BA(Hons) International Business
This course is open for applications
Page last updated 7 March 2023
Introduction
You'll spend your third year studying or working at one of our many partner institutions overseas; these include organisations in Berlin, Stockholm, Paris, Barcelona, Malaysia and Amsterdam, or alternatively working at a multinational company in the UK or internationally.
Accreditations and partnerships:
Why study international business?
There's a growing demand for graduates who understand global markets and management and the challenges of conducting business across borders.
Why UWE Bristol?
BA(Hons) International Business will give you a solid grounding in the fundamentals of business management, with a focus on the international dimensions of business.
A variant of this course, BA(Hons) International Business Management, is available (without the compulsory year abroad) to non UK/EU direct entrant students at UWE Bristol and selected overseas partners.
Overseas study or work is an important part of the course and will give you skills and experience highly valued by employers.
Themes of global citizenship and cross-cultural communication run throughout, preparing you for work in diverse environments. You'll learn the ways people do business across the world, and the challenges and issues they face.
The practical nature of the course ensures you graduate with real-world skills and experience to succeed in your international career. You'll be part of an active community of students in a city recognised as an international business hub. Bristol is home to many placement and graduate employers, which gives us a wealth of case studies and guest speakers.
This degree is accredited by EPAS, a highly regarded international accreditation given to the world's best international business courses. Making this an ideal degree if you're interested in working for organisations that operate around the world.
Where can it take me?
Career options are broad and exciting with opportunities to work worldwide.
This degree gives you a solid platform for a career in business management, but you'll graduate with a skillset relevant to any business career.
You might go on to work for multinational enterprises, governmental organisations or start your own born global company.
Our graduates have secured placement roles with employers such as Disney, Bank of Scotland, Airbus and Microsoft. Others are employed across both the private and public sectors, working in the UK and overseas.
Watch: The learning and teaching experience
Structure
Content
The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.
Year one
You will study:
- Introduction to Management
- Understanding Business and Financial Information (Business, International and Management (BIM))
- Understanding the Principles of Marketing (BIM)
- Business Decision Making for Management
- Contemporary Business Issues
- Understanding Organisations and People (BIM)
- Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
- International Business Context.
Year two
You will study:
- Global Managing People (including study year abroad preparation)
- Theory and Practice of International Business
- Research Methods for Business
- Global Management Skills
- Operations and Supply Management
- Accounting Information for Business
- Introductory Research Project
- Intercultural Communications.
Placement year
In your third year you'll spend a year studying abroad or undertaking a work placement internationally.
Depending on which you choose, you'll either complete a placement learning or learning and development module.
See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.
Final year
You will study:
- Managing Organisational Change
- Integrated Business Management Simulation
- Strategic Management (BIM)
- Multinationals in the Domestic and Global Context.
Plus, one optional module from:
- International HRM
- Doing Business in Asia
- Economics of Developing Countries
- Global Marketing Management
- International Financial Management
- International Business in the Emerging Markets
- Economic Issues in International Business
- Cross Cultural Learning and Development.
And one major project* from:
- Critical Business Enquiry Project
- Applied Business Project
- Enterprise Project.
*All projects must be in the field of International Business.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we will inform you.
This structure is for full-time students only. Part-time students study the same modules but follow a different structure.
"I completed an internship as a Qualitative Research Assistant at a market research company, which gave me valuable research skills for my Research Masters. These experiences led me to a career in Higher Education, working in academia as an Assistant Support Lecturer." Gina, 2019 International Business graduate
Learning and Teaching
Our approach to learning is student-focused, with the emphasis on helping you to find things out for yourself.
You'll be expected to balance academic rigour and a practical approach to your work, so you can appreciate the relevance and application of the concepts you learn.
You'll learn through a blend of activities - some tutor-led and face-to-face, some student-led and independent, some online and some in groups. Some involve students supporting each others' learning.
Lectures, workshops/seminars, tutorials and group work make up 12 hours of contact time each week and you'll spend at least as much time again studying independently.
You'll develop your communication and presentation skills and IT and numeracy skills, with a strong focus on data interpretation and analysis. Your improved problem solving, critical thinking, analysis, evaluation and innovation skills will help you stand out as a graduate.
You can gain work experience through short-term internships, paid work as a Student Ambassador or Peer Assisted Learning Leader, or through volunteering.
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Approximate percentage of time you'll spend in different learning activities*:
| Year | Scheduled learning and teaching study | Independent study |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25% | 75% |
| 2 | 24% | 76% |
| 3 | 21% | 79% |
*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year
Assessment
You'll be assessed through a mix of coursework and examinations to assess what you know and can do and help you develop the confidence and skills that employers value.
You'll complete essays and reports, business plans and applied research projects, portfolios and weekly notes, and assessed group and individual presentations and posters. You'll also reflect and comment on your own learning and personal development.
See our full glossary of assessment terms.
Approximate percentage of marks awarded by each assessment method*:
| Year | Written exam assessment | Coursework assessment | Practical exam assessment** |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22% | 48% | 30% |
| 2 | 23% | 57% | 20% |
| 3 | 36% | 53% | 11% |
*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year
**Such as presentation or group task.
Features
Professional accreditation
This course is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and the EPAS.
Placements
A study or work placement abroad after Year two is a compulsory part of this course. Your study year abroad or work placement should be at least 10 months full-time.
You will choose from:
- A study year abroad with one of our partner institutions
- International work placement/volunteering outside the UK.
Non-UK students may choose to do their placement within the UK.
British students may only do their placement within the UK if the placement has an international dimension and they also gain an additional experience abroad such as a summer school.
You may be able to combine studying abroad with a placement and we will consider this on a case-by-case basis.
Study abroad placements
If you choose to study abroad, you will spend part of your degree at one of our partner universities. We have contacts with institutions in Berlin, Stockholm, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid and Amsterdam, among others.
This is an important opportunity to develop your language skills and cross-cultural awareness. Employers value an international perspective, so it will increase your graduate prospects.
Work placements
An alternative to a study year is a work placement.
Working in another country helps you contextualise learning, develop your communication skills and understand the challenges of managing across borders. Your real-world experience will make you particularly attractive to employers.
Bristol Business School has strong links with employers internationally. Our students have secured roles with Disney, Airbus and Microsoft.
Study facilities
In our £55m Bristol Business School building, you'll have access to cutting-edge learning spaces like the Bloomberg financial trading room. Training in this state-of-the-art financial platform will give you a commanding view of global finance.
Designed with student input, the Business School offers learning spaces for individual and group study plus conference rooms you can book. It's a space for students and businesses to come together, collaborate and form new partnerships.
In our specialist library, business librarians manage vast collections to support your research. Attend workshops to develop your information skills or use our Study Skills website.
You'll have access to books, trade press, academic journals, and industry databases including FAME, MINTEL, Marketline Advantage and Passport both on and off campus.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
Get a feel for the Business Management facilities we have on offer here from wherever you are.
Life
Careers
Careers / Further study
This broad business degree is an ideal launch pad for an international career in any area of business, management and entrepreneurship. But your skillset and knowledge base will be relevant to many other careers.
You might go on to work for multinational enterprises, governmental organisations or start your own born global company.
Our graduates are employed across both the private and public sectors, working in the UK and overseas.
See also:
Prospects - careers in business and management
Get inspired
Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and find you graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.
We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.
Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.
Fees
Indicative Additional Costs
Full-time, sandwich course
Supplementary fee information
Your overall entitlement to funding is based on how long the course is that you're registered on. Standard funding is allocated based on the standard number of years that your course lasts, plus one additional year.
You'll apply for funding each year that you study and Student Finance will take into account how long the course is in each year that you apply. So if you register for the four year course and then transfer to the three year course, the number of years you can apply for funding will change. Student Finance will reassess your funding based on how many years you have been in study, not just those years for which you received student finance.
Always seek advice before taking any action that may have implications for your funding.
Additional costs
Additional costs are for items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.
Entry
Typical offers
- Tariff points: 112
- Contextual tariff: See our contextual offers page.
- GCSE: Grade C/4 in English Literature or Language and Mathematics, or equivalent. We do not accept Level 2 Key Skills, Functional Skills or Certificates in Adult Numeracy and Literacy as alternatives to GCSEs.
- English Language Requirement: International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*). *The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Please visit our English language requirements page.
- A-level subjects: No specific subjects required.
- EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: No specific subjects required.
For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.
- Access: No specific subjects required.
- Baccalaureate IB: No specific subjects required.
- Irish Highers: No specific subjects required.
- T Levels: No specific subjects required.
Entry requirements
If you don't meet the entry requirements, you may be eligible for BA(Hons) International Business (with Foundation Year).
International applicants
For country specific entry requirements please find your country on the Country Information pages. If you are an international student and do not meet the academic requirements to study this course, you can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.
If you are applying to study at UWE Bristol and require additional support to meet our English language requirements, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Read more about our Pre-Sessional English Programme.
Direct entry
If you are interested in direct entry to Final year, please see our BA(Hons) International Business Management (Top Up) course.
Read more about entry requirements.
How to apply
Read more about undergraduate applications.
For further information
- Email:
UK applicants
Admissions@uwe.ac.uk
International/EU applicants
International@uwe.ac.uk - Telephone:
UK applicants
+44 (0)117 32 83333
International/EU applicants
+44 (0)117 32 86644