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Course overview
Modern-day businesses require employees who are technologically savvy and can tackle business challenges on the go. With digital innovation continuing to shape the business landscape, graduates with strong business and computing knowledge remain in high demand.
If you’re looking to keep your career options open and flexible, this broad-ranging degree is an ideal pathway to pursue. This exciting undergraduate course examines a wide range of topics – from management, finance and marketing to programming, data management and statistics. By the end of the course, you’ll have the latest skills to progress your career in the business and computing sectors and unlock new professional opportunities.
A degree in business and computing equips you for a variety of innovative technology and business-related positions. You’ll obtain the skills that make you a versatile candidate across a range of sectors, and future career options could include roles such as IT consultant, Digital Marketing Manager, Web Developer, DevOps Analyst, Cyber Security Specialist or E-Commerce Manager.
A shorter 16-month CertHE Business and Computing is also available for this course, equal to a total of 120 credits. The CertHE option gives you the opportunity to progress onto one of our postgraduate computing courses or postgraduate business degrees on completion.
Job outcomes
- Business Analyst
- Business Consultant
- Digital Marketing Manager
- Project Manager or Product Manager
- E-commerce Manager
- Web Developer
- DevOps Analyst
- Cyber Security Specialist
Study method
- Online
- Blended
- In-class
- Virtual
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Duration study load
Our BSc (Hons) Business and Computing has an indicative study duration of 4 years, which is a guide to how long your course will take to complete. The actual duration may be longer or shorter depending on your speed of study, study options chosen and module availability.
It’s possible to complete your studies faster than the indicative course duration by doubling up on modules at certain times; however, minimum study durations do apply.
Our academic year is organised into modules, typically with a one or two-week break between modules and a structured three-week break for the Christmas period. Students will receive a course timetable during the application process.
All our courses have regular start dates throughout the year.
On successful completion of your degree, you’ll be invited to attend a graduation ceremony at the University of Essex’s Colchester campus.
Entry requirements
We know many people from non-traditional backgrounds would succeed on our courses! That’s why we offer two different entry routes, taking into account your prior work experience and relevant qualifications. You’ll also need to meet our English language requirements.
Additionally, you’ll need to pass your first assignment set within your two-week induction period of the course in order to continue with your studies.
Academic entry route
In order to satisfy the academic entry route requirements for our BSc (Hons) Business and Computing, you must have the following qualifications as a minimum:
- three A-levels or equivalent
Work experience entry route
To satisfy the work experience entry route requirements for our BSc (Hons) Business and Computing, you must meet the following criteria as a minimum:
- GCSE Maths and English at grade C or above, or equivalent
- at least three years of experience within the fields of IT, computer science or business
English language requirements
As our courses are delivered in English, a high proficiency is required in this language. If English is not your first language, your English ability should be equivalent to an IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0. Don’t worry if you don’t hold an IELTS or equivalent qualification – we offer a free online English test to assess your proficiency.
You don’t need to prove your English ability if you are a national of, or have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in, any of these countries, speak to one of our advisors to find out more.
Course features
- Develop a strong understanding of both business and computing with specially selected modules.
- Gain the knowledge to stay ahead of digital changes.
- Study 100% online, part-time, with no need for a career break.
- We’re rated Gold in the Times Higher Education Online Learning Rankings 2024.
- Gain your degree certificate from the University of Essex, a top 25 UK university (Guardian University Guide 2025).
Assessment
You’ll be assessed through a series of assignments. This can be by engaging in discussion forums throughout your modules, completing reflective journal entries, delivering live presentations or by submitting longer written pieces.
We’re committed to providing frequent and transparent feedback in the following ways:
- our assessment criteria are designed to be simple and transparent
- you’ll always be aware of your current provisional grade, right from the start of the programme
- you’ll be able to view your marks clearly in your gradebook whenever you log into the learning platform
- there’s a 7-day turnaround for marking and feedback of assessed work
- you’ll have regular contact with your Student Support team, with whom you can discuss any concerns as soon as they arise
Delivery
Studying online gives you the freedom to study when and where it suits you – at home, during your lunch hour or anywhere else you have internet access.
Our courses are delivered through a virtual learning environment (VLE) instead of a traditional campus. This means you’ll have access to your study materials 24/7, including:
- multimedia lecturecasts made up of written content, short videos, animation, audio recordings, infographics, short tests and mini-assignments
- discussion forums for you to chat about the course content with fellow students
- live seminars and Q&A sessions with your tutors
- a comprehensive eLibrary of textbooks and academic journals
- support from academic staff and your dedicated Student Support team
Subjects
The BSc (Hons) Business and Computing is made up of the following modules and, upon completion, is equal to a total of 360 credits.
Optional modules at Level 6: Please choose one optional computing module and three optional business modules to make up the total 120 credits at this level.
Component 01: Compulsory
Research and professional practice
(15 credits)
Develop the fundamental skills required to engage in research activities, project management and professional conduct. This module incorporates relevant themes – including how to adopt sustainable development goals, minimise impact and promote social responsibility. You’ll also begin building your entrepreneurial skills and understanding of research methodologies through theoretical discussion, practical exercises and real-world case studies.
Component 02: Core
Fundamentals of programming
(15 credits)
Gain a comprehensive introduction to programming. By writing, testing and debugging through Python, you’ll develop a strong understanding of coding and its impact on software development. There’s also a strong emphasis on inclusive and sustainable software, as you explore the role of software in society and beyond.
Component 03: Compulsory
Introduction to data modelling
(15 credits)
Discover how to work with data in this exciting module. You’ll analyse the key concepts of SQL – such as relations, keys and normalisation – through the design and implementation of relational databases, ensuring you have a solid understanding of database design principles.
Component 04: Compulsory
Introduction to maths and statistics
(15 credits)
How do maths and statistics affect decision-making in sustainable practices? Find out in this informative module. From summary statistics, hypothesis testing and linear algebra, to permutations, probability and parametric and non-parametric tests, you’ll cover a range of mathematical and statistical applications. And by the end, you’ll have a strong understanding of how they’re integral to the role of a computer scientist.
Component 05: Core
Business and management skills
(15 credits)
Distinguish between the role of leader and manager, and understand how to establish effective teams to increase motivation in the workplace. This valuable module will also develop your understanding of effective communication channels leaders employ, as well as the overall communication process.
Component 06: Compulsory
Business environment
(15 credits)
How do businesses work within an international economy? In this insightful module, you’ll learn about the internal and external environment of organisations and explore how it impacts people, technology and resources. This module will also provide you with a grounding in approaches to organisation management.
Component 07: Compulsory
Fundamentals of marketing
(15 credits)
This valuable module examines the modern marketing environment and the four main decision-making areas to consider in business. You’ll then progress into interesting psychological aspects, such as buyer behaviour and consumer influence while developing an understanding of the role of marketing in society as a whole.
Component 08: Compulsory
Introduction to Finance
(15 credits)
What role does finance play within an organisation? Find out in this valuable module. You’ll cover topics such as budgeting, cost management and capital investment analysis, while developing your ability to analyse and evaluate performance. That way, you can make decisions based on financial information.
Component 01: Compulsory
Research and Professional Practice 2
(15 credits)
Build the skills you need to succeed in your future computing career. Following a team-based projects framework, you’ll choose a team project that aligns with specific attributes that fit with your chosen topic. That way, you’ll develop a strong understanding of various professional competencies and ethical standards in project development.
Component 02: Compulsory
Computer security
(15 credits)
Gain a thorough introduction to cybersecurity with this informative module. Through hands-on exercises and real-world case studies, you’ll explore cryptography, user authentication, operating system security, malware forensics and more – ensuring you’re well-prepared for a career in this sector.
Component 03: Compulsory
Introduction to AI
(15 credits)
Artificial intelligence is a rapidly growing area – and this module offers an introduction to all facets of AI. You’ll explore the methodologies and techniques of search algorithms, knowledge representation and learning mechanisms – as well as the role of AI in computer games and robotics. And at the end, you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of systems built upon interacting intelligent acts.
Component 04: Compulsory
Introduction to data science
(15 credits)
Did you know data science plays a key role in medicine, climate science and business analytics? Discover the fundamental concepts of this rapidly growing field, as you explore key tools and techniques – as well as ways to analyse both textual and numerical data. By the end, you’ll have developed strong analytical skills and be ready to explore various application domains where data science is relevant.
Component 05: Compulsory
Business Investigation
(30 credits)
Explore a wide range of practical and theoretical issues relating to research in business, their applications and how they can be employed by different organisations. This fascinating module also allows you to conduct your own research into an area of interest, using appropriate methodology and professional research material.
Component 06: Compulsory
Consumer behaviour
(15 credits)
What is consumer behaviour and how does it impact marketing strategy? In this valuable module, you’ll analyse the concepts of consumer research, market segmentation and motivation – while focusing on individual personality, perceptions, attitudes and learning. Identify the influence of groups on consumer behaviour and evaluate the consumer decision-making process.
Component 07: Compulsory
Operations management
(15 credits)
Gain a foundational level of knowledge covering the concept and significance of strategic Human Resource Development (HRD) in a global context. This helpful module critically engages strategic HRD – as well as learning and talent development practices and policies –at individual, group, organisational, national and international levels.
Component 01: Compulsory
Capstone project
(45 credits)
What role does operations management play in the success of an organisation? Find out in this exciting module. You’ll learn how to maximise scarce resources to produce goods and services in an efficient and cost-effective way, while developing the skills required to recommend changes and improvements to strategic operations and supply chain.
Component 02: Optional
Advanced programming
(15 credits)
Develop your programming skills in this comprehensive module. From multiprocessing, threads and messaging, to input/output operations, remote method invocation, web services and server architecture, you’ll gain a thorough introduction to various programming topics – while honing your use of cloud technologies, such as Google Cloud.
Component 03: Optional
Computer vision
(15 credits)
This module helps you gain practical experience in basic computer vision tasks. By actively writing computer programs to tackle various vision tasks – and exploring core principles and methods through visual data – you’ll begin building your own practical skills and experience in this area.
Component 04: Optional
Information retrieval
(15 credits)
Discover how to design energy-efficient information retrieval (IR) systems in this inspiring module. You’ll learn all about the theoretical foundations of IR systems – such as text processing, indexing and querying – while considering how to minimise the carbon footprint of digital information processing during design and development. That way, you’ll have a strong understanding of the role of IR systems in building environmentally responsible systems that drive social and economic value.
Component 05: Optional
Natural language processing
(15 credits)
How do computer programs perform everyday language tasks? Find out in this exciting module. You’ll be introduced to the three fundamental concepts of natural language processing (NLP): understanding the structure and grammar of language; considering language processing tasks that are simple for humans but challenging for computers; and using intelligent computing techniques to solve these challenges.
Component 06: Optional
Network security
(15 credits)
Learn how to keep computer networks safe from cyber-attacks in this informative module. You’ll begin by exploring the principles, techniques and tools used to secure computer networks – before moving on to network analysis, threat assessment and cryptographic approaches, and how these apply to real-life scenarios.
Component 07: Compulsory
Business strategy
(15 credits)
Hone your strategic management skills with this exciting module. You’ll benefit from an engaging introduction to the key theories, approaches and concepts which form business strategy. Not only that, you’ll learn to critically evaluate the limitations of emerging schools of thought and how to they best work in practice.
Component 08: Optional
Global business environment
(15 credits)
Immerse yourself in the key elements of the global business environment with this comprehensive module. You’ll review international trade theories, the global financial marketplace and discover the organisations which support it. You’ll also learn to critically analyse the motives for and barriers to internationalism.
Component 09: Optional
Business Finance
(15 credits)
Develop an understanding of business finance and its applications to the decision-making process in organisations. In this valuable module, you’ll work through the theoretical concepts and approaches to finance management within a domestic context – before critically analysing opportunities for expansion and divestment.
Component 10: Optional
Business law
(15 credits)
In this engaging module, you’ll identify the core foundations of law that regulate businesses and evaluate the changing legal environment and how this affects businesses on an operational level. Dive into the fundamental issues that face all businesses, contract, employment, tort and business operations.
Component 11: Optional
E-business and marketing
(15 credits)
Identify the key concepts of e-commerce and e-business marketing in this exciting module. You’ll learn how to attract customers through digital media channels; develop a solid understanding of search engine marketing, campaign performance and metrics; and discover how each of these channels interacts with the overall customer journey.
Component 12: Optional
Strategic human resource management
(15 credits)
About University of Essex Online
University of Essex Online delivers 100% online part-time courses in business, computing, education, health, law, criminology and psychology. The qualifications we offer include CertHEs and Bachelors degrees at the undergraduate level, and PG Certs, PG Dips and Masters degrees at the postgraduate level, with study durations ranging from 8 months to 4 years.
As an established provider of 100% online degrees in the UK. All our courses are specifically designed for online delivery, combining silver-standard teaching with the latest technology and enabling you to gain a degree from anywhere in the world.
All our qualifications are awarded and validated by the University of Essex, an award-winning university with a 60-year heritage of teaching and research excellence. On completion of your studies, you’ll be invited to graduate at the University of Essex’s Colchester campus. You will receive the same certificate as campus-based students – your mode of study is only mentioned on your academic transcript.
We're proud to be rated Gold in the Times Higher Education (THE) Online Rankings 2024. Our achievement, which is based on four pillars - resources, engagement, outcomes and environment - recognises our commitment to excellent online education.
