If you are interested in how the business world works, studying a business-related course might help you to better understand the area in which you wish to work in the future. What we call the “business world” is very much closer to home than most people think. From the supermarkets we shop at, to the restaurants we dine in, and even the colleges and universities we study in, every business revolves around people and products or services. Here we outline some of the more popular business-related courses.

 

Accounting

An accounting course equips you with the theoretical and technical understanding of financial concepts and practices. Students will learn how to use accounting information systems, prepare tax returns, create and analyse balance sheets, and prepare financial reports to help the management of a company to make financial decisions. Graduates who wish to become auditors or accountants then proceed to study and obtain professional accounting qualifications. These qualifications equip you with the practical knowledge to carry out your work. 

Finance

A course in finance is about learning how to manage huge sums of money for other people or companies. Fundamentally, the course teaches you to maintain the health of a business for the long run through a good understanding of investments and making investment decisions, the local economy and global financial markets, and credit policies among others. You will learn to work with complex computer programmes, and learn how to create and manage budgets, assess risks, and calculate interest rates. Graduates can also opt for professional qualifications such as the Chartered Financial Analyst after their university studies.

 

Business Management and Administration

This course provides students with an overview of how businesses operate and focuses on problem-solving, critical thinking and implementation of business strategies. The main components of this course include knowledge of business concepts, understanding of various business environments, and applying analytical skills to complex business situations. To prepare students for the business environment, this route typically utilises case studies of real business challenges, which require applications from law and human resources to finance and business tools.

 

Marketing

Marketing is about communicating the value of a product or services to its target audience, while maximising profitability and maintaining customers. This course includes studying consumer behaviour, marketing strategies, advertising and promotion, international marketing, marketing research, and marketing communication, among others. It helps if you are a good leader and a team player who has strong writing and speaking skills.

 

Economics

This major aims to equip students with an understanding of how the general economy interacts with businesses and consumers. You will learn economic principles such as demand and supply, monopoly, competition, as well as how governments play a part in influencing the business environment. Typical components of this course include risk management, micro- and macro-economics, economic theory, finance and international trade, among others.

 

International Business

Do you love traveling? This course provides you with the knowledge of how a multinational company runs its operations, including challenges in legal and political systems in an international context. You will learn how to think globally about the business world, and how to manage multinational businesses as well as how local businesses branch out internationally. Learning new languages is also an integral part of this course.

 

A business-related course is just as specialised as any other course of study, offering equally (if not more) attractive career opportunities for graduates. In fact, due to the diverse range of courses, a business graduate can choose to enter diverse fields and are among the most employable. Having said that, business graduates need excellent communication and presentation skills in order to stand out from other graduates.