BUSINESS PROJECT (ONLINE) - 2025/6

Module Overview

This compulsory module is designed to immerse students in a real-world business context through independent study and research. It encourages students to identify and explore a business topic that aligns with their academic and professional aspirations, ensuring relevance to their overall program of study.  The module's structure supports self-directed study. It employs a strategic learning approach aimed at enhancing students' competencies in undertaking and reporting independent research. 
This module offers students the opportunity to apply theoretical principles and research methods in a practical setting. Feedback and outcomes from previous coursework should inform the development of a secondary research-based project that exemplifies a comprehensive understanding of the module's objectives and learning outcomes. The students will have opportunity to learn the techniques essential in writing business reports. 
The project is unsupervised, which means you will not be assigned a supervisor. Instead, some online support sessions will be conducted by the module leader to assist students to gain a comprehensive understanding of the requirements of the report and address any specific questions as they arise.

Module provider

SOL - Surrey Business School

Module Leader

PARK Hyeyoun (SBS)

Number of Credits: 30

ECTS Credits: 15

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

In this module, students will select a topic related to their field of study to explore in-depth through their project work.  The focus will be on self-guided research, to encourage deep engagement with the subject matter and foster independent learning skills. Students will explore the principles and approaches of secondary data research through a range of guided learning activities.  Following completion of this, students will be able to design a relevant research methodology to support their research proposal before progressing to undertake their project in full.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

None

Assessment Strategy

Students will start this module at the beginning of their second year of study.  The module will run throughout the totality of their second year, and alongside other timetabled modules. Students are expected to manage their time effectively to meet the requirements of the summative assessments.
Students should build on the subjects covered in their learning to date and develop a project – using secondary research – that demonstrates the successful understanding of the module’s aims and outcomes.
The summative assessment strategy includes:

• Research Proposal (Individual, 30%) which addresses learning outcomes 1.


• Project report (Individual, 70%) which addresses learning outcomes 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6.

Formative Feedback
Students will receive formative feedback via the online workshops and discussion forums.  A detailed marking scheme is provided for students at the beginning of semester together with the assessment details. This allows students to identify what is expected of them. The marking scheme outlines the percentage figures for each assessment component. 
Summative Feedback
Detailed feedback will be provided for each summative assessment by the marker.  Feedback from the research proposal should be used to guide the completion of the project report.

Module aims

• Develop and apply a relevant and robust research methodology.
• Enhance the students' capabilities in undertaking a business-focused research project.
• Assess the students' competence in analysing secondary data from real-world companies.
• Identify and analyse challenges and opportunities for business using appropriate business tools.
• Outline recommendations in a convincing manner.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning strategy is designed to develop the students’ ability to conduct and report independent research. It builds on real companies, allowing students to gain experience of applying some of the principles and methods learned in the programme.
The module is largely self-directed. The learning and teaching methods include:

• Guided Learning:  you will undertake a range of learning activities to explore the concepts and tools associated with writing business reports and undertaking effective secondary research in a business context.


• Workshops:  drop-in style workshops will be scheduled throughout the module to enable students to seek advice and guidance to progress their project and to share learning experiences.


• Independent Study: As a master’s student, you are expected to take charge of their own learning, ensuring guided learning and assessment activities are complete to the required timescales.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MANM576

Other information

Global and cultural capabilities: In this module, we prepare our students to work in a multicultural global working environment. Students and staff on this module come from diverse and culturally rich backgrounds. As such students broaden their own world view, perspectives, and interpretations by interacting in a culturally varied environment. 
Digital capabilities: During the module, students use a range of digital capabilities previously explored in the programme.  Depending on the direction chosen some students will engage with several platforms, for example research software packages such as SPSS and NVivo. 
Employability: This module enables students to explore a topic of interest from the programme and related to their future employability.  Students will gain experience of writing clearly and cohesively for a target audience, key skills that are vital in the workplace.
Resourcefulness and resilience: The process of undertaking an extended project is demanding and requires students to be internally motivated to succeed. Personal resourcefulness and resilience are key attributes a student must possess to develop the project from start to end.  By the end of the module, students have developed necessary attributes for a career in people management such as confidence, adaptability, and self-regulation.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.