Overview
Choose an international business degree that gives you experience living and studying abroad as you build your business knowledge and employable skills.
Our BA (Hons) International Business course covers vital business topics and gives you the chance to use your new knowledge as you study, including by collaborating with students overseas in our virtual exchange project.
And if you choose to study with a specific partner and complete an industrial placement year before your third year, you’ll earn two undergraduate degrees in 4 years as a dual degree.
During your first year you’ll explore business subjects such as marketing, operations and accounting. You’ll choose where to study during your second year, supported by our Global Engagement Team, and prepare for your year abroad.
You’ll spend your second year studying at one of our partner universities in Europe, Australia, Canada, Japan, China, South Korea, Thailand or the USA. Here, you’ll explore business from a non-UK viewpoint and deepen your understanding of global business. You could even divide your time away and study at two institutions across the year to experience two different countries and cultures.
After your year abroad you could complete an optional paid industry placement, where you’ll work with a company before your final year of study. Our Placement Team will support you in your job search, as well as during your placement, whether you choose to work in the UK or overseas.
You’ll return to Portsmouth for your final year and explore business leadership with a focus on subjects like strategic management, sustainability and globalisation. You’ll choose specialisms to study in more detail too, such as Equality and Diversity, Transformative Marketing or Business Improvement.
If you returned to your studies straight after your year aboard, you could take your industrial placement after your final year. During this placement you'll work for a company for a year before you graduate, and have the support of our Placement Team as you start your career.
You’ll graduate with a broad understanding of modern business, the confidence to work internationally, and the skills and experience you need to begin your career across a range of global business sectors.
Course Highlights
- Live and study abroad in one or two countries, with all teaching in English wherever you study
- Benefit from excellent support through our International Exchange Workshops to help you make the right choice of destination for your year abroad
- Gain a second degree in international business from the University of Applied Sciences in FH Münster, or IDRAC Business School in France (see details below)
- Get practical experience as part of our Business Consultancy Project by offering advice to local small businesses
- Get support for setting up your own business from our Entrepreneurs in Residence
- Learn a foreign language as part of your studies
- Explore lots of different areas of international business and management to find the specialisms that interest you
- Have the option to specialise in a particular area of business if you find your passion
Careers and Opportunities
This degree will open doors to a wide variety of careers in the business world. Being able to talk about your international experience and global business learning will give you an advantage when applying to multinational companies in particular.
If you study this course as a dual degree, you'll graduate with two degrees as well as your university study and placement experiences to showcase your in depth knowledge of international business and your soft skills such as working with people.
Previous graduates of this course have got jobs as:
- business development manager
- customer accounts manager
- marketing and sales executive
- product manager
- content curator
- merchandiser
- events coordinator
- recruitment consultant
- start-up programme manager
Graduates of this course have gone on to work for companies such as:
- Virgin Media
- IBM
- NATS (air traffic control)
- Asia Pacific Inspection
- BAE Systems
- Liquid Hub (drinks marketing)
- Morgan Stanley
- Kitchen Cut (software)
- Prospect Capital (finance)
- GSMA (worldwide mobile)
- Microsoft
(Data sourced from HESA Graduate Outcome Surveys)
Other graduates have continued their studies at postgraduate level or set up successful businesses with help and support from the University.
