Overview

The details
Location: Online Mode of study: Part-time Qualification: Online professional course (20 credits) Study duration: 13 weeks
Start date:
Awarding body: University of Essex Delivered by: Kaplan Open Learning For queries: Call +44 (0) 1206 489 358

Recently become a manager or aspiring to be one? Learn all about the principles and practices of organisational behaviour with this thought-provoking online professional course.  

Employers are increasingly seeking staff with strong leadership skills – and this course allows you to build on your critical thinking, problem solving and evaluation. By analysing a case study, you’ll also learn how to apply current and emerging techniques to real-life scenarios.  

There’s a strong focus on various areas of workplace management, including:

  • common issues in contemporary management and organisation theory
  • managing individuals, teams and groups
  • the differences between managing and leading
  • management and organisational processes

Once you’ve completed the online professional course, you have the opportunity to study one of our popular postgraduate business courses.  

This course is accredited by The CPD Certification Service, which provides independent CPD accreditation used to formally record CPD learning. Recognised in over 100 countries, the accreditation is compatible with international requirements and confirms our courses achieve qualitative standards required by professional bodies, institutional associations and education providers.

Why we’re great 

  • Accelerate your business career or take your first step into a new industry.  
  • Expand your skillset and learn how to apply skills to your own role. 
  • Study 100% online, part-time, without the need for a career break.  
  • Gain 20 academic credits on successful completion, which are transferrable to further study of a PG Cert, PG Dip or full Masters degree. 
  • Receive your online professional courses certificate from the University of Essex, a top 40 UK university (Complete University Guide 2025). 

Course structure

You’ll study the following topics as part of the online professional course:

  • managing individuals
  • managing teams and groups
  • managing and leading
  • managing cultures
  • management, power, politics and decision making
  • managing and structure
  • re-thinking management
  • organisational design after bureaucracy

Learning and assessments

Teaching methods 

Studying online gives you the freedom to complete your qualification when and where it suits you – at home, during your lunch hour or in a café. 

Our online professional courses are delivered through a virtual learning environment (VLE) instead of a traditional campus. This means you’ll have access to your study materials 24/7, including: 

  • multimedia lecturecasts made up of written content, short videos, animation, audio recordings, infographics, short tests and mini-assignments 
  • discussion forums for you to chat about the module content with fellow students 
  • live Q&A sessions with your tutors 
  • a comprehensive eLibrary of textbooks and academic journals 
  • support from academic staff and your dedicated Student Support team 

To ensure you receive high-quality tutor support, each class is capped at 20 students. 

 

Assessment methods 

You’ll be assessed exclusively through assignments. These include assessed discussion forums, written assignments and journal entries. 

We’re committed to providing frequent and transparent feedback in the following ways: 

  • our assessment criteria are designed to be simple and transparent 
  • you’ll always be aware of your current provisional grade, right from the start 
  • you’ll be able to clearly view your marks in your gradebook whenever you log on to the learning platform 
  • there’s a seven-day turnaround for marking and feedback of assessed work 
  • you’ll have regular contact with your Student Support team, with whom you can discuss any concerns as soon as they arise 

  

Study duration 

Our Management: Principles and Practices online professional course has a study duration of 13 weeks, including a one-week induction to help you settle into online study. 

Your future

The Management: Principles and Practices online professional course offers a whole host of opportunities. This will be beneficial whether you’re looking to climb the career ladder or take the first step into business – helping you stand out amongst the competition. 

If you wish to continue your studies and boost your prospects, you could choose additional business online professional courses, such as Project Management Techniques or Marketing Strategy and Management. Alternatively, you could progress on to the PG Cert Business Management (60 credits); PG Dip Business Management (120 credits); or the full MBM Master of Business Management (180 credits). 

Please note, acceptance on to a postgraduate qualification is subject to meeting the entry requirements of your chosen programme. 

Entry requirements

No formal qualifications or experience is necessary.  

As our courses are delivered in English, a high proficiency of English is required. If English isn’t your first language, your ability should be equivalent to an IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5. Don’t worry if you don’t hold an IELTS or equivalent qualification – we offer a free online English test to assess your proficiency.  

You don’t need to prove your English ability if you’re a national of, or have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in, any of these countries. 

Fees and funding

Full tuition fee:
£1,386 UK / £1,455 International (2024-25) Δ  

  • Our online professional courses are fully inclusive – all teaching materials and required reading are included. 
  • Alumni discount of 10% of the tuition fee available if you’re a previous graduate with the University of Essex or University of Essex Online.   
  • We offer a 14-day moneyback guarantee, so if you decide your course isn’t for you during the first 14 days, we’ll give you a full refund. Terms and conditions apply. 

Δ All tuition fees shown are net of any applicable sales tax payable by you in your country of residence. Where we are required to add sales tax at the local statutory rate, this will be added to the tuition fees shown and confirmed during the payment process. 

Our expert staff

Subject specialists, industry authorities and experienced academics: the tutors who teach on our Management: Principles and Practices online professional course are experts in the business field.

What our students say

testimonials

William Annoh -Master of Business Management (MBM)

I was particularly impressed with the way that the online programme was structured. My Student Advisor Rebekah was very helpful in advising me and guiding me through the process. All the faculty who taught the modules were very very helpful; they taught me so much. I've learnt a lot of things and I'm willing and ready to use them in my career path. I particularly loved the discussion forums. It was a platform for us to engage with each other, so it helped us as online participants to get to know each other and think about different things. It helped me open my mind to a lot of different ideas. Now that I've finished my degree, the first thing I plan to do is to better myself in my role at work. I just started a new role last month so I'm looking forward to using my experiences from here to grow that. On the side I do some consultancy as well, and I have helped manage a few...

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