Key information
UCAS code:
002N
Typical offer:
48-56 UCAS points to include a minimum of 1 A level, a BTEC qualification, or equivalent, in any subject
Showing content for section Overview
Overview
Do you want to learn the all-round business skills that employers are looking for, while working on your personal development and setting yourself up to get a degree in the future?
This HND Business course kick-starts your business career by providing a valuable introduction to topics including business strategy, finance and marketing.
It’ll give you an edge when starting your career and give you a solid foundation for further study.
After the course you can top up to a full degree by joining the final year of one of our selected Business, Finance or Marketing courses at our main campus in Portsmouth.
This course is delivered at:
Studying at our partner colleges means you'll experience a nurturing environment, with plenty of support from experienced college tutors. You'll have access to the University’s services and campus, which includes study support, the Students' Union, student accommodation and our library's online resources.
You'll have opportunities to visit and experience the University lifestyle to help you decide whether you want to take the final year top up degree route.
Contact information
Contact AdmissionsClearing is open
This course is available through Clearing.
Clearing FAQs
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You can apply through Clearing if:
- You don't meet the conditions of your offer for your firm (first) or insurance (second) choice courses
- Your exam results are better than you expected and you want to change your course or university
- You don't hold any offers
- You've accepted an offer but changed your mind about the course you want to do
- You're applying for the first time after 30 June 2024
Yes, we welcome Clearing applications from international students and you can apply in exactly the same way as UK students do.
The majority of UK students apply through Clearing once they receive their A level / T level results in August 2024, so as an international student if you already have your exam results you can apply when Clearing opens.
Make sure that you have time to get your visa, funding, and English language certification sorted out before the beginning of term.
If you would like further information or guidance, please contact our international office for advice.
After we make you an offer we'll send you a confirmation email. This email will let you know what you need to do next and it will tell you what you need to provide us. In some instances we may ask you to send us copies of certificates or you may need to send us a portfolio.
If you've previously applied through UCAS you'll need to use your UCAS Hub to accept our offer by adding us as your Clearing choice.
If you're having issues, please contact us on +44 (0)23 9284 8090 or admissions@port.ac.uk
No, it's not too late and you should make your application for student finance as soon as possible. You don't have to wait for your results. You can make your application now and just amend it when you know where you're going to be.
If you've already applied for your student loan, you'll need to log into your account and update details about your new course/university. If you haven't applied for your student loan yet, don't panic. Apply today – it only takes 30 minutes.
Find out more in our Student finance for Clearing guide.
Entry requirements
HND Business entry requirements
Typical offers
- A levels – EED–EEE
- UCAS points – 48-56 points to include a minimum of 1 A level, a BTEC qualification, or equivalent, in any subject Other qualifications such as Vocational A levels (AVCE) and Access courses will also be considered (calculate your UCAS points)
- T-levels – Pass (D or E in the core)
- BTECs (Extended Diplomas) – MM-MP
You may need to have studied specific subjects or GCSEs - see full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept.
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
See alternative English language qualifications
We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
We look at more than just your grades
While we consider your grades when making an offer, we also carefully look at your circumstances and other factors to assess your potential. These include whether you live and work in the region and your personal and family circumstances which we assess using established data.
What you'll experience
On this course, you'll:
- Develop the skills and knowledge you need to excel in business
- Learn from experienced tutors, lecturers and business leaders
- Build knowledge in subjects such as marketing, business finance, business law, data management, business strategy, organisational theories and human resource management
- Work on a research project and put your knowledge into practice to demonstrate what you’ve learned
- Study at Havant & South Downs College in Waterlooville or the Isle of Wight College in Newport
Careers and opportunities
What can you do with a Business HND?
After completing this course, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to top up your HND to a Bachelor's degree or begin a career in areas such as:
- marketing
- sales
- publicity
- administration
- ecommerce
- accounting,
- financial and risk analysis
- HR
What jobs can you do with a Business HND?
Roles our graduates have taken on include:
- business development officer
- recruitment consultant
- publicity officer
- graduate food buyer
- financial analyst
- risk analyst
- retail manager
After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.
One of the highlights for me has been hearing numerous guest speakers tell tales of real business, bringing the course to life.
Modules
Example topics covered
Core modules:
- Business Environment - 15 credits
- Business Finance - 15 credits
- Marketing - 15 credits
- Organisational Theories - 15 credits
- Business Law: Basic Principles - 15 credits
Optional modules:
- Applied Marketing - 15 credits
- Human Resource Management - 15 credits
- Management Accounting - 15 credits
- Purchasing and Supply Chain Principles - 15 credits
- Small Business Enterprise - 15 credits
Core modules:
- Research Project - 15 credits
- Data Management - 15 credits
- Business Strategy - 15 credits
Optional modules:
- Business Law: Further Principles - 15 credits
- Business Psychology - 15 credits
- Event Management - 15 credits
- Promotional Strategy - 15 credits
- Small Business Enterprise - 15 credits
- Employee Relations - 15 credits
- Human Resource Development - 15 credits
- Business Excellence - 15 credits
- Project Management - 15 credits
- Working With and Leading People - 15 credits
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Study year abroad
Between your second and third year you can study abroad at one of our partner universities. This allows you to experience a different culture, enhance your CV so you stand out in the job market, grow your confidence, and open up personal and professional opportunities.
We have partnerships with Universities in Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. Classes are delivered in English.
You'll get support from the faculty's Global Support Office and UoP Global with identifying and applying to suitable destinations, and ongoing contact and support during your year abroad.
Work experience and career planning
To give you the best chance of securing a great job when you finish your course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find relevant work experience during your course.
We can help you identify placements, internships and voluntary roles that will complement your studies and build your CV.
Teaching
Teaching methods on this course include:
- lectures
- workshops
- seminars
- group projects
- one-on-one tutorials
How you'll spend your time
Each academic year is divided into 2 teaching blocks and an assessment period:
- Autumn teaching block – September to December
- Spring teaching block – January to Easter
- Assessment period – Easter to June
Most teaching takes place during the day, Monday to Friday. There’s no teaching on Wednesday afternoons.
Term times
The academic year runs from September to early June with breaks at Christmas and Easter. It's divided into 2 teaching blocks and 2 assessment periods:
- September to December – teaching block 1
- January – assessment period 1
- January to May – teaching block 2 (includes Easter break)
- May to June – assessment period 2
How you're assessed
You'll be assessed through:
- individual and group coursework
- examinations
- online tests
- practical exercises
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
Supporting you
The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used from previous courses, but you'll also get face-to-face support from teaching and support staff when you need it. These include the following people and services:
Personal tutor
Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.
You’ll have regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor. They’ll also be available by appointment if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.
Student engagement officers
In addition to the support you get from your personal tutor, you’ll also have support from student engagement officers. They can give you confidential, impartial advice on anything to do with your studies and personal wellbeing, and refer you to specialist support services if you need extra help or support.
Study support tutors
You'll have help from a team of faculty study support tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.
They can help with:
- improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
- delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
- understanding and using assignment feedback
- managing your time and workload
- revision and exam techniques
Academic skills support
As well as support from teaching staff and your personal tutor, you can approach the Faculty of Business and Law's Academic Skills Tutors (AST).
AST provides support in areas such as:
- Writing & Assignments
- Presentations & Group Work
- Referencing & Research
- Exams & Revision
- Dissertations & Final Projects
If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees
- UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £6,165 per year (subject to annual increase in line with fee cap set by the Government)
- EU students – £6,165 a year (including Transition Scholarship – subject to annual increase in line with fee cap set by the Government)
- International students – £17,200 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
Funding your studies
Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.
Additional costs
These course-related costs aren't included in the tuition fees. So you'll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.
You’ll study up to 6 modules a year. You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each module.
You can borrow most of these from the Library. If you buy these, they may cost up to £60 each.
We recommend that you budget £100 a year for photocopying, memory sticks, DVDs and CDs, printing charges, binding and specialist printing.
If your final year includes a major project, there could be cost for transport or accommodation related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
Contact our Housing Support Team if you need help and advice about accommodation.
- Telephone: +44 (0)23 9284 3214
- Email: student.housing@port.ac.uk
Apply
Ready to apply?
To start this course in 2025, apply through UCAS. You'll need:
- the UCAS course code – 002N
- our institution code – P80
Apply now via UCAS (South Downs Campus)
Apply now via UCAS (Isle of Wight College)
If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.