The details
Location: Online Mode of study: Part-time Qualification: Online short course (15 credits) Study duration: 10 weeks
Start date: Awarding body: University of Essex Delivered by: Kaplan Open Learning For queries: Call +44 (0) 1206 489 358

What makes a great leader and what makes a successful manager? Discover the answers on this informative online short course. 

Over 10 weeks, you’ll learn about effective practices to manage and motivate teams, as well as how to create a harmonious and successful workplace. You’ll also explore the overall communications process and the channels leaders employ to connect with their teams.  

There’s a strong focus on best management practice, including: 

  • how to handle and resolve workplace conflict  
  • delegation of tasks  
  • delivering constructive feedback  
  • rewarding hard work and strong performance  

Once you’ve completed the course, you have the opportunity to study other undergraduate online short courses or progress onto a full undergraduate degree. 

Why we’re great

  • Get a taste for working in the business world, with topics drawn from real-life business scenarios. 
  • Gain the opportunity to establish fundamental leadership and management skills. 
  • Over half of students who saw a salary increase after studying with us enjoyed increases of between 10-50% (based on 2021 survey of active students). 
  • 94% of NSS survey 2023 participants said the teaching staff were good at explaining things.  

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

  • leadership and management 
  • establishing an effective team 
  • the communication process 
  • the feedback cycle  
  • delegation 
  • conflict management 
  • motivation 
  • performance management 
  • rewarding performance 

Teaching methods

Studying online gives you the freedom to study when and where it suits you – at home, during your lunch hour or anywhere else you have internet access. 

Our online short courses are delivered through a virtual learning environment (VLE) instead of a traditional campus. This means you will 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 course 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 Student Support team 

To ensure you receive the support you need from your tutor, we cap our class sizes at 20 students. 

Assessment methods

Rather than fretting about exams, 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 of the programme 
  • you’ll be able to view your marks clearly in your gradebook whenever you log onto 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 Business and Management Skills online short course has a study duration of 10 weeks, including a one-week induction to help you settle into online study. 

The Business and Management Skills online short course offers a whole host of opportunities. Not only does the qualification give you a unique insight into the business world, you’ll also develop a number of key skills that are relevant to the workplace. 

This short online course is sometimes referred to as a microcredential. This means that unlike some others found online, the course offers academic value. Upon completion, you’ll receive a digital certificate confirming you’ve achieved 15 academic credits at undergraduate level. This will be beneficial whether you’re looking to go into higher education or step into your first business role. 

If you wish to continue your studies and boost your prospects, you could choose to a study  our CertHE Business and Management (120 credits) or the full BA (Hons) Business and Management (360 credits). 

Please note, acceptance on to the BA (Hons) Business and Management is subject to meeting the entry requirements of your chosen programme.

No formal qualifications or experience is necessary. 

As our online short courses are delivered in English, a high proficiency is required in this language. 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 are a national of, or have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in, any of these countries. 

Full tuition fee:
£771 UK / £809 International (2023-24) Δ 
£771 UK / £1,455 International (2024-25) Δ

  • Our online short 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’re 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. 

Subject specialists, industry authorities and experienced academics: the tutors who teach on our Business and Management Skills online short 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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