Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Creative Writing and Journalism

at University of Bedfordshire - Luton Campus United Kingdom

Combining robotic systems with artificial intelligence to produce a new generation of workers and companions is no longer the stuff of science fiction – it’s science reality.

This British Computer Society accredited course brings together these two areas, and offers conceptual grounding in intelligent systems, and the chance to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting.

With access to humanoid robots, robotic arms, wheeled platforms and other hi-tech robotic equipment, you will develop the skills demanded by employers in this fast growing area

Why choose this course?

• Learn how artificial intelligence and robotics are playing vital roles in the world’s most advanced technological industries – from medicine to entertainment – and are found at the heart of much of today’s most innovative science
• Study on one of the few UK university courses that offers both areas of study together
• Develop a solid conceptual grounding and apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting
• Gain the expertise you will need to target a number of industries, including advertising, engineering and computer science
• Explore the use of humanoid robots, robotic arms, wheeled platforms and other hi-tech robotic equipment
• Challenge your technical abilities by using the latest software to control robotic machines
• Benefit from the experience and knowledge of a highly committed team of teaching experts

Economies are increasingly global. With this degree - designed to give you the knowledge and skills to manage a business effectively in the global context - show potential employers that you understand how business operates on an international scale.

Alongside traditional business skills and disciplines such as strategy, human resource management, finance, operations and marketing, you will acquire global skills via units such as international economics, global marketing, and Intercultural awareness in business.

In your final year you are supported in finding a placement which delivers invaluable international experience, as well as credit towards your degree, as you apply your learning to project work in a live setting.

Why choose this course?
This innovative and interdisciplinary course will help you to gain the skills and knowledge required in key business disciplines coupled with a broader global business perspective. The course provides you with a deeper appreciation of the roles and relationships of businesses in an international context, together with the specific operational and strategic issues, challenges and opportunities that businesses face when they start operating at an international level.

You will also gain a working understanding of foundational concepts in the key functional and operational areas, including business management, business research, marketing, finance, accounting, operations management, human resource management, interpersonal and collaborative communication skills, covering important aspects of working in an international and multi-cultural environment.

The course offers a rich learning experience

• Is highly vocational with a focus on knowledge and understanding of business organisations from a global perspective;
• Focuses on both large and small organisational contexts;
• Instils a high level of professionalism from the outset;
• Has a strong theoretical base in each unit;
• Develops interpersonal and collaborative communication skills
• Includes a supervised final year dissertation involving an individually conducted research element;
• Provides further opportunity for professional development in a work placement relevant to international business
• Has small class interactive teaching environments;
• Focuses on hard and soft management skills for the 21st century

Choose International Business at Bedfordshire and

• Learn through lectures, seminars and workshops, plus projects, research exercises, presentations, and case study analyses with a focus on using your knowledge and understanding in practice
• Study business management, business research, marketing, finance, accounting, operations management and human resource management
• Develop your communication and collaborative skills as well as a recognisable high level of professionalism, enabling you to fit in and be effective from day one
• Gain an understanding of the roles and relationships of businesses in the international arena, and the specific operational and strategic issues, challenges and opportunities that they face at an international level
• Explore opportunities for further postgraduate and professional study
• Benefit from a degree which gives you understanding of global business operations, analytical and problem-solving skills, and personal effectiveness and credibility when working across cultures in international teams – attributes which are highly attractive to potential employers

This course is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

This course, for graduates with a background in electronics, was designed with industry experts and is ideal for those aiming to enter a range of specialist careers in digital electronics or communications.

Gain advanced theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in digital communications, signal processing, electronic circuits and microprocessors, as well as an understanding of engineering best practice and how to apply it in real-life scenarios.

The course will provide you with academic and technical skills to analyse, synthesise, interpret and make sense of modern electronic systems. It will enable you to meet the demands of tomorrow’s engineering society.

Why choose this course?

The course will provide you with academic and technical skills to analyse, synthesise, interpret and make sense of modern electronic systems. This course, for graduates with a background in electronics, was designed with industry experts and is ideal for those aiming to enter a range of specialist careers in digital electronics or communications. You will gain advanced theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in digital communications, signal processing, electronic circuits and microprocessors, as well as an understanding of engineering best practice and how to apply it in real-life scenarios.

This course is ideal if you are looking to work within the areas relating to digital electronics or communications and will prepare you for a range of specialist career options. It will enable you to meet the demands of tomorrows engineering society.

Following a career in the field of psychology, you can make a real difference to people’s lives. The skills and knowledge you’ll gain on this course – accredited to the British Psychological Society – will put you on the path to making that difference as a chartered psychologist.

Psychology can explain so much about our lives, from why we fall in love and need sleep to how others influence us. This course - taught by an academic team actively involved in leading-edge research - covers all the major areas of psychology, including cognitive, biological, social and developmental psychology, as well as individual differences and how psychology applies to everyday life. It also offers you the opportunity to specialise in your areas of interest such as counselling, criminal behaviour, mental health and occupational psychology.

Your studies also develop your own abilities and understanding as you learn to consider and evaluate different perspectives; increase your self-awareness through enquiry, analysis, evaluation and reflection; build your independence and confidence through team activities and your own final-year research project.

Why choose this course?

• It is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and is your first step towards becoming a chartered psychologist
• Our academic team are members of the Research Centre for Applied Psychology, applying psychology to a range of ‘real world’ situations and problems
• You benefit from a wide variety of teaching methods including workshops, problem solving, simulations, computer-based activities and guided learning
• You take part in research studies and run your own studies as part of your learning and assessment
• The findings of your final-year research project are made available to your peers as part of the Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference
• You can take the course over four years (see below) and include a fee-free year’s placement in industry where you gain practical experience, build your CV and make contacts for the future
• If you would like a step-up into higher education, you can take a Foundation Year which guarantees you entry to the Undergraduate course (see below)

From online behavioural marketing to in-game advertising, and from SMS marketing to app-based adverts, digital marketing has revolutionised the way advertisers sell and consumers buy. And as the established major players and ambitious start-ups continue to develop and expand the landscape, so a ‘digital skills gap’ has appeared, both in the UK and internationally.

This course aims to help fill that gap by providing you with the knowledge and expertise you will need to make an impact in this rapidly expanding global industry.

There are six entry points through the year. This allows you to start when it is most suitable.

Why choose this course?

• Learn the theoretical and practical skills that are demanded by the world’s leading digital marketers
• Study with seasoned professionals, academics and practicing experts, focusing on areas such as Marketing Data Analysis and Marketing Communications
• Develop your entrepreneurial expertise through seminars, workshops, project work and our well-established links with the local digital community
• Gain an understanding of the strategic knowledge and skills you will need to make effective business decisions and become a successful digital professional
• Explore the innovative creative concepts that are driving the latest global digital success stories, and develop the confidence to take your own imaginative ‘leaps of faith’
• Challenge yourself as you study the theory and practice behind audience behaviour and what make consumers buy (or not buy) products and services
• Benefit from studying at a university with recognised expertise in ‘Big Data’, and a campus that is home to Phase 1 of the award-winning MK Data Hub

This course offers you the opportunity to develop a particular strength in the management of international business issues. You will focus on strategic areas of management, international business, intercultural competencies, brand management, and financial management, all framed by the lens of developing patterns of world trade and the global marketplace.

You will develop the skills required to adopt appropriate strategic responses to different market environments through the study of and working with an organisation. You will also understand and experience at first hand the impact of contextual forces on international organisations, including the management functions of business such as corporate and brand reputation, corporate governance and ethical, economic and environmental change issues.

You will develop your knowledge of the financing of organisations including the sources, uses and management of finance and the use of accounting for managerial and financial reporting. You will also study and experience the management and development of people in organisations within a cross-cultural context, the use of relevant communications within the global economy.

You will appreciate how cultural differences affect both buying behaviour and marketing approaches. As well as specific knowledge relating to international business, you will develop enhanced personal and interpersonal skills through work experience in a professional placement. These include critical thinking, team working, problem solving, numeracy and quantitative skills, self-management and negotiation skills.

The placement will provide the basis for the delivery of the Business Placement Dissertation and comprise one block of study on Campus preparing for the project in the organisation followed by four blocks of study in the organisation and a final block back in the University to complete the write up. The project will be fully academically supervised throughout the six blocks of study.

As the various elements of the mass media converge, it is increasingly appropriate to develop a broader understanding of how different aspects of the media interconnect. This course examines key issues of media and communication, introducing principles of cultural theories and media research methods.

For this course you must complete a series of units that address the central issues and concepts informing the study of the media in a culturally diverse environment as the nowadays society.

The course offers units dealing with fundamental principles and topics of the subject area (e.g. Current research in mass communications; Media institutions, structure and policies; and Research Methods in the area of media); and a core unit focuses on international development.

The course includes a final self-directed independent study project, in the form of a dissertation based on a research project. It is this project work that provides you with the opportunity to tailor the course to your own interests (subject to staff supervisory expertise).

You can start your studies in October and complete the course in 12 months. Alternatively start the course in February and complete it over 15 months

Why choose this course?

• Study the theories, which underpin the practice of media and communication, and discuss theoretical aspects of media through a range of case studies.
• Apply knowledge of the media and its cultural forms to the analysis of contemporary issues
• Employ skills in critical analysis, research, and communication as well as an array of generic and creative skills to propose solutions to contemporary issues in mass communications
• Develop and employ strong academic skills in research and critical thinking, problem-solving and analysis.
• Apply knowledge of cultural and media processes to the examination of policy and ethical issues, whether in the public domain or in other aspects of democratic participation and citizenship.
• Acquire skills needed to continue your studies and progress into MPhil and PhD.

Economics lies at the heart of the modern world and understanding its influence is critical to both business success and effective policy-making. This course gives you the analytical skills you need to stand out as a business economist in a demanding career field.

Our Business Economics BSc (Hons) allows you to explore the global economic system – including the factors that influence income, wealth and wellbeing - and to apply your knowledge and insight to the contemporary business world. You will engage with the theory behind key economic decisions and develop your understanding of how societies, governments, businesses, households, and individuals allocate their resources.

Your studies cover the foundations of business economics including business practice, financial markets, accounting and finance, data analytics, and applied economics before moving into specific areas such as labour economics, globalisation and econometrics.

Why choose this course?

• Apply economic theory to real-world business problems, with the analytical skills and subject knowledge to discuss your ideas and conclusions confidently
• Develop your skills and experience in critical thinking, problem solving, presentation and team-working as well as in using information technology
• Put theoretical knowledge into practice in your final-year specialist project
• Take the course over four years and include a fee-free year in industry (see below), building experience and making contacts for the future
• If you need to step up to higher education, start with a Foundation Year (see below) which guarantees entry to the undergraduate degree

This course aims to provide you with state of the art analysis and business research skills with options to develop your expertise in Finance Marketing or Project Management and Operations techniques. The awareness of business and the knowledge base developed in this course will equip you for a broad range of careers in the world of business.

Specifically the course will develop skills and expertise in

• To be able to identify relevant issues for research and to formulate them clearly and precisely
• To be able to use online techniques to identify and retrieve appropriate material
• To develop an ability to analyse, synthesise, and critically evaluate a wide range of subject matter
• To be able to use concepts and techniques to develop and evaluate alternative strategies
• To develop the skills of an independent learner

Contextual understanding

• An ability to appreciate the broader economic, social, political, historical, ethical and cultural environments as a backdrop to Business
• To be able to identify and to critically analyse strategic issues in business
• To appreciate the appropriate application of Operations and Project Management techniques a wide variety of Business environments

Collaboration

• To develop effective team working skills
• To develop an ability to interface and work collaboratively with a wide range of people and functions in industry.

Enterprise

•     To be able to undertake independent research in business related subject area.

Why choose this course?
A final year top up course for students who wish to gain a BA (Hons) in Business Administration having already achieved two years of undergraduate equivalent study (Level 5). It will provide both subject specific and transferable skills that will equip the graduate for a successful career in a wide range of roles in business.

Our recent investment of £1m in a new Electronic Engineering lab demonstrates our commitment to this discipline, and means you will be able to use state-of-the-art equipment and enjoy top-tier teaching as you study.

You will develop skills in a number of areas, including analogue and digital electronics, signal processing, sensors, digital communications, software engineering and embedded programming.

And through a combination of theoretical learning and practical application, you will quickly became adept at solving real-world engineering problems.

Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partly meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer

Why choose this course?
The course will provide you with academic and technical skills to analyse, interpret and make sense of electronic engineering. It will enable you to meet the demands of tomorrow’s electronic engineering.

• Learn skills in a number of areas, including analogue and digital electronics, signal processing, sensors, digital communications, software engineering and embedded programming
• Study using a combination of top-tier learning materials and hands-on practical experience
• Develop your knowledge and understanding of the commercial and economic contexts of engineering processes, and keep informed of emerging processes and technologies
• Gain a thorough awareness of the possible equality and diversity issues that exist in electronic engineering
• Explore the practical application of the computer software and hardware toolkits commonly used by electronic engineers
• Challenge yourself by analysing and solving real-world engineering problems
• Benefit from our well-established professional links with local and regional industry partners