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Entrepreneurship and Business BA (Hons)

Learn how to spot business opportunities and bring new products to market. This course is for you whether have a business idea or not. Modern business needs creative thinkers — so we’ll give you the tools you need to bring value to the corporate world, or help you get your own business off the ground. 

University of Portsmouth Connected Degree - 3 year course with 4th year placement

Key information

UCAS code:

N150

Accreditation:

This course is Accredited

Typical offer:

112-120 UCAS points from 3 A levels, or equivalent

See full entry requirements
Study mode and duration
Start date

Course information

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Showing content for section Overview

Overview

Explore business and entrepreneurship in one of the UK’s most entrepreneurial cities as you discover core business topics and access University startup support.

If you already have a new business idea, we’ll help you develop it with practical business modules and direct support from our dedicated start-up team. If not, this course will give you the skills you need to support and grow the businesses you work for. 

Organisations of all sizes need passionate people with an entrepreneurial mindset to foster creativity and manage innovation every day. That’s why many of our graduates go on to apply their skills in managing innovation, new products and business growth for existing organisations. 

You’ll develop a strong foundation of knowledge in key areas of business such as marketing, managing people, and operations management. You’ll learn to spot opportunities, develop your entrepreneurial skills, and explore how to create value by developing new products, as well as learning the processes you need to bring them to market.

If you choose to do an industry placement after your second or third year, you could complete a paid placement with an existing organisation or undertake a self employed placement year and develop your own business with support from our Placement Club and startup support.

Whether you want to run your own company or to develop your business and management skills to excel in an existing organisation, this course gives you the knowledge, skills and experience you need to succeed.

My favourite part of the course was the real life experience gained working with clients, instead of just working from textbooks and case studies.

Benjamin Thompson, BA Business Management and Entrepreneurship

Course highlights

  • Experience a practical course, where you'll apply your knowledge to real-life projects, such as helping local businesses in our Business Consultancy Project, developing your own venture, or setting up a social enterprise
  • Be mentored by one of our successful Entrepreneurs in Residence
  • Understand the processes of innovation and change in a business and how these can stimulate growth and competitiveness
  • Gain an understanding of how different business models work and how these generate value in a variety of contexts
  • Benefit from the workshops, drop-in sessions and funding opportunities provided by our student start-up team
  • Use your placement year to develop your own business, either independently or by working with other students to combine your strengths and knowledge, or to work in another innovative business
  • Learn in one of the UK's most entrepreneurial cities – between 2019 and 2020, the number of new businesses launched in Portsmouth grew by 33% (InstantOffices survey 2020)
  • Gain an understanding of how all the parts of a business work together and rely on each other

100%

of graduates in work or further study 15 months after this course

(HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2018/19)

No. 3

influential business school in the world

Financial Times Teaching Power Rankings 2021

Accreditation

We have partnered with the CMI so that you can gain a value added professional qualification alongside your degree. Students on our BA Entrepreneurship and Business degree can be awarded a CMI Level 5 Certificate in Management and Leadership upon successful completion of their degree programme. Upon joining their degree course, students become members of the CMI and are able to access a range of benefits, resources and events to support their professional development.

Contact information

Admissions

+44 (0) 23 9284 5566

Contact Admissions

Be part of an entrepreneurial community

Portsmouth is one of the most entrepreneurial cities in the UK and as a University we're actively supporting entrepreneurship within the city and the surrounding region. When you join us as a student you'll be part of a much wider community of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial thinking.

Innovation Connect

You can work alongside other local entrepreneurs in our dedicated start-up spaces. As a student you can get a free or reduced fee office space and be part of the Innovation Connect community.
Innovation Connect offices at University of Portsmouth
Learn more about Innovation Connect

Female Entrepreneurs Network

Connect with other women running their own businesses across Portsmouth and Hampshire through our free networking events and social networks.
2 women talking in the sunshine with HMS Victory behind them.
Find out more about the Female Entrepreneurs Network

Enactus Portsmouth

Be a catalyst for change and join this student-led group to set up social enterprises that tackle issues in and around Portsmouth.
3 students sitting under a tree talking and smiling
Learn more about Enactus Portsmouth

Entry requirements

BA (Hons) Entrepreneurship and Business degree entry requirements

Typical offers

  • A levels - BBB-BBC
  • UCAS points - 112-120 points from 3 A levels, or equivalent (calculate your UCAS points)
  • T-levels - Merit
  • BTECs (Extended Diplomas) - DDM-DMM
  • International Baccalaureate - 29

You may need to have studied specific subjects – find full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept.

English language requirements

  • English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.

See alternative English language qualifications.

We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.

If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

We look at more than just your grades

While we consider your grades when making an offer, we also carefully look at your circumstances and other factors to assess your potential. These include whether you live and work in the region and your personal and family circumstances which we assess using established data.

Explore more about how we make your offer

Ideal skills and qualities for this course

Students who really benefit fully from this course are open-minded, enjoy getting involved in real, practical tasks and are open to challenge.

You don't need to have a business idea or necessarily want to run your own business to get a place on this course. If you do have an idea we'll do everything we can to help it grow, but mostly we're looking for changemakers, people who want to bring change to whatever working environment they're in.

University of Portsmouth student stood in Fratton Park Stadium

They saw I had big ideas and passion and they offered me a place studying business right away. That personal approach was so important; I knew I'd made the right choice.

Vincent Pericard, BA (Hons) Business and Enterprise Development graduate

Read Vincent's story

Careers and opportunities

100% of graduates from this course are in work or further study 15 months after graduation according to the latest HESA Graduate Outcome Study.

Several of our students set up their own business during the course, or go on to run their own business after graduation. Many others, however, go on to apply their skills in existing businesses, particularly in the areas of product development and marketing.

Post-Covid the business development skills you'll learn on this course are likely to be more needed than ever. The Harvard Business Review recently wrote that:

"Companies seeking to emerge from the crisis in a stronger position must develop a systematic understanding of changing habits.....they must highlight anomalies and challenge mental models, revamp their business models and invest their capital dynamically."

Ed Adams - BA (Hons) Business Management and Entrepreneurship graduate

Alumnus Ed Adams graduated in 2017 and is now a Director of E-commerce at his own company. Ed discusses building an enterprise society and how the Faculty of Business and Law enabled him to network with alumni in Silicon Valley and helped him to start his own successful business. 

My name is Ed Adams and I am the Director of my own company, I'm an Amazon seller.

I sell Amazon FBA, which is fulfilled by Amazon. I see an exciting product that I really want to push onto the Amazon platform and see the success of products.

Finishing A-levels, I really wanted to get a year out and just go and see the world but I was really keen to come back and do an entrepreneurial course and looking around the UK, Portsmouth just had the perfect course.

In my course of studying business, enterprise and development, I bumped into Zoe Dann, who is the course leader. We're there discussing what I'd like to see in my three years at the University of Portsmouth.

I said I'd really like to have an enterprise society. She said there was one but it's all kind of come to a close, why don't you start one?

I think it was in that same conversation, she kind of finished it off saying, why don't you build a society and take the society to Silicon Valley?

Then that kind of set the foundations, I guess, to what it became. So there's tons of alumni all over the place.

Using LinkedIn, we were able to link up with those guys in the Silicon Valley area. We made appointments with the guys and that kind of led to structuring these interviews with them. We recorded the interviews with these Portsmouth Alumni. I looked up to these people. Speaking to ex-Facebook alumni people that have worked pretty much next to Mark Zuckerberg's office and kind of seeing that their journey from the University of Portsmouth all the way to Silicon Valley and beyond a passion was lit.

To have my business now and to have it up and running and to see it being successful, I think that's credit to the university for putting me on that  path to where I am now.

I think that the University of Portsmouth was there and I was able to lean on those resources, and that was always a bit of guidance and they were really willing to help me get what I needed.

The thing that really motivates me is just to be kind of my own boss, to really be an entrepreneur in my own remit and drive my own business forward. It gets me up in the morning. It's my passion. This is my drive.

Previous graduates of this course have secured jobs at companies such as:

  • Origin Kitchen
  • Cera Data
  • Buckinghamshire Council
  • Magnolia
  • Worldwide Business Research
  • The Future Factory

Graduates of this course have secured jobs within 15 months of graduation as:

  • director of sales
  • data consultant
  • business consultant
  • business intelligence and insight officer
  • business development representative
  • sales executive

(Data sourced from HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey)

You could also choose to continue your studies at postgraduate level.

Ongoing career support – up to 5 years after you graduate

Get work experience while you study with support to find part-time jobs and volunteering opportunities. Towards the end of your degree and after graduation, you'll get 1-to-1 support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to find your perfect role. On top of this you'll get bespoke careers support through our faculty 'career-ready' programme.
Female student at computer
Futureproof your career

Work placement year

You can choose to spend this optional extra year developing your own business with the help of the University, or you can take a paid placement at another business.

Previous students on this course have had placements in organisations such as:

  • Rolls Royce
  • Disney
  • Fujitsu
  • IBM
  • Ferrari

Many of our students are offered graduate jobs by their placement employers.

The average salary for a 12-month paid placement is £19,800 for students in the Faculty of Business and Law. It could be more or less than this amount depending on your placement. You'll only pay a very small percentage of your tuition fee for this year.

You could also choose to take a voluntary placement.

Bring your business to life

Smiling male student

Start-up support

If you do have a business idea you'll get start-up support from our dedicated team. We organise free workshops, enterprise clinics and speaker events. We can give you advice and help you apply for funding.

Learn more about our start-up support

Student and entrepreneur Mark Smith sitting in green chairs.

Entrepreneurs in Residence

We have more than 20 experienced business entrepreneurs who can help you develop your business idea and guide you from their real-life experience. Many of the entrepreneurs are also involved with this course as speakers and mentors.

Meet our entrepreneurs in residence

Start-up visas for international students

As an international student you can apply for a graduate visa after your studies if you want to stay in the UK and work.

If you're interested in setting up your own business in the UK after graduation and you're on a Tier 4 visa you can also apply for a UK Start-up Visa. This allows you to stay in the UK after graduation and set-up your business here. We're an endorsing institution for these visas.

Learn more about the UK Start-up Visa

Modules

Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.

In each year, you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. For example, 4 modules worth 20 credits and 1 module worth 40 credits.

What you'll study

Core modules

As well as getting an overview of the main financial principles and conventions of business accounting, you'll learn how to interpret annual reports and other related documentation.

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Discuss the purpose of accounting in the financial management of a business entity
  • Interpret an annual report for a quoted company
  • Describe the main financial principles and conventions
  • Identify and use budgeting, basic costing principles, concepts and cost classifications
  • Identify and use costing techniques and methods for analytical and managerial problem-solving purposes
  • 23 x 1-hour lectures
  • 23 x 1-hour seminars

We recommend you spend at least 154 hours studying independently. This is around 5 hours a week over the duration of the module.

On this module, you'll be assessed through:

  • a set coursework exercise (20% of final mark)
  • a portfolio (20% of final mark)
  • a 90-minute written exam (60% of final mark)

The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Develop and apply key academic skills required to become a successful entrepreneurship student
  • Demonstrate understanding of key skills required to be a successful entrepreneur/intrapreneur
  • Develop employability skills required to apply for voluntary, placement, and graduate level positions within the chosen profession

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of how descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytics are applied to problem solving and decision making in Business
  • Utilise numerical techniques to analyse data, interpret the results and communicate to a range of different audiences
  • Demonstrate the use of Excel for business analytics

Explore this module

The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concept of entrepreneurship and value creation.
  • Recognise different forms and sizes of business, and the extent of entrepreneurship application domains in a live industry context.
  • Develop and apply creativity, idea generation and validation skills to the processes of opportunity recognition and value creation in the selected context.

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Explain the nature and context of working and managing in organisations with diverse membership, including consideration of equality, diversity, cross-cultural and ethical issues in the management of people

  • Select and apply a range of appropriate theoretical and conceptual frameworks in the analysis and potential resolution of management issues within an organisational context

  • Identify and apply some key activities of people management practice, and consider their potential impact in achieving organisational goals, and the role of line managers in their implementation

 

  • Review and discuss contemporary issues in managing people in organisations and identify the implications of these for managers and other employees

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Explain the significance of marketing as a management process and discuss it in the wider context of the organisation
  • Understand the importance and relevance of the global marketing environment to sustainable and ethical marketing decision-making and be able to use resources to gather data to undertake a marketing audit
  • Identify key marketing problems and opportunities within an organisation
  • Recognise the stages within a marketing plan and be able to differentiate between strategic and tactical marketing decision making
  • Identify and recognise the key model, tools and concepts associated with marketing decision-making and apply them in the appropriate context of the organisation
  • Recognise the elements of the marketing mix and explain how they are used to inform marketing decision-making

Explore this module

Core modules

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Critically analyse and evaluate a range of financial management tools and techniques that might be utilised by organisations

  • Identify, compare and contrast the various sources of finance available to enterprises of varying sizes

  • To develop fundamental concepts of business finance

 

  • To develop real life business management and analysis skills

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Make use of scholarly reviews and data sources, explain and critique issues involved in business venturing

  • Develop the ability to recognise or create an entrepreneurial opportunity, critically evaluate its viability and develop a realistic business model

  • Develop and demonstrate critical awareness of personal entrepreneurial skills and attitudes to improve employability

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll have:

  • An understanding of current issues in the fields of entrepreneurship and new business creation

  • Skills in researching scholarly literature, synthesising writings from diverse perspectives and drawing theoretical and practical conclusions in the domain of entrepreneurship

Explore this module​​​​

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Compare and contrast the issues and factors involved in the management of innovation

  • Critically evaluate how the successful management of innovation can lead to strategic advantage and corporate success

  • Critically evaluate the important role played by intellectual property, technology transfer and strategic alliances in the management of innovation

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Compare and contrast new product development theories and concepts

  • Identify key decisions points in the new product development process

  • Select and employ a range of new product development techniques, including marketing analysis, idea generation, concept development and launch planning

  • Present a business case for a new product

Explore this module

 

Optional modules

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Demonstrate problem-solving skills and undertake, and communicate clearly, objective analysis of complex factual situations in the context of contract and employment law and the law of negligence

  • Access and critically analyse paper or electronic primary and other legal sources

  • Conduct independent research on legal topics

 

Explore this module

 

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Synthesise new and existing knowledge in the development, models, process, payment systems, and applications of electronic and mobile commerce

  • Critically evaluate and discuss the primary activities and applications in business-to-business and business-to-consumer e-commerce

  • Understand social, legal, and ethical issues in e-commerce

  • Show an enterprising spirit, innovation and productivity in the building of an E and M Commerce site

Explore this module

The learning objectives of this module are to be confirmed.

You'll also develop practical and transferable selling skills.

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Evaluate and apply the communications techniques appropriate in professional selling
  • Understand and analyse potential ethical issues at the supplier-customer interface
  • Discuss and reflect upon professional selling and the management of major customers using appropriate theoretical models and frameworks from academic literature
  • Prepare and deliver a professional sales approach in a real-world scenario
  • Reflect upon the behaviour and strategies of professional buyers
  • 12 x 2-hour practical classes and workshops
  • 12 x 1-hour lectures

We recommend you spend at least 164 hours studying independently. This is around 10 hours a week over the duration of the module.

On this module, you'll be assessed through:

  • a 2,000-word report (50% of final mark)
  • a 90-minute written exam (50% of final mark)

Core modules

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Work effectively in a consultancy project team, whilst developing your skills in communications, cross-cultural collaboration and creativity
  • Successfully develop and manage a consultancy project for a client, using relevant problem solving and project management methods
  • Critically apply business and management concepts to analyse your client's situation, design and evaluate solutions, and develop a sustainable implementation plan

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Evaluate product and service development management theories, models and concepts
  • Compare and contrast key decisions and tools used within product and service development projects
  • Compare and contrast emergent external factors influencing product and service development within an international context
  • Critically appraise new product and service development in light of ethical and environmental sustainability issues

Explore this module

You'll use academic literature to examine the issue and give recommendations for how it should be managed. This module will develop your critical analytical and entrepreneurial skills.

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Identify critical entrepreneurial challenges
  • Critically analyse relevant theories and concepts, as well as how to apply them in an organisation
  • Critically evaluate different entrepreneurial/managerial solutions
  • Propose suitable recommendations to achieve positive outcomes
  • 12 x 1-hour lectures
  • 12 x 1-hour seminars
  • 24 hours of supervised time in a studio or workshop

We recommend you spend at least 152 hours studying independently. This is around 9 hours a week over the duration of the module.

On this module, you'll be assessed through:

  • a 4,000-word written assignment (100% of final mark)

You'll reflect on the skills you've developed during your course and integrate these skills into your portfolio. You'll also identify and address your own professional development needs with input from entrepreneurs and managers.

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Critically reflect on entrepreneurial skill development
  • Critically appraise your own professional development needs
  • Understand ethical issues affecting your professional development
  • Develop a portfolio to enable informed career planning
  • 12 x 1-hour lectures
  • 12 x 2-hour seminars
  • 12 hours of supervised time in studio/workshop

We recommend you spend at least 152 hours studying independently. This is around 9 hours a week over the duration of the module.

On this module, you'll be assessed through:

  • a 1,500-word written assignment (40% of final mark)
  • a 2,000-word portfolio (60% of final mark)

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Examine and evaluate key propositions underlying strategic management theory and practice in national and global contexts

  • Appraise strategic issues at business and corporate levels using appropriate frameworks and evidence to identify, develop and recommend strategic options

  • Propose appropriate strategies for issue resolution and the strategic changes needed for their implementation

Explore this module

Optional modules

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Critically discuss the nature and evolution of continuous improvement and evaluate the use and application of high performance and continuous improvement methodologies, tools and techniques

  • Critically evaluate the use and relevance of a range business change and improvement systems, models and techniques

  • Evaluate and discuss cultural, human and behavioural factors contributing to the successful implementation and sustaining of business improvement

  • Critically assess the creative environment and utilise a range of tools and techniques to enhance organisational and employee creativity and problem-solving

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • To understand and evaluate the key principles and theories of negotiation

  • To apply the principles of negotiation to develop practical skills to plan and conduct negotiations

  • To critically reflect on their own negotiating styles and strategies

  • To develop and appraise interpersonal skills through practical exercises and simulations 

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Compare the characteristics and perspectives of projects with those of ongoing tasks

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of calls for planning estimating monitoring and controlling projects

  • Be able to communicate, lead and/or participate in project teams

  • Understand and apply the fundamental aspects of the Prince2 methodology

  • Be able to develop and implement meaningful project schedules using project management and planning software (Microsoft project)

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Identify ethical, social and environmental issues that arise within today's global business environment
  •  
  • Present an analysis of the ethical, social and environmental issues in business from more than one point of view
  • Suggest appropriate responses to ethical, social and environmental issues in business

Explore this module

 

 

This is a practical module you and you'll take an active role in each seminar session. You'll develop "whole picture" thinking when pursuing your career.

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Use appropriate models and frameworks to critically assess different aspects of sales management within an organisation
  • Present solutions to shortfalls in sales performance in a professional manner
  • Critically evaluate the significance of sales management and leadership, and recognise how to manage a sales force efficiently and effectively
  • Analyse ethical issues within the sales arena
  • 12 x 1-hour lectures
  • 12 x 2-hour seminars

We recommend you spend at least 164 hours studying independently. This is around 10 hours a week over the duration of the module.

On this module, you'll be assessed through:

  • a 1,500-word professional report (20% of final mark)
  • a 15-minute group presentation (30% of final mark)
  • a 1-hour written exam (50% of final mark)

Core module

You'll complete a placement portfolio over the duration of the placement and improve your professional skills such as self-reflection, networking, evaluating progress and using the portfolio. You'll have support from the Placement Office (PO) and a Placement Tutor, to plan, and during, your placement including a visit from your Placement Tutor.

Successful completion of the placement will be recognised in your transcript of achievement and your degree certificate will state 'in the sandwich mode'.

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Use the skills you've developed in the workplace, e.g. communication, time management, IT skills
  • Identify personal areas for improvement or training to enhance future employability
  • Use your record of experiences and training gained on placement to reflect on your skill and progress
  • Link what you learned on the rest of your undergraduate degree course to what you learn on placement
  • Understand your options regarding career planning, and future professional development
  • a full time work placement
  • 1 x placement day
  • meetings with your placement tutor

Changes to course content

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Ways to enrich your study

BAL-0419-Business Consultancy Project Awards; 4th April 2019; TO BE USED ONLY IN RELATION TO THE BUSINESS CONSULTANCY

Business Consultancy Project

Put your learning into practice by helping real local companies and start-ups with their business problems.

Find out about our business consultancy

View of Prague skyline at sunset

Study abroad year

In your second or third year you can choose to study abroad at one of our partner universities in Europe, Asia, Australia or North America. All classes are delivered in English and you'll still be able to get both your tuition fee and maintenance loans. You may also qualify for a government travel grant.

Learn more about study abroad

Teaching

Our teaching focus on this course is very practical; we want you to learn by getting involved in applied learning. There's a great emphasis therefore on industry case studies, live client work, and new project development.

Around 20% of your timetabled teaching will be online.

The majority of your timetabled teaching will be face-to-face and will include:

  • live client work
  • real-world projects
  • lectures and guest lectures
  • workshops
  • seminars

We pride ourselves on the academic support we offer our students. In addition to our dedicated teaching team, you'll have a personal tutor, student engagement officers and study support staff to help you throughout your studies.

Assessment

We use a diverse range of assessments and we focus on the types of work you'll be expected to complete in the workplace.

Assessment depends on the modules that you take, but assessment methods are likely to include:

  • coursework (linked to the projects and client work)
  • essays
  • reports
  • presentations
  • practical exercises
  • exams

Teaching staff profiles

These are some of the expert staff who'll teach you on this course.

Paul Trott Portrait

Professor Paul Trott

Professor of Innovation Management

Paul.Trott@port.ac.uk

Portsmouth Business School

Faculty of Business and Law

PhD Supervisor

Read more
Nicholas Andrew Ford Portrait

Media ready expert

Mr Nicholas Ford

Programme Lead (Strategy and Innovation)

nicholas.ford@port.ac.uk

Portsmouth Business School

Faculty of Business and Law

PhD Supervisor

Read more

How you'll spend your time

One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.

We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies.  As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.

A typical week

We recommend you spend at least 35 hours a week studying for this degree.

In your first year this is what your week may look like:

  • timetabled teaching activities (lectures, seminars, tutorials, classes and workshops) = about 14 hours a week
  • independent study (research, reading, coursework and project work, alone or in a group) = about 21 hours a week

You'll probably do more independent study and have less scheduled teaching in years 2 and 3, but this depends on which modules you choose.

Term dates

The academic year runs from September to June. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter.

See term dates

Supporting you

The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Types of support

Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.

As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.

In addition to the support you get from your personal tutor, you'll also have access to our student engagement officers. They can give you confidential, impartial advice on anything to do with your studies and personal wellbeing, and refer you to specialist support services if you need extra help or support.

You'll have help from a team of study support tutors. Based within the Faculty of Business and Law, these tutors are familiar with the specific requirements your assignments and work closely with faculty academics. This means they can give you focused support with the specific study skills you need to be successful on your course. They're available face-to-face, by phone, email, and by video call.

They can help with:

  • Academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations, projects and literature reviews)
  • Reflective writing skills
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
  • Understanding and using assignment feedback
  • Managing your time and workload
  • Revision and exam techniques

If you're a mature student, specialist support to help you return to learning is available.

As well as support from faculty staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University's Academic Skills Unit (ASK).

ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:

  • academic writing
  • note taking
  • time management
  • critical thinking
  • presentation skills
  • referencing
  • working in groups
  • revision, memory and exam techniques

Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University's library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from librarians who specialise in business and law.

The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.

Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.

You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.

If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.

They'll help you to

  • discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
  • liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
  • access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
  • liaise with external services

If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.

Course costs and funding

Tuition fees

  • UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
  • EU students – £9,250 a year, including our Transition Scholarship (may be subject to annual increase)
  • International students – £17,200 a year (subject to annual increase)

You won't pay any extra tuition fees to another university for taking part in a study/work abroad activity if you choose to do it for the whole academic year. During a year abroad you'll only have to pay a reduced fee to the University of Portsmouth.

Funding your studies

Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.

Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.

Additional course costs

These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.

Costs breakdown

Our accommodation section show your accommodation options and highlight how much it costs to live in Portsmouth.

You’ll study up to 6 modules a year. You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each module.

You can borrow most of these from the Library. If you buy these, they may cost up to £60 each.

We recommend that you budget £75 a year for photocopying, memory sticks, DVDs and CDs, printing charges, binding and specialist printing.

 

If your final year includes a major project, there could be cost for transport or accommodation related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.

If you take a placement year or study abroad year, tuition fees for that year are as follows:

  • UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,385 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
  • EU students – £1,385 a year, including Transition Scholarship (may be subject to annual increase)
  • International students – £2,875  a year (subject to annual increase)

Apply

How to apply

To start this course in 2024, apply through UCAS. You'll need:

  • the UCAS course code – N150
  • our institution code – P80

Apply now though UCAS

 

If you'd prefer to apply directly, use our online application form.

You can also sign up to an Open Day to:

  • Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
  • Speak with lecturers and chat with our students 
  • Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join

If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.

Applying from outside the UK

As an international student you'll apply using the same process as UK students, but you’ll need to consider a few extra things. 

You can get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region.

Find out what additional information you need in our international students section

If you don't meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Admissions terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.