BTEC HND Business Studies Course

A distance learning course is the ideal way to gain a higher diploma in Business Studies . Whether you're looking to go on to further education, improve your job prospects or expand your knowledge, distance learning Business Studies is a flexible and convenient course, which allows you to comprehensively prepare for an exam or career through home study. What's more, the distance learning BTEC (HND) Business Studies  course is a fully comprehensive course.

Credit value: 240, contributing to the Higher Education (HE) Diploma outlined below

Rationale
The purpose of this subject syllabus is to provide such part time and full time learners with an opportunity to study the principles and applications of Business Studies at an advanced higher educational level (HND), with sufficient focus and detail to achieve transferrable skills, knowledge, understanding and application, necessary for progression towards related programmes at Level 6.

The subject is unitised in order to provide flexibility of operation and study. Satisfactory completion of all 16 units within this syllabus results in the award of 240 credits at HND.

Each unit may be undertaken separately, and each will be assessed independently, however, it is a key requirement of the subject that all 16 units attached to the syllabus be completed at a satisfactory level in order to achieve the Diploma.

HOME STUDY SUPPORT

You will be provided with comprehensive materials designed to provide you with everything required to complete your course of study. You will have your own personal tutor helping you with your course work and with any questions you may have. Plus you can contact our Student Advisors by email or phone for all the practical advice you may need – so we really are with you 100%.

What's more, you'll have access to the online student portal, where you can interact with other students, browse our resource library and manage your account.

COURSE ASSESSMENT

This HND subject is made up of a set of 16 units, which may be delivered and assessed independently. All units are assessed by coursework activities, and the compilation of an e-portfolio. The HND subject requires successful completion of all 16 units. Learners are able to complete units at a pace appropriate to their resources, commitments and study plans.

It is expected that a full set of subject units will be completed within 2 academic years of initial enrolment.

Credit is awarded for successful completion of each unit. Any units which are not successfully completed may be repeated but this is subject to the college’s discretion and criteria. All the learning outcomes attached to each unit must be met in order for credit to be awarded. Each unit attracts a total of 15 credits. Coursework is subject to marking criteria which will be outlines within each unit.

This course is delivered entirely via the distance learning route and therefore there is no face to face element or requirement for centre based assessment.

COURSE DURATION

We recommended you spend approximately 1200 hours of your time studying for the Law Studies course. The pace of study is completely up to you. To give an example, if you dedicate 12 hours a week to the course it would take you 2 years to complete but if you could spare 24 hours a week you could complete it in one year.

Get started today, and you can earn your BTEC Higher National Diploma (HND) in Law Studies in as little as a year, or take up to two years, if you prefer – the choice is yours.

HOME STUDY COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

All students must be 17 years of age and above. Students should have completed a Level 3 Diploma or Professional Diploma or A level standard course (or equivalent) before the Level 5 qualification.

HE diplomas should be targeted at those learners who have the ability to benefit from the course and progress to Level 6. They should also have success at level 3. This is a prerequisite to undertaking the course, as is sufficient skills in English, Maths and ICT.

You have the freedom to start the course at any time and continue your studies at your own pace for a period of up to 24 months from initial registration with full tutor support.

How is the course structured?
The Edexcel BTEC (HND) in Business Studies course is divided into sixteen comprehensive modules:Unit 1: Using information, communication and technology ICT in the study

This unit aims to raise learner awareness of the different types of ICT skills, and provide the opportunity for them to develop these skills commensurate with H4 and H5 study. The course is delivered via distance learning with no face to face contact between tutors and students, therefore understanding appropriate research techniques, portfolio skills and self-reflection is important in terms of independent study at this level as well as facilitating a positive learning experience

Students are encouraged to conduct independent research related to the Business Studies Applications using ICT skills, so that they can begin to compile their own resource list and also prepare themselves for further and more complex activities later in the course

1. Applications of ICT in Business Studies Applications
2. ePortfolio constructs
3. Independent web based research
4. Principles of self-assessment and reflective writing

Unit 2: Financial planning in business

The aim of this unit is to give learners an opportunity to study the principles and practices of financial planning within business application.

1. Cost and profit
2. Break even analysis
3. Cash flow forecasting
4. Budgeting

Unit 3: Structure, Risk & Enterprise

The aim of this unit is to provide learners with the opportunity to study how business is structured, its hierarchy, chain of commands and how risk and enterprise are incorporated into productivity and performance.

1. Enterprise
2. Variance analysis
3. Trading processes
4. Organisational structure

Unit 4: Job analysis and operational management

The aim of this unit is to provide learners with an opportunity to explore operational management processes, procedures and practices in business applications.

1. Job analysis
2. Operational targets
3. Quality measurements
4. Quality systems

Unit 5: Marketing and the competitive environment

The aim of this unit is to provide learners with an opportunity to explore marketing processes, principles and practice associated with business applications, and also to consider competitive environments and their impact and influence on business practices.

1. Principles of marketing
2. Promotion
3. Product placement
4. Competitive processes

Unit 6: The economy and business

The aim of this unit is to provide learners with the opportunity to study economic practices and processes related to business applications.

1. Principles of economic growth
2. The role of government
3. Technical developments
4. The role of competition

Unit 7: Understanding the layers in business administration

The aim of this unit is to provide learners with an opportunity to explore the different layers with business administration and relate practice to application, objectives and organisational structure.

1. Business personnel
2. Skills requirements
3. Leadership
4. Future roles and responsibilities

Unit 8: Leadership: developing visionary concepts

The aim of this unit is to provide learners with the opportunity to examine visionary leadership practice related to theoretical concepts and models.

1. Visionary leadership practice
2. Root cause analysis
3. Theories of leadership
4. Models and approaches

Unit 9: Business consultancy

The aim of this unit is to provide learners with an opportunity to study the core principles and practices of business consultancy, and explore current trends and evolutionary strategies related to globalisation and the influences of external markets.

1. Principles of management practice
2. The acquisition of skills
3. Evolving business requirements
4. Evaluate trends

Unit 10: The project management perspective

The aim of this unit is to provide learners with an opportunity to explore the principles, processes and approaches of project management within a range of business applications.

1. Principles of project management
2. Problem solving
3. Approaches
4. Programming

Unit 11: Resource management

The aim of this unit is to provide learners with the opportunity to study resource management, and associated processes, approaches and practices.

1. Resource management
2. Data collection and analysis
3. Phasing
4. Dissemination and reporting

Unit 12: Research and writing for business

The aim of this unit is to provide learners with an opportunity to explore the types of research which informs business practice.

1. Aims and objectives
2. Processes, methods and inquiry
3. Technical documentation
4. Report documentation

Unit 13: Human resource applications

The aim of this unit is to provide learners with an opportunity to study the historical origins of human resource practice and explore applications within business contexts.

1. Historical origins and development of human resource management (HRM)
2. Soft HRM
3. Hard HRM
4. European dimension

Unit 14: Employment contracts

The aim of this unit is to provide learners with an opportunity to examine employment law related to contracts of employment.

1. Contract law
2. Forms of contract
3. Responsibilities of employers and businesses
4. Termination of contracts

Unit 15: Managing conflicts and motivation in business applications

The aim of this unit is to provide learners with an opportunity to explore a variety of conflicts within business applications and to examine historical development of legislation and case law which provides frameworks for practice. Examples will centre on discrimination, torts and disputes.

1. The history of discrimination
2. Discrimination in the workplace
3. Industrial conflict
4. Motivation

Unit 16: Recruitment and selection processes

The aim of this unit is to provide learners with an opportunity to explore and evaluate recruitment and selection processes within a range of business applications; and to develop understanding of modern appraisal processes related to workplace performance

1. Recruitment
2. Selection
3. Performance appraisal
4. Training and development

All students must be 17 years of age and above. Students should have completed a Level 3 Diploma or Professional Diploma or A level standard course (or equivalent) before the Level 5 qualification.