CLOSE ties with businesses have helped a record number of students gain top honours at Bradford’s business school.

Three-quarters of Bradford University School of Management students who undertook a placement year graduated with first-class honours degrees.

More than 300 undergraduates in business, management and law subjects, more than 70 per cent, achieved a first or upper second class degree.

Adam Mohammed, an accounting and finance student who secured a placement at pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, said it had been a vital element of his time at the management school.

He said: “The placement really helped with my final year studies and gave me an insight into what I can achieve. I was often surrounded by senior management and that was a massive motivation for me.

“The experience taught me to be commercially aware and how to operate in a business environment.”

Roman Sadovskis said: “My final year marks were much higher thanks to my placement.

“It showed me how a company works in real life and I learned how to put my skills into practice.

“I had a sense of responsibility and learned how to work in a professional environment.

“I would certainly recommend other students to undertake a placement or summer internship. I got lots of relevant experience which allowed me to find a job with a good international company.”

Kinga Ratusznik, one of the students from more than 70 countries studying at Bradford, won the Naylor Wintersgill prize for the best-performing student on the accounting and finance degree course, Award-winning journalist and commentator Alex Brummer, city editor of the Daily Mail, a former Bradford University SOM student, received an honorary degree at this year’s graduation ceremony.

Professor Jon Reast, dean, said: “Once again we saw some of the brightest minds from around the world coming together to celebrate their achievements and share their hopes for a bright future.

“The school is recognised around the world for its standard of teaching and for continuing to deliver the next generation of global business leaders.

“We are at the forefront of business education and with a strong culture of innovation, world-leading research and global insights.”