Are you passionate about business? Are you looking to pursue a career in the commercial sector or perhaps you have a dream to establish your own company? If this sounds like you, then a qualification in business could be perfect.

Potential candidates wishing to study a business course should be hard-working, time-efficient and self-motivated as many courses, particularly those at undergraduate level, will require students to undertake a number of extracurricular work placements to gain experience within a working environment.

The content of a business course is varied, and so it is important that applicants have an interest in all areas of business; from finance and sales to the legal obligations and human resources roles.

There are a number of career paths available to those with a qualification in business. Many graduates find work as project managers, management consultants, bankers or within PR firms and human resources departments.

However, there are many roles that are suitable for those wishing to pursue a further course of study. Given that the course covers a wide range of topics, graduates in this particular field can take further training in accountancy, law and even study to be a teacher at secondary school level.

Yet many graduates who study for qualifications in business do so with the intention of launching their own company. For those who are successful in this particular area, this can be a lucrative, if slightly risky, career option. If you’re planning on exploring this avenue, you should use your time at university to your advantage and make the most of any networking opportunity available to you.

If you’re applying for a place on an undergraduate programme you will be expected to have a minimum of 3 A-levels or equivalent with subjects such as economics or maths to help strengthen your application. If you’re studying at postgraduate level then you will be expected to have a 2:1 degree prior to beginning the course.

The postgraduate programme will last for a minimum of a year, although this will depend upon the level of study and whether you decide to study part-time or full-time. Undergraduate courses will last a minimum of 3 years, and on many courses students may be able to pursue industry placements between years 2 and 3.

If you’re looking to study business, but are a non-native English speaker, then you will be required to score a minimum of 6.0-6.5 on an IELTS test before starting your course.

The majority of business courses cover a wide range of content, and most students will be expected to complete a placement if they are studying an undergraduate course and be allowed to choose from a wide range of module options.

You should always look at the entry requirements and your own finances before submitting an application to your university of choice. Do you have the right grades for entry? If you’re still struggling to secure funding there are a number of options available to you, including scholarships and bursaries.

There will be a number of module options available to study at each of the universities. Many core degree modules are similar, but the optional modules offered may differ depending upon the institution. It is always worth investigating whether your university of choice offers you module choices that will benefit your career.

Irrespective of which course you decide to study, the location of the university itself should also be taken into consideration. You will be studying for at least a year, so choose somewhere you can thrive both socially and intellectually. Discovering new cultures and meeting new people is a huge part of student life, and it is vital that you make the most of your university experience. While some students prefer to study in big cities with a more outgoing social scene, others prefer smaller institutions.

It is important to ensure that you attend a university that is both prestigious and has strong links within the industry you are interested in. Many top firms cultivate relationships with certain academic establishments from which they will recruit the majority of their entry level staff. There is no use attending a university that has strong links to banking, if you want to pursue a career in HR!