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International Business BA (Hons)

This course will teach you how business operate across borders and how to strive in increasingly complex, global economy. You’ll develop specialist knowledge of business functions and the complexities of trading across borders.

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Block teaching designed around you

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments - rather than lots of exams at the end of the year - and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging.

Read more about block teaching

Overview

We live in a world that is becoming increasingly complex and intertwined. The interconnectedness of the global economies accelerates every year, amplifying and modifying the challenges and opportunities that countries, businesses and individuals face. As a result, we see a growing number of firms wishing to take advantage of global opportunities and engage in various cross-border business activities, namely international business. We see an increasing demand for individuals equipped with knowledge and understanding of how international business works and how to function within it effectively.

International Business BA (Hons) has been structured to provide you with up-to-date knowledge and insight of the critical issues in International Business. This degree cultivates knowledge and skills needed to succeed in an increasingly globalised marketplace when conducting cross-border activities such as business expansion abroad or trading internationally. The programme explores how businesses operate in different contexts locally and across borders. It also looks at the supporting regulatory, legislative, and political environments that facilitate trade and direct investment between companies across international boundaries. You will study the international dimensions of various subject areas, enabling you to understand the complexities of conducting business across borders.

Key features

  • International Business opens doors to career opportunities across the world.
  • You will study a range of contemporary modules that will equip you with insights on how multinational companies work, the specifics of business in emerging markets, the aspects of economic geography and the practical elements of trade management.
  • Employability is embedded throughout the course including guest lectures, external visits, real-life case studies and assignments that are linked to the business requirements.
  • Our Careers Team offer support to help you gain the skills and qualities that today’s employers are looking for through placement opportunities with local, national and global companies. Previous students have secured roles at Rolls Royce, IBM, Walt Disney, the NHS and Siemens.
  • Benefit from block teaching, where most students study one subject at a time. A simple timetable will allow you to really engage with your learning, receive regular feedback and assessments, get to know your course mates and enjoy a better study-life balance.

 

Scholarships

DMU offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships and bursaries to help you realise your academic ambitions.

International student scholarships

Find out about available international scholarships or visit our fees and funding page for more information.

Placements with Business Management

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Business and Management BA (Hons)

  • UK
  • EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: N578

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with a placement.

Fees and funding: 

2025/26 tuition fees for UK students: £9,250

Find out more about course fees and available funding.

Find out more about additional costs and optional extras associated with this course.

How to apply

Submit a study-related enquiry

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: N578

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with a placement.

Fees and funding:

2024/25 tuition fees for international students: £15,750.

Find out more about available funding for international students.

Find out more about additional costs and optional extras associated with this course.

How to apply

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

Entry criteria

GCSEs

  • Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English and Maths

Plus one of the following:

A levels

  • A typical offer is 112 UCAS points. You need to study at least two subjects at A Level or equivalent (e.g. BTEC)

T Levels

  • Merit

BTEC

  • BTEC National Diploma - Distinction/Distinction/Merit
  • BTEC Extended Diploma - Distinction/Distinction/Merit

Alternative qualifications include:

  • Pass in the QAA accredited Access to HE overall 112 UCAS tariff  with at least 30 L3 credits at Merit.
  • English and Maths GCSE required as separate qualification. Equivalency not accepted within the Access qualification. We will normally require students to have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course. 
  • International Baccalaureate: 26+ points.

Mature students

We welcome applications from mature students with non-standard qualifications and recognise all other equivalent and international qualifications.

English language

If English is not your first language, an IELTS core of 6.0 (including a minimum of 5.5 in each component) or equivalent is normally required.

UCAS tariff information

Students applying for courses starting in September will be made offers based on the latest UCAS Tariff.

Contextual offer 

To make sure you get fair and equal access to higher education, when looking at your application, we consider more than just your grades. So if you are eligible, you may receive a contextual offer. Find our more about contextual offers.

 

Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessment

Teaching contact hours

 

Year 1

  • Block 1: Global Business Environment
  • Block 2: Business Dynamics, Ethics and Culture
  • Block 3: Economics in Global Business
  • Block 4: Marketing for International Business

Year 2

  • Block 1: Multinational Enterprise in the Global Economy
  • Block 2: Data Analytics and Research Skills
  • Block 3: International Organisational Behaviour and Leadership
  • Block 4: Students choose one of the following:
    • International Supply Chain Management
    • International Financial Management and Decision Making

 

Year 3

  • Block 1: International Business Strategy and Governance
  • Block 2: Students choose one of the following:
    • Emerging Markets: Economic Geography and Trends
    • Dimensions of Digital Transformation
  • Block 3: International Trade Management
  • Block 4: Students choose one of the following:
    • Business Project
    • Dissertation

See detailed module information


Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

 

Teaching and assessment

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, group work and self-directed study. Assessment is through coursework (presentations, essays and reports) and usually an exam or test, which is typically weighted as follows in your first year:

  • Exam: 35%
  • Coursework: 65%

These assessment weightings are indicative only. The exact weighting may vary depending on option modules chosen by students and teaching methods deployed by the academic member of staff each year. Indicative assessment weighting and assessment type per module are shown as part of the module information. Again these are based on the current academic session.

 

Teaching contact hours

This is a full-time course. Each module is worth 30 credits. It is expected that student will spend a total of 300 hours of study for each module. You should be prepared to devote approximately 10 contact hours a week to your studies and additional independent hours of study in order to succeed. Teaching is through a mix of lectures, tutorials, seminars and lab sessions and the breakdown of these activity types is shown in each module description.

Other: In addition, each module provides a two-hour surgery each week for individual consultation with the lecturer. You will also have timetabled meetings with your personal tutor and careers and/or subject meetings scheduled throughout the year.

Self-directed study: In order to prepare for, and assimilate, the work in lectures and seminars you will be expected to use our on-line resources, participate in flipped or virtual classroom discussions on our virtual learning environment (VLE) and engage in personal study and revision for approximately 25 hours per week.

Facilities and features

 
Placements
Placements
Placements
 

Hugh Aston Building

You will have access to our purpose-built Hugh Aston Building, equipped with lecture theatres and classrooms, break-out spaces for group work, quiet study zones for individual work and IT labs. Wherever possible, students will be given home access to specialist software.

You’ll also have access to the building’s new £5.5 million extension called The Yard, which provides more than 22,000 square metres of extra space. This is designed to facilitate your learning experience with large and airy breakout spaces, a new Student Advice Centre, and a balcony on the top floor. The Yard also features more comfortable classrooms and self-study spaces, allowing you to carry out independent study as well as group work.

 

Library and learning zones

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available. 

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose. 

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including the Virtual Learning Environment, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub. 

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

More flexible ways to learn

We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘DMU Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

Opportunities and careers

Find the people who will open doors for you

DMU's award-winning careers service provides guaranteed work experience opportunities DMU Careers Team
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DMU Global

Our innovative international experience programme DMU Global aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons, helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world. Through DMU Global, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK-based activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

In recent years, our International Business students travelled to headquarters of the United Nations in New York City to discuss topics such as hunger, health, education, climate change and social justice. Students also participated in a trip to Vietnam, where they visited one of Adidas' factories to gain valuable industry insight. 

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Placements

During this course, you will have the option to complete a paid placement year, an invaluable opportunity to put the skills developed during your degree into practice. This insight into the professional world will build on your knowledge in a real-world setting, preparing you to progress onto your chosen career.

Previous students have taken up placements in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, including some international posts, with leading companies such as Warner Bros, IBM, DHL and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Our award-winning Careers Team can help to hone your professional skills with mock interviews and practice aptitude tests, and an assigned personal tutor will support you throughout your placement. 

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Graduate careers

A degree in International Business develops graduates with the skills and knowledge to respond to the impact of globalisation on business. 

Graduates go on to work for national, international and multi-national companies that need an understanding of conducting business in a global context.

Take your next steps

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