Shortlist CourseShortlist Register nowRegister Request ProspectusProspectus

Course type: Degree

Degree

Also known as an undergraduate or bachelors degree.

Internationally respected, universally understood.

An essential requirement for many high-level jobs.

Gain a thorough understanding of your subject – and the tools to investigate, think critically, form reasoned arguments, solve problems and communicate effectively in new contexts.

Progress to higher level study, such as a postgraduate diploma or masters degree.
Credits: 360

Credits

Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.

One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.

You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.

For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
How long it takes
Study method: Distance learning
Entry requirements: Find out more about; Entry requirements

BA (Honours) Business and Law

: Course code: R76

Explore the dynamic world of business and law, where strategy meets regulation and innovation thrives. This degree equips you with the skills to navigate legal complexities, drive business success, and make a real impact. You’ll study core business and management topics, gain insight into civil justice and contract law, and understand how organisations function. In the final part of the degree, you’ll focus on business strategy and choose legal subjects that match your interests. Along the way, you’ll build expertise in decision-making, risk management, and ethics, preparing you to lead, innovate, and advocate in a fast-paced, highly regulated world.

DON’T MISS OUT
REGISTER BY 11 SEPTEMBER

Join the thousands of students who’ve registered for courses starting this October.

Key features

Course details

Entry requirements

Fees and funding

How you'll study

Careers

How long it takes

Combine legal principles with business strategy to address real-world challenges
Apply legal and ethical thinking to business operations and decision-making
Develop skills to navigate complex legal, commercial, and regulatory environments
Build a strong foundation for further study or diverse professional pathways

Course type

Degree

Credits

360

How long it takes

Full-time study – 3 years

Part-time study – 6 years

Time limit – 16 years

See How long it takes

Study method

Distance learning

Entry requirements

Find out more about Entry requirements

Ask a question

This business and law degree has three stages, each comprising 120 credits.

You’ll start Stage 1 with an introduction to business and management and a grounding in civil justice and tort law.
Next, in Stage 2, you’ll study the essential functions of an organisation and cover the important area of contract law.
Finally, in Stage 3, you’ll study strategic management and select from a range of law modules to suit your interests or professional needs.

Our modular study approach gives you the flexibility to complete your qualification at a pace that fits around your life. Whether you prefer a fast track or want to work at a slower rate, you can tailor your study plan to suit your needs.

Stage 1 (120 credits)

You’ll start Stage 1 with an introduction to the essential disciplines of business and management, investigate the question ‘What is a business?’, and explore the functions of human resource management, marketing, accounting, and finance. You’ll also gain an understanding of how the civil justice system operates and various torts including negligence, nuisance and defamation.

Stage 1 modules
Modules	Credits
You'll study the following:
An introduction to business and management (B100)	60
Civil justice and tort law (W112)	60

Stage 2 (120 credits)

Stage 2 begins by focusing on an organisation's essential functions: human resources, marketing, operations, and finance. You’ll then examine two aspects of the law that are fundamental to a business.

Stage 2 modules
Modules	Credits
You'll study the following:
Shaping business opportunities (B207)	60
Contract law (W212)	30
Business and employment law (W240)	30

Stage 3 (120 credits)

Stage 3 begins with an exploration of strategic management, where you'll analyse how organisations make decisions, compete successfully, and expand internationally in dynamic environments. You’ll complete your studies by choosing two law modules to suit your career aspirations.

Stage 3 modules
Modules	Credits
You'll study the following:
Strategic management (B302)	60
You’ll choose two from:
European Union law (W330)	30
Exploring legal boundaries (W350)	30
Land law (W312)	30
Law, society and culture (W340)	30
Trusts law (W311)	30

You can complete this degree in as little as three years by studying at a pace equivalent to full-time. That’s 120 credits per year. To complete in three years, you’ll need to start your degree in October. You can either study 120 credits worth of modules at the same time starting in October or stagger your studies by taking 60 credits in October and the remaining 60 credits in February.

Don't worry if your circumstances change. You don’t have to stick to a full-time study pace. You can change the pace of your learning each year depending on what's right for you.

Modules	Credits
Stage 1 \| Year 1
You'll study the following:
An introduction to business and management (B100)	60
Civil justice and tort law (W112)	60
Stage 2 \| Year 2
You'll study the following:
Shaping business opportunities (B207)	60
Business and employment law (W240)	30
Contract law (W212)	30
Stage 3 \| Year 3
You'll study the following:
Strategic management (B302)	60
You'll choose two from the following:
European Union law (W330)	30
Exploring legal boundaries (W350)	30
Land law (W312)	30
Law, society and culture (W340)	30
Trusts law (W311)	30

You can complete this degree in six years by studying part-time. That's one 60-credit module or two 30-credit modules a year.

Modules	Credits
Stage 1 \| Year 1
You'll start your degree with the following:
An introduction to business and management (B100)	60
Stage 1 \| Year 2
You'll study the following:
Civil justice and tort law (W112)	60
Stage 2 \| Year 3
You'll study the following:
Shaping business opportunities (B207)	60
Stage 2 \| Year 4
You'll study the following:
Business and employment law (W240)	30
Contract law (W212)	30
Stage 3 \| Year 5
You'll study the following:
Strategic management (B302)	60
Stage 3 \| Year 6
You'll complete your degree with two from the following:
European Union law (W330)	30
Exploring legal boundaries (W350)	30
Land law (W312)	30
Law, society and culture (W340)	30
Trusts law (W311)	30

We regularly review our curriculum; therefore, the qualification described on this page – including its availability, its structure, and available modules – may change over time. If we make changes to this qualification, we’ll update this page as soon as possible. Once you’ve registered or are studying this qualification, where practicable, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes. If you’d like to know more about the circumstances in which the University might make changes to the curriculum, see our Academic Regulations or contact us. This description was last updated on 11 August 2025.

Accessibility

Our qualifications are as accessible as possible, and we have a comprehensive range of support services. Our BA (Honours) Business and Law uses a variety of study materials and includes the following elements:

Online study – all modules are online; some have a mix of printed and online material. Online learning resources could include websites, audio/video, and interactive activities
Pre-determined schedules – we’ll help you to develop your time-management skills
A range of assessment types, such as short-answer questions and essays
Feedback – continuous assessment includes feedback from your tutor and using this to improve your performance
Using and producing diagrams and screenshots
Finding external/third-party material online
Accessing online catalogues and databases
Online tutorials
Group-work

Every module has its own Accessibility Statement with more detailed accessibility information – you’ll find these on individual module descriptions.
Visit our Disability support page to learn about our services.

Learning outcomes, teaching and assessment

This qualification develops your learning in four main areas:

Knowledge and understanding
Cognitive skills
Practical and professional skills
Key skills

Read the detailed learning outcomes here

Credit transfer

If you’ve already completed some university-level study somewhere else, you may be able to count it towards this qualification – which could save you time and money by reducing the number of modules you need to study. At the OU we call this credit transfer.

It’s not just university study that can be considered, you can also transfer study from a wide range of professional or vocational qualifications such as HNCs and HNDs.

You should apply for credit transfer before you register, at least 4 weeks before the registration closing date. For more details and to download an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.

Classification of your degree

On successfully completing this course, we’ll award you our BA (Honours) Business and Law.

The class of honours (first, upper-second, lower-second or third) will depend on your grades at Stages 2 and 3.

You’ll have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.

International recognition

If you intend to use your Open University qualifications to seek work or undertake further study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether your intended qualification will meet local requirements for your chosen career. Find out more about international recognition of Open University qualifications.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

BA (Honours) Business and Law

There are no formal entry requirements for this qualification.

At The Open University we believe education should be open to all, so we provide a high-quality university education to anyone who wishes to realise their ambitions and fulfil their potential.

Even though there are no entry requirements, there are some skills that you’ll need to succeed. If you’re not quite ready for OU study we can guide you to resources that prepare you, many of which are free.

Answer a few quick questions to check whether you’re ready for study success

Preparing for study with an Access module

Students who start their study with an Access module are more likely to be successful when they advance to Stage 1 of their qualification. They’re specially designed to give you a gentle introduction to OU study, boost confidence in your study skills, and help you gain a broad overview of your chosen subject area.

You’ll also benefit from:

feedback from your tutor through regular one-to-one phone tutorials
support from a dedicated team throughout your study
detailed written feedback on your work.

The Access module we’d recommend studying in preparation for this qualification is our:

Business and law Access module

What you will study

This multidisciplinary module provides an excellent introduction to studying with The Open University as you'll use printed and online materials to cover a wide range of topics in law and business.

View full details of Business and law Access module

Y035

Compare the cost of studying at the OU with other campus-based universities in England.

Qualification	Total cost at campus university*	Total cost at The Open University**	Saving with The Open University
Honours Degree	£28,605	£23,352	£5,253 (18%)
Diploma of Higher Education	£19,070	£15,568	£3,502 (18%)
Certificate of Higher Education	£9,535	£7,784	£1,751 (18%)

Honours Degree

Total cost at campus university* £28,605

Total cost at The Open University** £23,352

Saving with The Open University £5,253 (18%)

Diploma of Higher Education

Total cost at campus university* £19,070

Total cost at The Open University** £15,568

Saving with The Open University £3,502 (18%)

Certificate of Higher Education

Total cost at campus university* £9,535

Total cost at The Open University** £7,784

Saving with The Open University £1,751 (18%)

*Based on maximum chargeable fees for 25/26 academic year.

**The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2026. Fees typically increase annually. In England, fees are subject to the part-time fee limit, as set out in section 5 of the University's Fee Rules.

How will I study this course?

With our unique approach to distance learning, you can study from home, work or on the move.

You’ll have some assessment deadlines to meet, but otherwise, you’ll be free to study at the times that suit you, fitting your learning around work, family, and social life.

For each of your modules, you’ll use either just online resources or a mix of online and printed materials.

Each module you study will have a module website with

a week-by-week study planner, giving you a step-by-step guide through your studies
course materials such as reading, videos, recordings, and self-assessed activities
module forums for discussions and collaborative activities with other students
details of each assignment and their due dates
a tutorial booking system, online tutorial rooms, and your tutor’s contact details
online versions of some printed module materials and resources.

If you have additional needs, we can also provide most module materials in alternative formats. Find out more about materials on our accessibility webpage.

Tutor support

You’ll have a tutor for each module, who will introduce themselves before the module begins.

Throughout the module, they will:

mark your assignments and give feedback to help you improve
guide you to learning resources
support you, whether with general study skills or help with a specific topic.

Tutorials

Tutorials usually take place online, and they’re always optional.

Online tutorials are live presentations with module tutors in dedicated online tutorial rooms and are sometimes recorded.

Assessment

Our assessments are all designed to reinforce your learning and help you show your understanding of the topics. The mix of assessment methods will vary between modules.

Computer-Marked Assignments

Usually, a series of online, multiple-choice questions.

Tutor-Marked Assignments

You’ll have a number of these throughout each module, each with a submission deadline.
They can be made up of essays, questions, experiments or something else to test your understanding of what you have learned.
Your tutor will mark and return them to you with detailed feedback.

End-of-Module Assessments

The final, marked piece of work on most modules.
Modules with an end-of-module assessment won’t usually have an exam.

Exams

Some modules end with an exam. You’ll be given time to revise and prepare.
You’ll be given your exam date at least 5 months in advance.
Most exams take place remotely, and you will complete them at home or at an alternative location.
If a module has an in-person exam (that you must take at one of our exam centres) or is invigilated online, we’ll make this clear in the module description.

Progressing to a point where I felt more comfortable writing my assignments, and having my scores reflecting that, made me quite happy because it showed the hard work was being rewarded.
Patrick ‘Ricky’ Skene, BSc (Hons) Sport, Fitness and Coaching

Other support and resources

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to our subject-specific Student Support Teams.

They’ll help you with any general questions about your study and updates to your OU account.

To help with your studies, you’ll also have access to:

our online library, with high-quality online resources to support your study
other university libraries in the UK and Ireland
the online Help Centre, which has general information about OU study and support, along with study skills advice
free Microsoft Office 365 software
IT and computing support from our Computing Helpdesk.

Find out more about student support and being a part of the OU community.

Skills for career development

You’ll develop critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills to navigate business and legal challenges. You will also gain expertise in business strategy, risk management, and decision-making, alongside a strong understanding of legal principles and their societal impact.

The degree fosters intellectual curiosity, ethical awareness, and adaptability – skills that are highly valued across many sectors. You’ll be equipped with transferable abilities that open up diverse career paths.

Through practical application of theory, you’ll enhance your ability to address regulatory challenges, manage organisations effectively, and contribute to business success. With a global and regulatory perspective, graduates will be well-prepared for professional growth or further study in a dynamic, highly regulated environment.

Career relevance

The skills and knowledge gained from this degree can open doors to various career paths. Business and law graduates are well-equipped for roles in:

middle and senior management across sectors
regulation, governance and compliance
contract management
legal services
advertising and marketing
accountancy
human resources
policy advice and development
sales and retail
management consultancy

Accreditation

The Open University Business School is also one of the few institutions worldwide that is triple-accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA), the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). These are internationally recognised quality standards which independently validate the quality of the School’s teaching, research and operations. The School undergoes regular reviews to ensure that standards are maintained and has successfully retained its triple accredited status since 2004. This qualification is accredited through inclusion in these reviews.

Other careers

Business and law graduates are highly valued by employers for their commercial and legal awareness. Many graduate roles, particularly in business, management consultancy and the public sector, are open to graduates from any discipline, offering a wide range of career possibilities. Completing further legal studies after this qualification will also give you the option of becoming a barrister or solicitor.

Exploring your options

Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you’ll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice. This includes online forums, website, interview simulation, vacancy service as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.

In the meantime if you want to do some research around this qualification and where it might take you, we’ve put together a list of relevant job titles as a starting point. Some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree.

accountant
advertising account manager
business development officer
civil servant
compliance officer

contracts manager
corporate governance officer
human resources manager
management consultant
paralegal

patent attorney
policy advisor
regulatory affairs specialist
risk analyst
solicitor

You can achieve this degree in as little as three years and have a maximum of 16 years to complete it. Our module-by-module approach gives you the flexibility to complete your qualification at a pace that works best for you.

3-year degree

You can complete this degree in three years by studying at a pace equivalent to full-time. That’s similar to a student at a campus-based university.

You'll study 120 credits a year.
You'll need 32–36 study hours per week.

For a year-by-year breakdown of modules, take a look at our 3-year degree pathway in the Course details section.

6-year degree

You can complete this degree in six years by studying part-time. That’s roughly half the rate of a student on a full-time course at a campus-based university.

You'll study 60 credits a year.
You'll need 16–18 study hours per week.

For a year-by-year breakdown of modules, take a look at our 6-year degree pathway in the Course details section.

Register for this course

Start dates

Oct 2025 - Registration closes 11/09/2025
Feb 2026 - Registration closes 08/01/2026

Credit transfer: apply by 14/08/2025

Credit transfer: apply by 04/12/2025

Request your Business and Management prospectus

Our prospectuses help you choose your course, understand what it's like to be an OU student and register for study.

Request prospectus