5 Things You Need To Know About Successful Postgraduate Study

Dr Jill Collis from Brunel Business School provides advice on how to be successful and what to expect from a postgraduate study experience in a UK university. Follow her advice if you are about to start your MSc or MBA degree.

Jill Collis is Director of the Accounting and Auditing Research Centre at Brunel University and the Programme Director for Accounting and Business Management MSc . In addition to her research publications, she has published text books on accounting and research methods. Her accessible writing style and active-learning approach reflects her experience as a mature student and her understanding of lecturers’ needs.

1. Make the most of your investment

• Prepare for lectures/seminars
• Take notes and ask questions
• Read and conduct independent study
• Make use of lecturers’ access hours
• Take advantage of Library, ASK and Business Life
• Take formative feedback to heart
• Excel at coursework and exams

2. Explore available knowledge and gain better understanding

• You’ll be exposed to knowledge and critical understanding of theoretical and applied perspectives on a range of business and management topics
• Develop the capacity to understand historical and current developments in response to changes in the business environment

3. Get your cognitive thinking hat on

• The ability to think critically and independently is key: question and critique to arrive at your own perspective
• Master the ability to solve complex business problems and make decisions in the face of uncertainty: typically includes establishing criteria, using appropriate decision-making techniques, identifying and evaluating options and making recommendations

4. Gain practical, transferable skills for life

• Train how to use information and knowledge effectively: typically includes scanning and organising data, synthesising and analysing in order to abstract meaning from information and share knowledge
• Develop  numeracy and quantitative skills
• Develop effective written communication of complex ideas and arguments
• Develop sustainable independent learning skills

5. Don’t mistake UG and PG research

Criteria to be satisfied by a Bachelor’s dissertation:

• A well-structured and convincing account of a study
• The resolution of a problem or the outcome of an experiment
• Evidence of awareness of the literature

Criteria to be satisfied by a taught Master’s dissertation:

• An ordered, critical and reasoned exposition of knowledge gained through the student’s efforts
• A comprehensive review of the literature

 

Find our more about our range of taught Master’s, an AMBA-accredited MBA programme and the chance to undertake doctoral research leading to a PhD here.

Softcat and BBS join forces to improve students’ career prospects

The Brunel Business School Business Life programme is developing an exciting opportunity for our current students in collaboration with the HR department of Softcat, a leading IT reseller in UK. Softcat won a host of awards, including their most recent ‘Business of the Year 2012’ award, and the Business School is proud to enjoy a close working relationships with the company which in turn directly benefits our students.

In this collaborative event final year students and postgraduate taught students will visit Softcat offices and take part in their assessment centre and live interviews with the company HR team. Students are required to register in advance.

This is an exclusive and exciting opportunity for students to experience preparing for applications and live interviews with the industry experts. Who knows what opportunities may come up by passing a business card or two around whilst there!

More information coming soon on the Business Life facebook page.

Business Life is a unique Employability Programme designed to maximise students’ career prospects by providing an intensive programme of professional workshops and events that run in parallel with academic studies.

Business Life was conceived, developed and is delivered in association with leading employers from business, industry and the public sector.

Business Life features at-a-glance:

• High quality personal, technology, language and business skill training courses and workshops
• Career development and planning services, including mentoring, industry taster sessions and guest speaker series
• Sector leading work experience programme covering placements, volunteering, internships and vacation work
• Help with marketing your capabilities, through networking events, CV development, employer exhibitions and student showcases
• Lifelong continuous professional development, including short courses and Masters programmes at preferential rates

BBS graduates share stories of their university experience

Successful graduates from Brunel Business School look back at their time at Brunel University and share their memories and the experiences they gained while studying for a Bachelor Degree with BBS.

It’s been an amazing journey

Waleed Ahmed Marketing and Admissions Team Brunel Business School

After visiting Brunel, my final decision about my future university was very clear. The first thing that caught my interest was its campus. It has everything: restaurants, a bank, bars, coffee shops, a massive library, an incredible sports and athletics centre all in an easy reach for its students. This really appealed to me. It was clear to me that this would be where I would like to live and study and it wasn’t long before I became a student here. Read more….

Graduated from BSc (Hons) Business and Management (eBusiness Systems), 2012

The support to help me gain my placement was beyond my expectations

Angel Chen Business Analyst, Morgan Stanley

I did a year’s placement in Morgan Stanley. The experience was invaluable as I had first-hand experience in the Operations department.

During my placement year, my performance was monitored by the placement tutor and there were regular contacts from the university. I felt supported in my personal and professional development by the academic staff. Soon afterwards, I was offered a graduate job by Morgan Stanley based on my performance during my placement year. Read more…

Graduated from BSc Business and Management (Accounting), 2010

The opportunities available to me have been outstanding

Siobhan Feeney  Volunteered for Global Vision International

Throughout my time at Brunel, the academic standard of lecturing was exceedingly high. The Business Life programme in BBS gave me the opportunity to develop many skills such as team work, and leadership. It increased my confidence in communication and presenting. I was provided with endless amounts of development and networking opportunities. It lead me to meet and work with some really amazing people! Read more….

Graduated from BSc Business and Management, 2012

 

Brunel Business School has supportive academic staff

Phillip Hughes IM Project Manager & EMEA Sales IT Ops Leader GE Aviation

I wanted to study in a campus university where there are lots of student activities happening on campus hence I chose Brunel. I made the right choice. Brunel Business School has supportive academic staff and the curriculum was designed to help students to gain graduate employment. Many of the modules were tailored to develop students’ work skills that are sought after by employers

such as analysing financial data, preparing a marketing plan etc.

There are many business schools to choose from – but I am glad that I chose Brunel. Read more…

Graduated from BSc Business and Management, 2010

Read more of these and other stories on our website. For more information about our Undergraduate Courses visit our Course pages.

90 Days to Job Success Course starts for graduates in Jan 2013

To help graduates succeed in a competitive labour market Brunel Business School and the award winning Placement and Career Centre have developed a short, intensive 90 day programme starting on 7th January 2013. With opportunities to structure and improve job search strategies, graduates will get hands-on support from careers consultants from the Placement and Careers Service.

Brunel Business School alumni can register for this bespoke, exclusive and completely free Personal & Professional Development course now and start the countdown to success on 7th January 2013. This course is a part of Business Life on-going development phase and will help graduates get closer to the job they want from the comfort of their own home!

Get closer to the job you want – in only 90 days!

 At the end of this course, graduates will:

• Have structure and focus required in job search efforts
• Be better equipped with the tools needed to conduct more successful job searches
• Understand what graduate employers are looking for in applicants especially in assessment centres
• Have confidence in their abilities and better manage their of expectations

Personalised assistance at time that suits you!

As this is a distance learning course graduates can complete the programme when and where convenient to them. Delivery is carried out remotely via a series of webinars  and email and Skype 1-2-1 sessions with careers consultants.

Apply today and start your 90 Days to Job Success on 7^th January!

To apply please complete the online application form. Alternatively, for further information, please contact business.life@brunel.ac.uk

Students learn Operations Management in BMW’s Oxford facilities

As part of the Business Life Programme, Dr Grahame Fallon led a party of 12 MSc in Management students on this year’s BMW MINI Oxford Plant tour in December 2012.

Dr Fallon writes on behalf of the MSc Management tour party:

The day was cold and frosty but we all set out bright and early with considerable enthusiasm, arriving at BMW Mini’s Cowley, Oxford plant in good time for the 11am tour, leaving time for a welcome coffee stop en route. On arrival at the plant, we were kitted up with protective overalls and intercom equipment, so that we were able to hear the expert commentary from the tour guide during our walk around the assembly plant.

MINI visit

The tour took just over an hour, and we were able to track the assembly of a range of mini cars from arrival to final completion. We were all impressed by the state of the art quality and efficiency of the supply chain and operations management techniques that were used in the plant. It was fascinating to see the use of robotics at many stages of production, and the way in which teams of workers were organised using total quality management procedures and insights. The tour party asked many questions, leading to fascinating insights into the way that BMW MINI is run. MINI’s BMW inspired recruitment, training and development and apprenticeship schemes were explained to us during the tour, together with the impact of the BMW takeover on the company’s strategic and operational management, and on the continuing high levels of investment that have made the Oxford MINI plant sustainable.   At the end of the tour, there was an opportunity for us to take photographs against the background of MINI cars from different eras.

This was a great tour, which we all thoroughly enjoyed!

Find our more about the MSc in Management programme in Brunel Business School by visiting our website.

MBA students prepare for their Business Tour. Destination – India!

Professor Ashley Braganza, the Director of Business Life and a truly motivational force, met with MBA students in a recent class session to prepare them for the next international business tour. Five students will be selected to travel to India where they will meet heads of top level corporations and small not-for profit organisations. This will enable students to truly understand different sectors of the Indian market – a booming, globally significant economy.

Read a moving student report from last year’s International Business Tour here: MBA Students learn a humbling lesson on Business Tour to India

Students being their International Tour at the Gateway to India in Mumbai

Making Growth Happen: Meeting of Industry, Academia and Students

Brunel Business School recently hosted an annual Capstone event: ‘Making Growth Happen – What can be done to achieve an authentically sustainable economic growth?’ under the umbrella of Business Life: Employability Programme.

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Flavia de Facendis, an MBA student who took part in the event this year, writes:

The Eastern Gateway, Brunel Business School’s brand new building, was an ideal venue to host ‘Making Growth Happen – What can be done to achieve an authentically sustainable economic growth?’, where industry representatives, academics and students were able to share their experiences and develop collaborative ideas.

After a welcome from the Vice Chancellor, Professor Chris Jenks, high profile business leaders delivered engaging presentations about growth and sustainability.  A diverse range of organisations were represented, from the Confederation of British Industry, to British Airports and Telefonica. The property and development company Cathedral Group were also present, as were the environmental management consultancy Giraffe Innovation.  The challenging and thought-provoking ideas of Brunel’s newly appointed Professor of Contemporary Thought, Will Self, concluded the speeches and the first part of this event.  To find out more about Will Self’s involvement with Brunel, read here.

The second section of the event comprised of contributions from all of the attendees, focusing on collaboration between participants: business leaders, academics and students worked together to produce a call for action.  The participants were encouraged to identify a definitive Ten Point Plan for enabling a sustainable business growth.

The afternoon ended with a valuable networking opportunity for the students to engage with industry professionals.  One of the students attending, Sayantan Das, commented:

‘The event was a great networking platform for the business students and a great occasion for us to meet delegates from various industry sectors.  I have interacted with some interesting people in my discussion group and created contacts that will be useful in my job search.’

Work Placement Mentor Scheme Launched

The Work Placement Mentor Scheme for 2012-13 launched this November. Organised by Michelle Kavan from the Placement and Career Centre, Alex Sedgwick and Fintan Clear from Brunel Business School, the students took part in a ‘Speed Networking’ event that was a key part of the launch. Having received counselling training from Beverley Crooks, the mentors (Level 3 students who have completed placements) were able to pass on a host of tips to a select group of mentees (Level 2 students intending on getting a placement).

In a lively session mentees were informed about the need to:

• think in terms of quality rather than quantity when making applications
• apply only for jobs that genuinely interest them
• tailor an application to the needs of the job as indicated in adverts, job descriptions and company websites
• plan job seeking as an activity in balance with coursework and exam preparation
• rather than respond immediately to a request for an interview by phone, ask the interviewer to ring back so that they have time to put things aside and to focus properly on the job in question
• try not to get demotivated when the inevitable rejection letters come in – get feedback if possible and learn from the experience
• it is a myth that all the good placement jobs are taken early in the year – one student who started looking in October 2011 only found her fantastic placement opportunity in July 2012

Quite apart from the serious teaching and learning going on, everyone seemed to enjoy the experience.

To find out more about placement opportunities, please talk to Michelle (Michelle.Kavan@brunel.ac.uk) and Reay Elliott (Reay.Elliott@brunel.ac.uk) in the Placement and Careers Centre.

University applicants get a crash course in success on Brunel Business Boot Camp

Brunel Business School will be organising two Business Boot Camp events in February and April for high achieving applicants following the success of the fully booked event last year. The Business Boot Camp event at Brunel Business School is an exclusive event for candidates who are predicted to achieve AAB grades or above, or an overseas equivalent, holding an offer to pursue their Business Degree in Brunel University. Eligible candidates will be receiving a personal invitation from the Head of School, Prof Zahir Irani, directly.

The Business Boot Camp is a three day, residential event, with free accommodation and food on campus for all participants. The number of participants is limited to 40 per event.  This interactive event will offer participants an opportunity to:

• Engage within a stimulating learning environment
• Be exposed to the latest business thinking
• Develop aptitude and critical thinking skills
• Be exposed to motivational speakers such as “Meet the Apprentice” Saira Khan, as seen on TV
• Participate in business simulation games
• Network with other high achieving applicants
• Experience what it’s like being a University student before actually going to a University
• Get a taste of Brunel Business Life Employability Programme

The School received recognition for its innovative approach to giving prospective students a taste of life in a university in the national press, but more importantly the event was a major success with the participants themselves. Here are some of their testimonials:

Sana Ali

I attended the Business Boot Camp because of the incredible opportunities on offer and the chance to gain knowledge and inspiration from professionals, entrepreneurs and staff at Brunel was too good to turn down. I was able to gain skills that I can carry with me throughout my time at Brunel, attaining my degree and preparing for life afterwards. I was also able to get a better insight into the life at Brunel University as I got the chance to stay on campus. In doing this I was able to start great friendships with others at the Boot Camp, and they made the experience all the better. The session with Saira Khan and the guest speaker at the Dinner in particular were very useful and insightful, adding an entrepreneurial atmosphere to the days spent at Brunel. The experience as a whole greatly influenced my choice in attending Brunel for my Business Management degree and I would definitely recommend that anyone interested in business study should attend. The Boot Camp itself has done a lot in helping me realise business is the route which I would like to take for the rest of my studies and career. I’m proud to have been part of the first group of people to attend.

Kishan Patel

The reason I attended the Business Boot Camp was to get an idea of what this university is like, what it offers in terms of academic and job prospects further down the line and to generally get a feel for the university life on campus. I got a great deal out of this experience including a lot of interesting information on the specific business courses available and what excellent opportunities I would encounter, as well as the skills I could learn from attending this university. With all expenses paid, this is truly an experience that will put you ahead of peers come September (fresher’s week!). Two sessions that are etched in my memory is the session with Saira Khan, who highlighted the importance of making the most out of your opportunities and standing out from the crowd. The second session which I found extremely useful was the Markstrat Business game we took part in, which actually helps us in our course when we start. This enabled me to make Brunel a firm choice because I realised that the course here offered practical as well as theoretical learning experience. Overall I would strongly suggest to any potential applicant to make the most of this opportunity as you will develop your networking skills and get an insider’s experience as to how great Brunel really is!

Omer Duman

I was at a point with Business Studies where I was gradually beginning to lose passion with the subject and had serious thoughts about not progressing onto university. I can now honestly say that the Boot Camp changed my opinion in that short space of time! I attended the course as it appeared to me to be a challenge. It was a chance to compete against Brunel’s best applicants and I wanted to experience the so called ‘Uni experience’. The challenge was a great learning curve and a general life experience as I came in with a view of stereotyping everyone, but was pleasantly surprised by other applicant’s achievements and how other applicant’s aspirations actually inspired me. As boring as it may sound, the talks were the highlight for me as I felt great respect for most of the guest speakers because they were talking through experience: they simply proved anything is possible in the world of business. You do not get college teachers who have worked their way up to be millionaires, do you? With this event Brunel are not trying to sell the Uni to you, but give you a life experience.

Edward Ledwith

My decision to attend the Brunel Boot Camp was based on a combination of my interest in studying business operations and the University life as a whole. Using specialist marketing strategy games during the Boot Camp really brought the theory of marketing to life, not just taking into consideration the obvious factors such as advertising but the market direction itself. In addition to the marketing skills learnt, we attended talks on specific aspects, such as voice coaching and how to effectively present to an audience: creating the overall business package you would expect any successful business person to master.
Business is an easy thing to teach in theory; however hearing it from people who have put that theory into practice and had a great success, such as Saira Khan, really becomes a motivational force. In addition to the academic benefits the camp offered, the friendships I made with people on the camp have continued and many of them are now reading the same course at University. I felt that having a crash course in success, which the camp turned out to be, really ignited a flame inside me.

For more information about Brunel Business Boot Camp please visit: http://www.brunel.ac.uk/bbs/undergraduate-study/bootcamp or contact Sharon Coote on sharon.coote@brunel.ac.uk

Times Higher shortlists BBS for Business School of the Year

We are extremely pleased to announce that Brunel Business School has been shortlisted for Business School of the Year Award by the Times Higher Education. Only half a dozen of Business Schools have been shortlisted for the award and Brunel Business School is up against up against Cass, Manchester, LUMS, Exeter and Plymouth.

This title, new for 2012, will be awarded to the business school demonstrating the most outstanding performance in the past academic year. It is open to all business schools in the UK, including those situated within universities and those in the private sector. The winners will be announced at an awards dinner in London on the 29th November.

Prof Zahir Irani, Head of School, explains the background behind our nomination. 

Brunel Business School (BBS) set out a coherent long-term strategy to create a ‘balanced economy’ of teaching and research, transforming itself from a large undergraduate provider to a research-intensive, global competitor with an international complement of staff (over 55% foreign nationals). Focus on quality and student employability, with a managed reduction of undergraduate numbers, drove teaching improvements and enabled BBS to become selective in recruitment. Postgraduate provision, staff research time and PhD supervision also prioritised.  Finally, the purpose built £28 million campus building is a highly visible sign of our commitment to this vision. 

Eastern Gateway Building

In terms of student experience and return on investment we have: 

• Steadily driven up our entry tariffs; 
• Developed ‘Business Life’ as distinguishing employability programme both parallel to and embedded in the curriculum of all course modules. BBS’s National Student Survey results have jumped from 94^th position in 2010 to 29^th in 2011. 
• Launched international student study tours (to India and Turkey) for some Masters programmes, in line with new international strategy.

We cultivated Programmes and Partnerships, such as: 

• Positioned BBS globally, evidenced by Financial Times’ ranking of MSc in Management as 59^th in 2010 and 56^th in 2011 (overtaking Durham, Lancaster and Manchester). 
• The Guardian’s latest (2013) ranking for Business and Management saw BBS jump 52 places, to 45^th. 
• Recently established alumni chapters in Turkey, China and India, with new ones to be announced shortly.

Our Research power continues to improve: 

• RAE2008 positioned BBS in the upper quartile for research, and we are on track to achieve top 15 position for ‘research power’ in the 2013 REF. Percentage of staff submitted jumped from 24% in 2001 to 90% in 2008; a further increase planned for 2013 REF. 
• Research diversity and international collaboration are strong features, with six recognised research centres, recent funding from EU, EPSRC, ESRC, Leverhulme Trust, British Academy and Qatar Foundation.

Brunel University has been shortlisted for the prestigious University of the Year award and Brunel University Library has been shortlisted for Outstanding Student Support at the Times Higher Education Awards 2012. Brunel’s shortlisting for University of the Year comes on the back of strong improvement in the annual university league tables in which it was the most improved institution in the UK.

Please see more on THE website