Awarded and developed by: University of Birmingham, UK

Gaining business and communication skills

The growth of social media and other public relations tools has had a huge impact on how organisations market themselves.

The programme combines a broad-based business education with a strong marketing and communications theme, emphasising the importance of relationships between businesses and the communities they operate in.

It provides a good balance between theoretical underpinning and development of practical communication skills for students who wish to work in any business role where communications is key, including Public Relations, Marketing Communications or in communications related industries.

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Structure

• A structured curriculum delivered over two years through classroom learning. There are three study blocks in a year and each study block spans across four months.
• Fully taught by Birmingham academics from the UK home campus to ensure equivalent academic inputs to the Singapore programme.
• Weekly schedule: Monday to Friday over three time slots: 8:30am/ 12pm/ 3:30pm. Saturday classes may occasionally be scheduled if required.
• Depending on the module, lessons are conducted typically 3 to 6 hours per day over a two-week period.

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Assessment & Attendance

• Local and international students: 100% attendance rate
• Year 2 progression to Year 3: Obtain 100 credits from Year 2  
• Modes of assessment: Varies module to module which can include written exams, coursework or a combination of both.  
• Coursework includes written assignments, in-class tests, presentations, projects, etc. Some coursework may be group-based.
• End-of-study block main exams are normally held in October and February.
• The 20-credit Advanced Communications Practice (Placement) taught component is assignment-based and does not involve an examination.
• Assessment schedule is subject to change by the University.

Requirements to Graduate

• Overall result weightage calculation: 25% (Year 2) + 75% (Year 3)  
• To achieve Honours, students must obtain 200 out of 240 credits. 100 of these credits must be from each year of the programme.
• A degree congregation presided by University of Birmingham is annually held in November on SIM campus. Alternatively, graduates may choose to attend the ceremony in July or December in the UK.  
• The awarded degree and degree certificate, is the same as that awarded in the UK, i.e., Bachelor of Science (Honours) Business Management with Communications.  

Accepted Entry Qualifications

• SIM Diploma in Accounting / Banking and Finance / International Business / Management Studies; or
• Business-related diplomas from local polytechnics; or
• Non-business related diplomas with successful completion of the SIM Preparatory Course in Business.
• All other qualifications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis

Applicants must obtain an average Grade B and may be required for interview before admission.

All admissions (direct & non-direct entries) are based on merit and are subject to the final approval of the University.

English Language Requirements

• Minimum C6 pass in English as First Language at GCE 'O' Level; or
• IELTS score of 6.5 overall with minimum of 6.5 in Writing and Speaking; and minimum of 6.0 in Listening and Reading (include IELTs Online); or
• TOEFL score of 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Writing and Speaking (include TOEFL Home Edition); or
• Pearson Test of English (Academic): score of 67 overall, with no less than 67 in Writing and Speaking; and no less than 64 in Listening and Reading (include PTE Academic Online); or
• Successful completion of Part 2 of SIM Pre-Sessional English course (PSEC); or
• Successful completion of a recognised approved Diploma, where the language of instruction was English

Preparatory Course in Business (If Required)

Developed and awarded by SIM, Singapore.

2025 Intake (Full-time)
Programme Duration: 21 Apr 2025 – 30 Jun 2025*
Application Period: Now till 31 Jan 2025 (Local & International Applicants)

_{*Dates are subject to change}

Applicants with non-business related diplomas or with suitable qualifications will be required to complete and pass a three-month Preparatory Course in Business for entry into the degree programme.

The preparatory course, comprising three modules, will cover foundation concepts which prepares students for undergraduate study with University of Birmingham.

• Accounting and Finance
• Economics
• Marketing

View preparatory module synopses (PDF 126 KB)

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Pre-sessional English Course (If Required)

Developed and awarded by SIM, Singapore.

Applicants who have not reached the required IELTS English Language proficiency level or equivalent shall have to complete and pass a Pre-Sessional English Course before progressing to any of the BSc programmes.

This full-time course aims to improve all four Academic English Language skills in Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing to the required proficiency level for entry to the respective BSc programmes. 

A certificate of completion will be awarded upon successful passing of Part Two of the Pre-sessional English Course.

There will not be any refund or recourse should students fail to complete the course within the course duration.

* The PSEC is not open for direct application. The selection into the course is based upon recommendations by the Admission Committee (AC) for those who have applied to the respective BSc Programmes. 
** Fees are inclusive of 9% GST and are payable in full before each part of course commencement. Fees include online course materials.

Structure

• Mode of delivery: Lessons will be delivered via blended learning with a combination of face-to-face lectures and e-learning components.
• View module synopses
• Class duration: Typically 6 hours on weekdays. Some lessons may also take place on Saturdays if required.
• Assessments: Continuous assessments include in-class tests, individual / group assignments, online quizzes etc. There are no re-assessments.
• Average teacher-student ratio – 1:30
  View a list of lecturers’ teaching modules (PDF 66 KB)
• Minimum class size to commence – 25
  If the class fails to commence due to low take-up rate, students will be informed at least 1 week before programme commencement with the refund of application fee.
• Attendance requirement:
  • Local students – at least 75% rate
  • International students – at least 90% rate

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Programme Fees 

Preparatory Course in Business* (If Required)
S$708.50 per module

* Fees are inclusive of 9% GST and are payable in full before course commencement. Fees do not include textbook. 

Pre-sessional English Course* (If Required)
(Fees are valid for intake in 2025)*

• Part Two: S$2,725.00

*Fees are inclusive of 9% GST and are payable in full before course commencement. Fees do not include textbook. 

Bachelor’s Programme*

• Local students – S$45,649.20
• International students – S$49,802.10

* Fees are inclusive of 9% GST and are payable in six instalments based on the number of module credits undertaken in a term. Fees are payable before term commencement and do not include textbooks. Fees inclusive of additional workshop costs and production support for webcast production.

Mandatory Fees