Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in International Business (Top-up)

As a working adult with numerous commitments, I had to ensure my Degree programme fit around my work schedule, and Birmingham City University (BCU) offered me flexibility with its night classes. I had always felt a calling to read law, but previously faced issues such as timing and opportunity.

The programme reshaped the way I generally perceive things, and I now find myself approaching situations very objectively. I also quickly learned that the human body is capable of mental challenge, far beyond our imagination!

As a working mother of two young children, the challenges during the programme were plentiful. Time was hardly on my side with the COVID-19 disruptions, and personal and academic commitments. Yet, in the end, every obstacle I overcame was well worth it. After having achieved my Degree, coupled with my diverse professional experience, I found there to be a multitude of options, both within and beyond the legal industry.

If you are a working adult looking to study law, but have commitments and furthering your studies overseas at the main campus is not an option, BCU at Kaplan is the perfect choice for a Law Degree. The flexibility of its classes and ongoing support, especially for mature learners, makes the process easier and enjoyable.

I picked my major because I have always been interested in law, and the Master of Laws in International Business Law (LLM) at Birmingham City University (BCU) covers the areas I am interested in. Furthermore, I had established that BCU is a good university.

The programme gave me legal perspectives, further enhanced my analytical and evaluation skills, and helped me to stay current and relevant. Being equipped with legal knowledge helps me in knowing my rights and protecting my company.

I would recommend BCU to others, as the school caters to working professionals who wish to acquire legal knowledge by studying on a part-time basis. Furthermore, the LLM offers a good overview of the scope of study.

Getting back into study mode was challenging because my previous degree (MBA) programme was completed in 2000. I had to study outside of office hours, and the programme needed a lot of reading and research, so I was up late a lot. However, with the support of my work colleagues and the encouragement of my fellow classmates and lecturers, particularly my dissertation supervisor, who was really helpful, I was able to strike a good balance between my work and my studies.

I chose to study the Master of Laws in International Business Law (LLM) programme with Birmingham City University (BCU) at Kaplan, as I am a BCU Bachelor of Laws (LLB) alumnus and it was a natural progression to upgrade myself. I was also confident in the academic team’s ability to deliver, as some of them had taught my LLB programme.

The programme curriculum’s relevance would be instrumental to my work since I deal with many international contracts. Some important lessons that the programme has taught me include International Corporate Law and Transnational Commercial Law, as these modules have enhanced my knowledge and are very useful in my work.

I do also believe that undertaking the programme has provided me with a good foundation for my current role and any future endeavors.

I would recommend BCU to others. The LLM programme has interesting modules, particularly for those who work on overseas assignments or contracts. The programme is useful as there is a continuous pace of learning, ensuring no time is wasted.

Birmingham City University First Class Honours Graduate (2020)

As a former Interior Designer, making a career switch was not easy, but possible through effort and perseverance. I chose Birmingham City University as it provided a fast yet challenging pace of learning and gave me the flexibility to juggle between work and study, helping me to improve on my organisational skills.

I studied for the Bachelor of Arts in International Marketing, which is a 100% assignment-based programme. It gave me the opportunity to enhance my knowledge of the subject and was a progression after the completion of my Diploma in Digital Marketing at Kaplan (in Singapore).

My Degree gave me a great overview of and insight into how the world of digital marketing works. It involves thinking outside the box, which has enhanced my creativity. The online learning class experience also allowed me to spend more time with my loved ones as I had classes at home, and we were encouraged to ask unlimited questions when in doubt.

Birmingham City University, First Class Honours Graduate (2020)

It was my passion towards law and the desire to return to school to seek knowledge and perspective that led me to pursue the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from Birmingham City University (BCU).

After some serious consideration, I chose the programme from BCU as it was one of the few schools in Singapore providing a part-time Law Degree programme, and this helped me juggle between work, study and social life. As classes were held two to three days weekly on weekdays, I was able to attend classes while still having time for activities I love, such as spending time with my family and friends, and volunteering.

The deepened understanding of what I have learnt in the programme has greatly enhanced my efficiency and allowed me to apply them across various aspects of my work as a Business Excellence Assistant Manager in Ricoh (Singapore) Pte Ltd. My company has since entrusted me with looking into legal documents as well.

I would recommend Kaplan’s BCU programmes for those who wish to further their studies like me. I believe that one should invest in learning from young and I am glad to have embarked on this journey to pursue my interest in law. In fact, I have just enrolled for a Double Masters programme with Murdoch University at Kaplan.

Birmingham City University Graduate (2020)

Birmingham City University is my educational provider of choice as it is recognised as a Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. I strongly believe that, with its renowned branding and dedicated teaching staff, I am able to excel and ignite my creativity in learning. Also, I am deeply passionate about the Major in International Business that is offered by BCU. The programme’s syllabus is comprehensive, and the lecturers are specialised in their area of expertise.

The study schedule at BCU fits my current work and personal lifestyle. The classes are after my office hours on weekdays, and the weekends are free for me to spend time with family while also revising and catching up on my studies. The study schedule of 3 days of continuous study with the following week off fits perfectly and is awesome!

The programme’s lecturers have introduced me to the theoretical side of the modules, as well as to practical approaches for applying these theories into action in the real world. They have also posited that the world is ever-changing and that continuous improvisation is important for success in the future. Globalisation is the key, encompassing Global + Localisation.

I chose to work first and study later. However, I realised that, in my current role and for future promotion opportunities, a paper qualification from a recognised educational provider like BCU is necessary to jumpstart my career again. I believe that it is never too late to do so, and it has been a joyful journey with BCU at Kaplan!

Birmingham City University Graduate (2020)

As I was already studying for a Kaplan Diploma in Commerce then, I aimed to take up a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Business Administration (Top-up) Degree programme to continue my learning and development.

This assignment-based course includes six classes per subject, with a deadline of a month for each assignment. As a part-time student, it was quite reasonable for me as there was enough time to complete the assignments. Being assignment-based meant I had more time to prepare, and I could still enjoy a work-life balance even during my studies.

I feel that this Degree qualification has been crucial for my career advancement and I am grateful for choosing BCU to study my Degree with. It was a challenge to be a part-time student, but it made me more confident in speaking and writing English, and even making friends! It has also improved my performance in my Sales Consultant job as well!
I’m thankful that BCU accepted me as their student, and I’m proud to be a First Class Honours graduate.

Birmingham City University Student (2020)

Though I previously studied design, I touched upon a lot of marketing while working and interning in different companies and ended up preferring this aspect of the job. I was lucky to have mentors, bosses and team leaders who trusted me, offering many tips and much advice. Through my studies, I believe that I can gain more knowledge in addition to a Marketing Degree.

Birmingham City University was my best choice as its part-time programme allows me to study it while working, and the ability to pay via instalments is great for new working professionals like myself. The University’s schedule is really convenient as it enables me to work concurrently and it gives enough time for students to study on their own for upcoming assignments. These require a lot of independent work, which I think is necessary for any part-time studies.

I prefer the online learning classes (given COVID-19) as I save a lot of time commuting and can work on assignments right after class. The exceptional lecturers make this experience work, they are readily available and open to helping us any way they can. I reckon that they strive to ensure that we understand and advance in our studies correctly. They also provide lots of examples and additional slides to ease our understanding of the subject.

This programme that I’m studying is helping me develop my skills and knowledge in Marketing, which is a plus for me and my company. In addition, acquiring a Degree will help me in terms of salary and promotion.