Confidently climb the corporate ladder with our practical Business Management (Top-Up) degree
Navigate the corporate world with our hands-on Business Management (Top-Up) degree. You will focus on contemporary approaches and critical skills, covering topics like:
- strategy
- digital business
- ethical issues.
Our Business Management (Top-Up) BSc is designed by industry professionals who understand that employers seek graduates who:
- can apply ideas to practical situations
- maintain the best professional management and ethical standards.
This undergraduate top-up programme is designed for those with a foundation degree, Higher National Diploma, or equivalent qualification.
Learn in the capital
Our campus is located in the green and picturesque London borough of Richmond-upon-Thames, so you’ll have access to the capital as a diverse hub for business. We also have connections with large companies and small businesses in the local area.
Hands-on learning
You can attend business talks led by guest speakers to enhance your employability and understanding of the industry.
A supportive community
Our campus feels like a community. Your lecturers learn your name and are here to support your needs. Our student, Lauren, tells us that our academics are “really helpful and […] always on hand when help is needed, both in lectures and tutorials”.
Dual accreditation
During your business management (top-up) course, you can complete specific modules to achieve a Level 5 Certificate in Management and Leadership awarded by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) (subject to CMI moderation).
Work placements: build professional experience
You can also undertake a work placement to:
- develop practical skills
- apply theory to real-world scenarios
- understand a globalised business environment
- build your network.
Gain recognised certification
Micro-credentials are short, focused courses designed to help you develop valuable skills in a flexible and accessible way. Whether you want to enhance your academic abilities or improve employability, micro-credentials are a great way to stand out at university and in your future career.
By taking a micro-credential course, you will:
- Quickly learn or improve key skills that are essential for academic success and career development.
- Gain official recognition for your efforts with a Moodle badge and an official certificate upon completion.
- Demonstrate your commitment to lifelong learning—a quality highly valued by employers.
We are continuously expanding our micro-credential offerings. Currently, we provide the following courses:
- Become a Microsoft Office Expert – Basic Level (Online, Self-Access)
- Advocacy Skills (Interactive Workshop)
- Professional Presenting (Practical Workshop).
Chat to us
Chat to us
Applying to university can be daunting, and you may have questions about applying, student life, or your course.
Course content
Modules
You will learn what makes business tick, including the financial and economic aspects of business, how to manage people, and how to organise for success.
You will learn how to manage the long-term future of a business by studying changes taking place in the business world, in societies, markets, finances, economies, technology, political intervention and legal or ethical requirements.
You will also discover how to develop and implement strategy to meet requirements and the processes behind completing in-depth research projects investigating the different choices your business needs to make.
Please note: it is possible that a module listed on the website will not be able to run due to reasons beyond our control. For more information please refer to our course information disclaimer.
How the degree is taught
Teaching methods
You'll be taught on our beautiful and historic campus located in Twickenham, London.
As well as highly interactive lectures, you’ll receive presentations from leading researchers and top management professionals and practitioners. Seminars will deepen your understanding of the skills you’ll need to be an effective manager. Individual tutorials offer further support in learning the subject matter on a one-to-one basis.
These approaches are supplemented by an online virtual learning environment where you can find additional learning materials.
Class sizes in year one lectures can be up to 190 students. In year two and three, lectures will be around 70 students as optional modules are chosen. Seminar groups are typically around 30-35 students.
Assessment methods
You will be assessed in a variety of ways that test knowledge, understanding and skills development throughout your degree.
The programme uses a broad range of assessments including business reports, essays, practical exercises, presentations, case studies, examinations, assessed blogs, seminar and simulation exercises as well as traditional exam-based assessments and coursework. Wherever possible, you’ll be assessed using digital methods and online feedback.
Feedback
We adhere to the university’s policy of providing feedback on assessments within 15 working days.
Entry requirements
N/A
240 UK credits from a Higher National Diploma (HND), a foundation degree (FdA/ FdSc), or equivalent international qualification in Business Management or a related subject, or
240 UK credits from years one and two of an undergraduate degree (BA/BSc) in Business Management or a related subject at a different institution.
We understand that sometimes barriers you can't control get in the way of academic achievement. You are more than just your grades. We'll consider your application as a whole, taking into account things like:
- subjects studied at Level 3
- your GCSEs (or equivalent) profile
- non-academic achievements you mention in your personal statement
- your references and motivation.
International requirements
International students should check our country-specific pages for equivalents. If English is not your first language you will need to achieve an IELTS score of 6 (or equivalent).
UCAS Personal statement support
Create your UCAS personal statement through our online builder and we'll email you a copy of your completed version at the end.
Further Information
For more information about entry requirements please get in touch.
How many UCAS points my grades are worth
A levels
A*
56 pts
A
48 pts
B
40 pts
C
32 pts
D
24 pts
E
16 pts
My qualification isn't listed:
If you can't find your qualification in this list please check the full list of UCAS tariff tables.
Fees & funding
Tuition fees
Home
£9,535
International
£17,100
Funding Information
January 2026 entry
If you are applying to study the programme starting in January 2026, your tuition fees will be as follows:
- Home: £9,535
- International: £17,100
*Please note: these fees are annual and may increase as detailed in our tuition fee variation disclaimer.
For more information on foundation year fees for home students, please check the details on our tuition fee page.
Information about tuition fees, student loans, and funding your studies can be found within our fees and funding section.
Additional costs
Your tuition fees will cover the cost of all mandatory elements of your programme.
Additional costs could be incurred depending on optional modules chosen and other projects undertaken.
For further information about additional costs please see our additional costs webpage.
Scholarships
Find out more about our range of scholarships and bursaries available to undergraduate students .
Living costs
A guide to your living costs has been created by our Student Funding Team.
Accommodation costs vary depending on whether you opt for an en suite room and on-site catering. Take a look at our accommodation options and the prices you can expect to pay.
Career opportunities
Our Business Management (Top-Up) degree will help you develop essential transferrable skills, such as teamwork, critical thinking, and time management.
Contact our Career Services at careers@stmarys.ac.uk for further information on work and postgraduate opportunities.
Some examples of job roles and areas of work for graduates of Business Management (Top-Up) BSc (Hons) include:
Apply now
If you're currently living in the United Kingdom and Ireland, you'll need to apply directly through UCAS. You can check our step-by-step application guide for detailed information.
If you are living outside of the United Kingdom and Ireland, you can submit an application directly or add St Mary's University as a choice on UCAS. Check our guideline for more information.
Transferring from another institution?
St Mary's is happy to consider applications from students who wish to transfer from another university. If this is you, please follow these instructions.
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