BSc (Hons) Business and Economics course preparation

Suggested reading

Your class sessions are designed to trigger your learning by giving you the central structure and framework in each topic and driving your learning through direct reading that will then underpin class discussions. You’ll be given far more information about which textbooks to read and introduced to the University Library, as well as the many ebooks we have for you to access when you begin your studies.

In the meantime, just one textbook which will be required reading to help you to prepare for your Year 1 modules:

• Boddy, D. 2020, Management: using practice and theory to develop skill, 8^th edn, Pearson, Harlow, England.

Detailed and updated reading lists are issued out in the module handbooks, which are provided in the first session of each module. You can use Discover More our search facility to find reading lists using module codes.

You may also want to get a head start by reading up on general business subjects and ensuring that you are aware of the current economic and world developments taking place.  Good quality daily newspapers and business supplements are an ideal starting ground for this knowledge.

Useful websites

Depending on your areas of interest, you might want to read:

• personneltoday.com – if you are interested in the management of people
• marketingmagazine.co.uk – if you are interested in marketing
• fastcompany.com – all about the latest in management and start-ups

Things to read over summer

Although we don’t recommend any particular pre-reading before you arrive, if you want something to keep your mind ticking over in the summer period, we recommend that you try reading one of the following interesting reads that should stimulate and challenge you:

• The Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail (2014) by Clayton M Christensen
  If you want to know how new business ideas destroy the old, this is a great place to start and gives you a really good understanding of innovation.
• Whoops!: Why everyone owes everyone and no one can pay (2010) by John Lancaster
  A very funny but accurate account of the global financial meltdown.
• Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (2009) by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner
• We say – This book will force you to look at common things in a new light, nice bite-sized chapters for you to explore.

Additional ways to prepare

Preparing to start

This session examines how to make a successful transition to university. From planning your results day, accommodation and commuting tips, extra support available to you and general advice on uni life.

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Find out more about who you are

The following information provides an insight into what to expect when coming to university along with some good advice on how to navigate some of the potential challenges you may face.

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