Faculty of Business and Law
In the Faculty of Business and Law, our research and teaching covers most areas of law, business, and management.
Our culture is informed by the University's strategic mission to 'create, share and apply knowledge to make a difference to individuals and society.’
Through our research we deliver a positive impact to society and industry, and find solutions to pressing issues around the world. We frequently collaborate with businesses, SMEs and public sector organisations around the world, delivering excellence in research. See how we performed in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
Our research informs our teaching, which cultivates – through experiential and active learning – an entrepreneurial spirit in our students, and prepares them to address complex business problems with critical knowledge, confidence, integrity and social responsibility. All of our degree courses include year-long work placements and overseas study opportunities. Many courses also include business consultancy projects.
Our alumni have achieved extraordinary success in their professional lives, including John Flint, former CEO of HSBC; Nick Austin, chair and co-founder of the UK's biggest Toy Company, Vivid Toy Group; and Rachel Lowe, the creator of the popular 'Destination' board game.
Explore the Faculty of Business and Law
Teaching
Our teaching is recognised for its excellence nationally and internationally by professional accrediting bodies including the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD).
Our students learn the tools to tackle problems facing businesses and society, and address them responsibly and sustainably. Through the Business Consultancy Project, students work in teams with a business to improve a real business problem. Many companies have implemented these student recommendations following the project.
We continually improve and enhance our curriculum and student support to ensure our graduates develop self-worth and are fully prepared to become skilful professionals and socially responsible global citizens.
We have some of the best equipment and facilities in the sector for studying business and law subjects. Our Bloomberg suite allows students to access the same data, analytics and software used by finance professionals in the field; our Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) room offers an excellent cooperative learning environment; and our Business Simulation Suite with a mock boardroom is available for student role play. We also have a mock courtroom where our students practice courtroom skills in a realistic setting, supported by barristers.
Our teaching areas
Explore the undergraduate and postgraduate degrees we offer within the following subject areas.
Accounting, economics and finance courses
Prepare for your career in accounting or the financial industry with a degree course that caters to your ambition. Choose a course with accreditations from relevant professional bodies such as the CIMA and the ACCA.
Business, management and marketing courses
Develop business knowledge, people management and entrepreneurial skills on our business, management and marketing courses. Earn professional qualifications.
Law courses
Take your next step into a career in the legal profession, by studying a law degree course with us. Obtain extra professional qualifications while you study, use our industry connections to secure a placement, join our law society, and get in practice with our mock law court.
Our Faculty alumni
Explore the impact of our students and graduates across the globe, and find out how the Faculty of Business and Law helped them achieve their goals.
Research
Our work was recognised by the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021. For business and management, 65.8% of our research outputs, 100% our research environment and 100% of our impact cases were judged as world-leading and internationally excellent. Our law submission to REF 2021 also had notable successes, with 47% of our research outputs judged as world-leading or internationally excellent.
Our research has international reach and consistently attracts funding from National Research Councils, the EU, major charities and international organisations. Much of our work is aimed at addressing the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
Our research areas
Explore the work we're doing across our research areas within the Faculty of Business and Law.
Accounting
Accounting plays an integral role in the stability and development of economies and financial markets all over the world.
Business and Management
We're investigating the growth of entrepreneurs and small businesses in an uncertain global economy as well as how to improve business sustainability and implement new products and services. Explore our business & management research.
Economics
We're researching how people, businesses, societies and nations manage and allocate scarce resources such as land, labour or capital. Explore our economics research.
Finance
We're looking into the health of the global economy, the wellbeing of individuals, the performance of big and small businesses, and using capital. Explore our finance research.
Law
We're exploring the many ways that laws and the legal system shape society and affect the daily lives of people at all levels within it. Explore our law research.
Marketing
We're researching existing and emerging business models and consumer segments to give businesses insight into their markets, customers and more. Explore our marketing research.
Operational Research and Logistics
We're researching how we can apply quantitative methodologies to improve decision-making across a range of diverse fields of application.
Organisation Studies and Human Resource Management
We're investigating the practices, processes and structures of organisations, including how they evolved and the way that organisational change is moving. Explore our organisation studies and human resource management research.
Twinning partnership with Odesa Polytechnic National University
Our new partnership agreement with Odessa Polytechnic National University in Ukraine is part of the university sector’s #TwinForHope initiative.
Explore how we're building a successful long-term partnership, as we focus on identifying how we can support our Ukrainian partner during the current Russian conflict.
Our research centres
Much of our exceptional research takes place within the following cross-disciplinary research centres:
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Centre for Blue Governance
We aim to meet the holistic and multi-disciplinary research needed to inform blue governance mechanisms. We takes a more expansive view of Blue Economy to encompass marine and freshwater systems and conceptualises them as development spaces.
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Agile Centre For Equitable Sustainability
We're exploring scalable solutions for sustainable development challenges, and working towards an equitable and sustainable society.
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Centre for Innovative and Sustainable Finance
In response to a world in constant flux, we're undertaking research that helps governments, organisations, individuals, and society adapt to the evolving national and international financial landscape.
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Centre for Operational Research and Logistics
We're using our expertise in analytics, system design, simulation, programming, and forecasting to help organisations around the world make better decisions.
We're proud to hold the Athena SWAN Bronze Award, which recognises our achievements in advancing the careers of women and addressing gender inequality.
Our staff
Academic staff in our faculty encourage an environment of action and impact that is reflected in our business and law courses. Our experienced and qualified lecturers, researchers and administrators support an international faculty where diversity and differences inspire all we do.
Our Advisory Board
Our Faculty thrives with the support and insights of its Advisory Board - a diverse group of industry experts from various sectors who volunteer their time to make a difference. More than just advisors, they offer valuable guidance, spark meaningful discussions, and provide an independent perspective that strengthens our strategic plans. With their input, we embrace innovative teaching methods that align with today’s industry standards and develop research that stands out and makes a real impact on society.