Undergraduate Course

BSc Business Administration and Supply Chain Management

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Overview

The details

Course: Business Administration and Supply Chain Management

UCAS code: N111

Start date: October 2025

Study mode: Full-time

Duration: 3 years

Location: Southend Campus

Based in: Essex Business School

In the current global business landscape, understanding main functional areas of an organisation and the relationship among these functional areas will play a crucial role in efficiently managing an organisation. Effective co-ordination of internal processes and external partners (like suppliers) ensures a smooth flow of goods and services to the right consumer at the right time. A dysfunctional supply chain could significantly impact performance and could lead to increased product cost, delayed deliveries, and unsatisfied consumers.

Recent examples of supply chain crises (e.g. disruption in goods delivery, food shortages in several countries etc.), have reinforced the need to understand supply chain challenges and their impact on different functional units of an organisation.

BSc Business Administration and Supply Chain Management is designed to develop your knowledge and skillset and to teach you to critically understand an organisation's different functions and the supply chain's role in successfully managing an organisation.

The course will provide comprehensive knowledge of both theoretical and practical aspects of business and supply chain management, and prepare students to apply this learning in the context of real-world problems.

Study areas include:

business strategy
operations and supply chain management
business analytics
quantitative analysis
logistics management
project management
business research methods

Group work tasks develop your teamwork skills and our business simulation project puts you in charge of your virtual venture. In competition with other students, you develop your problem-solving, analysis, and creativity skills as you make decisions to optimise your business' performance.

In your final year, you'll put your knowledge into practice by producing a business plan, industry report or dissertation in an area of your choice. As well as developing the research and analytical skills needed for the workplace, you can benefit from the opportunity to make valuable business connections by gathering case studies and interviews.

The University of Essex is one of just three UK universities to have received Q-Step Affiliate status, including for our BSc Business Administration and Supply Chain Management, to support the way we develop the quantitative skills of our graduates.

This course is taught at Essex Business School. We're an international school that places a strong emphasis on responsible management, ethics, and sustainable business practices. We encourage our students to think strategically, act responsibly, and have the confidence to innovate to make positive changes in turbulent economic environments.

Why we're great.

We are uniquely located close to two of the new UK freeports, Thames Freeport and Freeport East, making us uniquely placed in the supply chain and logistics sector.
Combine core knowledge of a business management degree with the specific knowledge and skills required to succeed in organisational management.
We are ranked in the Top 175 for Business and Economics in THE World University Rankings by Subject 2025.

Study abroad

The four-year version of this course enables you to study abroad during your third year. In all other areas, this version of the course remains identical to the standard three-year variant.

You can study abroad with one of our exchange partners in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, the Middle East, Hong Kong and Japan. In doing so, you experience other cultures and languages, meet new people, and gain intercultural skills that are sought-after by employers.

Placement year

Alternatively, you may prefer to take on a placement during your third year to gain relevant work experience within an external organisation. A placement can provide you with valuable experience to add to your CV.

The Placements Team can offer bespoke support throughout the process of researching, applying and interviewing for placements. However, it is your responsibility to apply, prepare for and secure your own role. In recent years, our students have gained placements with organisations such as BMW, Samsung and Cummins.

Our expert staff

You are taught by a highly qualified, enthusiastic team of academics and practitioners with wide-ranging research interests. Their research is used in lectures and seminars so you learn about the latest issues impacting the business world.

Our staff specialise in areas including:

internationalisation
innovation
ethics
social responsibility
sustainability
supply chain management
business analytics

At Essex Business School we are home to academic staff who are on the cutting edge of their research areas. Dr Debashree De, one of our undergraduate tutors, is a Lecturer in Supply Chain Management and is passionate about solving sustainability related issues. Her research encompasses green supply chain management, sustainability, low carbon strategies and operations management, meaning that she is able to stimulate our students with relevant and topical debate.

Essex Business School is home to a number of research groups. Our Strategy, Operations and Entrepreneurship Group, based at our Southend Campus, are a group of international researchers with an entrepreneurial focus. This means that your teaching in business administration and supply chain management will cover the latest insights from research conducted in partnership with businesses from all over the world.

Specialist facilities

Our BSc Business Administration and Supply Chain Management is based at our Southend Campus, in close proximity to two of the eight freeport locations in the UK, Thames Freeport and Freeport East, making us uniquely placed geographically in the supply chain and logistics sector.

Our campus is conveniently located in the heart of Southend. Enjoy a host of restaurants, bars and shops on your doorstep.

You have access to our excellent, dedicated facilities, including:

Learning hub with computer suites and study pods, open 24/7
integrated public and academic library in the iconic modern Forum building
employability support, events and initiatives
study skills advice
dedicated student services team
dental practice
faith centre
our cosy SU Lounge, with pool tables and large-screen TV for socialising and relaxation!

Your future

Business administration skills are critical to successful business operations and developing these skills will prepare you for a career in business and management. The essential supply chain management skills of being able to plan, source, make, deliver and return which you will learn will set you up for the challenges that a role in supply chain management may throw at you.

Therefore, we embed a series of core and specific skills into our undergraduate curriculum for BSc Business Administration and Supply Chain Management to ensure that our graduates are suited to careers in business management and leadership roles.

All of our taught modules embed elements of our skills map which emulate the skills which are required by employers of business graduates, these generally include:

Academic and cognitive skills
Research skills
Technology skills
Communication skills
Data analysis skills
Soft skills

We embed a structured approach to student development and skills support throughout the curriculum and through additional support from the Essex Business School Learning Team.

Our students have gone on to become business analysts, successful entrepreneurs, account managers and management trainees, with recent graduate destinations including:

Associate Professional Business Analyst at DXC Technology – an end-to-end IT services company
Delivery Consultant at RED - The Global SAP Solutions Provider - a specialist recruitment firm
iX Business Consultant at IBM – the multifunctional information technology conglomerate

Our management graduates enjoy successful careers in their fields.

Additional to the skills development offered by Essex Business School, BSc Business Administration and Supply Chain Management students can also take advantage of the University of Essex Careers Service which focuses in particular on supporting the development of undergraduate employability, including: careers fairs, career mentoring, skills development, careers advice and guidance, placement year support, job opportunities, start-up support and more.

Entry requirements

Clearing entry requirements

We currently have places available in Clearing across a range of courses, with most offers at BBC–CCD (112–88 UCAS tariff points) or equivalent. Grade requirements may be lower in some cases, and some courses may also have subject specific requirements. We consider each application individually so get in touch if your grades are below those outlined here. .

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English language requirements

English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall, or specified score in another equivalent test that we accept.

Details of English language requirements, including component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here

If we accept the English component of an international qualification it will be included in the academic levels listed above for the relevant countries.

English language shelf-life

Most English language qualifications have a validity period of 5 years. The validity period of Pearson Test of English, TOEFL and CBSE or CISCE English is 2 years.

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.

Pre-sessional English courses

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Pending English language qualifications

You don’t need to achieve the required level before making your application, but it will be one of the conditions of your offer.

If you cannot find the qualification that you have achieved or are pending, then please email ugquery@essex.ac.uk .

Requirements for second and final year entry

Different requirements apply for second and final year entry, and specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a visa to study in the UK. Details of English language requirements, including UK Visas and Immigration minimum component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here

Additional Notes

If you’re an international student, but do not meet the English language or academic requirements for direct admission to this degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College

Structure

Course structure

The course structure is designed to reflect the broad nature of a degree in business administration, meaning you study a wide range of modules in all areas of business and management.

In the first year you will cover the fundamentals that every business manager needs to know including topics such as entrepreneurship, economics, accounting, finance, management and marketing. Then in second and final year you will have a mixture of compulsory and optional modules to make the degree your own.

We offer a flexible course structure with a mixture of core/compulsory modules, and optional modules chosen from lists. Please be aware that we are planning changes to our first year to make it more relevant to your chosen course.

Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The following modules are based on the current course structure and may change in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website and in line with your contract with us. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Components and modules explained

Components

Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.

Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.

Status	What this means
Core	You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory	You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.

The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.

Modules

Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.

In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.

Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:

100

The department or school the module will be taught by.

In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.

The module number.

The UK academic level of the module.

A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course.

A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules.

A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification.

The term the module will be taught in.

AU: Autumn term
SP: Spring term
SU: Summer term
FY: Full year
AP: Autumn and Spring terms
PS: Spring and Summer terms
AS: Autumn and Summer terms

COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY

Foundations of Modern Marketing

(15 CREDITS)

View Foundations of Modern Marketing on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: COMPULSORY

Introduction to Accounting and Finance

(15 CREDITS)

It’s essential that every aspiring entrepreneur, manager and leader understands the basics of accounting and finance. In this introductory module you’ll explore the principles of financial and management accounting; the recording of transactions; the preparation of financial statements and their analysis; the principles of cost accumulation and decision making in businesses; techniques of cost control; the management of working capital; the sources of funding and investment appraisal. You’ll explore the key theories, carry out problem-solving exercises and learn how to apply these within companies.

View Introduction to Accounting and Finance on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: COMPULSORY

New Venture Creation

(15 CREDITS)

If you’re looking to start your own business, or to help an existing business to grow, then this module provides the essential knowledge you’ll need. You develop a greater understanding of the various aspects involved in new venture creation and growth, from opportunity identification, evaluation and implementation through to continued growth and management. Using practical exercises, case studies and videos, you learn about the business life cycle from start-up to growth and maturity and explore business development from economic and behavioural perspectives.

View New Venture Creation on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY

Business Economics

(15 CREDITS)

This module introduces you to key economic theories and concepts, covering highly topical issues affecting the business world. Using real-life case studies, you explore the key microeconomics principles and concepts that can help to explain why economic activities occur and explore whether it is possible to improve economic situations for society.

View Business Economics on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 05: COMPULSORY

Introduction to International Business

(15 CREDITS)

At Essex Business School we’re proud of our international community, bringing international expertise into the classroom. In this module you are introduced to the global business environment and how this impacts upon corporations and their decision to operate internationally. You explore the different strategies organisations can adopt when entering international markets and examine aspects of managing multinational corporations, such as marketing, human resource management and global supply chain management.

View Introduction to International Business on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 06: COMPULSORY

Introduction to Business Analytics

(15 CREDITS)

Introduction to Business Analytics will allow you to develop core knowledge and skills in the domain of business analytics and data science. You’ll focus on different tools and approaches to support data analysis and decision making in business environment. The module is designed to enhance your ability of data analysis to uncover embedded information useful for decision making.Learn how to valuate the potential of data analytics in supporting complex decision making in real-world business environment.

View Introduction to Business Analytics on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 07: COMPULSORY

Professional and Academic Development

(15 CREDITS)

The Professional and Academic Development module helps you build a foundation in core academic skill requirements to help you improve the standard of your academic work across all of your first year modules. This module also introduces you to the themes of career planning and employability skills and establishing a career path.

View Professional and Academic Development on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 08: COMPULSORY

Contemporary Marketing Strategies & Implementation

(15 CREDITS)

View Contemporary Marketing Strategies & Implementation on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY

Applied Business Analytics and Decision Making

(15 CREDITS)

This module will provide you with an overview of applications of business analytics for real world business problems.Business examples and case studies will be used to explain the variety of decision-making issues that can be solved using analytics to gain business intelligence. Useful business analytics software (like R, Python or similar) will be discussed in this module. With this understanding you can learn how to select one or more business analytics tools and appropriate software for solving specific real-world problems.

View Applied Business Analytics and Decision Making on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: COMPULSORY

Business Research Methods

(15 CREDITS)

This module introduces a number of business and management research methods, with a particular focus on entrepreneurship and small business. You explore philosophical research issues, such as selecting appropriate research methods and judging the quality and value of findings. You learn how to write a research proposal and design and plan quantitative and qualitative research. This includes collecting data, analysing findings and presenting results.

View Business Research Methods on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: COMPULSORY

Principles of Operations and Supply Chain Management

(15 CREDITS)

The Principles of Operations and Supply Chain Management module integrates topics from manufacturing-operations, process design, capacity and inventory planning, and supply chain management. This module will give you an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills to manage business operations and supply chain effectively in a real-world environment. The aim of this module is to provide comprehensive understanding of key principles, concepts and approaches used to ensure effective management of business operations and supply chain management. The module covers an extensive range of issues including structure and scope of operations, process design, capacity and inventory management, supply chain management and quality management.

View Principles of Operations and Supply Chain Management on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY

Global Logistics Management

(15 CREDITS)

You will cover the management of logistical operations in a global context, focusing on essential logistics functions including warehousing and transport. You’ll receive a practical orientation to examine best business practices in a variety of industry settings. During this module you will discuss the strategic importance of logistics management in the wider contexts of supply chain management, business strategy, sustainability, and international trade. Learn how to apply the principles, techniques, and tools of contemporary logistics management to create improvements and competitive advantages for companies in which you will work. You’ll gain analytical and written communication skills relevant to global logistics management

View Global Logistics Management on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 05: COMPULSORY

Professional and Academic Development 2

(15 CREDITS)

This module will give you a clear understanding of feedback, Dweck`s concept of a `growth mindset`, and how you can use these to improve your studies and career. We want you to have a passion for learning, a willingness to challenge yourself, and an eagerness to learn from mistakes, so this module will help you to understand group work and presentations and to acquire the relevant skills to successfully undertake both. The module also serves as a bridge for your final year, so that students should be able to understand the expectations of the final year and the possible career paths you can take after you graduate, and how you can use summer vacations to get ahead.

View Professional and Academic Development 2 on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 06: OPTIONAL

(45 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY

Business Strategy

(30 CREDITS)

Enhance your understanding of the concepts and nature of strategy and its interactions with the macro environment, industries/sectors and business operations. You develop your skills analysing opportunities and threats, managing strategic capability and resources, understanding competitive advantage, competition and collaboration, directions and methods of business development, as well as managing strategic change.

View Business Strategy on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: COMPULSORY

Global Project Management

(15 CREDITS)

Develop the skills and knowledge necessary to manage product development projects in an international business environment, with particular focus on product design methodologies and project management techniques. You explore the hard side of managing global product development projects and the soft issues such as idea generation/selection and teamwork that must be dealt with in order to ensure success of the product development projects.

View Global Project Management on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: COMPULSORY

Research Project – Business Administration and Supply Chain Management

(30 CREDITS)

You will complete a research project in the final year of your degree. The project can take a variety of forms but unlike other assignments it involves you conducting and writing-up a piece of original research. This final research project will be supported by the knowledge and understanding of research methods gained in BE218 Business Research Methods. The undergraduate Research Project is the equivalent of one term module in your degree course and is expected to be about 4000 to 5000 words in length. The supervisor will be assigned by the SOE Group. Once the project has been accepted, you are advised to meet with your supervisor on a regular basis. The project can take a variety of forms, ranging from empirical research using methods such as surveys, questionnaires, interviews, and content analysis to library based theoretical work. The research project is a useful reference for a postgraduate study as well as outside employment.

View Research Project – Business Administration and Supply Chain Management on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY

Strategic Operations and Supply Chain

(15 CREDITS)

This module will give you the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills related to strategic operations and supply chain. It focuses on introducing different concepts and approaches for developing and implementing operations and supply chain strategy with practical examples. The module is designed to enhance your ability of analysing how strategic decision can help in deriving various operations and supply chain processes.

View Strategic Operations and Supply Chain on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 05: OPTIONAL

(30 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 06: COMPULSORY

Career Skills in Business

(0 CREDITS)

This module will help you to understand the interests, skills and competencies which are relevant to your future career choices. You will learn how to find the graduate-level roles and career paths available to business students and you will learn about the skills necessary to successfully compete in the graduate labour market after you graduate.

View Career Skills in Business on our Module Directory

Placement

On a placement year you gain relevant work experience within an external business or organisation, giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market and providing you with key contacts within the industry. The rest of your course remains identical to the three-year degree.

Year abroad

On your year abroad, you have the opportunity to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised. The rest of your course remains identical to the three-year degree.

Teaching

Undergraduate students at the Department of Essex Business School typically have 12 hours of teaching time per week.
Teaching includes a combination of lectures, seminars and computer-based lab sessions
Modules delivered by experts in the field as well as guest speakers
Contribute and interact in lectures through the use of smart technology
Lecture presentations and notes are uploaded online beforehand to help you prepare in advance
Complete your final-year project in consultation with a personal supervisor

Assessment

Assessed through traditional methods of end-of-year exams and multiple-choice questions in class tests and essays
Plus more innovative and creative assessments include laboratory work, poster presentations, real-business case problems and group presentations
Your first year marks do not count towards your final degree

Fees and funding

Home/UK fee

£9,535 per year

International fee

£21,525 per year

Fees will increase for each academic year of study.

Home/UK fees and funding information

International fees and funding information

What's next

Our events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex. We run a number of Open Days throughout the year which enable you to discover what our campus has to offer. You have the chance to:

tour our campus and accommodation
find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
meet our students and staff

Check out our Visit Us pages to find out more information about booking onto one of our events. And if the dates aren’t suitable for you, feel free to book a campus tour here.

2025 Open Days (Southend Campus)

Tuesday 19 August 2025 - Southend Clearing Open Day

Saturday 11 October 2025 - Southend Open Day

Find out more

How to apply during Clearing

Once you’ve checked that we have the right course for you, applying couldn’t be simpler. Fill in our quick and easy Clearing application form with as much detail as you can. We’ll then take a look and get back to you with a decision.

Find out more about Clearing

Interviews

We don’t interview all applicants during Clearing, however, we will only make offers for the following courses after a successful interview:

BA Multimedia Journalism
BSc Nursing (Adult)
BSc Nursing (Mental Health)
BA Social Work

The interview allows our academics to find out more about you, and in turn you’ll be able to ask us any questions you might have. Further details will be emailed to you if you are shortlisted for interview.

Apply now

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If you're joining our School of Health and Social Care, East 15 Acting School, or Essex Business School, you may well be studying at our Southend Campus.

Find out more

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At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.

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