Business Management and Digital Innovation BSc (Hons)

Why choose this course?

The course will cover the fundamentals of the business ecosystem and the key current and future aspects of developing data and digital enhanced solutions in business. This area includes the disruptive nature of technology on business models and also provides exposure to how technology can drive value in areas such as finance, marketing, supply chain, service design, sustainability and human resource management.

The course will prepare students to manage technology informed projects in a responsible and sustainable way. A key strand is entrepreneurship and design – developing students to respond proactively to current business problems and priorities.

Attendance UCAS code Year of entry
3 years full time N294 2023 (Clearing)
2024
4 years full time including sandwich year N295 2023 (Clearing)
2024
4 years full time including foundation year N296 2023 (Clearing)
2024
Location Kingston Hill

Reasons to choose Kingston University

  • In just three years, you'll graduate with a business degree and the real-life practical experience and skills that employers are looking for.
  • Kingston Business School has been recognised for quality by the Business Accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This award is earned by just 5% of the world's business schools.
  • You'll be exposed to all aspects of management and supported to pursue your individual career ambitions.

At Kingston Business School we lead

What you will study

Take a look at some of the content and modules that you may have the opportunity to study on this course:

Year 1

Year 2

Optional year

Final year

Year 1 introduces the foundations of business. You'll cover the environmental influences faced by organisations, and the key concepts of experience and service management. You'll also learn about disruptive technologies and how they can be used to deliver digital enhanced solutions for all areas of business, as well as developing innovative ideas through business design thinking.

Core modules

Global Business Environments

30 credits

This module introduces you to the external context in which organisations operate and in which you will eventually work. As potential managers of the future, defined as someone involved in assisting and directing members of an organisation to achieve their organisational objectives, you'll need to be equipped to understand the component parts of the external context within which organisations function.

The variety and complexity of the external environment and interactions with industries and organisations has a significant impact upon the way organisations and teams are structured. You will gain the skills and knowledge required to be able to research, critically appraise, compare businesses across territories, sectors and size.

Data and Digital in Business

30 credits

Disruptive Technologies are the ultimate challenge in change management impacting not only industry structures and strategic positioning; it affects all levels of an organisation and its extended supply chain. You will review the basis of disruptive innovation and examine these by researching technologies and applications of today.

This module also focuses on how data analytics and digital technologies are utilised by businesses to enable better decisions and alter consumer interactions. You will use a problem-centric approach applying analytical techniques with the aid of information technology, and the development of employability skills associated with these.

Service Mindset and Business Relationships

30 credits

This module introduces students to core topics and concepts of experience and service management. This includes the behaviour and management of people in work situations, customers interacting with organisations, stakeholders or partners in the sourcing/resourcing and delivery of the proposition organisations offer.

You will understand and research the behaviour and needs of stakeholder groups, frame, and design experiences, connect, manage and measure these for business success. It builds an understanding of the complexity of relationships in and across global organisations and how these function in "best practice" situations; in building and managing relationships, partnerships and networks in start-up or smaller business situations.

Business Design Thinking

30 credits

Business design thinking is a set of methods and techniques applied to problems or opportunities to come up with ideas. You will gain an understanding of the challenges of managing creativity and innovation within organisations, and experience first-hand some of the typical problems faced in organisations today and work on ways in which to solve these creatively.

You will work with the input of real cases, external speakers and organisations and will be encouraged to present your ideas and findings.

In Year 2 you'll develop your problem-solving and decision-making skills in the broad context of business functions. You'll also look at value creation across all areas of business, developing effective marketing programmes, technology in focus, and sustainable and responsible management.

Core modules

Unlocking Business Value

30 credits

This module looks at value creation across all functions of the corporation for different industries and types of businesses. It starts with the evaluation of the KPI's of different types of businesses and their respective industries and how to do peer and industry analysis. It then moves to evaluating investment decisions, including capital budgeting, calculating project returns and how to choose the best projects that maximise returns for investment objectives and given risk constraints.

You will learn how to unlock value in a choice of capital structure and financing decisions in terms of instruments, markets where you issue and how you determine your optimal capital structure subject to a target cost of funding and other structural constraints. It finishes with a review of how to put all this together to be able to value a business. Throughout the module you will also be introduced to how negotiation has an impact on each area.

Developing Effective Marketing Programmes

30 credits

In all business environments today, there is a need to understand the ways in which effective marketing programmes and customer engagement can create the business impact outlined in business strategy. Communications skills are consistently high on the external skills requirements list. This module seeks to combine these elements to provide you with the important knowledge and skills that you will need to organise, manage, and create effective marketing and communications programmes.

Sustainable and Responsible Management

30 credits

The module covers the concepts and knowledge of sustainable business and supply chain management by looking at the ethical issues that emerge in the interactions between a business and its stakeholders and implementation of socially responsible and sustainable programmes and initiatives. You will study Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), innovation, the triple bottom line – economic, environmental and social sustainability in the supply chains, uncertainty and risk management, stakeholder value and reputation.

In addition, the module will provide you with the project tools and techniques that focus on how to create a business case for sustainable projects, as well as utilising traditional and contemporary project and product delivery frameworks to support the delivery of sustainable benefits both to businesses, and a wider community of stakeholders. You will consider how investment decisions can incorporate ethics and risk.

Technology in Focus

15 credits

This module introduces the changing landscape of information architecture use in enterprises. You will study typical business information architectures, along with the changes that commoditisation, disruption, and new and emerging IT technologies have on business processes, services, and end-user behaviour. Delivered through practical work engaging with technologies, the module will demonstrate the important link between evolving business strategy and IT.

Digital Analytics for Business

15 credits

This module will provide you with the fundamental knowledge and skills required to analyse digital data using appropriate technologies. Students will explore how data-driven insights drive data-based decision making with hands-on experience in using scripting languages for digital data analytics. The module enables students to use appropriate data preparation, storage, analysis and visualisation skills to generate value for business stakeholders.

Study abroad optional year

You have the option to take an additional year to study abroad or to undertake a year-long work placement (or even a mix of both).

Your final year develops your critical understanding and your ability to contribute to strategic thinking in both local and global business, driving innovation to deliver both financial and social value. You'll look at leadership in changing environments and be supported to grow your own leadership skills.

You'll also be able to expand your knowledge and skills within marketing, L&D, digital design and customer relationship management.

Core modules

Building Business Strategy

30 credits

This module covers the concepts, theories and techniques on which strategic management is based and explores their application in a wide range of international business and other settings.

It aims to expand students' perspective on wider issues and scenarios, identifying opportunities and growth over medium and long terms. You will develop your ability to communicate and present your commercial awareness across the board.

Leadership, Transformation and Complexity

30 credits

This module addresses complexity and sense making techniques to identify changes in the environment. It includes theoretical and practical perspectives of effective and responsible leadership in contemporary complex and changing organisational contexts. You will critically evaluate concepts of leadership alongside current practices of leading change in contemporary organisations faced with complex and uncertain environments.

You will critically reflect on your own leadership capacity and skills in initiating and leading change in different contexts, and consider your own progress and career journey in the context of these environments and leadership styles.

Digital Innovation and Transformation

30 credits

This module will give you  an understanding of the digital innovation process and its role in driving business transformation. The module covers the principles, strategies, and practices of digital innovation and transformation, including the key technologies, platforms, and tools that enable innovation in the digital age. You will learn how digital innovation can transform businesses, create new business models, and new ways of working. The module enables you to develop consultancy skills through working with key stakeholders in identifying opportunities for digital innovation and applications of transformation strategies to generate value for customers and stakeholders alike.

Optional modules

Professional Experience

15 credits

You will reflect upon the skills acquired in attaining your internship, alongside the conceptual and theoretical knowledge developed through your study of the core curriculum. 

You will prepare a brief for future students on how to make the most out of their internship, through the form of either a blog post, video, vlog (video blog), podcast or poster presentation

Digital Creativity in Marketing

15 credits

This module will enable you to understand specific techniques and best practices in digital marketing communications and engagement. You will gain hands-on experience of the latest developments in digital marketing communications and business tools and technology, such as search engine marketing, mobile marketing, social media, big data and analytics.

You will combine previously learned theoretical perspectives and practical applications and apply these to contemporary or live digital marketing challenges, providing creative responses.

The Learning Organisation

15 credits

This module addresses the need for Learning and Development (L&D) to be delivered in a strategic manner to enhance both individual performance and organisational success. You will develop an understanding of the status of L&D strategies in organisations, how to design and deliver responses to contemporary challenges and problems in L&D, as well as L&D technology.

Drawing upon knowledge acquired from a range of other modules, you will learn how to design successful knowledge management programmes.

Data and Digital Driven Design

15 credits

This module introduces the principles of using digital driven design to support compelling data narratives. This will equip you with the knowledge, skills and technologies required to manage and design a typical information architecture solution using an agile management approach on top of data foundations.

You will gain experience in Agile; in designing and implementing a prototype mobile and web application; in learning about modelling data and the importance of navigation and search, and in understanding data provenance, life cycles, and presentation.

CRM and Customer Success

15 credits

You will establish an understanding of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) as a comprehensive customer-centric approach to an organisation's strategy of acquiring, enhancing, and retaining its customers, and in some cases, a wider group of stakeholders (e.g. students, charity donors).

This module shows how CRM is based on a particular approach to business/marketing strategy/policy, business processes, customer service, employee training, marketing, sales, system applications and information management. An effective CRM strategy and system can reinforce sustainability and profitability of a business, so this module focuses on the business strategy associated with CRM and reflects upon specific strategic situations in which CRM might be deployed effectively.

This module also provides the opportunity to gain hands-on experience using an available commercial CRM software package to support business intelligence generated from CRM initiatives in support of marketing strategies, customer segmentation, customer retention measures and product offerings. You will also familiarise yourself with the notion of customer success and the roles in much demand in the contemporary marketplace.

You will study the fundamentals of the business ecosystem and the key current and future aspects of developing data and digital enhanced solutions in business. This area includes the disruptive nature of technology on business models and also provides exposure to how technology can drive value in areas such as finance, marketing, supply chain, service design, sustainability and human resource management.

Foundation year - Business

If you would like to study this business degree at Kingston University but are not yet ready to join the first year of a BSc (Hons) course, you may want to consider studying this course with a foundation year.

Future Skills

Knowledge to give you the edge

Embedded within every course curriculum and throughout the whole Kingston experience, Future Skills will play a role in shaping you to become a future-proof graduate, providing you with the skills most valued by employers such as problem-solving, digital competency, and adaptability.

As you progress through your degree, you'll learn to navigate, explore and apply these graduate skills, learning to demonstrate and articulate to employers how future skills give you the edge.

At Kingston University, we're not just keeping up with change, we're creating it.

A female engineering student, in the engineering lab.

Kingston Business School Accreditations

Kingston Business School holds the prestigious international accreditation by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) in recognition of the excellence of its business education. This accreditation has been earned by just 5% of the world's business schools and recognises the high quality and standard of our business degree offerings.

AACSB Accredited logo

Entry requirements

If you would like to join us through Clearing 2023, please call our Clearing hotline on 0800 0483 334 (or +44 020 8328 1149 if you are calling from outside the UK) and speak to our friendly and knowledgeable hotliners who will be able to provide information on available courses and will guide you through your options.

Please note the entry requirements listed below are for 2024 entry only.

Typical offer 2024

  • 120-136 UCAS tariff points (to include at least two A-levels or equivalent qualifications); Degree with foundation year 64
  • BTEC Lvl3 National: Distinction, Merit, Merit (DMM)
  • Candidates are normally required to hold five GCSE subjects grades A*-C including Mathematics and English Language (or comparable numeric score under the newly reformed GCSE grading.)

Typical offer 2023

  • 112-128 UCAS tariff points (to include at least two A-levels or equivalent qualifications); Degree with foundation year 48
  • BTEC Lvl3 National: Distinction, Merit, Merit (DMM)
  • Candidates are normally required to hold five GCSE subjects grades A*-C including Mathematics and English Language (or comparable numeric score under the newly reformed GCSE grading.)

Additional requirements

  • Entry onto this course does not require an interview, entrance test, audition or portfolio.

International

  • We welcome applications from International Applicants. Please view our standard entry requirements from your country
  • All non-UK applicants must meet our English Language requirements. For this course it is Academic IELTS of 6.0 overall, with no element below 5.5

Country-specific information

You will find more information on country-specific entry requirements in the International section of our website.

Find your country:

Typical offer and UCAS points explained

Like most universities, we use the UCAS Tariff point system for our course entry requirements.

Find out more about UCAS Tariff points and see how A-level, AS level, BTEC Diploma and T-level qualifications translate to the points system.

Teaching and assessment

Timetabled learning and teaching on this course includes lectures, workshops in computer labs, small group tutorials and seminars.

Guided independent study (self-managed time)

When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking coursework assignments, and preparing and giving presentations. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the online virtual learning platform.

Academic support

Our academic support team here at Kingston University provides help in a range of areas.

Dedicated personal tutor

When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of academic staff who will provide academic guidance, support you throughout your time at Kingston and show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer at Kingston University. 

Your workload

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 1
  • Scheduled learning and teaching: 352 hours
  • Guided independent study (self-managed time): 848 hours
Year 2
  • Scheduled learning and teaching: 264 hours
  • Guided independent study (self-managed time): 936 hours
Year 3
  • Scheduled learning and teaching: 198 hours
  • Guided independent study (self-managed time): 702 hours

 

  • Year 1 - 29% of your time is spent in timetabled learning and teaching activity
  • Year 2 - 22% of your time is spent in timetabled learning and teaching activity
  • Final year - 22% of your time is spent in timetabled learning and teaching activity

Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. Depending on optional modules chosen, this breakdown may change.

How you will be assessed

Assessment typically comprises exams (e.g. test or exam), practical (e.g. presentations, performance) and coursework (e.g. essays, reports, self-assessment, portfolios and dissertation). The approximate percentage for how you will be assessed on this course is as follows, though depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose:

 

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 1
  • Coursework: 70%
  • Practical: 30%
  • Exam: 0%
Year 2
  • Coursework: 90%
  • Practical: 10%
Year 3
  • Coursework: 93%
  • Practical: 7%
  • Exam: 0%

Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. Depending on optional modules chosen, this breakdown may change.

Feedback summary

We aim to provide feedback to you on your assessments within 20 working days.

Your timetable

Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student friendly as possible, scheduled learning and teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9am and 6pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.

Who teaches this course?

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on this course. The team includes senior academics and professional practitioners with industry experience. Student academic mentors also provide support during certain tutorials / seminars, under the supervision of the module leader.

The following group of staff members are currently involved in the delivery of different elements of this course. This pool is subject to change at any time within the academic year.

Course fees and funding

2024/25 fees for this course

The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student. In 2024/25 the fees for this course are:

 Fee category Amount
Home (UK students)

£9,250*
Foundation Year: £9,250

International

Year 1 (2024/25): £16,200 
Year 2 (2025/26): £16,800
Year 3 (2026/27): £17,500
Year 4 (2027/28): £18,200

For courses with a sandwich year, the fee for the placement year can be viewed on the undergraduate fees table. The placement fee published is for the relevant academic year stated in the table. This fee is subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body.

* For full time programmes of a duration of more than one academic year, the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year, for the duration of the programme. Your annual tuition fees cover your first attempt at all of the modules necessary to complete that academic year. A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full time taught international fees are subject to an annual increase and are published in advance for the full duration of the programme.

Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest-rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.

2023/24 fees for this course

The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student. In 2023/24 the fees for this course are:

 Fee category Amount
Home (UK students)

£9,250*
Foundation Year: £9,250

International

Year 1 (2023/24): £14,300 
Year 2 (2024/25): £14,700
Year 3 (2025/26): £15,100
Year 4 (2026/27): £15,500

For courses with a sandwich year, the fee for the placement year can be viewed on the undergraduate fees table. The placement fee published is for the relevant academic year stated in the table. This fee is subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body.

* For full time programmes of a duration of more than one academic year, the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year, for the duration of the programme. Your annual tuition fees cover your first attempt at all of the modules necessary to complete that academic year. A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full time taught international fees are subject to an annual increase and are published in advance for the full duration of the programme.

Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest-rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.

Need to know more?

Our undergraduate fees and funding section provides information and advice on money matters.

Additional costs

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.

Textbooks

Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. You may prefer to buy your own copy of key textbooks – this can cost between £50 and £250 per year.

Computer equipment

There are open-access networked computers available across the University, plus laptops available to loan. You may find it useful to have your own PC, laptop or tablet which you can use around campus and in halls of residences. Free WiFi is available on each of the campuses. You may wish to purchase your own computer, which can cost from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.

Photocopying and printing

In the majority of cases written coursework can be submitted online. There may be instances when you will be required to submit work in a printed format. Printing, binding and photocopying costs are not included in your tuition fees, this may cost up to £100 per year.

Travel

Travel costs are not included in your tuition fees but we do have a free intersite bus service which links the campuses, Surbiton train station, Kingston upon Thames train station, Norbiton train station and halls of residence.

Placement

There is an internship option in the second year. Travel for this will vary according to the location of the internship and whether travel costs are covered by the internship provider, but for a London-based internship, the cost of a London Travelcard for zones 1-6 for three months could cost up to £600.

If the placement year option is chosen, during this year travel costs will vary according to the location of the placement, and could be from £0 to £2,000.

Materials

You will be advised to purchase a specific calculator at a cost of approximately £10 to £20.

Field trips

There may be the opportunity for a visit to an external assessment centre and optional day trips to companies in London. The cost would be approximately £100 per year.

Work placements

Our course offers a work placement to help you develop your skills and gain invaluable experience, this option will also help you to:

  • Improve your career choices: Business experience and placements help you to make better-informed career choices and help you stand out from the competition when you look for a job.
  • Help with your studies: Statistics indicate that on average students who do placements get better results in their final year.
  • Develop your professional skills: Preparing you for your career
  • Increase your employability: Each year many of our students receive graduate job offers from their placement employer.

 

After you graduate

This course will enable graduates to work in a variety of organisations, from large companies to SMEs. Some start their own businesses or progress to postgraduate degrees and professional qualifications.

Course changes and regulations

The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Course changes explained.

Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.

Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.