Programme Overview

Academic Level

Bachelor's Degree, Single Major, Top-up

Awarded by

University of Birmingham, UK

Programme type

Full-time, 2 years

Campus location

SIM Campus

Application Dates

Preparatory Course – Now till 31 January 2024 | Direct Entry - Now till 10 March 2024 (for local and international applicants).

Estimated Fees
(incl. GST)*

S$43,534.60 to S$47,981.80

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* Exclude application fee, preparatory or bridging course fee, and other fees. Refer to the Fees & Financial Aid section for details.

Bachelor of Science (Honours) Business Management with Industrial Placement (Top-up), University of Birmingham

Outline & Outcomes Intake Dates Curriculum Admission Criteria Fees & Financial Aid

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Programme Outline

Awarded and developed by: University of Birmingham, UK

Industry exposure gives you the edge in business studies

The programme offers you the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of a range of business topics, combined with industry placement, building valuable skills for future employment.

Through a combination of academic theory and practical work, you will develop critical thinking skills as you and your peers share views, debate and discuss.

Gain valuable skill sets and work experience by undertaking industry placement components as part of this programme.
Accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), the chartered professional body in the UK dedicated to promoting the highest standards in management and leadership excellence, with a membership community of over 120,000.
Through the University’s partnership with CMI, all final year SIM-Birmingham business students will be eligible for CMI membership and have access to its resources to support their studies.

Why a Bachelor’s from University of Birmingham?

Degrees are of the same standings and standards as those awarded in the UK
Long tradition and established track record of teaching business and management
Established international reputation of the University and the Business School
Research led – cutting-edge research feeds directly into teaching
International syllabus with a focus on the issues of globalisation
Dedicated staff who provide continuous support for your studies
Join the alumni community of more than 300,000 graduates. From television and sport to research and government, the University has outstanding alumni across all sectors.

Prerequisite(s)

SIM Preparatory Course in Business is available for non-business related diploma holders

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Learning Outcomes

You will:

Gain insights into business and management practice on a national and global scale
Develop an appreciation and understanding of current business practices
Develop valuable work skills and experience through practical training to help you prepare for or develop your career
Build a breadth of knowledge in a wide range of business topics
Have the opportunity to combine academic theory and practical skills in a written dissertation
Develop research skills and critical thinking through debates and discussions

Further Studies & Career Prospects

Birmingham’s business degrees have long been recognised by major employees across all sectors of the economy.

The programme is continuously updated to reflect the latest thinking in business education, providing rigorous academic training with practical relevance.

Graduates can find employment across all sectors of the economy. Likely employment sectors include retail management, financial services, accountancy, manufacturing, management consultancy and others.

SIM-Birmingham business students upon graduation will receive an additional Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Level 5 Certificate in Management and Leadership. This qualification is a recognition of graduates’ key skills and competencies as future effective managers. With one-year free CMI membership post graduation, graduates will be another step closer towards achieving the Chartered Manager status.

Graduates may further their studies to attain a postgraduate qualification from universities around the world.

To pursue a Master’s qualification with University of Birmingham, you will require at least an upper second class award. The University of Birmingham currently offers a suite of postgraduate taught programmes at SIM:

Master of Science

Financial Management
International Business
Management

For the full list of postgraduate programmes offered on the University’s UK home campus, please visit their website.

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Hear from our students

Darin Chittsawangdee

Darin Chittsawangdee came to Singapore to take up an SIM diploma, and subsequently progressed to do her business management degree with the University of Birmingham at SIM. An active student in school, Darin picked up valuable soft skills when she was in the student council. Now, she is back in Thailand working as a Senior Analyst in Accenture.

Read story

Why study at SIM x University of Birmingham

SIM is the leading private education institution in Singapore.

University of Birmingham ranked 84th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2024).

Top 3 frequently targeted university among UK’s top employers for graduate employment (The Graduate Market in 2023, High Fliers Research).

Gold rating for outstanding teaching and learning in the UK (Teaching Excellence Framework 2017-2020).

Learn more about University of Birmingham

Intake Dates

Jul 2024 intake

PROGRAMME DURATION

15 Apr 2024 – 30 Jun 2024 (Preparatory Course in Business, if required)
8 July 2024 – 30 Jun 2026 (Main Programme)

APPLICATION PERIOD

Preparatory Course - Now till 31 January 2024 (Local & International applicants).
Direct Entry - Now till 10 March 2024 (Local & International applicants).

If you are currently serving National Service (NS) and you are unable to complete your NS by programme induction and commencement, please contact SIM GE for further advice before application submission.
Date & period is subject to change by the University.

View sample academic schedule

Maximum candidature: 4 years

There will not be any refund or recourse should students fail to complete the programme within the candidature period.

Curriculum

Structure

A structured curriculum delivered over two years through classroom learning. There are three study blocks in a year and each study block spans across four months.
Fully taught by Birmingham academics from the UK home campus to ensure equivalent academic inputs to the Singapore programme.
Weekly schedule: Monday to Friday over three time slots: 8:30am/12pm/3:30pm. Saturday classes may occasionally be scheduled if required.
Depending on the module, lessons are conducted typically 3 to 6 hours per day over a two-week period.

A 20-credit module is typically equivalent to 200 hours of study with 60 hours of class contact and 140 hours of self-study. Self-study includes revision, coursework and exam preparation.
Exemptions: Nil
Average teacher-participant ratio – 1:150
Minimum class size to commence: 30 students
If the class fails to commence due to low take-up rate, students will be informed within one month before programme commencement with the refund of application fee.
All classes are conducted on SIM campus, unless otherwise stated.

Lecturers’ Teaching Modules

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Assessment & Attendance

Local and international students: 100% attendance rate
Year 2 progression to Year 3: Obtain 100 credits from Year 2
Modes of assessment: Varies module to module which can include written exams, coursework or a combination of both.
Coursework includes written assignments, in-class tests, presentations, projects, etc. Some coursework may be group-based.
End-of-study block main exams are normally held in October and February.
Assessment schedule is subject to change by the University.

Requirements to Graduate

Overall result weightage calculation: 12.5% (Year 2) + 75% (Year 3) + 12.5% (Industry Placement A & B)
To achieve Honours, students must obtain 320 out of 360 credits.
A degree congregation presided by University of Birmingham is annually held in November on SIM campus. Alternatively, graduates may choose to attend the ceremony in July or December in the UK.
The awarded degree and degree certificate is the same as that awarded in the UK, i.e., Bachelor of Science (Honours) Business Management with Industrial Placement.

Modules

The modules offered are pre-determined by the University.

All modules are 20 credits except for the following modules:

Dissertation, 40 credits
Industry Placement A and B, 60 credits each.

Core Modules

Consumer Behaviour
International Economics and Financial Decision Making
Organisational Behaviour
Research Methods and Business Analytics
Responsible Business: Theory and Practice
Industry Placement A (12 weeks)

Electives (select one module)

Event and Festival Management
Managing Operations and Projects

Core Modules

Contemporary Issues in Marketing
Dissertation
Fundamentals of Leadership
Strategic Management
Industry Placement B (12 weeks)

Electives (select one module)

International Human Resource Management
Managerial Finance
Crisis Management
Globalisation, Innovation and Competitiveness

The third study block of each year will be spent on an industry placement.

There will be a compulsory preparatory programme on personal and professional development. You will be coached by Birmingham career professionals on how to source internship placements to give you an edge over your future job search. Students learning on the placement will be assessed by the University.

By undertaking an industry placement, students gain valuable work skills and experience, providing them an advantage in today’s competitive graduate marketplace.

Student learning on the placement will be assessed by the University of Birmingham.

International students will need to complete their placement in their home country or any other countries (except Singapore due to regulatory restrictions).

For industry placement overseas, there will be additional costs over and above the programme fees to cover travel, accommodation and living expenses.

Download module details for intakes from 2021:

Module descriptions (PDF 398 KB)

Note: The modules listed here and on the University’s website may occasionally be subject to change to ensure consistency with the UK programme. In such a scenario, you will be informed of any changes.

Students are required to own a laptop equipped with at least Microsoft Windows 10 or Apple MacOS Catalina (10.15) and 8GB RAM (recommended).

Admission Criteria

Accepted Entry Qualifications

SIM Diploma in Accounting / Banking and Finance / International Business / Management Studies; or
Business-related diplomas from local polytechnics; or
Non-business related diplomas with successful completion of the SIM Preparatory Course in Business.
All other qualifications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis

Applicants must obtain an average Grade B and may be required for interview before admission.

All admissions (direct & non-direct entries) are based on merit and are subject to the final approval of the University.

English Language Requirements

Students must have an acceptable level of competency in the English Language and at least one of the following or equivalent:

Minimum C6 pass in English as First Language at GCE 'O' Level; or
IELTS score of 6.5 overall with minimum of 6.5 in Writing and Speaking; and minimum of 6.0 in Listening and Reading (include IELTs Online); or
TOEFL score of 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Writing and Speaking (include TOEFL Home Edition); or
Pearson Test of English (Academic): score of 67 overall, with no less than 67 in Writing and Speaking; and no less than 64 in Listening and Reading (include PTE Academic Online); or
Successful completion of a recognised approved Diploma, where the language of instruction was English

Preparatory Course in Business (If Required)

Developed and awarded by SIM, Singapore.

2024 Intake (Full-time)
Programme Duration: 15 Apr 2024 – 30 Jun 2024*
Application Period: Now till 31 Jan 2024* (Local & International applicants)

_{*Dates are subject to change}

Applicants with non-business related diplomas or with suitable qualifications will be required to complete and pass a three-month Preparatory Course in Business for entry into the degree programme.

The preparatory course, comprising three modules, will cover foundation concepts which prepares students for undergraduate study with University of Birmingham.

Accounting and Finance
Economics
Marketing

View preparatory module synopses (PDF 126 KB)

Structure

University of Birmingham may require students to complete a minimum of one and up to a maximum of three modules.
Mode of delivery: Blended learning, a combination of face-to-face lectures and e-learning components
Assessments: Either by written exams, coursework^ or a combination of both
Written exams are typically held at the end of the preparatory course in May/June. These exams may take place on weekday mornings and there are no re-sits.
Class duration: Face-to-face lectures typically 3 to 6 hours a day. Some lessons may also take place on weekday evenings and Saturdays if required.
Average teacher-student ratio – 1:40
View a list of lecturers’ teaching modules (PDF 71 KB)
Minimum class size to commence – 25
If the class fails to commence due to low take-up rate, students will be informed within one month before programme commencement with the refund of application fee.
Maximum candidature: 3 months, there will not be any refund or recourse should students fail to complete the programme within the candidature period
Attendance requirement:
- Local students – at least 75% rate
- International students – at least 90% rate

Certification

A certificate of completion will be awarded upon successfully passing the Preparatory Course in Business.

^ Coursework may include in-class tests, assignments, online quizzes etc.

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Fees and Financial Aid

All fees are inclusive of prevailing GST and payable before course/term commencement (exclude textbooks). Valid for 2024 intake.

Payment to SIM can be made through SIMConnect using Credit Card (Visa or Master), PayNow, eNETS, OCBC Interest-free Instalment Plan (min. S$500) and cheques.

Programme Fees 

Preparatory Course in Business* (If Required)

S$708.50 per module

* Fees are inclusive of 9% GST and are payable in full before course commencement. Fees do not include textbook.

Bachelor’s Programme*

Local students – S$43,534.60
International students – S$47,981.80

* Fees are inclusive of 9% GST and are payable in six instalments based on the number of module credits undertaken in a term. Fees are payable before term commencement and do not include textbook.

Mandatory One-time Fees

All fees inclusive of prevailing GST.

Student Development Fee

A one-time payment applicable to all students embarking on a full-time Diploma or Undergraduate programme at SIM. This fee goes towards activities that will help in students’ personal growth and equip them with functional skills that enhance their employability.

Payable with the programme fees’ first instalment.

S$512.30

International Student Induction Fee

A one-time fee payable by new full-time international students. This fee covers pre-arrival and arrival support, including activities to enhance the international student learning experience.

As applicable, payable with the programme fees’ first instalment.

S$436.00

Application Fee

Payable for each application form that is submitted. Fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. The fee will be refunded fully only if the intake does not commence. Unpaid applications will not be processed.

Local applicants: S$98.10

International applicants: S$490.50 (Not inclusive of all fees related to Student’s Pass application)

Scholarships & Bursaries

SIM GE Bursary

The SIM GE Bursary aims to provide financial assistance to needy students studying at SIM GE. This award is given based on our eligibility criteria, as well as the assessed level of neediness of the applicants.

Learn more

SIM GE Bursary

SIM GE Scholarship

The SIM GE Scholarship is given to students with exemplary academic results or achievements in sports and arts. It is applicable to Singapore citizens, permanent residents and international students.

Learn more

SIM GE Scholarship

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Bachelor of Science (Honours) Business Management with Industrial Placement (Top-up)