Leadership and Management for England HTQ

HNC/HND courses
HTQ courses

Three students sat in a classroom looking towards the front

Are you interested in the world of business? This course focuses on the practical, interpersonal and thinking skills you'll need to be successful in leadership and management roles.

Year of entry

2024-25 2025-26

Location

CU London (Dagenham, London)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

2 years full-time

Course code

CUCLU074

Start date

January 2025
March 2025
May 2025
June 2025

How to apply

Open events

Download a prospectus

Course overview

The course is designed to develop you as an independent-thinking professional, who can meet the demands of employers and adapt to a constantly changing world. It is ideal for you if you are interested in leadership and management positions and want a broad understanding of management concepts.

Why you should study this course

This course provides you with the opportunity to gain knowledge, skills and behaviours highly sought after by employers. It has been designed to prepare you to enter employment or progress onto degree-level study.

You should develop key employability skills such as:

problem-solving skills
independent skills
interpersonal skills
commercial skills
business skills.

This course empowers you to develop and apply your ideas, tackle uncertainty and complexity, explore solutions, demonstrate critical thinking and leverage both theory and practice, in a wide range of business situations.

By the end of the course, you should have gained a sound understanding of the principles of leadership and management. You should be familiar with how to apply these principles more widely in a business setting, preparing you for employment or further study.

Accreditation and professional recognition

The course is being delivered under the Intellectual Property License of Pearson Education Limited.

This course is approved by the Institute of Apprenticeships and Technical Education as meeting the standards of Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ).

HTQ kitemark and Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education

What you'll study

The first year lays the foundations of learning and aims to provide you with a broad introduction to different business functions. It aims to develop and strengthen your core skills whilst preparing you for further study or employment. You can expect to gain a wide range of business knowledge tied to practical skills gained through research, independent study, directed study and workplace scenarios. The course aims to help you feel competent in a range of subject-specific skills, as well as general skills and qualities relevant to key areas of business by the end of this study year.

Modules

The Contemporary Business Environment and Marketing Processes and Planning - 30 credits

Business activity is fundamental and universal to our everyday lives. Business organisations may differ in many ways, depending on the industry in which they operate globally, but they do share one common feature: the transformation of inputs into outputs. This transformation process takes place against a background of external influences that impact business activity. The external environment in which business organisations operate is dynamic, complex, volatile and interactive.

The aim of this module is to give background knowledge and understanding of business, the functions of an organisation and the wider business environments in which organisations operate. You will examine the different types of organisations (including for-profit and not-for-profit), their size and scope (for example, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, transnational and global), and how they operate. You will explore the relationships that organisations have with their various stakeholders and how the wider external environments influence and shape business decision-making.

Compulsory

Management of Human Resources and Leadership and Management - 30 credits

This module aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills associated with human resources (HR) occupational roles at either a generalist level – for example, HR assistant, advisor or business partner – or more specialist roles in areas such as recruitment, talent acquisition, and performance and reward management. You will explore the nature and scope of Human Resources Management (HRM) and the organisational context of people management, including recruitment and retention, training and development, reward systems, employment relations and associated legislative frameworks. The module should enable you to understand and apply principles of effective HRM, to enhance sustainable organisational performance and contribute to organisational success, holding business outcomes and people outcomes in equal balance. You can expect to apply HR practices in a work-related context, using your knowledge and practising skills and behaviours in the relevant professional areas, including resourcing, talent planning and recruitment, learning and development, and employee engagement. Upon successful completion of this module, you should understand the purpose and scope of HRM activities, enabling you to apply a range of people-management skills to enhance the performance of an organisation, by finding solutions to people-related problems.

This module also aims to help you understand the difference between the function of a manager and the role of a leader. You will consider the characteristics, behaviours and traits that support effective management and leadership, learning about the theories that have shaped the understanding of leadership and management, and how these have provided a guide to action for managers and leaders who want to secure success for their businesses. You will explore leadership styles, how and why they are used and the extent to which they are effective, along with developing your understanding of motivational strategies alongside the exploration of intrinsic and extrinsic aspects of motivation. Finally, you will be expected to evaluate the importance of managing performance in achieving continuous improvement.

Compulsory

Accounting Principles and Digital Business in Practice - 30 credits

This module will introduce the fundamental accounting principles that underpin financial operations and support sustainable decision-making in any organisation. You will develop a theoretical and practical understanding of a range of financial and management accounting techniques. Upon successful completion of this module, you should be able to assist senior colleagues in producing and analysing budgets, drawing up simple financial statements and using financial ratios to interpret performance. You will also explore wider aspects of accountancy, especially ethics, transparency and sustainability, and gain fundamental knowledge and skills that will enable you to progress to a higher level of study.

In this module, you will also explore the impact of a range of digital technologies on the workplace; examining how these technologies can support business aims and services and allow interaction with customers, for example, to promote their business, to encourage people to visit their e-commerce site, to buy goods or services, to drive and increase sales, and to provide high levels of customer service. The skills generated through an understanding of the practical and necessary use and application of relevant technologies will enable you to present yourself as being digitally literate to employers and give you the confidence to succeed in applying modern, digital methods.

Compulsory

Managing a Successful Business Project, and Operational Planning and Management - 30 credits

The aim of this module is to offer you an opportunity to demonstrate the skills required for managing and implementing a small-scale business project. You will undertake the appropriate independent research and investigation for carrying out and executing a business project, that meets appropriate business aims and objectives. Upon successful completion of this module, you should have the confidence to engage in decision-making, problem-solving and research activities using project management skills. Additionally, you should have developed the fundamental knowledge and skills to enable you to investigate and examine relevant business concepts in a work-related context, determine appropriate outcomes, decisions or solutions, and present evidence to various stakeholders in an acceptable and understandable format.

The aim of this module is also to enable you to explore how operations management manages all business activities to efficiently create and deliver products and services. This includes the transformation of inputs into outputs of finished goods and services, and activities throughout the supply chain. You will explore the approach to quality management and continuous improvement in the production process. You will review how operations managers must look externally as well as at internal processes, considering suppliers’ performance and customers throughout the supply chain. By the end of the module, you can expect to have an insight into the complex nature of operations, processes and supply chain management, fundamental for understanding the holistic work environment in any industry and organisation.

Compulsory

In the second year, you will have the opportunity to gain knowledge, skills and behaviours that prepare you to enter employment with the qualities and abilities necessary for roles that require personal responsibility and decision-making.

By the end of the year, you should have a sound understanding of the principles of leadership and management and how to apply those principles more widely in the business world.

Modules

Organisational Behaviour Management and Business Strategy - 30 credits

The aim of this module is to develop knowledge and understanding of how organisational behaviour concepts, theories and techniques, can be applied in work and management settings to enhance individual, team and organisational performance. You should be able to apply this knowledge in a variety of business situations, and appreciate how effective application of organisational behaviour principles can be used to explain why people behave and act in particular ways, helping you to predict how employees will respond to certain demands. The module also develops your understanding of the influence of culture and of the operation of power and politics in organisations, and how these variables influence the actions and behaviour of people in an organisational context. Upon successful completion of this module, the range of transferable skills and knowledge you can expect to have developed includes core people management skills used to achieve positive organisational outcomes, value creation through the recognition of individual differences, team working and the creation of inclusive cultures.

The module also aims to develop your awareness of the different types of strategic approach that could be used in an operational, tactical or strategic role for an organisation. This will be underpinned by a thorough knowledge and understanding of the theories, models and concepts that could significantly support an organisation’s strategic choice and direction. Upon successful completion of this unit, you should have developed sufficient knowledge and understanding of strategy to make a positive, efficient and effective contribution to the development of business plans and operational direction.

Compulsory

Managing and Leading Change, and Developing Individuals, Teams and Organisations - 30 credits

The aim of this module is for you to understand the different types and scope of change that may occur in an organisation. The modules aims to illustrate the drivers and triggers for change and how they vary and affect organisations in different ways, including the degree of impact and management’s response to change. You should gain an appreciation of how the depth of change can influence organisational behaviour, both during and after the change. Upon successful completion of this module, you should be confident in your application of a range of change management concepts, including diagnosing driving and resisting forces, planning for change, and dealing with change in organisational settings. This will put you in a strong position to contribute to change initiatives in the workplace.

This module will also give you knowledge of the different factors involved in diagnosing the skills, training and development requirements for your future employees, as well as for your individual career goals. You will be introduced to the concept of high-performance workplaces and the strategic benefits this can bring to an organisation. You will recognise that your professional development is just one route to improving the performance of the teams and organisations you may find yourself a part of. You will plan towards achieving your career goals, while becoming aware of the context in which learning takes place and how development needs are linked to learning interventions, aimed at supporting an organisation’s strategy. Upon successful completion of this module, you will have laid the foundations for your continuing professional development (CPD), which aim to support you in becoming engaged in lifelong learning. These foundations should enable you to contribute to the development of others and make a positive contribution to the sustainable growth of an organisation.

Compulsory

Principles of Operations Management, and Business Communications and Relationship Management - 30 credits

The aim of this module is to introduce you to the role of operations in an organisation, how the nature of operations management has evolved and how it contributes to sustained competitive advantage. You will develop your understanding of the key concepts of operations management in an organisational and environmental context, and how this links to supply chain management, products and processes, organisational efficiency and effectiveness, and the achievement of tactical and strategic objectives. A variety of operations management techniques and frameworks will be explored, including continuous improvement, total quality management, benchmarking and risk analysis. By the end of this module, you should have an appreciation of the dimensions of operations management and its central role for organisations across a wide range of sectors. You should also have the knowledge and skills required to progress to higher levels of study or employment, in positions in operations, logistics and supply.

You will also look at concepts of communication in organisations and how to select communication techniques that are fit for purpose. You will investigate the contribution of interpersonal skills to successful relationship management, and consider ways to build positive relationships with partners, stakeholders and suppliers. You can expect to develop your knowledge of approaches to negotiation, influencing, and networking in a management or leadership context. Good pitching skills for a new product or service will generate sales and networking opportunities, while negotiating with different people and in different business transactions will secure more favourable deals - these transferable skills can be applied in various contexts to add value to a business.

Compulsory

Business Information Technology Systems, and Business Data Analytics and Insights - 30 credits

The aim of this module is to enhance your understanding of contemporary business information technology (IT) systems and how organisations develop and continuously review their IT strategy to gain and maintain competitive advantage. You will explore the areas of business that benefit from the support of IT systems and how organisations are using IT as a driver for business improvement. By the end of this module, you should be able to critically analyse the application of current and future technologies, and suggest the best solutions for an organisation.

This module also aims to give you an understanding of how organisations in different contexts improve their efficiency through the use of effective data management techniques. You will look at the importance of data analysis and interpretation in informing business decision-making processes, to enable organisations to stay current and competitive in a volatile macro environment. You will explore how key decision-makers, at various levels, are able to improve strategic outcomes by using more effective processes to gain insight into the most appropriate data and information available to a business. This, in turn, informs effective business strategy. Upon completion of this module, you can expect to have a greater understanding and awareness of fundamental data analysis processes, data mining and data transformation. Broader topics such as data management ethics, legislation relating to data and the use of data in strategic choices, will also be explored. This will enable you to develop a career that focuses on the analysis, interpretation and effective use of data, if you so choose.

Compulsory

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.

How you'll learn

We understand that everyone learns differently, so this course will consist of structured teaching sessions which can include:

on-campus lectures, seminars and workshops
group work
self-directed learning.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 20 credit module requires a total of 200 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours:

Teaching hours vary depending on year of study and due to module selection. During your first year you can expect 15-18 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend optional sessions including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Guided and independent study:

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You’ll be digging deeper into topics, review what you’ve learned and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you’ll spend more time in independent study.

Online learning:

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods may include:

essays
group work
presentations
reports
projects
coursework
individual assignments.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

What we're looking for
80 UCAS tariff points. Minimum 5 GCSEs graded 9-4 / A* - C including Maths and English. Minimum two A2 levels or BTEC equivalent qualification.

At CU Group we are committed to recognising achievements in the context of which they were achieved as we understand that barriers may make it more challenging for some applicants to achieve course entry requirements.

We aim to reduce the barriers that may be preventing access to higher education by looking beyond the grades that applicants have achieved or expect to achieve.

Are you eligible for the CU Support Scheme?

We believe every student should have the opportunity to dream big, reach their potential and succeed, regardless of their background.

CU Support Scheme

What we're looking for
80 UCAS tariff points. Minimum 5 GCSEs graded 9-4 / A* - C including Maths and English. Minimum two A2 levels or BTEC equivalent qualification.

If you wish to continue your studies after this course and/or rely on this qualification you will need to check if it is recognised in that jurisdiction.

You can view our full list of country-specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

For information regarding specific requirements, please ask a question.

Visit our International Hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events, and how to apply.

English language requirements

IELTS: Applicants must possess a minimum IELTS: 6.0 overall (with no component part lower than 5.5).

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Tuition fees

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	TBC per year	Not available
International	TBC per year	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our undergraduate finance page and see the university’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university 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.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

We offer a range of international scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our international scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

CU London Dagenham campus is in the Civic Centre building and is easily accessible by road, bus and rail.

Facilities include⁴:

classrooms with interactive teaching capabilities
high-specification digital technologies, including class VR, simulation software and audio visualisation
comprehensive library and learning services
study areas, laptops/open-access computers and social spaces
student support and careers advice teams.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

The course aims to develop your leadership and management skills, knowledge and understanding, to achieve high performance in the business environment. Upon successful completion, it should:

enable you to have the ability and confidence to lead and manage within different business functions, be able to respond to change and tackle a range of complex business situations
provide you with insight into business operations and the opportunities and challenges presented by a global marketplace, so you can create and deliver operational plans that achieve goals and objectives
develop your understanding of the major impacts that digital technologies have upon the business environment, data security and management, and how to effectively use technology in an organisation
provide the core skills required for a range of careers in leadership and management, including operations management, talent management, marketing, and sales
develop behaviours that are inclusive, agile and professional, to enable you to strive for a positive impact in all aspects of your work, and demonstrate resilience and accountability
offer a balance between employability skills, behaviours and knowledge essential for your employment or academic ambitions
equip you with knowledge and understanding of organisational values, culturally diverse organisations, cross-cultural issues, and diversity.

Those who successfully complete the first year, Level 4 Higher National Certificate, should be able to perform key business functions and tasks, understand processes and operations. Typical employment roles in different business fields are:

HR Assistant
Recruitment Coordinator
HR Advisor
Marketing Executive
Marketing Communications Assistant
Accounting Clerk
Bookkeeper
Payables Officer
Supply Chain Analyst
Procurement Specialist.

Those who successfully complete the second year, Level 5 Higher National Diploma, should have the skills to enhance business performance through strategic business planning, to meet and fulfil business aims and objectives. You should understand managing business functions that could allow you to work effectively in lower-middle management positions. Typical employment roles in different business fields include:

Assistant Recruitment Manager
HR Consultant
Assistant Marketing Manager
Operations Manager
Departmental Manager
General Manager.

Further study

The Level 5 Higher National Diploma is recognised as meeting admission requirements to many relevant business-related courses², for example:

BA (Hons) Business Management and Leadership

How to apply

View our courses on UCAS

Visit UCAS

UK students

Full-time UK undergraduate students apply through UCAS. Otherwise, you will need to apply to CU London directly. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

Apply via UCAS

If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

(+44) 02477 652222

ukadmissions.cu@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form

International students

International codes:
CUCLU074

International students should apply directly to CU London directly. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate course view our International pages or Coventry University Group's International hub.

If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

(+44) 02477 652222

cul@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University 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.

⁴Facilities

Student Contract

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 current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website. 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.