Course

Awarded where candidates have met all of the requirements below:

• Successful completion of all courses listed in Schedule A 

and

• Accumulation of 60 credits from courses in Schedule B

and

• Accumulation of at least 60 credits from courses in Schedule C

and

• Achieve the Bahrain Polytechnic General Qualification Requirements as found in Policy A/AB/004, Naming and Awarding Qualifications:

  • One National Requirements – Arabic couse;

  • The two National Requirements courses;

  • Accumulate 45 credits from ‘Elective‘ courses.

and

• Completion of courses to accumulate a minimum of 480 credits from any Bahrain Polytechnic Qualification;

The Business programme is based on a curriculum that provide a solid foundation in a broad range of business disciplines, which widen students’ ability to think strategically, and which enhance their employability.  The programme has been designed to provide opportunities for students to gain a sound understanding of the business environment with options to major in a specialised field as determined in consultation with Bahraini industry. Student may choose to exit with a Diploma in Business which covers the first two years of the programme. For those continuing towards achieving a Bachelor’s Degree there are several majors to choose from and Double majors are also possible. Each major has a range of courses to allow students to study in areas which are of relevance and interest to their individual career plan. The design of this programme also offers flexibility by allowing selection of courses from not only other business disciplines but also from other Bahrain Polytechnic programmes. 

General entry requirements such as secondary school achievements, English and Mathematics are described in the Student Admission Policy A/AB/010. Specific entry requirements for this qualification, beyond those described in the Student Admission Policy are as follows:

• Academic

  • Applicants must demonstrate competence in English and in Mathematics. These requirements may be met by:

    • The successful completion of:

    AP4203 English 2

    AP4101 Mathematics 2 or similar

• or passing English and Mathematics Selection Tests at the required level.

• Applicants who do not meet all of the entry criteria above may be considered for special or provisional entry

Where there are more applicants who meet the programme entry criteria than can be accepted, the following shall be used:

• Selection Criteria

Preference will be given to students who have successfully completed the Certificate of Academic Preparation programmes at Bahrain Polytechnic and have clearly demonstrated an aptitude for Business and a commitment to their study.

Results from programme entry tests will be used to select students with the highest likelihood of successfully completing the degree programme.

• Selection Process

Applicants may be required to attend an interview.

Consideration of work experience and prior educational achievement may be used

Where there are more applicants for a major than places available, priority for selection will be made using combined GPAs for courses as set out as follows:

• BU6005 Introduction to Accounting

• BU6007 Introduction to Economics

• BU6009 Introduction to Finance

• BU6013 Business Mathematics

None specific to this qualification

Attendance requirements are described in the policy Student Attendance A/AB/010.

The qualification encompasses an initial two years full-time academic study in the broad Business disciplines at NQF levels 6 and 7, followed by two years full-time academic study of specialist study at NQF levels 7 and 8.  The intention is to build up core knowledge in a range of areas including marketing, accounting, finance, quantitative techniques, research methods, economics, management, information systems and law; to develop general academic capacity, introduce sociological and ethical issues in business, and prepare for a chosen specialist field of study. The specialist area of study in Banking and Finance runs over the final two years and comprises courses that are designed to develop students’ abilities to think and operate strategically within the finance arena. In the final year, this knowledge is consolidated in the form of the capstone industry project where students operate in a fully authentic setting as professionals on a current finance issue that a partner company is dealing with. The industry project requires the learners to develop solutions towards authentic business needs underpinned by general and specialist theoretical argumentation.

The qualification aims to develop work-ready, skilled finance graduates who are aware of the ethical and professional standards required of finance professional. Finance graduates will have the latest finance techniques, business concepts and relevant employability skills to be adaptable in the workplace in Bahrain and internationally. They will have the professional competencies and finance skills required to effectively problem solve and apply critical analysis to make informed business decisions.  They will have the skills that enable them to work effectively in teams and to clearly present their ideas in written and oral form to a range of audiences.

In Bahrain the majority of employment opportunities for marketing graduates will come from the private sector, parts of the semi-government sector undergoing transformation as well as SME’s and family businesses who are ‘corporatising’ their business models. Dr Jarmo Kotilaine, Bahrain Economic Development Board highlighted the scale of the market in Saudi Arabia and the range of opportunities the Eastern Province offers for graduates willing to move or commute.

Diagram 2.6A provides for essentially two progression opportunities for graduates – into employment or into post-graduate study.

Employment

This programme prepares students for the following careers and/or employment opportunities:-

• Commercial banker

• Commodities trader

• Corporate banker

• Portfolio analyst

• Investment banker

• Securities analyst

• Stock broker

• Corporate treasury

The programme should achieve widespread international recognition and allow students to progress to further fields of study, including:-

• Professional Certifications in Financial Analysis or Investment

• Masters in Finance

Ext Award Diploma in Business