Why study a Business and Finance degree?

Business and Finance is one of the most popular subject areas for international students. It’s easy to see why: a Business and Finance degree could lead you to one of a huge range of potential careers, in a field known for its competitive graduate salaries.

If you’re not sure what you want to do for a job, a general Business or Management degree can give you a fascinating insight into the entire industry. For example, you can study General Business at Pace University in New York, or choose a BA in Business at Nottingham Trent University, known for its work experience opportunities and careers-focused education.

Alternatively, some degrees offer you the opportunity to choose a specific concentration. Arizona State University (ASU) offers a BA Business degree with a variety of optional concentrations, from Communication to Health Care, Law, and Sports Business. You can also combine Business with a related subject for a more specialised degree — Business and Management, offered at the University of Glasgow, is a popular choice.

Similarly, if you’re bursting with new business ideas, you could benefit from a degree in Entrepreneurship. BS Business Entrepreneurship at ASU is a great option, or you could study Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Essex or Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management at the University of Nottingham in the UK.

Finally, Finance-focused degrees offer similar flexibility. You can prepare for a career as an accountant with a degree in Accountancy or Accounting at universities such as Simmons University in the USA or UWE Bristol in the UK.

Or, learn more about the general management of assets and liabilities and financial planning for businesses with an Accounting and Finance or Economics degree, available at lots of UK universities, from Russell Group members like the University of Bristol, to industry-connected institutions like City, University of London, based in the heart of the financial district.

You may be surprised to learn how many people could benefit from studying a Business and Finance degree! For example, you might think that a Business and Finance degree is ideal for entrepreneurial students with dreams of starting their own company and that’s true — but it suits so many others too.

Most companies and enterprises — even charities — are businesses, so no matter where your career or personal interests lie, a Business and Finance degree is always applicable. Plus, you have the option of customising your business degree to fit your interests.

For example, students with a passion for fashion can study Fashion Business Management at the University of Westminster, or International Fashion Management or Luxury Brand Management at Nottingham Trent University. If you’re enthusiastic about preserving the environment, you could even study Business with a concentration in Sustainability and go on to become a Sustainability Manager, ensuring companies work in the most sustainable ways possible.

A Business and Finance degree could lead to a diverse set of career options.

Accountancy is a common path for graduates of Business and Finance degrees. It’s a varied field where your responsibilities could include anything from giving financial advice to detecting and preventing fraud. The ‘Big Four‘ accountancy firms often offer attractive UK graduate schemes paying up to £40,000.

These firms also actively recruit on US campuses — KMPG even has a 4-year plan you can follow to get your dream job when you graduate.

Retail Management is another area seeking to attract young graduates. Many chains offer schemes similar to those of the Big Four — for example, the supermarket chain Aldi offers £44,000 and a company car to successful applicants to its Area Manager graduate scheme.

Elsewhere, graduates interested in the more creative side of business could explore a career in Marketing or Communications. This might involve writing marketing emails, running social media accounts, and flexing your creative muscles working on big marketing campaigns.

The typical starting salary for entry level positions is around £22,000 but this rises with experience, with Digital Marketing Executives and Digital Co-ordinators often earning between £30,000 and £40,000 a year. You could work for one company or enjoy more flexible and varied work for multiple clients at an agency.

Finally, you’ll be more than qualified to work in a sales role, which could lead you to a career as a Realtor. Real Estate is big business in the USA, with many ambitious Realtors running their own companies. The median salary is approximately $46,000 a year, while the top earners make more than $110,000. As you will be paid commission, the more you sell, the more you earn — it’s up to you!

If you’d like to study a Business and Finance degree, Kaplan can help you reach your potential.

We offer international students the opportunity to study abroad at a top university in the USA, UK, Australia or New Zealand. We can support you in making your application, helping you to gather all the supporting documents you’ll need and guiding you through the visa process.

Alternatively, if you don’t have the grades to get into your ideal university, you don’t have to give up hope as we can help you gain entry to a top degree with a pathway course. This is a type of degree preparation programme that helps you to improve your English language level and academic skills to meet the requirements of your chosen university.

Through us, you can apply to innovative, careers-focused universities and highly ranked ‘red brick‘ universities. When you successfully pass your course, you’re guaranteed entry to your first-choice degree.

You can explore your options using the degree finder, or get in touch and we’ll advise you on how you can best realise your dreams of studying a Business and Finance degree at a great university.