BSc Finance: Business Management

BEA1008: Introduction to Financial Accounting

This is an introductory financial accounting module that is aimed at students who intend to major in accounting in their undergraduate studies, or who have a keen interest in gaining a technical understanding of elementary financial accounting. The first part of the module outlines the framework of accounting - its nature, purpose , and the context /environment in which it is practised. The module then covers the basics of accounting ( i.e. concepts, conventions, principles and the accounting equation) and the recording/summarising mechanism s that underlie financial accounting. In addition, the recognition and measurement principles are also taught. Finally, the module covers the preparation of financial statements from the trial balance for various types of entities including sole traders and limited companies. The module uses the International Financial Reporting Standards as reference.

Additional Information:

Internationalisation

Internationalisation is embedded in the content of this module through the use of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs). Moreover, the principles of introductory financial accounting are common across most countries.

Sustainability

All of the resources for the module are available on ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

External engagement

The module content meets the standards of the professional accountancy bodies (e.g. ICAEW, ACCA, ICAS and CIMA) and the module is accredited by them.

Employability

Material taught in this module is highly relevant to accounting- and business-related jobs. The module also offers an opportunity for students to develop their numeracy and logical thinking skills.

Widening Participation

Students are given problem sets a week before the workshops and work on the questions independently. In the workshops they have the opportunity to discuss any difficulties with in the group.

Additional, optional weekly classes are held which are student-driven, where questions can be raised on any topic covered to date.

Research in teaching

The module is informed by the module convenor's research interest in financial reporting and accounting education .

This module aims to provide first time accounting students with a broad understanding of financial accounting, a thorough grounding in double-entry bookkeeping, and the skills to prepare simple financial statements for different types of entities. It will provide students who have a keen interest in accounting or intend to major in accounting in their undergraduate studies with a solid foundation in financial accounting and reporting.

(Note: this module cannot be taken together with BEA1013 Introduction to Accounting)

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BEA1009: Introduction to Management Accounting

Think of an iPhone. How much do you think that it cost Apple to make? Think of recent business news stories, with factory and store closures. As ways of cutting costs, how successful will these actually be? Or, maybe news stories announcing the launch of a new tablet PC - how has the manufacturer decided that this is a worthwhile product? Management accounting provides information which supports business decisions like these, whether it is setting selling prices, or understanding costs, assessing performance, and investing in new products. At an introductory level, this module considers costs and revenues, and how they can be measured and used to calculate profit and help make decisions, both in the short and long term. It also examines how budgets are prepared, and used as benchmarks to assess performance. Accounting? Boring? Never!

Internationalisation

• This module introduces subjects like costing, decision making, budgeting and budget outcomes which are relevant across countries.

External Engagement

• The module content meets the standards of the professional accountancy bodies (e.g. ICAEW, ACCA, ICAS, CIMA) and the module is accredited by them.

Sustainability

• Sustainability is discussed in relation to wastage and the comparison between actual and expected performance.

Employability

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BEA1014: Statistical Methods for Accounting and Finance

This module equips you with foundational statistical skills essential for proficiency in accounting and finance. It focuses on introducing key statistical concepts, techniques, and tools relevant to analysing financial data. You will develop sound knowledge in applying statistical methods to real-world financial scenarios, enhancing their ability to make informed decisions. Through practical applications and occasional case studies, you will grasp statistical tools like regression analysis, probability, and hypothesis testing. This module aims to cultivate a strong quantitative foundation, empowering you with the analytical skills crucial for a successful career in accounting and finance.

Internationalisation:
Statistical tools are generally applicable; scenarios for collecting and analysing data will have a mixture of UK, EU and non-EU flavours so that they are more relevant to an international student body. Collaborative work on the case study aims to bring students together from different cultural backgrounds.

Sustainability:
Availability of study materials (lecture notes, tutorial questions, readings) on ELE rather than by hard copy. Some tutorial question scenarios will reflect sustainability issues such as sourcing of materials, resource consumption and alternative energy sources.

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BEE1029: Economic Principles

This module introduces Economics and explores the main characteristics of economies using historical and cross-country comparisons across the major dimensions of economic performance (growth, inequality, stability). By taking the main economic actors and showing how they make decisions, the course covers behaviour in goods and labour markets, highlighting the role of the players of the game, and showing the sources of market successes and market failures. Behaviour of households and firms is analysed in the economy as a whole, along with that of fiscal and monetary policy makers.

The module consists of two semesters of teaching, each covering core theory and applications from the main course resources: CORE's The Economy, Society and Public Policy (Term 1), CORE's The Economy 2.0 Macroeconomics (Term 2) and CORE's Doing Economics (Term 2).

This course aims to provide students with a basic understanding of Economics, and to apply this way of thinking to real world problems. It aims to help students understand the world around them, become more astute participants in the Economy and Society and help them understand Economic Policy so that they can better judge the decisions affecting the allocation of their society's resources.

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BEF1015: Finance and Investment

This module provides a general overview to the role of financial assets and markets from the perspective of the investment operations. You will gain a broad understanding on the fundamentals of securities and investment under the current economic environment within the financial services industry. The module examines the role of the industry and the main participants that are seen in financial centre around the globe. This module shows how understanding of the disadvantages and advantages and risks associated with financial assets can be provided to support an organisation's management in investment decision-making and control. Whilst the module assumes no previous mathematical experience, it does assume a fundamental understanding of accounts - therefore BEA1008 is a co-requisite.

Additional Information:

Internationalisation

The content of this module takes an international perspective and draws on examples from a diverse range of businesses.

Sustainability

All of the other resources for this module are available on the ELE (Exeter Learning Environment).

External Engagement

Occasionally there will be guest lectures from Professionals from local accounting firms.

Employability

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BEM1028: Introduction to Business and Management

This module is designed for first year finance and accounting students looking for an introduction to business and management, to gain greater business insight particularly around ethics, sustainability and technology.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) & Ethics

This module considers how business and management can promote greater EDI within their own team, department, organisation and sector, as well as within wider society, considering what are ethics and what is an ethical, responsible, sustainable professional manager including how this relates to finance and accounting professional standards of ethical behaviour.

Internationalization
Differences relating to the international dimensions of business and management are covered, with a strong emphasis on the UK context to exemplify a variety of different business structures may be possible depending upon local context, and these in turn require alternative approaches for management, particularly around sustainability and ethics, recognising different cultural, regional, national and regulatory requirements may exist.

Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability (ERS)

Consideration is given to the wider impact of business upon the environment, communities and society as a whole, including consideration of how and whether business can benefit from new technology and data whilst remaining ethical, responsible and sustainable.

External Engagement

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BEM1059: Future You

"Future You" is a hands-on, immersive journey where you'll collaborate with real-world innovators, tackle pressing global challenges, and develop the skills to thrive in an unpredictable future. This dynamic and interactive module equips you with the essential skills, mindset, and tools to thrive in an evolving global workplace. Focused on innovation, collaboration and problem-solving, it prepares you to become proactive change leaders who can develop creative solutions for complex societal and industry challenges and develop the mindset and skills required to thrive and succeed in any industry or career.

Imagine stepping into the future, equipped with the skills, mindset, and confidence to shape it. In a world where AI, automation, and sustainability are redefining careers, Future You gives you the edge. This interactive, real-world module connects you with industry leaders, cutting-edge technologies, and like-minded peers to solve real challenges. From design thinking to digital fluency, leadership to resilience, you won't just learn about the future—you'll actively build it.

Why Take This Module?

• Learn by Doing: Work on real-world projects, solve problems, and engage with industry experts.
• Master the Skills of Tomorrow: Develop creative problem-solving, digital adaptability, resilience, change management and leadership abilities.
• Work with Changemakers: Meet entrepreneurs, business leaders, and future-focused thinkers.
• Future-Proof Your Career: Gain the confidence and skills to thrive in an ever-changing world.
• Make an Impact: Tackle societal and industry challenges with innovative, practical solutions.

This module isn't just about learning—it's about becoming the kind of leader, thinker, and innovator the future needs.

By the end of the module, you will:

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BEA2018: Corporate Finance

Summary:

Note: cannot be taken with BEE3059 Asset Pricing or BEA3008 Finance for Managers

This module provides a thorough treatment, grounded in the academic literature and pertinent for the practitioner, of the following key financial questions which are faced by the directors and managers of firms - in which projects should the firm invest; how should this investment be financed; and how should the financial relationship with providers of finance be managed?

Additional Information:

Internationalisation

The content of this module takes an international perspective, particularly when considering the financial market, financing and investing decisions.

External Engagement

This module content meets the standards and is accredited by major accreditation bodies, including the ACCA, ICAEW, ICAS and CIMA

Employability

Students acquire knowledge in this module, including a solid understanding of basic financial theory, which is highly relevant to jobs related to finance and accountancy. This module also offers an opportunity to develop their numeracy and logical thinking skills.

Sustainability

Sustainability and related factors (e.g. social, governance and ethical) are considered in the module where appropriate. All of the resources for this course are available on the ELE (Exeter Learning Environment).

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BEF2013: Investment Practice

The module aims to provide you with a background to investment environment including micro- and macro-economic environment and their impact on investments. This module introduces the main investment theories, investment products, principles of investment management and performance measurement. The overall aim is to introduce the concepts and associated tools that are fundamental to the investment practice in an organisation. You will be able to appraise the merits and limitations of the main investment theories. This module is suitable for those students who are interested in understanding how financial markets work and in potential careers in investment management and advisory.

The primary objective of this module is to empower you with the ability to apply statistical and financial mathematics techniques while developing an understanding of micro and macro-economic environments, accounting principles, and investment management principles. You will gain the skills to assess the characteristics, inherent risks, and behaviours of equities, cash and cash equivalents, and fixed-income securities. The module also delves into derivatives and alternative investments, covering their characteristics, inherent risks, behaviours, and relevant tax considerations. Additionally, you will critically evaluate the merits and limitations of key investment theories.

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BEF2014: Financial Reporting and Analysis

This module aims to provide you with a sound knowledge in financial reporting and financial statement analysis. The module provides a framework for guiding the financial statement analysis process. You will learn how to examine the past and current performance and financial position of a company in order to form expectations about its future performance and financial position. An examination of performance can include an assessment of a company's profitability and its ability to generate positive cash flows as well as factors that affect risks to a company's future performance and financial position.

The primary objective of this is to offer a comprehensive overview of the roles of financial reporting and financial statement analysis. It covers the significance of key financial statements—the statement of financial position, the statement of comprehensive income, the statement of changes in equity, and the statement of cash flows—in evaluating a company's performance and financial position. The module empowers you to identify various information sources used by analysts in financial statement analysis beyond annual financial statements and supplementary information.

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BEM2031: Introduction to Business Analytics

This module will explore the role of information and analytics in supporting the development of strategies, and the practical techniques managers can use to design effective information flows.

Information is the lifeblood of business. Companies that manage information effectively can improve efficiency, be more responsive to market opportunities, achieve competitive advantage and operate more sustainably. As businesses drive towards sustainable strategies, they are looking for better information to guide decisions. A critical next step is to build information systems and data analytics capabilities that will turn raw data into actionable insights. This will enable companies to more effectively identify which actions are achieving their goals, detect risk or opportunity early, evaluate possible outcomes, allocate resources to achieve greatest returns, and measure the true impact of products.

Internationalisation:

The module will draw on recent scholarship in the areas of data and analytics published by researchers internationally (the UK, Europe, the United States) and case studies based on a variety of national contexts.

Employability:

The module will offer an opportunity to acquire knowledge and develop analytical skills for those pursuing careers in planning and analytics.

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BEM2035: Leading in International Contexts

To work, lead, and thrive in today's diverse and globalised business environment, it is more vital than ever for students to have ample and robust opportunities to expand their international horizons. The module 'Leading in International Contexts' is designed to provide students with the knowledge, analytical capabilities, and (soft) skills needed to practice leadership in modern, international organisations.

After introducing systematic ways of understanding cultures, we will examine how national cultures influence team, managerial, and organisational performance. We will then explore the nature of leadership in terms of how individuals influence others to understand and agree about what needs to be done and how to do it and how they facilitate individual and collective efforts to accomplish shared objectives. The module will highlight theory and research that accounts for how leaders acquire and exercise social influence in a manner that contributes to their credibility and the motivation of their followers across cultures. We will reflect on individual and cultural differences in leader behaviour and examine in what instances situations determine the salience of these differences. We will explore the implications of diverging and converging cultural norms in the workplace, and address how leaders might act responsibly and effectively to resolve challenges in emerging and developed economies.

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BEM2037: Leadership: Challenges and Practice

BEM2037 Leadership Challenges and Practices addresses the more practical, active and vocational aspects of leadership. You will be encouraged to draw on your own experience of leadership in practice, and to engage in activities which enable you to develop your own leadership capacity. In this way, the course aims to enhance your employability, and to allow you to develop an action-oriented understanding of leadership as a response to personal and organizational challenges, which can be taken into your future work and organisation. The course therefore combines practical approaches to leading with a head-on approach to some of the tricky questions about leadership.

This module aims to address the more practical, active and vocational aspects of leadership, and starts from the assumption that almost every organised activity is initiated by leadership of some sort, and that most benefit from good leadership. Over the duration of this module, students will be encouraged to explore the following question:

What can we do to improve our leadership in order to address the challenges faced by organisations locally, nationally and globally?

Alongside engaging with contemporary theoretical perspectives on leadership, students will be encouraged to learn from their own and others' experience(s) of leadership in practice, and to engage in activities which enable them to develop their own leadership capacity.

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BEM2039: Business Analytics in Practice

This module will introduce the key concepts and ideas about how business analytics is used in practice. It will highlight the importance of data to organisations and how it can be used to improve firm performance in relation to competitors, customers, employees and processes. The module will introduce you to how data and analytic methods can be used to support an organisation's overall strategy. The module will also consider ethical, regulatory and security issues associated with data and its use within a business environment

Business analytics, data science, digital economy, big data - with buzzwords coming and going it can be a complex and confusing picture, and difficult to know where to start. This module aims to introduce key topics that you'll need to explore in more depth as you proceed on your 'business analytics journey'.

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BEM2047: Organisational Behaviour

This module builds your knowledge of organisations, and your ability to analyse organisational life. It explores organisational behaviour theory in order to develop your ability to appraise the functioning of organisations. It will therefore develop a critical mind-set, built from a strong understanding of organisational theory to enable you to operate as an effective future organisational leader.

The aim of this module is to develop your knowledge of organisational theory, your awareness of the complexity of managerial and organisational problems, and to equip you with the skills needed to analyse how and why organisations behave as they do. You can develop your knowledge and skills through discussion and exploration of real-world organisational issues.

Employability:

This module equips students with the ability to understand and unpick organisational 'problems', providing clear, managerially relevant solutions. Students will develop their abilities to produce management reports, critically discussing and appraising differing views on phenomena.

Internationalisation:

The module draws from the international experience of our faculty, and uses global examples to illustrate concepts, and differing approaches to structuring organisations and their management.

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BEM2058: Making Innovation and Entrepreneurship Happen

The module is offered within the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Minor. It is available at the Exeter campuses. Students at the Penryn campus can select BEP2005: Making Innovation and Entrepreneurship Happen. https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/future-skills-pathways/innovation-and-entrepreneurship/

Innovation and entrepreneurship show up in the everyday fabric of work, not just in start-ups. Whether you end up in business, public sector, charity, healthcare, creative industry, engineering, or something that does not yet have a name, you will be expected to notice what is shifting, shape a response, and turn ideas into outcomes that others can use.

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BEM2062: The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Mindset

This module is offered within the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Minor. It is available at the Exeter campuses. Students at the Penryn campus can select BEP2003: The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Mindset. https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/future-skills-pathways/innovation-and-entrepreneurship/

It explores what it means to think like an entrepreneur, and how you, whether working in a commercial start-up, scale-up, large firm, humanitarian body, or the public sector, can use entrepreneurial thinking to make sense of problems and deliver value in changing contexts.

The module confirms that innovation is best managed as a high velocity reinvention process that can be organised, whether in a new venture or in renewing an established company or government department. Rather than simply reading about innovation, you will engage with it directly, exploring what it means to generate, test, and refine ideas in response to real human needs.

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BUS3002: Business School Industrial Experience

Summary:

This module allows you to undertake and to learn from an extended work placement during the third year of a four-year With Industrial Experience WIE' programme. To progress to this module, you will have completed the employability modules BSD1002 and BSD2002 in your 1st and 2nd year, and will have secured a suitable (33 week minimum) placement which has been approved by the Business School.

Having developed the career management skills necessary for a competitive graduate labour market, this is an invaluable opportunity to put the theory learned into practice in the workplace and to focus on your professional skills development.

Throughout your 'industry' year, you will receive guidance from an academic 'WIE tutor' and the Careers team, who will support and encourage you to fully maximise the developmental opportunities provided by your work experiences. Your personal development will also be supported through the completion of an assessed placement 'WIE PORTFOLIO', submitted in stages as you advance through your placement year.

Additional Information:

Internationalisation

You can undertake a work placement in the UK or elsewhere in the world. Overseas placements will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

External Engagement

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BUS3000A: Year Abroad (Study and Work Placement)

This module is for undergraduate Business School students to study and work abroad in their 3rd of 4 years on the 'With Year Abroad' programme. With this module you can spend one semester studying at a European or non-European partner institution and 6 months' work placement abroad in a country of your choice.

An important element of international business is for you to understand the political, economic, and cultural differences between countries. By studying at another university and undergoing a work placement abroad as part of your degree programme, you will learn to think globally and come to understand how the world is interconnected through business. Adding an international component to your business degree, which may or not include learning of a foreign language, will make you more competitive in today's multicultural, global business environment. You will also have access to a range of modules, potentially in areas not offered at Exeter, taught in a different learning culture and therefore broadening your overall academic experience.

The module introduces you to the experience of academic study outside the UK, and, for some of you, a different language. It aims to challenge preconceptions and assumptions about higher education learning by exposing you to a different approach to academic study.

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BUS3000B: Year Abroad (Study)

This module is for undergraduate Business School students to study abroad in their 3rd of 4 years on the 'With Year Abroad' programme. With this module you can spend an academic year at one of the Business School's European partner institutions, a partner institution outside of Europe, or combine one semester study at a European and one semester at a non-European partner institution

An important element of international business is for you to understand the political, economic, and cultural differences between countries. By studying at another university as part of your degree programme, you will learn to think globally and come to understand how the world is interconnected through business. Adding an international component to your business degree, which may or not include learning of a foreign language, will make you more competitive in today's multicultural, global business environment. You will also have access to a range of modules, potentially in areas not offered at Exeter, taught in a different learning culture and therefore broadening your overall academic experience.

The module introduces you to the experience of academic study outside the UK, and, for some of you, a different language. It aims to challenge preconceptions and assumptions about higher education learning by exposing you to a different approach to academic study.

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BUS3000C: Year Abroad

This module is for undergraduate Business School students to work abroad in their 3rd of 4 years on the 'with Year Abroad' programme. To progress to this module, you would have completed BSD2005 and would have found a suitable placement abroad (outside of UK) for a minimum of 24 weeks and a maximum of 33 weeks.

An important element of international business is for you to understand the political, economic, and cultural differences between countries. By undergoing a work placement abroad as part of your degree programme, you will learn to think globally and come to understand how the world is interconnected through business. Adding an international component to your business degree, which may or may not include learning a foreign language, will make you more competitive in today's multicultural, global business environment.

The module assessment is designed to give you the opportunity to present and evaluate the knowledge and skills that you have developed and gained while on your year abroad work placement.

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BEA3018: Advanced Corporate Finance

Note: cannot be taken with BEE3059 Asset Pricing or BEA3008 Finance for Managers

This module provides a thorough treatment, grounded in the academic literature and pertinent for the practitioner, of the following key financial questions which are faced by the investors and managers of firms - are capital markets efficient (to what extent); how should an investment portfolio be constructed; how to price options; how to use financial derivatives to manage commodity, interest rate and foreign exchange rate risks; how to evaluate merger and acquisition deals.

Additional Information:

Internationalisation
The content of this module takes an international perspective, particularly when considering the financial market, mergers and acquisitions and the foreign exchange rate risks.

External Engagement
This module content meets the standards and is accredited by major accreditation bodies, including the ACCA, ICAEW, ICAS and CIMA.

Employability
Students acquire knowledge in this module, including a solid understanding of basic financial theory, which is highly relevant to jobs related to finance and accountancy. This module also offers an opportunity to develop their numeracy and logical thinking skills.

Sustainability
All of the resources for this course are available on the ELE (Exeter Learning Environment).

View an example full module specification

BEA3028: Sustainable and Responsible Finance

Sustainable finance integrates environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria into financial decisions. This module will introduce students to the latest development of theory and practice in sustainable and responsible finance. Students will develop an understanding of the principles underlying sustainable and responsible decision-making in finance, their theoretical underpinning, and the guidelines on how to apply them in business and investment practice. The module is based on evidence from rigorous academic research. The teaching is organised in the form of weekly lectures and workshops.

• To introduce students, through research-led teaching, to cutting edge theory and practice in sustainable and responsible finance.
• To develop a critical orientation towards the subject matter and an understanding of how the principles are applied in practice.
• To enhance student employability through engaging students in the latest development in sustainable and responsible finance and their implications for business and investment practice.

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BEF3009: Financial Institutions' Risk Management

This module examines the role of risk management within modern financial institutions, focusing on how risks arise, interact, and are managed in increasingly complex and regulated financial systems. It introduces students to the key categories of financial risk, including credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk, operational risk, and regulatory risk, and explores how these risks can affect institutional performance and financial stability. Students will engage with the conceptual foundations and practical tools used by financial institutions to identify, measure, monitor, and manage risk exposures. Emphasis is placed on widely used risk management frameworks, governance structures, and control mechanisms adopted across the banking and financial services sector. The module also considers the role of regulation and supervision in shaping risk-taking behaviour and promoting systemic resilience. In addition, the module encourages students to reflect on sustainable and responsible decision-making, highlighting how sound risk management contributes to long-term value creation and financial stability. Through analysis of real-world case studies, students will evaluate how risk management practices operate in practice, including examples of both effective risk mitigation and failures. By the end of the module, students will have developed a structured understanding of how financial institutions manage risk in practice and will be able to assess risk management strategies in a dynamic financial environment critically.

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BEF3010: Applied Finance Project

This is a capstone module that provides you with the opportunity to integrate and apply the academic knowledge, analytical techniques and professional skills developed throughout your degree to a range of real-world finance challenges. You will engage with contemporary issues in finance through structured applied projects, case studies and industry-informed problem scenarios aligned to different finance pathways.

You will work within themed project streams and complete a sequence of applied tasks that progressively develop your ability to frame financial problems, analyse qualitative and/or quantitative information, and communicate evidence-based solutions to professional audiences. Guest lectures and applied workshops will expose you to current industry practice and emerging trends in the global financial services sector.

The module emphasises employability, critical thinking, ethical awareness and digital fluency, while ensuring inclusivity for students from different disciplinary pathways. By the end of the module, you will have produced a portfolio of applied outputs demonstrating capstone-level achievement and work-readiness.

This module aims to:

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BEM3047: Contemporary Leadership Issues

The aim of this module is to provide you with the opportunity to actively participate in a series of discussions which focus on three key contemporary leadership issues. In doing so, the module looks to challenge your implicit conceptions of leadership and to develop a more sophisticated understanding of real-world leadership. This will allow you to participate in advanced dialogue, grounded in critical engagement with a selection of relevant academic literature and a practical case study/perspective. Each topic will be explored through engagement with theory and research, case study analysis and real world examples. Particular attention will be paid to how a given topic plays out in society and organisations. The overarching aim of this module is to elaborate and develop your academic knowledge, inquiry and reasoning skills.

Additional Information:

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BEM3052: Managing Change and Crisis in Organisations

This module examines how organisations manage change and cope with crisis. The complex cultural, political and ethical issues faced by leaders, managers and change agents will be examined in detail. In addition, we will examine the role leaders, managers and consultants play in designing and facilitating organisational change. Consideration will be given to how managers can be better prepared for the unpredictability, unintended outcomes and possible harmful consequences of change.

The module aims to provide an understanding of both particular approaches and techniques for managing change, and the limitations of these approaches/techniques when applied in practice. The module aims to pay particular attention to the role of the leaders, managers and consultants in the change management process. There will also be a focus on how change is communicated within an organisation.

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BEM3057: Employment Law for Managers

In this module you will learn about the various ways in which the employment relationship is regulated in the UK. We will also draw on examples from other countries (particularly EU countries). The module is very practical in its orientation, focusing primarily on what managers with direct responsibility for recruiting, supervising and dismissing employees need to do in order to avoid breaching employment law and having to defend their organisations in the courts. We will also focus on the process of settling cases ahead of a formal hearing. You will gain a good understanding of all the main principles that underpin employment law in the UK, the principal statutes and leading cases. We will also explain how employment regulation has evolved and how it is likely to continue evolving in the future.

No pre-requisites for students taking this module. While it will be of particular interest to those who have completed BEM2021 in Year 2 and who are considering a career in human resource management, this is not essential. No prior knowledge of the UK legal system is required as this will be introduced in the first lectures.

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BEM3061: Business Ignition - Idea to Implementation

The module is offered within the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Minor. https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/future-skills-pathways/innovation-and-entrepreneurship/

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BEM3090: Rethinking Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The module is offered within the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Minor. https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/future-skills-pathways/innovation-and-entrepreneurship/

Innovation shapes futures, and this module equips you to actively shape them. By rethinking innovation and entrepreneurship, you will challenge the assumptions that quietly govern how we imagine, design and enact change.

In a dynamic, interdisciplinary, research-led environment, innovation and entrepreneurship are explored as relational, reflective, and speculative practices. You will engage with innovation not as a fixed or linear process, but as a site for philosophical, ethical, emotional, material, and ecological inquiry. Through co-creation and collaborative experimentation, you will uncover hidden assumptions, everyday biases, and inherited frameworks that shape and often limit what we can imagine for innovation, entrepreneurship, and our shared futures.

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BEM3097: Regenerative Innovation for Climate Action

Climate change, biodiversity loss, resource depletion and widening inequalities are no longer “future risks”; they are shaping today’s markets, policies, supply chains and everyday life. In this module, you will learn how to respond to that complex reality by moving beyond incremental “sustainability” and conventional innovation fixes toward regenerative innovation: approaches that aim to create net-positive outcomes across social and ecological systems while still being commercially and politically feasible.

You will explore how regenerative innovation brings circular economy strategies together with climate action (mitigation and adaptation), and why many well-intentioned initiatives fall short when they overlook whole-system dynamics, power and incentives, boundary choices, and the spill-overs and rebound effects that can shift or even amplify harm. Working with real-world complexity rather than simplified textbook cases, this module equips you with the tools, methods and reasoning skills to navigate perplexing dilemmas, make defensible trade-offs, and design credible regenerative responses.

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BEM3098: AI for Human-Centred Design

This module will be delivered in a hybrid format, with some sessions held in person and others conducted online.

When digital technologies are transforming every industry, the ability to understand and apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a defining skill for future leaders and innovators. This module introduces GenAI and data-driven innovation through the lens of human-centred design. Rather than focusing on coding or technical depth, the module emphasises understanding, application creativity, and responsible use of GenAI in real-world business cases.

This course introduces key principles of design thinking and human-centred design in business innovation, highlighting the vital role of data and AI. You will engage with design thinking as a strategic and practical approach to business innovation, considering how it intersects with digital innovation, data driven innovation, and organisational change. The module also investigates the growing role of GenAI in innovation processes, including ideation, prototyping, customer insight and operational transformation, while critically evaluating the opportunities, limitations and ethical challenges associated with GenAI adoption.

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