We do things differently

Are you entrepreneurial but also want to study for an honours degree? Well, you can on the innovative BSc Business Enterprise programme at the University of Buckingham.

Turn conventional thinking upside-down

Launched in January 2006, our BSc Business Enterprise is the first undergraduate Venture Creation Programme (VCP) at a university anywhere in the world. This means students are required to start and run a business as part of their degree, this is not your typical degree programme as this programme is split between real-world application and theoretical knowledge.

The BSc Business Enterprise (BBE) Programme will interest you if you want to:

• Start and develop your own new business at the same time as studying for an honours degree.
• Make a positive contribution to the strategic development of a family business or other small or medium enterprise.
• Develop an entrepreneurial or “can do” approach to life to enhance your future career anywhere.

This course provides the opportunity for you to ‘pitch’ for ‘seed-corn’ capital of up to £5,000, enabling you to start and run your own business as an integral part of your honours degree.  We offer a range of business subjects that will help you to establish your business and develop your qualities of entrepreneurship, management and innovation.

In the first semester, you will learn how to create an effective business plan. This will form the basis of your ‘pitch’ to obtain your ‘seed-corn’ capital from our investment panel ‘Buckingham Angels’.

During the following 18 months, you will be establishing and ‘growing’ the business, at the same time as developing your academic knowledge in-depth across the range of business subjects needed to obtain an honours degree in Business Enterprise.

CMI

This degree has been recognised by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). On successful completion of this course, you will also receive a CMI Level 5 Certificate in Management & Leadership.

A CMI qualification better equips you for the professional world, giving you qualification that is highly sought-after in my employers.

CMI is the largest professional body for Management in the UK with over 100,000 members. To find out more about CMI please visit www.managers.org.uk.

Visiting speakers

Throughout the programme, entrepreneurs are invited to talk to the students about their experiences in starting a business and what lessons they have learned in the process. This gives the students the opportunity to learn from real-world experiences and provide the inspiration all entrepreneurs need to be successful.

In the Winter and Summer terms we run weekly Innovation and Entrepreneurship talks from successful entrepreneurs, these are open to everyone and if you would like to attend you can contact Katie Jones for more information.

Find out more about upcoming (and previous) Business Enterprise visiting speakers and/or view the BBE Innovation and Entrepreneurship videos on YouTube.

Graduates

All of the first cohorts of BSc Business Enterprise graduates have established their own businesses, been appointed to interesting jobs or have gone on to postgraduate study, using their enterprise education and entrepreneurial skills.

Read about the experiences of Business Enterprise graduates.

Frequently asked questions

Download BSc Business Enterprise (BBE) – Frequently Asked Questions.

Other entrepreneurship courses

MSc in Entrepreneurial Consultancy and Practice

Our MSc in Entrepreneurial Consultancy and Practice from January 2020 will take our globally recognised approach of entrepreneurial education to the discipline of consultancy. Working in liaison with KPMG Enterprise we offer our students the chance to learn how to provide growth consultancy services to real businesses.

More information

To keep up to date with Entrepreneurship at the University of Buckingham you can follow us on the following social media platforms.

• Facebook – Buckingham.BBE
• Twitter – @UoBEnterprise
• Instagram – uob_enterprise
• YouTube
• Youku
• An article about the programme featured in the Independent
• Full course details in the Curriculum Handbook 

Other links

The University of Buckingham is an active member of Enterprise Educators UK, the national network for supporting and developing enterprise education.

The National Association of College and University Entrepreneurs (NACUE) is a national organisation that supports and represents university enterprise societies and student entrepreneurs to drive the growth of entrepreneurship across the UK.

Typical offers

The typical A-level offer is normally BCC-BBB, IB:30-32, BTEC: DDM from relevant National Diploma or equivalent UCAS Tariff points,

Applications to Buckingham are individually considered by the Admissions Tutor and other factors may be taken in to account. Applicants with BTEC qualifications are welcome to apply, including if you have a mix of BTEC and A levels.

Where an applicant is taking the EPQ alongside A-levels, the EPQ will be taken into consideration and result in a slightly lower A-level grade offer.

Foundation options are also available. Please contact the Admissions Office (admissions@buckingham.ac.uk or +44 (0)1280 820227) for more information.

Applicants must also have GCSE English and Maths at Grade C / Grade 4, or above (or equivalent). IELTS requirements are as follows: (Academic) 6.5 Average of 6.5 (with 6.0 or above in each component).

Flexible entry

All of our undergraduate programmes operate a flexible entry process, and the Admissions Tutor is happy to consider entrants from all backgrounds with slightly lower qualifications if they are able to demonstrate alternative eligibility for the course. This may be in the form of relevant work experience, keen aptitude and a passion for the subject, or unlocked potential that you feel can be discovered through your studies at Buckingham. If you are uncertain whether you will be eligible to apply for this course, please contact the Admissions Team.

UCAS applications

You may apply either through the national UCAS university admissions system or at any time directly to the University using our own online application form.

Mature students

Because of our two-year degree, we find that the age range of our student body varies between those who have recently completed A-levels (or equivalent) to more mature students. Age is no barrier to learning and we welcome all applications from suitably qualified students.

International students

We are happy to consider all international applications and if you are an international student, you may find it useful to visit our international pages for details of entry requirements from your home country.

The University is a UKVI Tier 4 Sponsor.

English levels

If English is not your first language, please check our undergraduate English language requirements. If your English levels don’t meet our minimum requirements, you may be interested in applying for our Pre-sessional English Language Foundation Programmes.

Selection process

Wherever possible, you will be invited to the University to meet the Admissions Tutor for an informal interview and to have a tour of our campus. If you are an international applicant, it may not be possible for you to visit in person, so if the Admissions Tutor has any queries about your application you may be conducted by Skype, email or phone.

Our Admissions Team will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Call us on +44 (0)1280 820227 or email: admissions@buckingham.ac.uk.

Terms and conditions for prospective students

When you are offered a place at the University you will be notified of the terms and conditions between the University and students on our courses of study. When you accept an offer of a place on the course at the University a legal contract is formed between you and the University on the basis of the terms and conditions outlined in your offer letter. Your offer letter and the terms and conditions contain important information which you should read carefully before accepting an offer. Read the admissions terms and conditions > >

Quality teaching

We offer high quality, traditional Oxbridge-style teaching, which leads to our degrees being recognised around the world. The standards of degrees and awards are safeguarded by distinguished external examiners – senior academic staff from other universities in the UK – who approve and moderate assessed work.

High calibre staff

Most of our academic staff teach for three terms out of four, with the remaining term used for research. Because of this, we have no difficulty in attracting high calibre, highly respected lecturers, many of whom also have a background in business or industry and can offer networking opportunities for students.

Teaching methods

Teaching is carried out through a combination of lectures supported by seminars and tutorials. A key feature of the Buckingham teaching method is the use of small tutorial groups which provide the most effective means of ensuring that the students benefit from the academic expertise at their disposal. It is also the philosophy of the Business School faculty to be available to students outside the scheduled tutorial times and to encourage good working relationships between staff and students.

Business Enterprise is unique in offering practical workshops, as well as an open-door policy with the course tutors, whom students can always approach to ask for help or advice. External entrepreneurs are invited to make presentations to BSc Business Enterprise students in the Winter and Summer Terms to help inspire, as well as inform, the students on the programme.

Assessment methods

The assessment of individual modules within each course varies according to the subject. Assessment is usually by examination, assessed coursework, or a combination of the two. Please check module information for more details.

Preparation for work

All our degree courses combine academic challenge with the transferable skills that will stand you in good stead for future employment. Many of our more vocationally-focused degrees offer the opportunity of work placements and experience in industry.

See the Business Curriculum Handbook for further course details.

Graduate employment

At the University of Buckingham, we pride ourselves in our high employment rates. Business Enterprise students are no different, with many going on to achieve great things. Here is what some of the BBE graduates have gone on to do and what you could do studying for a BBE:

• Creation and business management of start-ups:

A significant number of our graduates have followed their entrepreneurial spirit in starting up their own business or expanding on those created during the course of their degree. The innovation of these businesses ranges from events management in skydiving (Stefan Stockinger) to online computer gaming (Alex Lehmann) to environmentally friendly clothing (Esme Finch). Similarly, graduates have often utilised the skills learned on the course to improve their own family business, specialising in manufacturing (Sailendra Thulasidharan), brewing, microsurgery and graphics and media.

• Postgraduate study:

Some of our alumni feel they have more to learn and thus continue on to further study through master’s degrees, MBAs and ACCA. Often, our Business Enterprise graduates focus their study on an area which will benefit their businesses specifically. These studies include sports law, investment risk and finance (Sean Obedih), law, international business, management (Tong Guan) and medicine.

• Career in education at schools / universities:

Graduates of Business Enterprise also find they are able to pass on their valuable insights to students just as their lecturers did during their time here. Some have gone on to teach GCSE and A-level students in business related subjects (Davinia Obedih), whilst others have travelled to pass on their knowledge to international students (Joseph Finch).

• Finance, accounting and consultancy:

For those interested in the fiscal side of business, graduates are able to use their skills developed in financial accounting, business planning and business records modules to flourish in a career in finance. A handful of graduates have begun careers in investment banking, financial data (Pawel Zdobnowski) and accountancy (Joanna Major).

• Marketing and media:

Manjeave Singh Lotay, Hubert Stöhr, Alex Meazzani and Salem Said have all developed their entrepreneurial skills in the field of marketing and media. Using their creative skills, as well as the practical experience that the BBE course gave them, these graduates are employed by or partnered with successful digital marketing companies.

Of course, students are not merely limited to these options, and some have even gone on to become published authors (Euan Leckie) and even national service lieutenants. All our alumni have been successful in finding graduate level employment or prospering in their own individual goals.

What our students and alumni say

“Having graduated in February 2009, I decided that I wanted to follow a career in accountancy. Despite the difficult financial situation at the time, my first class honours degree, and experience running my own business at Buckingham, enabled me to get a job as a Trainee Accountant, working for Michael J Emery & Co. Ltd in Newport Pagnell.

I am also studying for my ACCA qualifications, which will take about three years. So far I have completed the knowledge-based aspect of the qualification. I am learning all aspects of accounting and have assisted on some company audits.

My experience on the BSc Business Enterprise course has given me valuable insights into business, which have helped greatly in my accountancy training and work. I am able to understand the problems encountered by the owners and managers of companies and can also see where our firm can help our business customers.”

Joanna Major
Business Enterprise, 2008

Read more about the experiences of our BSc Business Enterprise graduates

The following fee illustrations provide an insight into the cost savings which can be made by studying at the University of Buckingham.

• Fee illustration: International students
• Fee illustration: Home students

You may also find it useful to visit the following fee related information on our site:

• Estimated Living Costs
• Grants and Loans

Discounts

Students who graduate from the University and plan to continue their studies with a postgraduate degree at Buckingham can benefit from a very generous automatic discount on their fees:

• 33%, those with a first class honours degree from Buckingham
• 25%, those with a Second Class Honours, Upper Division (2:1) degree from Buckingham

Scholarships

The following automatic awards are available to undergraduate Home students:

• The Kingham Scholarship
  The University of Buckingham is offering one budding entrepreneur the chance to win a scholarship to study a unique two-year BSc Business Enterprise degree worth over £15,000. Find out more >
• High Achiever Scholarship
  We offer a reduction of £2,000 per annum if you achieve AAB or above in your A levels (or equivalent) excluding General Studies. This scholarship is dependent on your making Buckingham your firm choice. It will be reviewed after your preliminary and subsequent examinations and will continue if your average mark is in the upper second or first class.
• Five Counties Scholarship
  If you live in Buckinghamshire (including Milton Keynes), Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire or Oxfordshire, you will be entitled to a local scholarship of £2,000 per annum providing you meet the conditions of your offer. This scholarship is dependent on your making Buckingham your firm choice. You are not eligible for this award if you hold another scholarship from the University.
• Buckingham Bursaries
  If, when you join the University, you are in receipt of a Maintenance Loan of £5,000 or more from Student Finance, you will receive a further bursary of £1,100 towards your tuition fees. This bursary may not be held with any other scholarship from the University (please note that because of the significant increase in the Five Counties Scholarship, this bursary is no longer awarded in addition).
• International Entrepreneur Scholarship
  The Buckingham Innovation and Enterprise Centre is offering multiple budding entrepreneurs from across the world the opportunity to win a scholarship to study this unique course. We are looking for passionate candidates  with an innovative approach to business.

Details of other scholarships can be found on our main Bursaries and Scholarships page.

On-campus accommodation

We guarantee on-campus accommodation to all new students for their first four terms of study, as long as it is booked and paid for in good time, so you’re assured of a safe and secure home from home when you arrive at the University. Most new students choose this option.

Living on campus enables you to become involved in University activities, make friends, and integrate with the University community. For some of you this will be your first time in the UK; for others it will be the first time living away from home – and independence brings its challenges as well as its excitements. Whatever your circumstances, we know how important it is for you to feel comfortable in your accommodation.

What’s included?

All our study bedrooms are fully furnished, centrally heated, and connected to the internet. With few exceptions they have a wash basin and small refrigerator. We have a large number of ensuite rooms, and are upgrading more rooms each year. There are shared kitchens for when you wish to cook for yourself.

Find out more

If you’d like to find out more, visit our Accommodation pages or get in touch with our Accommodation Team.

We recommend that all prospective students visit our campus if they are able to, and campus tours include a typical student room. Arrange a tour via your Admissions Officer.