Overview
Understanding business from an international perspective has never been more important. You will develop business-critical expertise to understand issues from cultural differences to political influence – and how they impact organizational success.
Course outline and modules
The study of international business is more important than ever. Technological, political and economic developments mean that daily business transactions can be conducted on a global scale, and international managers have added advantages in the employment market.
What you’ll learn
Aston Business School’s International Business and Management BSc will equip you with a solid understanding of strategic management in international business. Discover how differences in culture can influence the way we do business and understand how to operate in challenging environments abroad, both through theoretical knowledge and practical experience.
This degree has been developed in response to demand by alumni and our own advisory panel of international employers. It offers a core strategic management focus within an international business context. You will gain a solid foundation in your first year across a breadth of business topics before shaping your second and final years to concentrate your study on chosen specialisms.
Real-world experience
You will undertake an overseas placement, which can be taught in English, and you can also study a language at any level, from beginner to advanced, alongside your degree.
This means you’ll graduate with a range of transferable business and management skills, as well as an international specialism, overseas experience, and a number of professional exemptions depending on the focus you’ve developed during your degree.
Professional accreditations
Aston Business School graduates can claim exemptions from the examinations of a number of professional bodies. These are dependent upon the options you have followed.
Accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) for the purpose of exemptions from some professional examinations.
This programme may also lead to accreditation or exemptions from the following professional bodies:
- ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)
- CII (Chartered Insurance Institute)
- CIM (Chartered Institute of Marketing)
- CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants).
Accreditation is a stamp of quality and prestige for a business school and its programmes. Aston is proud to be among 1% of business schools worldwide with triple accreditation.
Two undergraduate degrees
This course offers an Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway option, meaning you could study overseas at one of our partner institutions during your placement year and graduate with two undergraduate degrees for the price of one. .
International students
Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students on many of our undergraduate programmes. Students from over 120 different countries chose to study with us every year. Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study, but it’s also a great place to live.
Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career. One of the great things about Aston is our focus on employability, and our close links with businesses, industries and professions make this possible.
Foundation programme
Choosing to start your Aston journey with our foundation programme in business will help you develop specialist knowledge to ensure that you are fully prepared to study your chosen undergraduate course.
During your foundation year, you’ll have excellent support from academics and group projects will give you the chance to meet new people, make new friends and build a network of peers who will share your university journey. We also have a Learning Development Centre that can provide additional support and offer pre-sessional English language programmes.
Modules
You will study a range of topics, designed to give you a solid foundation for your business degree. For the second and final years, you are asked to select two subject areas on which to concentrate your study. At least one of these must be International Management or International Communications for Business.
Year 1
Your first year will include studies in International Perspectives to provide a strong foundation for your second and final years. Although this degree does not include any language modules in your first year, you have the option to include a language from scratch or at an advanced level within this year as an extra-curricular option free of charge. Languages can be included from scratch or at an advanced level in your second and final year. If you wish languages to be a more significant part of your degree, you should apply for the BSc (Hons) International Business and French/German/Spanish/Mandarin Chinese- IBML programme. The core modules are:
- Introductory Accounting for Business
- Introduction to Organisational Behaviour
- International Perspectives in Organisations
- Law for Business
- Introduction to Marketing Management
- Principles of Operations Management
- Foundations of Business Analytics
- An Introduction to Business Economics
Learning, teaching and assessment
Our close links to industry and our focus on delivering practical business experiences provide a blend of learning and teaching experience to equip you for your future career.
Learning and teaching
As an international business and management student at Aston, you will experience our innovative approach to teaching, which combines a range of methods including lectures, seminars, tutorials, group working and case studies, as well as both individual and group presentations.
You’ll also collaborate with guest speakers on live projects, and hear talks from students on placements as well as alumni.
Traditional teaching is enhanced by our virtual learning environment that is used to host a range of electronic supporting materials. For example, all business students undertake the Business Game module and compete in teams as part of a computer simulation exercise, culminating in a presentation to a panel of internal employers.
Aston University has subscriptions to both the Financial Times and The Economist, which you can benefit from whilst studying here.
Assessment
You will undertake a mix of coursework and examinations.
Students who are made an offer will receive a detailed programme specification which forms part of our terms and conditions.
Personal development
Our International Business and Management degree are designed to give you a range of transferable and practical skills to succeed within your chosen career. We make extensive use of group working and presentations to prepare you for the reality of working life. This experience will develop your teamwork and negotiation skills.
The integrated placement year gives you the genuine, practical work experience that is invaluable in developing an appreciation of issues such as office politics, which cannot be replicated in the lecture room.
Placement year
Our four year course with an integrated placement during the third year gives you the chance to put theory into practice, gain relevant work experience, and develop professional and transferable skills.
You will be studying at one of our carefully selected French, German or Spanish - speaking partner institutions (if studying modern language to an advanced level) or at one of the English-speaking institutions around the world. You may alternatively apply to organisations to undertake a professional international work placement in an English, French, Spanish or German-speaking environment depending on your language competency. Students applying for professional international work placements are supported by the placements office.
We have a dedicated Employer Team within our Careers and Placements department who have links with local, national, and international organisations and advertise vacancies to students through an online platform exclusively for Aston students and graduates.
Career prospects
Our international business and management graduates are in high demand. A wide range of organisations is in need of managers who understand the human side of enterprise with an international perspective.
You will graduate with a BSc in International Business and Management as well as a number of exemptions from professional examinations, plus a year’s worth of industry experience.
Recent graduates
Recent graduates are now working both in the UK and overseas in roles including:
- Training and Communications Manager
- Assistant Brand Manager
- Associate Consultant
- Central Operations Executive
- Digital Marketing Analyst
- Operations Analyst
- Insurance Analyser.
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