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International Business BA(Hons)

2024-25 (also available for 2025-26)

It’s not too late to apply for September.
It’s not too late to apply for September.

Start date

16 September 2024

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years inc. placement year
This course is also available as a one year top-up for those with appropriate qualifications.

Entry requirements

A Level - BBB-BBC

BTEC - DDM-DMM

See full entry requirements

Places available (subject to change)

50

About the course

Reasons to study

  1. Study at an AACSB International-accredited Business School. Globally, fewer than six per cent of institutions offering business degrees achieve this accreditation.  
  2. Gain a strong professional understanding of international business management, business analytics and more. You’ll also have the chance to explore many exciting career options in the global business industry.  
  3. In your third year, you can apply your classroom knowledge to an optional work placement in your area of interest.  

International business is a fulfilling and intellectually stimulating field for those interested in the dynamics of the global economy and international relations; even small businesses can now reach an international market.

The global business industry is always expanding and seeking fresh talent from all corners of the world, which is why it’s the right time to pursue a degree in International Business. Plus, the advancement of technology means that we can now essentially work globally whilst staying locally.

Our International Business BA(Hons) degree equips you with the critical thinking skills and industry knowledge for you to thrive in the international workplace. The modules in this course are designed to foster a deep understanding of various business issues, including Understanding Global Dynamics, Understanding Business Analytics, and Financial Fluency and Legal Environment.

Our modules offer many benefits and opportunities, including:

  • Global perspective: you’ll develop a broad understanding of the global business environment. This knowledge is invaluable in today’s interconnected world, where businesses operate on a global scale.
  • Cultural awareness: you’ll develop a heightened cultural sensitivity, which is important when working in the increasingly diverse and multicultural workplace.
  • Problem-solving skills: this course involves dealing with complex challenges, such as navigating trade regulations, understanding different legal systems and how they affect businesses, and addressing cultural differences. These experiences will help you develop strong problem-solving skills.
  • Career opportunities: with a degree in International Business, you are well-equipped to pursue careers in multinational corporations, international organisations, government agencies, and more.

Why study International Business BA(Hons)

You can look forward to a high-quality education here, as your teachers rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates (HESA 2022). You’ll also be studying at an AACSB International-accredited Business School. Globally, fewer than six per cent of institutions offering business degrees achieve this accreditation.

Aside from your core modules, you’ll also take ASPIRE modules, which are a series of uniquely designed skill development modules that allow you to work on a real business challenge while preparing you to transition from higher education to the workplace.

Away from campus, you’ll gain relevant real-world experience. After the second year of the course, you’ll put your knowledge and skills to the test in an optional 48-week work placement in your area of interest, in the UK or abroad. This work placement could potentially enhance your employability and boost personal development. We also offer a series of skill development workshops/activities, including ‘How to build an effective Linkedin profile’, to prepare you for future employment.

Employers often value candidates with international business education, as they have a better understanding of global markets, trade, and international environment. This course will prepare you for a variety of exciting careers in a range of fields in the industry. You’ll also be well equipped to consider careers in different regions and countries of the world. You could work as a global supply chain manager, global procurement specialist or operations manager. You’ll be able to work for other international organisations, or even pursue your passions by creating your own business.

Course detail

Core modules:

ASPIRE 1

This module will equip you with foundational skills that will aid your academic progress and longer term employability. Designed to support your transition to higher education, the module will challenge you to become a reflective and resilient learner who is self-aware and pro-active in your personal and professional development planning.

Understanding Global Dynamics

This module is designed to raise your awareness of an increasingly dynamic business environment. You'll explore pressing global issues, such as globalisation, climate change, digital age and sustainability. You'll have the opportunity to develop an understanding of how these issues present challenges and create opportunities to businesses. As you progress through the module, you'll develop the skills to follow the developments of global events, give them a meaning and consider the causes and consequences of ongoing developments.

Understanding Business Analytics

In this module you'll understand the importance of data and how managing this data can help organisations to make decisions. This will be achieved through the analysis and identification of various data management techniques and how these methods are used to support organisational innovation and growth. You'll critically apply various data analytical approaches and look at the various concepts and current prevailing ideas in data management. In addition, you'll investigate some of the key legislative, operational, and strategic issues which support the collection and usage of data within a digital business environment. This will be underpinned by looking at both internal and external data sets such as, data.gov.uk and the World Bank.

Understanding Organisational Behaviour

This module provides you with an introduction to key concepts, theories, and research in the field of organisational behaviour. Starting with the important question what an organisation is, this module presents and evaluates up to date research on current knowledge about human and organisation behaviour from the perspective of three levels: individual level (personality, motivation, knowledge, and learning), group level (organisational culture, team-working) and the organisational level (leadership, changing world of work, technology). You'll gain knowledge to understand the role of the manager in a contemporary organisation and to critically explore the influence of a range of behaviours have on organisational outcomes.

Financial Fluency and Legal Environment

This module introduces you to key areas in both legal and financial aspects of business. You'll look at how financial information is prepared, presented and interpreted by internal and external users and consider aspects of employment and contract law relevant to non-specialists as well as delivering theory and technical information. Practical application is presented through real world examples, group work and discussions.

Understanding Markets and Consumers

This module aims to make you aware of the economic and marketing underpinning of a range of business issues and problems. It has an even balance between theory and practice, you'll be introduced to the principles of microeconomics, featuring aspects which have particular relevance and application to those of you who intend to work in business and management. You'll also be introduced to key principles of strategic and operational marketing and will gain an understanding of the underlying concepts and theories underpinning marketing practice.

Entry requirements

BBB-BBCat A Level

120-112 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications

Merit at T Level

DDM-DMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma

  • Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 level 3 credits at merit
  • 120-112 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages.

Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

What our students have to say


The University of Huddersfield offers a diverse and vibrant student environment, located on one central town centre campus site. Huddersfield Business School provides you with a modern, professional environment to learn and develop, located right next to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal it's in a leafy and picturesque location at the heart of the campus.

Watch our profile video to hear Sana describe why she chose the University of Huddersfield.

Placements


The course offers an optional one-year (48 weeks) work placement after the second year, in the UK or abroad.

Our Placement Office works with national and international employers to ensure excellent work experience opportunities are available to you on placement courses as well as giving advice in areas such as interview skills and preparing CVs and covering letters.

Previous placement providers have included Asda, CLS Limited, Covea Insurance, Daataa Ltd, Foodies Express Limited, Daniel Global Education Services Ltd, Huddersfield Town Football Club, KFC, Tata Consultancy Services, Thornton and Ross and University of Huddersfield Student Union.

The placement year is a valuable tool that can enhance your employability and help you to develop as an individual. It is acknowledged that graduates with industry experience are generally much more attractive to employers.

You can find more information on placements here.

Completing a placement has strengthened my organisational, written and communication skills and It has helped me understand what it's like to work for a large international organisation. I believe it has also helped my chances of getting a graduate job.

Photo of Austin McEwen

Austin McEwen, International pharmaceutical sales and marketing assistant, placement with Thornton & Ross Ltd

Your Career


Previous graduates from this subject have gone on to roles such as supply chain manager, business manager, global procurement graduate, operations manager and executive support manager in organisations including Amazon, HSBC, DHL, Bosch, Caterpillar and Lloyds Banking Group.

*Percentage of graduates from this subject who are in work and/or further study fifteen months after graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 20/21, UK domiciled graduates, other activities excluded).

*Source: LinkedIn

85% Graduates employed*

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

Within Huddersfield Business School, there are numerous student support services that you can access to ensure that you make the most of your time with us. In terms of academic support, we have highly qualified Academic Skills Tutors who are able to provide support to those of you who require help in improving your academic skills in areas such as academic writing, presentation techniques, referencing etc. We also offer additional support to our International students by giving free language support sessions to our Final Year/Top-Up and Postgraduate students and co-ordinate the ‘Bud In Hud ‘ programme which provides opportunities for both International and Home students to meet and socialise in an informal setting.

We also have a team of Student Guidance and Support Officers within the School who can provide support and advice to you with any non-academic issues such as health, finance or personal issues you may be facing which are having an effect on your ability to study to the best of your abilities. Drop in sessions are always available so you can pop in and have a confidential chat about how we can help and what support is available to you.

Our support services are here to ensure that you are able to achieve your academic, professional and personal potential during your time with Huddersfield Business School.

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

Changes to a course you have applied for

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

Cancellation of a course you have applied for

Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

Changes to option modules

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes

We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

Termination of course

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University. If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to. You should read these carefully before you enrol. Please note that this information is subject to change and you are advised to check our website regularly for any changes before you enrol at the University. A person who is not party to this agreement shall not have any rights under or in connection with it. Only you and the University shall have any right to enforce or rely on the agreement.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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