International Business Management - BA (Hons)
This course is aimed at students wishing to pursue a career in the arena of international business management and who would like to gain a competitive edge in today’s global job market.
Employers value graduates who have gained a global business perspective. The value of a graduate’s international experience resides in the ability to demonstrate a range of competencies which will equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to work in a global business environment, function in multicultural business environments and communicate in a foreign language.
The course provides students with all-round knowledge and skills in international business management and cross-cultural management. Further, students are required to study one foreign language as a core module (either at beginners/post GCSE level or Post A-level) over the duration of the course.
Academic courses at the Cardiff School of Management are career orientated and have been designed in conjunction with business and industry. Our courses aim to promote student employability, knowledge transfer and applied research. Students have the opportunity to undertake a work experience module in year two and a year long industrial work placement between year two and three.
Course Content
The programme offers academic and professional preparation for global managerial roles in national and international enterprises. The course provides students with:
• International business management acumen and key business management skills,
• Cultural diversity awareness and fundamental skills in cross-cultural management and
• Foreign language competencies to communicate in a foreign language with their international counterparts.
Languages are a core element throughout the whole course. Students must study one foreign language.
There are two language entry routes:
- Beginners/Post GCSE route (French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese- Subject to sufficient demand). This route equips students with an operational knowledge of the language that will allow them to communicate as an independent user in personal and business related settings. (Level B1/B2 of the European Framework of Reference for Languages).
- Post A-level route (French and Spanish -Subject to sufficient demand). This route enables students with an A Level or equivalent competency in the language to further enhance their linguistic skills. This route equips students with a high level of language skills that will allow them to communicate as a proficient user in business related settings. (Level C2 of the European Framework of Reference for Languages).
Students with a drive for languages can study for an additional language module on an elective basis (i.e. non credit-bearing module). This can be undertaken in any of the listed languages at any level during their studies (subject to sufficient demand). This represents a unique opportunity to start working towards employability assets.
The degree employs a modular approach; students are required to study a certain number of modules in each year (120 credits per year). While all students must take core modules, students on the BA (Hons) International Business Management degree may select option modules in years 2 and 3, allowing students greater flexibility to pursue their academic/professional interests.
The course combines core and option modules from the disciplines of business and management, intercultural studies and languages. The compulsory modules represent the essential core knowledge and skills required for each field of study.
Year 1 modules concentrate on fundamental areas of business and management, laying the foundation upon which later modules are based. Years 2 and 3/4 modules add greater academic depth to the subjects, and are more applied, practical, investigative and analytical in nature.
The programme offers a strong vocational emphasis that enables students to develop analytical and decision-making skills through the application of knowledge to practical business and management related scenarios and case studies. Emphasis is placed on developing analytical and problem-solving skills. Students will also have the opportunity to develop their academic and entrepreneurial skills in the form of a dissertation or enterprise project in their final year.
Year 1:
120 credits of core modules:
- Business in Context ( 20 credits)
- Finance for Managers ( 20 credits)
- Managing Markets ( 20 credits)
- Management Theory & Practice ( 20 credits)
- Modern Foreign Languages 1- (Beginners/post GCSE entry route) / Business & Contemporary Language 1 ( Post-A level entry route) (20 credits)
- Personal Development Planning ( 10 credits)
- Business Applications ( 10 credits).
Year 2:
80 credits of core modules:
- Academic Skills for Business (10 credits)
- Human Resource Management in Context (20 credits)
- Intercultural Awareness for Business (20 credits)
- Modern Foreign Languages 2 / Business & Contemporary Language 2 (20 credits)
- Workplace Learning (10 credits).
40 credits of option modules from:
- Developing a Business (10 credits)
- Employment Relations (20 credits)
- People Resourcing and Development (20 credits)
- Contemporary Issues in International Political Economy (20 credits)
- Integrated Marketing Communications (20 credits)
- Research Skills (2) (10 credits)
- Law of Commerce (20 credits)
- Business Obligations (20 credits)
- Advertising in Practice (10 credits)
- Digital and E Marketing (10 credits)
- Buyer Behaviour (20 credits)
- Money, Banking and Risk (20 credits)
- Investment Markets and Principles (20 credits)
- Foundations of Marketing (20 credits)
- Financial Planning For Business (10 credits)
- E-Business Management (20 credits)
- Business Intelligence (20 credits)
Year 3 / Year 4 (for those students studying the sandwich programme):
60 credits of core modules:
- International Business Management (20 credits)
- International Business and Cultural Diversity (20 credits)
- Modern Foreign Language, Culture and Society / Business & Contemporary
- Language and Socio-Economic Environment (20 credits)
60 credits of option modules from:
- Strategic Management (20 credits)
- European Business Law (20 credits)
- International Trading Law (20 credits)
- International HRM and Ethical and Moral Leadership (20 credits)
- HR Strategy and Professional Practice (20 credits)
- International and Global Marketing (20 credits)
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship (20 credits)
- Strategic Brand Management (20 credits)
- Modern Foreign Language, Culture and Society (20 credits)
- Investment Management (20 credits)
- Financial Management for Managers (20 credits)
- Strategic Management of Information Systems (20 credits)
- Information Systems in Business (20 credits)
- Dissertation (40 credits)
- Enterprise Project (40 credits)
- Industrial Work Experience (20 credits- Sandwich programme only).
Career Potential
As businesses continue to operate across borders, job market demand is high for graduates who have attained a multidisciplinary international business education and who are able to communicate in a foreign language. Foreign language skills are considered a valuable asset in most business and management sectors.
Career prospects are excellent with local, national and international opportunities existing in all areas of business, management and commerce. Successful graduates have found positions at supervisory/management level in a variety of private and public sector organisations. The fields of work include international HRM, international marketing, business consultancy and planning, financial management and international trading.
Work Placement and Employability:
It is compulsory to undertake a work-based learning module in year 2 to strengthen student employability. Further, upon successful completion of year 2, students who wish to gain further work experience have the opportunity to undertake a year-long placement between year 2 and the final year; the final year of the programme is deferred by a year (sandwich programme - N121).
The year-long placement is accredited at the final year of the degree with 20 credits. The School has a detailed guide for employers and students.
The course team must approve the placement; it can either take place abroad or in a company based in the UK. For students wishing to undertake a year-long work placement abroad, there are opportunities for Erasmus funding. The Erasmus mobility programme offers students the opportunity to undertake a work placement in another EU country or partner state.
Progression to Postgraduate Study:
Upon completion of this undergraduate programme, opportunities are available to undertake postgraduate level study. Postgraduate level courses are offered within the Cardiff School of Management with courses including the MBA and MSc in Management.
Entry Requirements
Applicants should have five GCSE passes grade A-C including English Language and Mathematics, plus one of the following:
- 280 points from at least 2 A Levels / Scottish Advanced Higher passes to include grades CC, at least one to be in a relevant subject
- QCF BTEC Diploma / Extended Diploma 280 points within a relevant subject
- 280 points from the Irish Leaving Certificate at Highers to include a relevant subject (C2 minimum grade considered)
- Pass Access with 45 credits at Level 3 within a relevant subject
- 280 points from the Welsh Baccalaureate to include grades CC at A level or equivalent, Core counted as third subject
- International Baccalaureate Diploma 24 points overall with 12 points from Higher level subjects.
The programme also welcomes direct entry students onto the final year of the course from partner universities in Europe and independent applicants. This further enhances the multicultural experiences of the cosmopolitan and internationally diverse student cohort
If your qualification isn't listed above, please refer to the UCAS website.
Key Facts
UCAS Code(s):
N110 - BA (Hons) International Business Management (3 years full-time)
N121 - BA (Hons) International Business Management (4 years - Sandwich)
Campus: Llandaff
School: Cardiff School of Management
Course Length: Three year full-time programme / Four years full-time (Sandwich)
Assessment:
The assessment strategy covers a wide spectrum of approaches. In addition to formal examinations, students are assessed during the course through written assignments, individual and group presentations and portfolio.
How to Apply:
Applications for this course should be made online to UCAS at http://www.ucas.com/
For further information please visit our How to Apply pages at www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/howtoapply.
International Applicants:
Before making an application, international students (those outside of the EU), should contact the International Office at Cardiff Met to discuss the necessary procedures and requirements in relation to studying with us. For further information visit www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/international.
Selection Procedure:
Selection is normally based on the receipt of a completed UCAS application.
Tuition Fees and Financial Support:
For up to date information on tuition fees and the financial support that may be available please refer to www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/fees.
Bursaries & Scholarships:
The university also offers a bursary and scholarship scheme to help students whilst at university. To see if you are eligible, visit www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/scholarships.