Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Psychology, Counselling and Therapies

at University of Bedfordshire - Luton Campus United Kingdom

This professionally accredited course provides a direct route to a professional qualification in accounting, opening up a rewarding career in accountancy or in an accounting role in business.

The course gives you a comprehensive knowledge of the main ideas, concepts and principles of accounting and finance, as well as the skills to apply your knowledge to individuals, businesses, institutions and governments.

Using the latest technology, you begin by studying business practice and the business environment in which accountants operate before proceeding to corporate and business law; data analysis; and the advanced study of management accounting, taxation, financial management and auditing.

The course is accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Association of International Accountants (AIA).

Why choose this course?

• ACCA awards exemptions from its F1 to F9 papers for students successfully completing relevant course units – the maximum ACCA exemptions available at undergraduate level
• Graduates successfully completing relevant course units are also eligible for exemptions from the AIA’s Foundation level and Professional level 1 papers
• A professional qualification in accountancy is a gateway to a range of careers in accounting, finance and banking at professional accounting firms; small and large private-sector companies; and not-for-profit organisations
• Take the course over four years and include a fee-free year in industry (see below) when you can gain experience and make contacts for the future
• If you need a step up into higher education, start with a Foundation Year (see below) which guarantees entry to the undergraduate degree

This course shares its first stage with our other related BSc degrees to give you a foundation in the subject while providing a platform for specialist study in the second and third stages.

The course is broadly based yet carries enough depth to provide credible vocational skills; because of the wide range of courses taught in the department a number of special equipment is accessible in areas such as biometrics, robotics or computer graphics, which allows you to encounter the context of use of various concepts in Computer Science.

Computer Science is a complex and wide-ranging subject, and includes the study of computation theory, the design of systems and artificial intelligence.

This course shares its first stage with our other related BSc degrees to give you a foundation in the subject while providing a platform for specialist study in the second and third stages.

You will concentrate on essential areas such as systems architecture and security, acquire practical programming, modelling and software development skills before focusing on a chosen specialist area for your final stage project.

Why choose this course?

• Learn a broad-based range of subjects but in enough depth to give you high value vocational skills
• Study in a carefully structured but flexible way, sharing the first foundation stage with our other related BSc degrees before specialising in the second and third stages
• Develop your practical skills in a variety of programming languages
• Gain confidence in the use of specialist biometric, robotic and computer graphic equipment
• Explore the latest developments in artificial intelligence
• Challenge yourself as you decide which specialist area you would like to focus on
• Benefit from studying with highly qualified specialists in dedicated laboratories using the latest hi-tech equipment

Criminal offending and the state’s response to it are constantly evolving, and this course explores the latest ideas, thinking and research into the subject. Benefiting from the practice and practical knowledge of highly experienced tutors and lecturers, you will reflect critically on the latest theories and the many explanations used to explain why crime occurs.

The department’s expertise is deep and wide ranging, and covers youth crime and justice, substance abuse, gang related crime, corporate crime and forensic mental health.

You will be taught by leading researchers from the Institute of Applied Social Research, whose studies on sexual exploitation, trafficking, and disability is internationally renowned and at the interface between research, knowledge, policy and practice.

Why choose this course?

• Study the social, political and cultural contexts that inform criminology, and develop a critical in-depth knowledge and understanding of the subject
•  Explore and research a particular topic of interest, and as you do this sharpen your independent study skills and become highly specialised in a particular area
•  Develop the ability to apply originality in the application of knowledge that addresses problems relating to criminal justice, crime and offending
•  Gain a wide range of new skills and qualities that are relevant to the workplace and will give you the opportunity to seek employment at a senior level
•  Benefit from the ability to take part in critical discussions, systematic reviews and the analysis of complex, unfamiliar or unpredictable criminological problems, and work to produce an understanding that is informed by current scholarship.

Criminology at the University of Bedfordshire is taught by subject experts who are all members of the Vauxhall Centre for the Study of Crime under the direction of Professor John Pitts - a key member of the Home Office gang strategy’s expert advisory group. This dynamic programme considers developments in the academic study and research evidence of criminology in the context of an increasingly globalised world.

You will have the opportunity to critically reflect on theory while drawing on a depth of practical knowledge, theory and professional expertise from the teaching team. In addition, the team have an interest in the personal development of Masters students through a system of seminars and personal tutorials. This allows both staff and students to get to know each other well and fosters a shared commitment to the subject.

The development of safe and effective new drugs is a challenging and rewarding field. Our Pharmacology Master’s gives you the high-quality training, knowledge and key skills required to make your mark in the pharmaceutical industry and ultimately benefit wider society.

The course gives you a broad knowledge of drug discovery and development, focusing on the mechanisms of drug action at molecular level; the treatment of human diseases; and the latest cell and molecular technologies used in pharmacology. You gain an in-depth understanding of individual examples of modern drug research and development before moving on to specialise in one research area through the completion of a laboratory research project.

Why choose this course?

• Study the principles of drug design, pre-clinical evaluation, clinical trials, regulatory affairs and the application of new technologies in the drug discovery and development process
• Explore the latest therapeutic concepts and principles relating to causes, epidemiology, diagnosis and the treatment of human diseases in current clinical practice
• Develop a systematic understanding and critical awareness of new technologies in cell and molecular biology
• Gain a wide range of valuable practical skills and the ability to devise an experimental plan as an independent investigator

This course aims to provide you with state of the art analysis and business research skills with options to develop your expertise in Finance Marketing or Project Management and Operations techniques. The awareness of business and the knowledge base developed in this course will equip you for a broad range of careers in the world of business.

Specifically the course will develop skills and expertise in

• To be able to identify relevant issues for research and to formulate them clearly and precisely
• To be able to use online techniques to identify and retrieve appropriate material
• To develop an ability to analyse, synthesise, and critically evaluate a wide range of subject matter
• To be able to use concepts and techniques to develop and evaluate alternative strategies
• To develop the skills of an independent learner

Contextual understanding

• An ability to appreciate the broader economic, social, political, historical, ethical and cultural environments as a backdrop to Business
• To be able to identify and to critically analyse strategic issues in business
• To appreciate the appropriate application of Operations and Project Management techniques a wide variety of Business environments

Collaboration

• To develop effective team working skills
• To develop an ability to interface and work collaboratively with a wide range of people and functions in industry.

Enterprise

•     To be able to undertake independent research in business related subject area.

Why choose this course?
A final year top up course for students who wish to gain a BA (Hons) in Business Administration having already achieved two years of undergraduate equivalent study (Level 5). It will provide both subject specific and transferable skills that will equip the graduate for a successful career in a wide range of roles in business.

Your own interests will drive the direction of this course as you identify and address the latest theoretical concepts, evidence and research that are relevant to your individual practice.

You will have a rare opportunity to critically appraise and shape new ideas as they emerge, and enhance your understanding of the links between theory, research, evidence and policy development and its application to the design and delivery of services to children and young people.

Why choose this course?

• Study and evaluate relevant research and practice, synthesise information from a range of sources, and work with a high level of autonomy and self-direction
• Explore the cultural and social constructions of childhood and youth, and the impact they have on the everyday lives of children and young peopleDevelop an integrated and critically aware understanding of childhood and youth studies, and cultivate an analytical approach to contemporary methodological theories and developments
• Gain an advanced knowledge and understanding of the complexities surrounding the relationship between children’s rights, the ideologies and responsibilities for welfare, and the application of these elements in the experiences that effect children’s and young peoples’ lives.
• Benefit from enhanced career prospects by applying your new learning and expertise in professional contexts.

This MA is designed to allow you to build upon your knowledge and critically consider the theoretical underpinning of societal responses to a range of needs, through policy development and service delivery across children and young people’s sectors in a globalised context.

The majority of units are designed and taught by colleagues within the School of Applied Social Studies or the Institute of Applied Social Research, winners of the 2013 Queen’s Anniversary prize for outstanding achievement and excellence in UK universities and colleges. The departments are recognised for their contribution to policy and practice.

This high quality context is coupled with the opportunities and added value of our extensive professional networks. Partnerships from across private, public and voluntary sectors provide input to courses, as well as research opportunities, placement opportunities and voluntary work experience, making it truly ‘applied’.

Biochemistry has revolutionised our understanding of biological systems, from microbes to humans, and led to ground-breaking biotechnology applications. Our degree equips you with the specialist knowledge and skills you need for a career in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries, as well as other related sectors.

Offering a strong foundation in modern biochemistry, this course allows you to explore core subjects such as genetics, cell biology and molecular biology along with specialised fields including bioinformatics and molecular modelling; drug design and development; biotechnology; and genetic engineering.

You gain specialist knowledge in areas such as structure-function relationships; signalling and regulatory systems; and metabolic pathways as well as building the practical laboratory skills to work at the forefront of this exciting and developing field.

Why choose this course?

• Learn the techniques and practical laboratory skills essential for working in the field of biochemistry
• Benefit from our new science facilities and STEM building, which offer a modern working environment including high-spec laboratories
• Study with research-active experts in their field, many having previously worked at leading institutions such as Cambridge University, Imperial College London and King’s College London
• Develop transferable skills highly sought after by employers, such as independent thinking; planning and problem solving; analysis; and communication skills
• As a graduate, seek wider career opportunities in hospitals, government departments, academic organisations and the publishing industry. Or move on to further study at postgraduate level
• Take the course over four years and include a fee-free year in industry (see below), gaining experience, adding to your CV and making contacts for the future
• If you need to step up into higher education (see below), start with a Foundation Year which guarantees your place on the full degree course

This course will further develop the knowledge and skills acquired during your undergraduate studies by enhancing your ability to understand the financial risk frameworks within a business and management context.

Along with the knowledge of financial markets, financial regulation and risk management required comprehending the operations and assessing the risks facing businesses, you will also further develop the necessary quantitative, research, and presentation skills required for a successful career.

Besides focusing on specific areas of financial markets, financial regulation and risk management, this course offers you a contextual understanding of the environment in which businesses operate and the place of financial risk management within a business.

There are six entry points through the year. This allows you to start at a time when it is most suitable for you.

In its structure this course recognises the importance of regulation in underpinning the world of financial reporting and its varied impact on published results and capital markets.

At the same time we realise that although knowledge of economic and finance is a necessary condition when trying to understand the world we live in, it needs to be applied in a concrete way in order to avoid consuming itself in analysing theoretical models.

Therefore, this course is structured in a way that uses risk management and financial theory as the driving force and at the same time it links its concepts with other pillars of knowledge through the holistic approach the global economic and financial environment require.

This course offers you the opportunity to develop a particular strength in the management of international business issues. You will focus on strategic areas of management, international business, intercultural competencies, brand management, and financial management, all framed by the lens of developing patterns of world trade and the global marketplace.

You will develop the skills required to adopt appropriate strategic responses to different market environments through the study of and working with an organisation. You will also understand and experience at first hand the impact of contextual forces on international organisations, including the management functions of business such as corporate and brand reputation, corporate governance and ethical, economic and environmental change issues.

You will develop your knowledge of the financing of organisations including the sources, uses and management of finance and the use of accounting for managerial and financial reporting. You will also study and experience the management and development of people in organisations within a cross-cultural context, the use of relevant communications within the global economy.

You will appreciate how cultural differences affect both buying behaviour and marketing approaches. As well as specific knowledge relating to international business, you will develop enhanced personal and interpersonal skills through work experience in a professional placement. These include critical thinking, team working, problem solving, numeracy and quantitative skills, self-management and negotiation skills.

The placement will provide the basis for the delivery of the Business Placement Dissertation and comprise one block of study on Campus preparing for the project in the organisation followed by four blocks of study in the organisation and a final block back in the University to complete the write up. The project will be fully academically supervised throughout the six blocks of study.

In 2019, WHO listed high-threat pathogens, influenza pandemic, antimicrobial resistance and vaccine hesitancy among the ten top threats to global health. In 2020, the world suffered the profound effects of the novel SARS-CoV2 virus. There has never been a more compelling time to become a skilled professional in microbiology.

These global threats highlight the need for highly trained professionals who fully understand the role of micro-organisms in public health. This Master’s course focuses on the science of micro-organisms and the range of strategies employed for public health protection including epidemiology; public health intelligence; vaccination; antimicrobial chemotherapy; diagnostic microbiology; and outbreak investigation.

Why choose this course?

• Study microorganisms that impact on health and disease focusing on applications, including diagnosis, epidemiology and control of infectious disease
• Explore how the developments in molecular biology and genome sequencing have altered diagnosis of infectious disease and impacted on outbreak investigation and management.
• Learn about current practice and new developments in vaccines and antimicrobial chemotherapy and consider the challenges faced by efforts to eradicate specific infectious disease.
• Gain practical experience in laboratory techniques and data analysis and be encouraged to think about their wider significance.
• Challenge yourself by undertaking a microbiology research project or public health dissertation (depending on your specific interests), enabling you to consider a particular topic in detail and develop key transferable skills in research and scientific writing.
• Benefit from a course that prepares your for a career in pharmaceutical or biotechnological industries, or health-related industries, including the NHS and Public Health, as well as academic research.