Overview
The Engineering Business Management BEng (Hons) top-up course, is designed to boost your existing qualifications.
Successful completion of this course enables you to ‘top-up’ your existing qualifications – an undergraduate level diploma or equivalent in engineering or related fields – to the internationally recognised ‘honours degree’ classification. It is designed for UK, international and European students seeking to become managers and leaders in technology-based businesses.
Building on your existing engineering skills, this final year course will introduce you to the key aspects of managing a company in an engineering based organisation and the latest developments in business management theory, such as strategic management, supply chain and logistics, quality, project management and environmental management.
Why Coventry University?
An award-winning university, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible experience. We continue to invest in both our facilities and our innovative approach to education. Our students benefit from industry-relevant teaching, and resources and support designed to help them succeed. These range from our modern library and computing facilities to dedicated careers advice and our impressive Students’ Union activities.
To ensure an optimised and continual student experience, the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via emerging online technologies and methods across all courses.
Global ready
An international outlook, with global opportunitiesEmployability
Career-ready graduates, with the skills to succeedTeaching Excellence
Taught by lecturers who are experts in their fieldCourse essentials
A degree which offers you more, at no extra costAccreditation and Professional Recognition
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT)
As a student member of the CILT, you will have access to the Institute’s knowledge centre, which features traditional library and online facilities, as well as career support and access to the student hub. Additional costs may apply. Please check with the membership body for details.
What our students say...
The course is designed specifically for students like myself who had achieved some higher-level academic qualifications, perhaps as part of an apprenticeship scheme, but had not had the opportunity to obtain their full degree. This top-up course was exactly what I needed to engage a shift in career by enabling me to apply for work with full bachelor’s degree.
Course information
The course is structured around a deliberate cluster of modules which cover some of the most essential modern engineering management activities.
It aims to deepen your knowledge and capabilities in the key areas of quality management, lean manufacturing, operations, communication and information technology, business, policy and strategy, pervasive issues, supply chain management, business simulation and manufacturing process improvement.
Upon successful completion, you should develop a range of management, intellectual and personal skills – including communication, cultural awareness, team working, objective setting, leadership, consultancy, presentation skills and digital literacy – which are considered as requirements for operational effectiveness and success. Upon successful graduation, you should be better prepared to participate in and lead engineering projects, solving engineering management problems and implementing engineering processes effectively.
Working on your own and in groups, you will study real-life case studies and projects in which you will explore appropriate management strategy. For example, supplier development strategies, lean and process improvements.
You will be required to carry out an independent piece of research of your choosing, which seeks to develop skills in personal organisation, research and critical thinking, as well as providing you the opportunity to advance your knowledge in the subject area. Previously, students have looked at Ecosystems innovation, implementation of industry 4.0 in supply chain management, future development of drones in natural disasters and logistics management technologies.
Course Specification
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Modules
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
We have been ranked joint first amongst Modern Universities in England for career prospects - Guardian University Guide 2021
In more detail...
Managers within engineering and other technology based businesses are increasingly faced with complicated, complex and large-scale projects, such as supply chain and logistics improvements, lean manufacturing and product development. Requiring careful management to succeed, such projects often bring a whole host of challenges requiring more general management, leadership and interpersonal skills, including multi-team coordination, interdependent activities and internal politics, not to mention drifting budgets and time constraints.
This final year top-up course is designed to broaden your skill set with a range of engineering business management and leadership skills. The subjects are all taught within the context of business and engineering management with case studies and real-life examples taken from industry, which have previously included Dell Computers' Dellocity and Nissan Cars co-development process, Nissan Cogent.
Many current staff teaching on the course have significant academic and professional practice, having worked as operations managers, project managers and supply chain managers as well as conducting research in areas such as the application of Industry 4.0 solutions to the manufacturing, operations and supply chain management challenges faced by industry.
We aim to provide you with in-depth knowledge about the operations and marketing of engineering based organisations, as well as technical aspects, such as process improvement methods and new product development.
- Access to commercial software such as Arena.
- Opportunity to take part in international field trips*, which in recent years have included both one and two week long trips to Europe, India, China, Dubai and USA via our Global Leaders Programme (GLP)
*Please note that we are unable to guarantee any field trip opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student. - Regular programme of guest speakers via our Global Leaders Programme (GLP) (availability and fees may apply), which in recent years has included the Group Strategy Director of Jaguar Land Rover, a NASA Astronaut and a Vice President of Telefonica Europe.
- Extensive facilities in our High-Performance Engineering Centre, which houses a 20% scale model wind tunnel (designed and built by the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team), composites lab, metrology lab, four-pot shaker rig, flow lab, AVL engine test cell, automotive workshop, fatigue and tensile testing (Instron), a full-size Harrier Jet, three further simulators, civil engineering specialist testing equipment, a range of CNC machinery and a laser workshop.
- Free student membership of WES, the Women’s Engineering Society which is an Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity society open to all regardless of gender identity.
Opportunity to attend exciting industry visits, which in recent years have included companies such as Coca Cola, Prodrive, Jaguar Land Rover and BMW via our Global Leaders Programme (GLP).
The course can be studied full-time over one year starting in September. All modules within the course are mandatory.
The full-time mode takes place over two semesters. The course is underpinned by current research in the various specialised fields and newly evolving areas within the disciplines and will explore different ways that effective leadership and management can significantly contribute to wealth creation, competitiveness, and the advancement of society.
Some of the modules adopt an Activity-Led Learning (ALL) approach, for example, we may provide you with a case study in supply chain management which requires problem solving skills and research with team or individual analysis.
We aim to improve your digital fluency by using appropriate software and learning technologies, such as Microsoft Project. There are also opportunities to attend free subject specific seminars and guest lectures (subject to availability), which have in the past covered topics such as industry 4.0 and The IET Viscount Nuffield lecture.
Teaching methods may include: lectures, tutorials, case studies, simulations, individual and group exercises and projects.
This course will be assessed by coursework and exams.
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes.
On successful completion, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: A range of techniques, including the latest developments, to aid the management and business processes in a product-based organisation; the holistic nature of a product based organisation and how the main business functions inter-relate; how product based organisations interact with the external environment and the opportunities created by operating in a common market.
- Apply relevant engineering business management concepts and theories to new contexts.
- Analyse engineering management and business problems and exercise reasoned judgement in assessing business needs in a technology based enterprise.
- Synthesise innovative solutions to problems in an engineering environment using appropriate tools and techniques.
- Select appropriate tools for the analysis of engineering products and systems.
- Demonstrate critical thinking, analysis and synthesis concerning business problems and potential solutions.
- Communicate effectively (orally and in writing) in English.
- Effectively use communication and information technology tools in business applications. Transfer ideas and concepts from one area of knowledge to another in the development of solutions to engineering business management issues.
Actual teaching contact hours will vary depending on the level of study and the requirements of a particular semester. In a typical week your contact hours will be divided amongst personal tutorials and small group teaching; medium group teaching (e.g. classes, workshops or seminars); and large group teaching (lectures). In addition, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study each week, at least 17 hours, depending on the demands of individual modules. The number of contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 15 contact hours per week.
There may be opportunities to take part in international field trips*, which in recent years have included both one and two week long trips to Europe, India, China, Dubai and USA via our Global Leaders Programme (GLP).
*Please note that we are unable to guarantee any field trip, event, placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.
Global ready
Did you know we help more students travel internationally than any other UK university according to data from the experts in higher education data and analysis, HESA?
In 2018/19, we were able to provide a total of 5,469 experiences abroad that lasted at least five days.
Much of this travel is made possible through our Global Leaders Programme, which enables students to prepare for the challenges of the global employment market, as well as strengthening and developing their broader personal and professional skills.
Explore our international experiences1st for
international experiences
Sending more students overseas than any other UK uni 2016/17
5,469
Student experiences
The number of student trips abroad for at least 5 days in 2018/19
12,000
and counting
The number of students we’ve helped travel internationally since 2016
12
global programmes
As well as trips, we offer other opportunities like language courses
Entry Requirements
Tuition Fees
We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis and offer a wide range of scholarships to support students with their studies. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.
For more information, please visit our Finance pages.
Course essentials - additional costs
This course may incur additional costs associated with any field trips, placements or work experience, study abroad opportunities or any other opportunity (whether required or optional), which could include (but is not limited to) travel, accommodation, activities and visas.
This course may incur additional costs associated with any equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire.
EU student fees
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year remain eligible for the same fees as home students and the same financial support. Financial support comes from Student Finance England, and covers undergraduate and postgraduate study for the duration of their course, providing they meet the residency requirement.
For tuition fee loans
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for the three years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that three year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
For maintenance loans
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the UK and Islands for the five years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that five year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
Career prospects
Graduate Immigration Route visa
Based on current information from the UK Government, international students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.
Job satisfaction and remuneration are high for graduates who are educated in both engineering and business management, especially for individuals who are able to link theory and practice through the right blend of underpinning knowledge, skills and capabilities.
On successful completion of this programme, you should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the operation of engineering based organisations, the processes of product design and process improvement methods. This should provide you with a base of knowledge that you can use in further study or in employment.
Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The university’s Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.
Disclaimer
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2020/21 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.
For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.