There’s a huge range of relevant careers to consider (precise entry points will depend on your qualifications, experience and skills).
These include:
- administration
- business journalism
- advertising, marketing and PR
- banking, including investment banking
- financial management and accountancy
- human resources and employment
- middle and senior management, and management consultancy
- sales and retail
- transport and logistics.
In addition, increasing competitiveness and globalisation – together with changes in technology, communications, financial services and distribution of goods and services – are constantly opening up new opportunities.
To get detailed information about typical jobs within these areas – including day-to-day activities, the qualifications you need and what you might expect to earn – visit the Prospects careers website, GradIreland website, or Skills Development Scotland website.
How the OU can help
Open University business and management courses are highly regarded by employers, both for the quality of teaching and for the ambition, drive, time management and organisational skills that characterise our students. We offer business, management and leadership courses through our award-winning Business School* and our Faculty of Health & Social Care, taking education right to the heart of leadership and management practice in private, public and voluntary organisations worldwide.
Our courses are designed to prepare you to meet the management and leadership challenges faced by today’s dynamic, socially and environmentally responsible organisations, and to develop essential skills such as effective communication and presentation; numeracy and IT; critical thinking; the ability to research and evaluate information; and developing a reasoned argument.
An OU management qualification will also develop your understanding of the way organisations operate, and how they develop winning strategies, make decisions and manage risk – and you’ll gain valuable insight into key business functions such as finance, human resources, ICT, and sales and marketing.
*Only 1% of all business schools are triple accredited by AMBA, AACSB and EQUIS. The OU is one of them, and the only business school to specialise in flexible learning.
See a list of courses related to management
Getting started
If you’re not quite ready for degree-level study in management, our Psychology, social science and wellbeing Access module (Y034) could be exactly what you’re looking for. It’s designed to build your confidence and study skills. By the end of the module, you’ll be well prepared to begin your first full OU course.
More about Access modules
Work experience
Many business and management roles will require significant experience in addition to a relevant qualification. Open University management courses put you at a distinct advantage in this regard, as you’ll be encouraged to apply your learning immediately to your own professional context, and to build on your experience as a context for developing real-world knowledge and skills.