APPLIED BUSINESS PROJECT - 2027/8

Module Overview

This module enables students to apply business and entrepreneurship knowledge in practical, real-world settings. In Semester 1, students work in groups with an external business partner, typically an entrepreneurial start-up, to analyse the founder's journey, evaluate the current position of the business, and develop proposals for growth through new revenue opportunities. The project is client-facing and requires interaction with the external business partner alongside active participation in taught sessions.

In Semester 2, students complete an individual project focused on the development of a new business idea, progressing from ideation to a structured venture plan. This involves researching the industry and market, conducting secondary market research, and producing operational, marketing, and financial plans. Teaching activities support learning and project development across the academic year. 

Students are expected to work effectively within teams while also demonstrating independence and the ability to manage their own project work.

Due to the applied nature of the module, consistent attendance and engagement are essential. 

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

HOLLAND Anna (SBS)

Number of Credits: 30

ECTS Credits: 15

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): 120

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative module content includes:

• Stakeholder collaboration
• New venture creation theories
• Design-thinking approach
• Market validation techniques
• Business environment analysis
• Industry and market research
• Financial planning for a new business
• Professional presentation of complex information

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Individual Presentation.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to evaluate students' ability to apply business and entrepreneurship knowledge in both collaborative and independent contexts. It supports the development of analytical, research, and professional practice skills through authentic, practice-based tasks aligned with the learning outcomes. 

The strategy reflects the applied nature of the module by assessing students¿ engagement with real organisational challenges in Semester 1 and their capacity to independently develop and plan a new venture in Semester 2. A combination of group and individual assessment enables students to demonstrate teamwork, professional communication, and autonomous project management, while ensuring that individual achievement is appropriately measured.

Thus, the summative assessment includes:

• A group presentation (Semester 1) to assess learning outcomes 1, 3 & 4
• An individual reflection (Semester 1) to assess learning outcome 5
• An individual business creation portfolio (Semester 2) to assess learning outcomes 2, 3, 4 & 5

Formative assessment and feedback is embedded throughout the module through workshop activities, project milestones, peer and tutor feedback to support student progress towards the summative assessments.

Students will receive written feedback on their summative assessment as detailed by the Code of Practice for Assessment and Feedback. An overview report will be shared with the cohort to highlight key metrics and themes found in the marking and feedback process.

Module aims

• To enable students to apply business and entrepreneurship theory and tools to real-world business and venture creation contexts through practical, project-based work.
• To develop students' ability to work effectively with an external business partner and within a team to analyse business challenges and propose evidence-based opportunities for growth.
• To build students' capability to independently develop and plan a viable new business idea, demonstrating research, analytical, and problem-solving skills across key functional areas of business.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy for this module adopts an applied, project-based approach that integrates theory with real-world practice. Teaching activities are designed to support students in working with a live partner organisation in Semester 1 and in developing an individual new venture proposal in Semester 2. Learning is supported through a blend of tutor-led input, guided practice, and independent study, with formative feedback embedded throughout the module.

Learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures introducing key concepts, models, and tools related to venture creation, business analysis, and business planning.
• Seminars and workshops focused on the practical application of theory to live projects and business ideas.
• Group-based project work with an external partner organisation.
• Individual project work supporting ideation, market and industry research, and venture planning.
• Independent study directed towards research, project development, and reflective practice.

Due to the applied and client-facing nature of the module, active engagement and regular attendance are essential to support both group and individual learning.

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: MAN3213

Other information

Surrey Business School is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas:

Employability is developed through client-facing project work, teamwork, professional communication, and the application of business tools to real organisational challenges. 

Digital capabilities are embedded through the use of digital research tools, data analysis, collaborative platforms, and the production of professional business outputs. 

Global and cultural capabilities are fostered through market and industry analysis that requires students to consider international contexts, diverse customer needs, and ethical and cultural implications of business decisions. 

Resourcefulness and resilience are developed through managing ambiguity, responding to real-world business constraints, meeting project deadlines, and reflecting on feedback to improve performance across both group and individual work.

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 2027/8 academic year.