Business Administration

Overview
In conjunction with Heriot Watt Business School, Griffith College is proud to offer a part-time and online Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration.

Covering a range of topics, this Certificate offers both intellectual rigour and applied business experience. As a student, you are supported to expand your skills within your chosen industry, giving you the readiness to succeed in your business endeavours.

The programme consists of 3 modules with an option to progress to the Masters of Business Administration available to all graduates. Built on an ethos of flexibility, pursuing a Postgraduate Certificate with Griffith College will allow you to pursue your degree at your own pace while balancing work, families, and other commitments.

Why study Business Administration at Griffith College?
Our online Postgraduate Cert is available on a part-time basis and is fully available online. It has been designed for experienced professionals to grow their skills and prepare for new challenges and opportunities.
• A programme designed to fit your life. Work where and when you can, and take time off as you need.
• Students will gain an internationally recognised qualification from Edinburgh Business School, which has 43 Approved Learning Partners in over 30 countries worldwide.
• Study what interests you, with a choice of subjects
• Take only the modules you need to, with exemptions for a range of academic and professional qualifications.

The Post Graduate Certificate in Business Administration is comprised of three modules from our MBA programme.
Below is the upcoming schedule of modules, students can choice between the modules delivered in Sememster 1 and 2 to complete the Post Graduate Certificate in Business Administration

Semester 1: (September – December)
• People, Work and Organisations
• Delivering Successful Projects

Semester 2: (January – June)
• Leadership Theory and Practice
• Economics for Business
• Elective (to be confirmed)

Semester 3: (September – December)
• Strategic Marketing
• Elective (to be confirmed)

Semester 4: (February – June)
• Financial Decision Making
• Developing and Executing Strategy.

Select Three Modules
People, Work and Organisations
This course develops the students' appreciation for factors that influence how people behave at work and how these link to performance. Emphasis is placed on understanding individual differences, how these differences affect group dynamics and how organisational factors affect individual behaviour. Students are equipped with the skills and knowledge to positively impact individual, team and organisational performance in a variety of dynamic organisational contexts.

Delivering Successful Projects
This course equips managers and business professionals with the knowledge, skills and competence to manage projects effectively using integrative concepts, tools and techniques. The fundamental concepts of the project management discipline are covered including how to set the decision-making mindset and how to assist organisations in materialising their strategic and change objectives.

Leadership Theory and Practice
The course critically examines the concept of leadership in organisations, explores major theoretical developments in how leadership is understood and provides opportunities for managers to reflect on real-life leadership issues. Across eight modules, key developments in leadership theories and how they apply to modern organisations are explored. The course hones in on some example settings for practice, including creative industries and projects, to explore alternative approaches to leadership. The role of leadership in setting and shaping organisational strategy is also examined, and contemporary issues of gender, culture and ethics are discussed.

Economics for Business
This course introduces students to fundamental economic concepts and the workings of the market system. Different market structures and their impact on organisations are reviewed and the role of government in the economy is examined. Macroeconomics is explored in the context of business impact and decision-making and international economic issues are also discussed.

Strategic Marketing
The philosophy underlying this course is that marketing-oriented companies put customers first, are geared for long-term success and that this orientation must be championed by top management and infused throughout the whole organisation. Students are introduced to the requisite strategic marketing techniques such as strategic analysis and planning, implementation - via a number of integrated and synergistic marketing functions and activities - and marketing control, aided by an array of marketing metrics and digital developments.

Financial Decision Making
The course begins with a closer look at the current ‘financial landscape’ before examining the application of financial and management accounting tools relevant to critical financial decisions. These tools include: key performance indicators, break-even analysis, working capital management techniques and the budgeting process. Students also examine financial management techniques and consider the decisions that organisations face on investment, finance and dividend, and how an organisation ultimately makes those decisions.

Developing and Executing Strategy
This course is the capstone course in the online MBA programme. The core areas of strategic management are covered and the general management setting is used to integrate ideas across the core disciplines covered in the other MBA courses. Developing and Executing Strategy examines the evolution of management and academic thinking around strategy and strategic management over the past 50 years, reviews the diversity of contemporary strategy theory and practice and examines the role of strategy in the management of different types of organisations.

The course then examines different aspects of strategy including strategic intent, analysis, strategic options and implementation. The other management disciplines such as: leadership, organisational behaviour, economics, marketing and finance are also considered. Finally, an integrative framework for strategic decision-making is presented, which facilitates a holistic approach to complex business and management issues.

Students should hold a first or second class honours Level 8 undergraduate qualification from a recognised higher education institution.

Students may also hold a combination of lower level qualifications (Level 6 or 7 or a Professional level qualification) along with relevant work experience.

Exemption from core courses may be granted on the basis of bachelor level and professional qualifications. Exemption from core and elective courses may be granted on the basis of postgraduate level qualifications and professional qualifications.

How to Apply
Step 1: Fill out the online application form.

Step 2: Send a copy of prior qualifications by email.

Step 3: Our Admissions Team will endeavour to contact you within 3 working days if you are successful in gaining a place.

1 year Part-Time / Online / Blended Learning.
Timetables are flexible and available on request.

Intake Dates
We run one intake for this course, commencing as follows:
Autumn: September*

*subject to sufficient numbers.

Progression
Successful completion of three courses, at least one of which must be a core course allows a student to be formally matriculated on to the MBA programme without an undergraduate degree.