Overview

What does it take to help an organisation succeed while responding to changing business and societal needs?

Our BA (Hons) Graduate Apprenticeship in Business Management allows you to develop your knowledge of how organisations operate while applying what you learn directly in your workplace. You’ll work towards an honours degree while remaining in paid employment, with the support of your employer.

You’ll develop a broad understanding of the different areas that contribute to effective business management. Through this course, you’ll explore:

strategy
marketing
operations
human resource management
sustainability
finance.

Responsible management is embedded throughout the course. As the University for the Common Good, we’ll encourage you to consider the wider impact of business decisions and explore how organisations can operate ethically, responsibly and sustainably.

GCU was the first Scottish university to join the UN Global Compact, the world’s largest voluntary corporate responsibility initiative. We’re also a member of the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) network, helping connect your learning with global approaches to responsible and sustainable business.

The course is accredited by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD). You’ll develop leadership and management capabilities that reflect professional practice, with a pathway to apply for Chartered Manager status through CMI after completing your degree.

By graduation, you’ll have combined academic knowledge with several years of workplace experience. You’ll be equipped to take on greater responsibility, contribute to the development of your organisation and continue progressing in your management career.

What is a Graduate Apprenticeship?

A Graduate Apprenticeship combines university study with paid employment, allowing you to work towards a degree while continuing to develop in your role.

Graduate Apprenticeships are fully funded by the Scottish Funding Council, so there are no tuition fees for you or your employer. You’ll continue earning your salary while working towards your degree.

To take a Graduate Apprenticeship, you must live and work in Scotland in a role related to your course.

If you’re already working in a suitable role, you can apply with the support of your employer.

If you’re not currently in a relevant role, you can search and apply for Graduate Apprenticeship job opportunities through Apprenticeships Scotland. Once you secure a suitable role, you can apply for the degree with your employer’s support.

Find out more about how the Graduate Apprenticeship works in the Additional Information section below.

Employer benefits

Supporting a Graduate Apprentice allows you to develop management capability within your organisation while investing in an existing employee.

Your employee will apply their learning throughout the degree, bringing new knowledge and perspectives across areas including strategy, operations, marketing, finance and people management. As their skills and experience develop, they can take on greater responsibility and apply their learning to challenges within your organisation.

The Graduate Apprenticeship also supports the development of responsible leadership, decision-making and problem-solving skills, helping your employee contribute to your organisation’s current and future business needs.

Why study Graduate Apprenticeship Business Management at GCU?

Earn while you learn on a fully funded Graduate Apprenticeship. Work towards an honours degree while continuing in paid employment and developing your skills with the support of your employer.
Apply your learning directly in the workplace. Use new business knowledge, ideas and approaches to support your development and contribute to your organisation throughout the degree.
Build a broad understanding of strategy, marketing, operations, human resource management, sustainability and finance, and understand how these areas connect within your organisation.
Learn to lead responsibly at the University for the Common Good. GCU was the first Scottish university to join the UN Global Compact and is a member of the Principles for Responsible Management Education network.
Develop leadership and management capabilities aligned to Chartered Management Institute (CMI) professional standards, with a pathway to apply for Chartered Manager status after completing your degree.

European Foundation for Management Development.

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What you will study

We aim to display the most up-to-date information possible.

The modules listed on this page and the Programme Specification are intended to give you an idea of what you may be able to study on this course. Please note that course content, modules, teaching and assessment may change each year and after you have accepted your offer to study at GCU. This might be because we are required to do so by law, by a governmental authority, regulator or accrediting body. We may also make changes for quality assurance reasons, or to enhance the course.

Year 1

Core modules

Management in Practice: Personal and Professional Development for the Graduate Apprentice (GA)

Understanding Workplace Data (GA)

Introduction to Marketing and Consumer Behaviour (GA)

Management Theory and Concepts (GA)

Contemporary Challenges in Business and Society (GA)

Optional modules

Law in Business (GA)

Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism Industry (GA)

Year 2

Core modules

Management in Practice: Employment Relationships and HR Practice (GA)

Project Management and Risk (GA)

Fundamentals of Financial Management for Decision Makers (GA)

Ethics and Responsible Leadership (GA)

Work Based Project 1 (GA)

Optional modules

Operations and Supply Chain Management (GA)

Business Case Analysis, Project Planning and Control (GA)

The Events Industry and Typologies (GA)

Year 3

Core modules

Management in Practice: Learning and Development for Individuals and Organisations (GA)

Digital Business, Marketing and Analytics (GA)

Strategic Management (GA)

Managing Sustainability in the Workplace: Standards, Measurement and Reporting (GA)

Work Based Project 2 (GA)

Optional modules

Managing People and Diversity at Work (GA)

Project Performance Management (GA)

Principles of Procurement and Contract Management (GA)

Management Accounting for Decision Making (GA)

Year 4

Core modules

Management in Practice: Leading for Change as a Graduate Apprentice (GA)

Management Insights and Consultancy (GA)

Research Methods for the Workplace (GA)

Work Based Honours Project: Delivering Value and Impact in the Organisation (GA)

Optional modules

Management of Innovation and Creativity (GA)

Project Management Methodologies (GA)

Strategic HRM in Contemporary Contexts (GA)

Designing Transparent and Sustainable Supply Chains (GA)

Contemporary Issues in Hospitality (GA)

Careers

Business and management skills can support progression across a wide range of roles and sectors, helping you take on greater responsibility as your experience develops.

This Graduate Apprenticeship allows you to develop your management career while continuing to build experience with your employer. You’ll strengthen your understanding of how different areas of an organisation work together, while developing your leadership, decision-making and problem-solving skills.

The degree can support career development in areas such as:

team leadership and supervision
operations management
customer service management
human resources and people management
procurement and supply chain management.

As your experience grows, you can progress towards more senior management and leadership responsibilities within your organisation.

For employers

The Graduate Apprenticeship provides a structured way to develop existing employees towards greater management and leadership responsibility.

As their knowledge and experience develop, they’ll build a broader understanding of areas including strategy, operations, people management, marketing and finance. This can help them make informed decisions, work effectively across different areas of your organisation and take on more complex management responsibilities.

Course information

Award	Mode of study	Duration	Start date	Location
BA (Hons)	Blended Learning	4 Years	Sep 27	Glasgow	Enquire

Please note that admission to GCU is considered on a competitive basis, and the academic entry requirements stated here may be the minimum required to be eligible for an offer.

International students can get information on entry requirements specific to their country in our International Study section.

Standard entry

For new employees applying directly from school:

All applicants must be working in full-time employment in a role commensurate to the programme of study. Applicants should also have the support of their employer.

UCAS Tariff: 147

Scottish Higher: AABBB or equivalent

Foundation Apprenticeships

We accept selected Foundation Apprenticeships, in combination with Qualifications Scotland Highers, for entry to our degree programmes. Your Foundation Apprenticeship will take the place of one Qualifications Scotland Higher qualification for our standard entry requirements and will be treated as equivalent to a B grade at Higher.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

For applicants with prior work experience and professional qualifications, there is a possibility to be considered through the university’s flexible entry system through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

This process allows prospective graduate apprentices to claim credit(s) against previously assessed and certificated learning, including informal learning, to be considered and recognised for academic purposes and credit within their course.

Advanced entry may also be granted through RPL. Skills, knowledge, academic qualifications and experience will all be used to inform which year of the degree you will enter into.

Additional requirements

Candidates must be employed in the same field as the course of study and must supply a supporting letter from their employer as part of the admissions process.

You must be living and working in Scotland in the same field as the Graduate Apprenticeship course you are applying to.

About Graduate Apprenticeships

As a Graduate Apprentice, your time will be split between GCU and your workplace, allowing you to combine university study with work-based learning.

Most of your learning will take place online and through your workplace, with only a small number of on-campus teaching days at GCU across the duration of each trimester.

You’ll apply what you learn at university directly to your job, while your workplace experience will contribute to your learning and development throughout the degree. This allows you to build your practical skills, confidence and professional experience alongside your academic knowledge.

As a GCU student, you’ll have access to the same University facilities, services and student support as other students. Throughout your studies, you’ll also receive additional support from your employer and workplace mentor.

Teaching and assessment methods

The Graduate Apprenticeship programme adopts a blended learning approach, combining on-campus teaching with guided online study and work-based learning in the apprentice’s workplace. This flexible model is designed to accommodate professional commitments while providing a rich and engaging learning experience.

To minimise time away from work, on-campus attendance is limited to two days per module, equating to just 12 campus-based learning days per academic year. The remainder of the programme is delivered through GCU’s virtual learning environment and structured workplace learning activities, enabling apprentices to apply their knowledge directly within their professional roles and organisations.

Teaching typically includes a mix of:

lectures
online learning
in class group discussions
engaging with work-based mentors about continuous assessments.

You’ll use GCU Learn, the University’s Virtual Learning Environment, to access learning materials and key course information.

Assessment is entirely coursework-based and includes assignments and applied projects completed online and contextualised to your workplace. This allows you to demonstrate your academic learning while applying your knowledge to practical business situations.

You’ll receive feedback directly from your tutors to support your learning and development throughout the course.

The Common Good

As the University for the Common Good, we embed social responsibility, ethics and sustainability throughout your learning.

We were the first Scottish university to join the UN Global Compact (the world’s biggest voluntary corporate responsibility partnership) and also a member of the Principles for Responsible Management Education network. These commitments help shape how you consider the impact of business decisions and develop your approach to responsible leadership.

We demonstrate our commitment to these values and the UN's Global Goals by preparing you to lead ethically and tackle some of the most complex challenges facing business and society with confidence.

Industry input

The course is shaped with input from industry, helping ensure your learning reflects current business needs and practice.

Business leaders and entrepreneurs contribute to your learning through guest sessions, sharing their experience and perspectives on current business challenges. They’ll give current insights and real experience into your studies, sharing how they approach challenges in practice. Previous speakers have come from organisations including:

Arnold Clark
Babcock
NHS
Scottish Government.

You’ll also work with live case studies and business scenarios, giving you opportunities to explore how organisations approach challenges and apply your learning in a practical context.

Professional recognition

The course is accredited by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), providing external recognition of the quality and professional relevance of your degree.

After completing your degree, you can use your learning and leadership experience to apply for Chartered Manager status through CMI’s Qualified Route. This is a separate application and is independently assessed by CMI.

Visit the EFMD website

Visit the CMI website

Download the programme specification

In addition to the core modules that all students must undertake, some courses offer students a choice from a selection of optional modules to shape the focus of their degree. Optional modules where available, form part of the overall credit structure of the course.

Download the programme specification for a detailed breakdown of the course structure, including modules, what you'll learn and other useful information.

Terms and Conditions

Details of the University’s terms and conditions are available here.

Overview

What is a Graduate Apprenticeship?

Employer benefits

Why study Graduate Apprenticeship Business Management at GCU?

Accreditations

What you will study

Core modules

Optional modules

Core modules

Optional modules

Core modules

Optional modules

Core modules

Optional modules

Careers

For employers

Course information