Confusion about Business (Hons) Degree

murpho999

I am seriously thinking of taking up a part-time/distance learning study in order to obtain a Business Studies Honours Degree.

I have been looking at options available and narrowed it down to

UCD Quinn School of Business
Open University
DIT
Dublin Business School.

I like the flexibility of OU but feel maybe being totally alone with no class interaction might not be suited to me.

In looking at the other 3 options I am confused with the number of Modules that each offer.

When I compare UCD's curriculum to DBS I am surprised at how fewer modules there are in the DBS course despite them being carried out over the same time frame i.e 4 years.

Both are Level 8 Hons Degree qualifications.

For comparison here is UCD's Curriculum.

Stage 1 (Years 1 & 2) - Diploma in Business Studies, Level 7 National Qualifications framework

Core Modules

Principles of Management
Organisational Behaviour
Accounting and Corporate Governance Information for Business
Employee Relations
Marketing Management
Principles of Economics
Business Environment
Induction and Returning to Learning
E-Commerce*
Developing Academic Competencies *
Business Project
Business Law

Stage 2 (Year 3) – Bachelor of Business Studies, Level 8 National Qualifications framework

Core Modules

Economic Policy & the Global Environment
Human Resource Management: Strategy and Policy
Managing Change
Management Practice One
Management Practice Two

Elective Modules

International Business* OR Accounting Information for Managers *

Stage 3 (Year 4) - Bachelor of Business Studies, Level 8 National Qualifications framework

Core Modules

Business Strategy
Project Management
Undergraduate Dissertation
Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Elective Modules
Human Resource Development OR Financial Management*


Here's Dublin Business School's

Level 1

Core
Business Organisation
Business Maths & Research Techniques
Communications & Personal Development
Economics
Information & Communications Technology
Introduction to Marketing

Level 2

Core

Management
Business Information Systems
Business Economics

Elective Subjects (2)

Business Law
Organisational Behaviour
Business Finance
Selling & Sales Management

Level 3

Core

Business Strategy
Human Resource Management
Global Business Environment

Elective Subjects (2)

Corporate & Commercial Law
Services Marketing
Information Management
Management Accounting

The DBS Degree is awarded by John Moore's Liverpool University but when I look at their website the same degree course has more modules

Liverpool University Course

How can there be such a difference?

I know all the jokes about DBS (Daddy's Business School, Didn't Bother Studying etc) but they are genuine recognised degrees so how can their program be so different and on the face of it appear easier?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Also, anyone who has done such a course and could give details of time commitments involved, hours of study per week whist working full-time would be a great help as I am really not sure if I should take this task on or not.

Sorry for such a long post.

samo

I'm currently on a sabattical from year 1 of the UCD course (year 1 + 2 are the diploma stage) its been a mixed experience so far tbh.

The commitment is huge when combined with family and working full time and its reccommended to make time for at least 20 hours per week, realistically you need that plus more especially with continuous assessment and assignments as the assignments do tend to stack up and co-incide all at the same time.

That said, the induction and return to learning modules whilst useful if out of study for a long time do make up the credits quite easily but there is a sense that it is a bit of a waste the deeper you get into the course, however it isnt made easy to drop those electives for year 2 and take other modules from the Horizons course that UCD offer.

It is what you make it ultimately but the distance aspect does make it quite difficult with only 3 block weekends unless you participate in a study group. I'm undecided about returning for year 2 as quite simply despite having got excellent grades in year 1, it is a tough slog to get there and keep sanity and motivation up when working full time too.