BA (Hons) International Business Management

Our course offers a fantastic way to kick-start your career, increasing your value as an employee in your chosen field, and can also open the door to postgraduate study.

Where can my degree take me?

Real experience every step of the way

As well as expert-led teaching, all undergraduate modules within Plymouth Business School have integrated CV building activity, for example, through micro-credentialing, problem-based learning, or embedded direct employer activity.

We have ensured every module contains a real world problem-based exercise. We have reached out to employers directly to involve real business in our assessments. You will experience real world employee engagement every month.

We know this is key to student academic and graduate success.

Careers service

The University of Plymouth has a dedicated careers service supporting you from the moment you start your degree, to three years after graduation.

Careers advice is embedded into your academic programme through workshops, events, placements, networks - working with the academic staff teaching on your course. We also offer materials, networks and resources online through our 24/7 portal, and a wide-range of activities, opportunities and support centrally in the Careers Service space within the Student Hub.

• Study this course over two years (Level 5 and 6) or one year (Level 6 only). Providing a route for students from a range of business foundation degrees (and equivalent) to top up to Honours. The two year programme offers students the opportunity to undertake a placement between their first and second year.

• Our innovative course embraces a broad spectrum of industry relevant modules and is especially attractive to students who wish to build a career in the vibrant international business sector. Optional modules give students the opportunity to study areas of interest, subjects include international supply chains, international trade and finance and for non-native speakers business communications.
  

• Students have opportunity to develop their understanding of key factors within business and international business. We aim to provide students with the ability to exercise personal responsibility and decision-making in the competitive international business sector.

• Benefit from academic staff with strong relevant industrial and academic experience and tutors who not only provide excellent teaching but also great pastoral care.

• Year 1

• Students study 120 credits

  * Professional and Academic Communication (20 credits) (only available to students who are non-native speakers)

  Core modules

  • The Effective Manager: People and Marketing (HRL5007)

    Effective managers are vital to the success of organisations. This module will introduce some of the key areas of management practice, exploring the effective management of people and marketing activities in organisations and the role played by the line manager in both. It also explores skills and competencies required for effective management practice, as well as helping students to plan, manage and evaluate their own independent learning, and to communicate effectively in professional and academic contexts.

  • Careers and Professional Development (PBS500CPD)

    This module is aimed at enhancing students employability skills and knowledge especially those who will be undertaking an industrial placement in the third year of their degree. It is designed to build on skills learned in Stage 1 and helps students in their search for a placement, and in their preparation for the placement itself.

  • International and Digital Business and Accounting (STO5003)

    This module examines International and Digital Business and Accounting; you will study aspects of each. For International Business focuses on globalisation/deglobalisation and linked financial aspects such as trade and cultural issues. For Digital Business you will examine key topics including Cultural, Privacy and Security Issues, and e-supply chains, Industry 4.0, Business Readiness, Big data and Digital Business. For accounting largely the key financial statements and their interpretation and introductory management accounting.

  • Challenge Module (HRL5008)

    Through this module you can select from a choice of topics related to the big challenges business and society are facing today. These might be drawn from the UN Sustainable Development Goals or a country's industrial strategy.

  Optional modules

  • International Trade and International Finance (ECN5006)

    This module explores the economic and financial implications of globalisation by examining contemporary topics in international trade and international financial markets. It enables the consideration the impact of the contemporary trading and financial system on areas key business decision making.

  • Professional and Academic Communication (ELC205)

    This module develops your level of English in order to operate effectively in a professional and academic context.

  • International Supply Chain Management (MAR5004)

    Through this module, you will acquire a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of international supply chain management and the complexities involved in planning, coordinating and operating various business processes in the management of international supply chains.

• Year 2

• Core modules

  • Placement Year (PBS600PLC)

    The placement year consists of an extended period of appropriate professional experience in a business or organisation. It allows the student to gain relevant experience to consolidate their studies and prepare for final stage study and employment after graduation. Students on BA International Business may also or alternatively undertake a study placement at an approved partner institution.

• Year 3

• Students study 120 credits

  * Professional Business Communication (20 credits) (only available to students who are non-native speakers)

  Core modules

  • Human Resource Management in a Global Context (HRL6003)

    This module introduces you to the consequences of globalisation for workers and how they are managed, the particular people management issues confronted by multinational corporations (MNCs) and the human resource management systems adopted in different national contexts.

  • Continued Careers and Professional Development (PBS600CPD)

    The Continued Career and Professional Development module is a development scheme designed to enhance students’ employability and builds on the stage 2 module. The stage 3 module focuses on providing students with information on graduate options and equips them with the knowledge and skills necessary for articulating and recording achievement and applying for graduate positions. The module also includes a number of workshops and events designed to develop students’ skills and knowledge, with the purpose of filling gaps in their CV’s and enhancing their employability.

  • Enterprise, Innovation and Creativity (STO6004)

    The module will enable you to use creative processes to develop an innovative and viable business concept and to pitch for resources from potential stakeholders.

  • International Strategy and Business Improvement (STO6007)

    This module focuses the strategies appropriate to successful internationalisation of enterprises and business improvement. It equips you with the knowledge skills to formulate and implement appropriate strategies when entering developed, developing and bottom of pyramid (BOP) markets and articulates the connections on the global environmental forces and operations strategies.

  • Global Marketing Management (MKT6010)

    The module introduces you to the key concepts of global marketing, providing you with an understanding of environmental factors, global marketing strategies and the international marketing planning process.

  Optional modules

  • International Trade and International Finance (ECN6006)

    This module explores the economic and financial implications of globalisation by examining contemporary topics in international trade and international financial markets. It enables the consideration the impact of the contemporary trading and financial system on areas key business decision making.

  • Professional Business Communication (ELC316)

    The module is designed to help students to develop and refine their ability to communicate effectively in the global business environment encompassing different national cultures and business practices.

  • International Supply Chain Management (MAR6004)

    Through this module, you will acquire a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of international supply chain management and the complexities involved in planning, coordinating and operating various business processes in the management of international supply chains.

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BA International Business Management top up Prog Spec Sep22 FINAL 6970

For entry onto the two-year programme you must have competed the equivalent to the first year of a UK general business degree.

For entry into the one-year programme you must have completed a foundation degree or equivalent with a business or management emphasis, equivalent to 120 credits of study at Levels 4 and 5. It is expected that such qualifications will include a significant focus on: marketing, organisational behaviour/people management, accounting/finance, and economics”

English language requirements

We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.

Please contact the Admissions Team with any queries.