FACULTY OF BUSINESS
Plymouth Business School

If you require any further information regarding the following modules, please ensure you:

  • Look at module Moodle pages for an indication of module content etc.;
  • To find the relevant Moodle site go to and in the search box enter the module code, please make sure you look at the Moodle site for the current year e.g 16/AY/AU/M
  • Seek out the advice of individual module leaders;
  • Talk to your Programme Leader for advice;
  • Talk to previous students;
  • Talk to your personal tutor.

Module Information

Core Modules

Module Name: Economics Project
Module Code: ECN3020 / Core/Elective: C / Credits: 40 / Term: All Year
Assessment Weighting: / C/W: 100% / Exam:
Short description:This module allows students to undertake supervised economic research in an area of interest to them using quantitative or qualitative research methods.
Module Leader: Paul Bishop
Module Name: International Economics
Module Code: ECN3017 / Core/Elective: C / Credits: 20 / Semester: 1
Assessment Weighting: / C/W: 50% / Exam: 50%
Short description:This module explores the economic implications of globalisation by investigating current trends in international trade and capital markets.
Module Leader: Neil Smith
Module Name: Global Enterprise
Module Code: STO300 / Core/Elective: C / Credits: 20 / Semester: 1
Assessment Weighting: / C/W: 30% / Exam: 70%
Short description:To compare and contrast the practice of strategic management in different cultural and economic contexts. To identify key trends in the core data on the international business environment and consider the implications for international businesses. To focus on the changing world order, the emerging economies and the impact this is having on dominant business management paradigms.
Module Leader:Mohamed Haddoud

Elective Modules

Module Name: Economic Growth and Development
Module Code: ECN3018 / Core/Elective: E / Credits: 20 / Semester: 2
Assessment Weighting: / C/W: 100% / Exam:
Short description:This module covers issues in economic growth and development. The focus is on studying the proximate (i.e. factors accumulation and productivity) and the fundamental (i.e. institutions, culture, geography and climate) determinants of economic growth.
Module Leader: Alberto Basso
Module Name: Games and Strategy
Module Code: ECN3019 / Core/Elective: E / Credits: 20 / Semester: 2
Assessment Weighting: / C/W: 100%
Short description:This module develops and explores ideas in game theory, and applies them to the analysis of a range of contemporary economic, business, political and social problems.
Module Leader: Paul Bishop
Module Name:Topics in Economics
Module Code: ECN3022 / Core/Elective: E / Credits: 20 / Semester: 2
Assessment Weighting: / C/W: 100%
Short description:This module explores the application of intermediate economics to a range of contemporary theoretical and applied issues in economics.
Module Leader: Paul Bishop
Module Name: Credit Management: Theory & Practice
Module Code: ACF311 / Core/Elective: E / Credits: 20 / Semester: 2
Assessment Weighting: / C/W: 100%
Short description: This module provides in-depth knowledge of how to manage trade, consumer and export credit. It explores the economic importance of credit and the contribution it can make as a competitive device to add value to organisations.
Module Leader: Salima Paul
Module Name: Corporate Strategy
Module Code: STO309 / Core/Elective: E / Credits: 20 / Semester: 2
Assessment Weighting: / C/W: 50% / Exam: 50%
Short description:The nature and purpose of strategy; the evolution of strategic thought; basic strategic concepts; environmental analysis – the market, industry and macro-economic environment; competitive advantage; co-operation and competition; economics of transaction costs, contracts and the boundaries of the firm; resources and capabilities; topical debates in strategy.
Module Leader: Atul Mishra
Module Name: Operations Management for Competitive Advantage
Module Code: STO301 / Core/Elective: E / Credits: 20 / Semester: 2
Assessment Weighting: / C/W: 50% / Exam: 50%
Short description:This module brings a strategic and problem-focused view to operations management, concentrating on spheres key to operations based competitive advantage, both in goods and service based industries. Particular consideration is given to operations strategy, supply chain management, lean thinking, performance measurement, quality management, project management and topical developments.
Module Leader: Charles Thornton
Module Name:Advanced Financial Reporting and Accounting
Module Code: ACF305 / Core/Elective: E / Credits: 20 / Semester: 2
Assessment Weighting: / C/W: 50% / Exam: 50%
Short description: This module will consider advanced financial reporting topics such as accounting for foreign currency transactions and accounting for business combinations (i.e. simple and complex groups, associates and foreign subsidiaries). Additionally students will explore current developments in financial and non-financial reporting and will practice financial analysis techniques allowing them to analyse company financial statements.
Module Leader: Fiona Dalton
Module Name: Risk Management in International Banking, Insurance and Finance
Module Code: ACF308 / Core/Elective: E / Credits: 20 / Semester: 2
Assessment Weighting: / C/W: 100%
Short description:Financial institutions face a wide range of risks, many of which threaten not only their profitability, but also the stability of the financial services sector as a whole. The purpose of this module is to explore these risks and consider how they should be managed. A range of risk management tools and techniques will be explored, as will the prudential regulation of financial institutions. In addition, we will discuss how best to draw together these risks, tools and regulations to arrive at an enterprise-wide view of risk.
Module Leader: Simon Ashby
Module Name:Auditing
Module Code: ACF309 / Core/Elective: E / Credits: 20 / Semester: 2
Assessment Weighting: / C/W: 30% / Exam: 70%
Short description: The auditing module is a balanced mix of theory and practice in auditing. Students will consider and discuss the need for audit in society as well as the views of those critical of today’s audit function. An opportunity to study auditing scandals will help students to understand and appreciate not only the challenges faced by the auditing profession but also how current auditing standards and regulation has been developed. Students will also learn how to audit through studying the theory behind the audit process and then how to apply the theory through the use of practical examples and a computerised case study.
Module Leader: Sally Antrobus
Module Name:Gender at work
Module Code: HRL308 / Core/Elective: E / Credits: 20 / Semester: 2
Assessment Weighting: / C/W: 100%
Short descriptionThis module will explore the gendered nature of work and employment and the competing theoretical perspectives which attempt to explain the differential labour market outcomes for women and men. Gender also impacts significantly upon our experiences of organisational life, consequently this module will focus on organisations and the way in which their environments, processes and practices systematically and informally work to produce gendered identities and gender inequities.
Module Leader: Dr Virginia Fisher
Module Name: French ,German or Spanish Basic
Module Code: FREX01, GERX01 or SPNX01 / Core/Elective: E / Credits: 20 / All Year
Assessment Weighting: / Practice:100%
Short description:This module is designed for beginners in the language, or those whose previous qualification/experience is not equivalent to GCSE grade B. It develops communicative competence at a basic level, enabling students to establish and maintain adequate social relations with speakers of a foreign language, negotiate everyday needs in a foreign country, and communicate using spoken and simple written language in a limited social or work setting.
Module Leader: French: Danielle Bishop German: Jacquie Hope
Spanish: Blanca Del Cerro-Garcia
Module Name: French, German or Spanish Intermediate I
Module Code: FREX02, GERX02 or SPNX02 / Core/Elective: E / Credits: 20 / All Year
Assessment Weighting: / Practice: 100%
Short description:This module is designed for students whose previous qualification/experience in the language is at least equivalent to GCSE grade B, or as a progression from Basic. It develops communicative competence at an intermediate level, improving students’ ability to establish social and working relations with speakers of the language, to understand key aspects of the target culture, and to handle useful routine writing and reading tasks.
Module Leader: French: Charles Mansfield German: Jacquie Hope
Spanish: Philip Edwards
Module Name: French or Spanish Intermediate 2
Module Code: FREX03 or SPNX03 / Core/Elective: E / Credits: 20 / All Year
Assessment Weighting: / Practice: 100%
Short description:This module is aimed at students whose previous experience in the language is equivalent to AS level, or as a progression from Intermediate 1. It develops their ability to use both the spoken and written language effectively beyond routine situations, to establish and maintain effective social and working relations with speakers of the foreign language, and to understand key aspects of the target culture.
Module Leader: French: Simon Breus Spanish: Chelo De Andres Martinez
Module Name: French or Spanish Advanced I
Module Code: FREX400 or SPNX400 / Core/Elective: E / Credits: 20 / All Year
Assessment Weighting: / Practice: 100%
Short description:This module is aimed at students with A level or equivalent in the foreign language, or as a progression from French/Spanish 3. It aims to consolidate knowledge of grammar and vocabulary and to provide a firm base for future studies. At the same time the student’s communicative competence is developed through the study of materials of relevance to the foreign country today.
Module Leader: French: Philip Edwards Spanish: Philip Edwards
Module Name: Mandarin Chinese 1
Module Code: MANX100 / Core/Elective: E / Credits: 20 / All Year
Assessment Weighting: / Practice: 100%
Short description:
This module is designed for beginners in the language, or those whose previous qualification/experience is not equivalent to GCSE grade B. It develops communicative competence at a basic level, enabling students to establish and maintain adequate social relations with speakers of a foreign language, negotiate everyday needs in a foreign country, and communicate using spoken and simple written language in a limited social or work setting.
Module Leader: Danielle Bishop
Module Name: French or Spanish Advanced 2
Module Code: FREX500 or SPNX500 / Core/Elective: E / Credits: 20 / All Year
Assessment Weighting: / Practice: 100%
Short description:This module is designed as a progression from Advanced 1, or for other students who have pursued their study of the foreign language beyond A level or its equivalent. It will further extend their ability to communicate in more complex situations and their understanding of the structures of the language. Particular attention is paid to developing skills of relevance to a study or work placement in the foreign country.
Module Leader: French: Danielle Bishop Spanish: Blanca Del Cerro-Garcia
Module Name: French or Spanish Advanced 3
Module Code: FREX600 or SPNX600 / Core/Elective: E / Credits: 20 / All Year
Assessment Weighting: / Practice: 100%
Short description:This module is designed as a progression from Advanced 2, and is normally aimed at final year advanced students of the foreign language who have not had an extended period of residence in the foreign country. It enables them to build on the advanced language skills that they have already acquired and apply these to more specialised and complex situations (such as presentation and translation).
Module Leader: French:Danielle Bishop Spanish: Chelo De Andres Martinez
Module Name: French or Spanish Advanced 4
Module Code: FREX700 or SPNX700 / Core/Elective: E / Credits: 20 / All Year
Assessment Weighting: / Practise: 100%
Short description:This module is normally taken by final year students of the foreign language who have completed an extended period of residence in the foreign country. It builds on their increased fluency and confidence, and their personal experience of the foreign culture, and enables them to develop the application of their skills in more sophisticated and demanding situations.
Module Leader: Danielle Bishop Spanish: Chelo De Andres Martinez

15/02/17