Unit descriptions for Business, Social Sciences, Humanities and Law

Introduction to the Study of Business
This unit provides a basic understanding of business and management for those students who will undertake an undergraduate degree involving the study of business. The unit pursues the following themes: models of management, the business environment, managing people, leadership, corporate social responsibility, human resource management, corporate strategy, marketing, organisation structure, managing operations.

Introduction to the Study of Accounting
This introductory unit covers financial, management, social and environmental accounting. No prior knowledge of accounting is needed. It demonstrates some of the basic accounting concepts and procedures used in the preparation of financial statements and helps students with the interpretation of financial performance. It also demonstrates some of the techniques used in management accounting and helps students to understand the role of management accounting in organisational planning, control, decision making and performance evaluation. Students also explore the wider applications of accounting information.

The unit incorporates the following themes: business organisations and finance, starting a business, business growth, large businesses, the role of accounting in business, the balance sheet, the profit and loss account, cash flow, financial reporting by limited companies, understanding financial reports, social and environmental accounts, budgeting, pricing, capital investment decisions, performance measurements and reporting.

Economics
The main aims of this unit are to introduce students to thinking like an economist whilst becoming familiar with key terminology and to understand the main theoretical models and concepts used in economics. In addition, various ‘real-world’ applications are considered. Students also gain experience in academic essay writing and in seminar planning and presentation.

The unit incorporates the following themes: thinking like an economist and the use of diagrams by economists, the market mechanism  market structure and competition, economic growth; unemployment and debates over macroeconomic policy.

International Studies and Development
This unit provides international students with a grounding in the field of International Relations and International Development. Students will be introduced to International Relations as an academic study. The unit will introduce theoretical perspectives, primarily focusing on recent history and the examination of current trends in world development. It also covers the evolving structure and role of international institutions such as the United Nations. Students also look at key issues relating to development, including the study of case studies such as India and China.

Law
This unit provides students with a grounding in the main principles and structure of English law. To understand the background of the legal system, students learn the principles of the constitution, including parliamentary sovereignty and the rule of law. Students also study aspects of the law, including the legislative system, common law, statutory interpretation and judicial precedent, civil and criminal proceedings and the hierarchy of the courts. The unit introduces international students to EU law as well as the European Convention on Human Rights.

Society and Culture
This unit introduces international students to the basic concepts of society, socialisation and culture. Students cover various topics including race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, religion and the mass media. Included in the syllabus is an examination of contemporary culture, issues related to consumption, popular culture and the influence of globalisation.