you advance in your studies you will be able to choose from a wide variety of optional modules in business management and psychology so you can can align your studies with your careers aspirations or interests or in both subject areas. Current optional modules focus on accounting, marketing, human resource management, health and disease, psychology of climate change and forensic psychology.

The skills you will develop on this degree will not only equip you with subject-specific knowledge but will provide you with a variety of transferable scientific and humanities based skills that can be used in a wide range of sectors.

Strengthen your employability with our Work Placement Year*

In an increasingly competitive job market, employers are seeking to recruit employees who have high-level knowledge, skills and an understanding of the workplace. Choosing a work placement year between your second and third year, is a fantastic way to gain industry experience. It can provide a valuable insight into what working in a specific area of business is like, gives you the chance to familiarise yourself with the professional working environment and develop professional networks, and provides the opportunity to apply the theory you’ve learnt on your degree course.

*Students who require a visa to study in the UK may be able to add in a work placement depending upon the programme. The ability to add a work placement is dependent upon the UK Immigration rules at the time of the request. It may be that for some programmes students will not have the option to request a placement period to be added to their programme before they arrive in the UK and would need to apply for a new visa. There is no guarantee that a placement will be provided and that students who have a visa are subject to a number of restrictions on the type of work, including placements they can undertake.

Please note: If you wish to undertake a work placement year, you will be required to choose a placement aligned to either Business Management or Psychology.

International Year

In between years two and three of your studies you can choose to spend a year or a semester studying abroad. This exciting opportunity enables you to understand your field from different cultural perspectives and to establish international networks. It also shows you have the personal attributes to embrace new experiences which can enhance your employability. We offer exchange opportunities with a wide variety of partner institutions.

Entrepreneurship Year

An Entrepreneurship Year provides you with the opportunity to showcase your innovative abilities and ideas to develop your business aspirations. If you’ve ever wanted to establish your own start-up or have been inspired by your studies this entrepreneurship year is an amazing opportunity to develop your own business idea. You will undertake your entrepreneurship working within Keele’s Smart Innovation Hub.

The Entrepreneurship pathway is available to UK and international students. Yet for international students, the availability of the Entrepreneurship pathway is subject due to the latest visa regulations.

Engage with real-world Psychology projects

During your degree programme, you may have the opportunity to work on research led by staff, PhD and master's students in the School of Psychology. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn about research methods and it will provide you with insight into the diversity of research carried out within the School of Psychology.

Final year project in Psychology

In your final year you will have the opportunity to work with one of our expert academics to carry out and report an investigation of a research topic that aligns with your career aspirations or personal interests.

Final year project topics from previous Psychology students include:

Cognitive control and depression
Experiences of disabled students in Higher Education
Sleep and mental health
Detecting deception in others
Victims and forgiveness

Summer research assistantship scheme

Our summer research assistantship scheme is a paid opportunity during your second or third year that enables you to work alongside a member of staff on a research project. The experience and skills you will gain, such as data analysis, can really help you stand out from the crowd when applying for employment or postgraduate study. Please note there is an application process for this scheme and the number of projects available will vary each year.

Student Support

To help you meet your academic and personal needs, we offer a multi layered support structure. You will have access to an academic mentor and member of staff from the Student Experience and Support team if you need any additional support, or someone to talk to, whether about your degree programme or life outside of your studies.

Societies

We have a wealth of student-led societies at Keele which cover a diverse range of interests. Joining a society related to business or psychology is a great opportunity to continue to develop your skills away from your studies. This is another excellent way of demonstrating your genuine interest for the area and can be beneficial when it comes to applying for graduate roles.

Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. This means we aim to create a diverse and inclusive culture in which you can thrive. Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) agenda is embedded throughout our curriculum, and the School of Psychology are proud to have been recognised for our activities in this area by holding The Athena SWAN bronze award.

Next Steps

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Related courses

Professional Accreditation

This programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society, subject to passing your final year project and achieving a minimum 2:2 degree award.

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Additional opportunities

Foundation year Learn a language Placement year International year Study abroad Entrepreneurship year GCP Elective Pathways Explore more

There are a range of additional opportunities available when studying this course.
Please note, undertaking one may impact upon the availability of another.

Entry requirements

Keele strives to be a place where learning, living and working is a positive experience for our entire community, and we're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of 'alternative offer' schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer.

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

A Level requirements

A Level requirement ABC/BBB

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

GCSE requirements

Maths at C (or 4)
English Literature or Language at C (or 4)

BTEC

T Level

Merit overall in following T Levels:

Health
Healthcare Science
Science
Accounting
Legal Services
Finance
Management and Administration
Digital Business Services
Digital Production, Design and Development
Digital Support Services
Media, Broadcast and Production
Education and Childcare
Animal Care and Management

International Baccalaureate

H5, H5, H5 or 30 points overall

Access to HE Diploma Requirements

Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 122 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

Preparation programmes for international students

International students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this course have the opportunity to study an International Foundation Year programme.

These courses are designed to prepare international students to enter into Keele University undergraduate degrees.

Next Steps

Entry requirements

The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don’t see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications. If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

Additional information

A Level requirements

A Level requirement ABC/BBB

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

GCSE requirements

Maths at C (or 4)
English Literature or Language at C (or 4)

BTEC

T Level

Merit overall in following T Levels:

Health
Healthcare Science
Science
Accounting
Legal Services
Finance
Management and Administration
Digital Business Services
Digital Production, Design and Development
Digital Support Services
Media, Broadcast and Production
Education and Childcare
Animal Care and Management

International Baccalaureate

H5, H5, H5 or 30 points overall

Access to HE Diploma Requirements

Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 122 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction

English Language Requirements

All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from .

Alternative and contextual offers

We're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of alternative offer schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer.

General information

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

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Our Facilities

Keele Business School

Co-located with businesses

Internships, enterprise and knowledge exchange opportunities

Keele Business School is at the heart of the Keele University Science & Innovation Park, one of the leading developments of its kind in the UK. The Park offers companies a business environment that provides an innovative research culture, combined with academic expertise and the University’s specialist resources, with a variety of opportunities for students to get involved, from internships, knowledge exchange partnerships, and student enterprise initiatives.

Psychology

In the School of Psychology, you will have access to our laboratories that house advanced equipment for research involving adults and children. This includes:

EEG equipment to detect electrical activity in the brain
Eye-tracking software to gain deeper understanding of cognitive processes, such as problem solving and decision making
Virtual reality headsets to perform controlled laboratory studies of large-scale human exploratory behaviour
Video observation suites to watch, record and collect research data
Brain stimulation equipment to research links between brain organisation and behaviour
Suite of laboratories for qualitative research

You may also study in Keele's state-of-the-art, £34m Central Science Laboratories and benefit from world-class learning facilities. An entire floor is fully equipped with PCs and all necessary software for practical labs throughout teaching semesters.

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Modules

Modules for Business Management and Psychology

The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

COMPULSORY MODULES

Introduction to Developmental and Social Psychology

This module will allow you to explore a range of topics in developmental, individual differences and social psychology.You will learn about how psychologists have carried out research to better understand human behaviour and thought from expert staff with experience of working in these areas.

Introduction to Biological and Cognitive Psychology

You will learn about how psychologists have carried out research to better understand human behaviour and thought. Typical topics could include the structure and function of the brain, neuronal impulses, how we make sense of sensory stimuli, memory, higher level cognitive processes such as problem solving, and the ways in which genes and hormones influence our behaviour.

Answering Questions with Qualitative Data

In this introductory module to qualitative research design and data collection you will learn how you can research human experiences and behaviour using a variety of qualitative data such as interviews and social media. Stepping into the world of qualitative research you will also explore the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of methods as well as reflect on the ethics of various qualitative research designs.

Answering Questions with Quantitative Data

In this introductory module to qualitative research design and data collection you will learn how you can research human experiences and behaviour using a variety of qualitative data such as interviews and social media. Stepping into the world of qualitative research you will also explore the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of methods as well as reflect on the ethics of various qualitative research designs.

OPTIONAL MODULES

COMPULSORY MODULES

Developmental and Social Psychology

Classes in developmental psychology will cover topics such as parenting, emotional development, peer relationships, language development. Classes in social psychology will cover core topics, such as attitudes, social identity, group and intergroup behaviour.

Biological and Cognitive Psychology

This module builds upon and extends your knowledge and understanding of key issues in the study of cognitive processes and the biological basis of behaviour. Cognitive topics include processes such as perception, attention, human learning, and memory. Biological topics are related to the central nervous system in normal and pathological conditions.

Qualitative Research Methods

This module aims to advance your understanding of qualitative research methods and analyses used in Psychology and builds on the content of the first-year research methods modules. You will gain an understanding of a variety of methods, such as interviewing, focus groups, world cafes, etc. as well as a variety of analysis techniques, such as thematic analysis, discourse analysis, interpretative phenomenological analysis, etc.

Statistics for Psychology

This module will cover commonly used advanced research methods in psychology, ranging from classical tests through to statistics at the forefront of Psychology. These include factorial ANOVA, regression, and an introduction to Bayesian analysis. Additionally, you will be provided with hands-on experience working on your own research projects.

OPTIONAL MODULES

COMPULSORY MODULES

Business Strategy

This final year module adopts an experiential learning approach to provide students with opportunities to simultaneously learn and apply the fundamentals of business strategy crafting in a real-life setting.

Final Year Project (Double) - ISP

During your Final Year Project, you will conduct an independent and substantive piece of empirical psychological research under supervision. You will also have the opportunity to develop a research question and hypotheses, design a research project, and submit an application to gain ethical approval.

Grand Challenges in Psychology

The Grand Challenges in Psychology module will enable you to extend your appreciation of the ways in which psychology and psychological science have developed culturally and historically to get us to where we are now. The topics covered invite you to think critically about current debates and future challenges in a wide range of areas of Psychology such as consciousness and cognition in human and non-human animals, the use of psychology for manipulation and control and community action and change.

OPTIONAL MODULES

Employee Development

Pay and Performance Management

Comparative Business Cultures

Digital Marketing in Practice

Managing Diversity - ISP

Contemporary Issues in Management

Marketing and Globalisation

Managing International Projects

Enterprise Business Plan

Psychology in Education

Psychology in Education is designed to develop your understanding of psychological theory, research and practice in education. The sessions will introduce theories and research and then ask you to put this into practice in a variety of ways for a variety of audiences. Indicative topics may include Bullying, Social skills training and Diversity in the classroom.

Health and Disease

In this module indicative topics include prevention of illness, health promotion, behaviour change and community approaches to health. In the second half of the module, indicative content includes patient and health care professional perspectives regarding becoming ill and diagnosis with diseases such as cancer.

Vulnerabilities in the Criminal Justice System

This module will discuss vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system, covering a range of individual factors such as age, gender, ethnic and cultural background, and mental health issues which can render certain populations more vulnerable in the criminal justice system.

Psychology of Climate Change

Taking a historical and contemporary perspective through a psychological lens, this module will provide an in-depth understanding of human areas impacting the climate negatively, as well as discussing short- and long-term human impacts fighting the climate change.

Investigative Forensic Psychology

Explores some of the psychological processes relevant to eyewitness testimony. How effectively are people able to describe or recognise a suspect? How accurate is our memory for details of a crime and how can psychological research help us improve the testimony witnesses provide? These questions and more will be considered during the module.

If you specialise in Business Management you will study:

COMPULSORY MODULES

Business Strategy

Managing Diversity - ISP

Topics you will explore may include - Sexuality in organisations, Gendered concepts of work and Implementing change.

Enterprise Business Plan

Gain first hand experience of initiating, setting up and managing a new business venture.

OPTIONAL MODULES

Employee Development

Examine a variety of topics such as the meaning, role, and significance of human resource development; systems of vocational education and training across different countries and their implications for skills

Pay and Performance Management

The module provides specialist information on pay as a central issue within human resource management (HRM) and employment relations.

Comparative Business Cultures

This module opens up this unhelpful and homogenised view of business culture by focusing on the difference and diversity of business cultures across the world.

Digital Marketing in Practice

This module deals with the practical implication of digital marketing. This is carried out through incorporating a range of case study examples from industry in order to offer a perspective of how marketing theory is applied in business contexts

Contemporary Issues in Management

This module will help you to understand the strengths and limits of managerial intervention.

Marketing and Globalisation

This module aims to understand the factors that are shaping marketing activities on a global scale. This is achieved by encouraging you to ask search questions about the power of multinational companies, the relationship between global production and consumption and local cultures.

Managing International Projects

This module introduces the principles and practice of project management in a comparative global context. It provides a sound understanding of basic project management tools, techniques and management issues.

If you specialise in Psychology you will study the third-year compulsory Psychology modules. You will also choose from the third-year Psychology optional modules in addition to those listed below:

Models of Cognition

This module will develop not only your understanding of key issues in cognitive psychological models but also your capacity to reason and evaluate as a scientist. Indicative topic areas include models of attention, memory, task switching and judgment and decision making.

Psychosocial Engineering

Psychosocial engineering is the application of social-psychological techniques to solve problems related to human behaviour. The sessions will teach you up-to-date social psychological theories of behaviour and attitude change, along with case studies of their application to tackle real-world problems.

Cognitive Development

When do new-born infants recognise their mother? Can chimpanzees take others' perspectives? Are human infants moral creatures? This module will advance your understanding of key areas of cognitive development. You will discuss studies focusing on developmental populations in human and non-human primates.

Illness and Coping

This module will give you knowledge and skills in health psychology, focusing on illness and how people cope with a range of health conditions. You will explore the psychological effects of these conditions on all those living with them, including patients, family and carers.

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Academic expertise

Staff in Keele Business School are active researchers in core areas such as accounting, finance, economics, human resource management, marketing and management. Their academic work will inform your learning, incorporating recent theories and current themes to open discussion in your subject area. There are professional support staff on hand to answer any queries you may have during your undergraduate studies at Keele.

Our academics in Keele Business School are multicultural and multinational, bringing an international aspect to the School’s teaching, research and business activities.

Our teaching in Psychology is driven by research and you will learn about some of the latest topics in the field. Research is supported by four research groups: the Cognition, Brain, & Behaviour Research Group, the Developmental Psychology Research Group, the Social Psychological Research Group, and the Health and Well-being Research Group.

In addition, we have a Keele Augmented, Virtual, and Extended Reality Network (KAVERN), Children and Young People Research Network, and various members of the school are engaged in interdisciplinary research, including the Keele Policing Collaboration (KPAC), the Keele Centre for Aging Research (KCAR), and projects with colleagues in Health, Social Sciences and Humanities disciplines.

Find out more about our academic experts and their research in the field of psychology.

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"The degree has taught me how to conduct my own experiments, and, it gave me the ability to run a small study in my second year to prepare for my final year project. Having free reign to conduct research and experiments in any field that you have an interest in, where you could possibly have an impact on the world with the research you conduct, or can be the basis for your future research, is definitely the most rewarding part of the course. The staff that I have met have all been great to talk to and have answered my questions when I have needed answers."

Pierce, Psychology

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Foundation year

Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, providing a unique opportunity to better prepare for your chosen degree, and with guaranteed entry onto your undergraduate course once you successfully complete your Foundation Year.

This extra year of study can improve your academic skills, expand your subject knowledge, give you a better understanding of higher education and, perhaps most importantly of all, build your confidence.

Keele University is consistently ranked among the top universities for student satisfaction, and we have over 70 years' experience of teaching a foundation year to students. On the Keele Foundation Year, you'll study on campus, joining our undergraduate community from the outset, with access to all the facilities and support that you'd get as an undergraduate student at Keele.

The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.

The information within this page is for students wishing to start their studies in September. If you would like to start this course in January, please visit our January pages for further details.

Course Content

Our Foundation Year allows you to develop your critical thinking, academic reading, writing, and communication study skills along with subject-specific knowledge and skills. Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will automatically progress into your Keele undergraduate degree with the confidence that you have the skills, and knowledge needed to successfully complete your course.

Our combined honours foundation year is a two semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the BSc (Hons) Business and Psychology degree. For example, the Foundations of Business 1 module helps you develop appropriate investigative skills in order to analyse financial information and make informed business decisions. Meanwhile, the Foundations of Psychology module introduces you to the principles and concepts of psychology in a theoretical context, while also demonstrating the application of concepts to everyday life. Course content has been developed in collaboration with degree teaching teams, so that by the time you begin Year 1, you will be ready to excel at your studies, as the majority of our Foundation Year students do.

Find out more about the Keele Foundation Year, including information about teaching and assessment methods by visiting the Foundation Year homepage.

Course Structure

The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

Semester One Modules

FYO-00247	Foundations: Breaking the code - Understanding Academic Writing	15 credits
FYO-00201	Foundations of Psychology	15 credits
FYO-00249	Foundations of Business 1	15 credits
FYO-00211	Foundations of Numerical and Quantitative Methods for Scientists	15 credits

Semester Two Modules

FYO-00255	Advancing Business	30 credits
FYO-00203	Advancing Psychology	30 credits

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Between 40-56 UCAS points from at least 1 A level/level 3 qualification or equivalent, or
Relevant work experience

AND

GCSE English Language at grade 4 (C), or Level 2 Functional Skills, or
IELTS 5.5 (with 5.5 in all subtests)

AND

GCSE Mathematics at grade 4 (C) or above

How to Apply

Applicants will need to apply for BSc (Hons) Psychology with Foundation Year (UCAS code: C802) through UCAS at www.ucas.com. You will then be contacted to confirm your second subject by a member of our team.

Direct Entry Students

If you already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly.

The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.

We also offer a January start for some of our Foundation Year courses. Adopting a blended learning approach, the January start is particularly useful for students wishing to return to education following time out of studying, or who are seeking a flexible approach to their Foundation Year studies. Our January start is available across most of our Science, Humanities, Social Science and Business courses.

Whilst still being a full-time course, our blended delivery model combines live teaching sessions - both online and on-campus - with self-directed study, enabling you to predominantly study at a time that suits your lifestyle. You will benefit from weekly online taught sessions which encourage you to engage with your teachers and peers.

In addition to online study there will be a series of full study days that you will be required to attend throughout each semester. These sessions may include lab-based activities, group work, review of course and assessment materials studied online. They will emphasise opportunities for you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of your chosen route.

Please refer to the September start tab for more information about the entry requirements and what you will study. The modules that you will take on a January start Foundation Year will be similar to those for the September start, but in a slightly different order and pattern.

For more information, including fees, the UCAS code for this course, how to apply, and how you will be taught, please visit our January Start Foundation Year webpage.

Our International Foundation Year is delivered on campus through Keele University International College (KUIC). Find out more about the International Foundation Year options on the KUIC website.

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