Plymouth Business School

BA (Hons) International Business Management

UCAS course code N123
Institution code P60
Duration

1 year
Course type

Full-time
Study location Plymouth
Register for open day
Apply at UCAS.com

Deepen your knowledge of the international business environment and your understanding of how organisations operate in both multicultural and world contexts. Discover how and why businesses innovate and why enterprise is critical in the global market. Prepare for a career in the world of international business.

Careers with this subject
Our course offers a fantastic way to kick-start your career, increasing your value as an employee in your chosen field, and can also open the door to postgraduate study.

Real experience every step of the way

As well as expert-led teaching, all undergraduate modules within Plymouth Business School have integrated CV building activity, for example, through micro-credentialing, problem-based learning, or embedded direct employer activity.
We have ensured every module contains a real world problem-based exercise. We have reached out to employers directly to involve real business in our assessments. You will experience real world employee engagement every month.
We know this is key to student academic and graduate success.

Careers service

The University of Plymouth has a dedicated careers service supporting you from the moment you start your degree, to three years after graduation.
Careers advice is embedded into your academic programme through workshops, events, placements, networks - working with the academic staff teaching on your course. We also offer materials, networks and resources online through our 24/7 portal, and a wide-range of activities, opportunities and support centrally in the Careers Service space within the Student Hub.
We are here to help you to explore, connect and succeed.

Key features
  • Study this course over two years (Level 5 and 6) or one year (Level 6 only). Providing a route for students from a range of business foundation degrees (and equivalent) to top up to Honours. The two year programme offers students the opportunity to undertake a placement between their first and second year.
  • Our innovative course embraces a broad spectrum of industry relevant modules and is especially attractive to students who wish to build a career in the vibrant international business sector. Optional modules give students the opportunity to study areas of interest, subjects include international supply chains, international trade and finance and for non-native speakers business communications.
  • Students have opportunity to develop their understanding of key factors within business and international business. We aim to provide students with the ability to exercise personal responsibility and decision-making in the competitive international business sector.
  • Benefit from academic staff with strong relevant industrial and academic experience and tutors who not only provide excellent teaching but also great pastoral care.

Course details

  • Year 1

  • Students study 120 credits
    *Professional and Academic Communication (20 credits) (only available to students who are non-native speakers)

    Core modules

    HRL5007
    The Effective Manager: People and Marketing 40 credits

    Effective managers are vital to the success of organisations. This module will introduce some of the key areas of management practice, exploring the effective management of people and marketing activities in organisations and the role played by the line manager in both. It also explores skills and competencies required for effective management practice, as well as helping students to plan, manage and evaluate their own independent learning, and to communicate effectively in professional and academic contexts.

    100% Coursework

    PBS500CPD
    Careers and Professional Development 0 credits

    This module is aimed at enhancing students employability skills and knowledge especially those who will be undertaking an industrial placement in the third year of their degree. It is designed to build on skills learned in Stage 1 and helps students in their search for a placement, and in their preparation for the placement itself.

    ECN5009
    Economic and Financial Data for Business Decision Making 40 credits

    Excellent business performance can only be sustained if managers have access to high quality information. This module explores economic and financial data, common management decision making techniques (e.g., processes, models, analytical methods, and information support) and analytical frameworks in the context of their role in informing key business decisions (e.g., pricing, investment, cash flow, organisational finance, research and development etc).

    100% Coursework

    Optional modules

    ECN5006
    International Trade and International Finance 20 credits

    This module explores the economic and financial implications of globalisation by examining contemporary topics in international trade and international financial markets. It enables the consideration the impact of the contemporary trading and financial system on areas key business decision making.

    100% Coursework

    MAR5004
    International Supply Chain Management 20 credits

    Through this module, you will acquire a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of international supply chain management and the complexities involved in planning, coordinating and operating various business processes in the management of international supply chains.

    100% Coursework

    ELC205
    Professional and Academic Communication 20 credits

    This module develops your level of English in order to operate effectively in a professional and academic context.

    100% Coursework

    PBS5001C
    The Challenge Module: Sustainable Business 20 credits

    Through this module you can select from a choice of topics related to the big challenges business and society are facing today. These might be drawn from the UN Sustainable Development Goals or a country’s industrial strategy.

    100% Coursework

    PBS5002C
    The Challenge Module: Sustainable Supply Chains for Global Trade 20 credits

    In this module, you will be challenged to evaluate the sustainability of the globalised business world. You will assess conflicting viewpoints and present balanced arguments for the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the supply chains that support global trade.

    100% Coursework

    PBS5003C
    The Challenge Module: Responsible Entrepreneurship in Action 20 credits

    Through this module you can develop an understanding of the big challenges business and society are facing today, in the context of entrepreneurship. These might be drawn from the UN Sustainable Development Goals or a country’s industrial strategy and will be informed by established business theories. You will develop and reflect on a business idea which has sustainability at its core.

    100% Coursework

  • Year 2

  • Core modules

    PBS600PLC
    Placement Year

    The placement year consists of an extended period of appropriate professional experience in a business or organisation. It allows the student to gain relevant experience to consolidate their studies and prepare for final stage study and employment after graduation. Students on BA International Business may also or alternatively undertake a study placement at an approved partner institution.

  • Year 3

  • Students study 120 credits
    *Professional Business Communication (20 credits) (only available to students who are non-native speakers)

    Core modules

    HRL6003
    Human Resource Management in a Global Context 20 credits

    This module introduces you to the consequences of globalisation for workers and how they are managed, the particular people management issues confronted by multinational corporations (MNCs) and the human resource management systems adopted in different national contexts.

    100% Coursework

    PBS600CPD
    Continued Careers and Professional Development 0 credits

    The Continued Career and Professional Development module is a development scheme designed to enhance students’ employability and builds on the stage 2 module. The stage 3 module focuses on providing students with information on graduate options and equips them with the knowledge and skills necessary for articulating and recording achievement and applying for graduate positions. The module also includes a number of workshops and events designed to develop students’ skills and knowledge, with the purpose of filling gaps in their CV’s and enhancing their employability.

    STO6004
    Enterprise, Innovation and Creativity 20 credits

    The module will enable you to use creative processes to develop an innovative and viable business concept and to pitch for resources from potential stakeholders.

    60% Coursework

    40% Practicals

    STO6007
    International Strategy and Business Improvement 40 credits

    This module focuses the strategies appropriate to successful internationalisation of enterprises and business improvement. It equips you with the knowledge skills to formulate and implement appropriate strategies when entering developed, developing and bottom of pyramid (BOP) markets and articulates the connections on the global environmental forces and operations strategies.

    90% Coursework

    10% Practicals

    MKT6010
    Global Marketing Management 20 credits

    The module introduces you to the key concepts of global marketing, providing you with an understanding of environmental factors, global marketing strategies and the international marketing planning process.

    100% Coursework

    Optional modules

    ECN6006
    International Trade and International Finance 20 credits

    This module explores the economic and financial implications of globalisation by examining contemporary topics in international trade and international financial markets. It enables the consideration the impact of the contemporary trading and financial system on areas key business decision making.

    100% Coursework

    ELC316
    Professional Business Communication 20 credits

    The module is designed to help students to develop and refine their ability to communicate effectively in the global business environment encompassing different national cultures and business practices.

    60% Coursework

    40% Practicals

    MAR6004
    International Supply Chain Management 20 credits

    Through this module, you will acquire a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of international supply chain management and the complexities involved in planning, coordinating and operating various business processes in the management of international supply chains.

    100% Coursework

The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.

Entry requirements

Contextual offers: Typically, the contextual offer for this course is 8 points below the advertised tariff. A contextual offer is an offer to study at university that takes into account individual circumstances that are beyond your control, and that can potentially impact your learning and your exam results, or your confidence in applying to university.

Check your eligibility for a contextual offer

For entry onto the two-year programme you must have competed the equivalent to the first year of a UK general business degree.
For entry into the one-year programme you must have completed a foundation degree or equivalent with a business or management emphasis, equivalent to 120 credits of study at Levels 4 and 5. It is expected that such qualifications will include a significant focus on: marketing, organisational behaviour/people management, accounting/finance, and economics.
We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.
Please contact the Admissions Team with any queries.

Fees, costs and funding
New student 2024-2025 2025-2026 *
Home £9,250 £9,535
International £17,100 £17,600
Part time (Home) £770 £795
Full time fees shown are per annum. Part time fees shown are per 10 credits. Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. More information about fees and funding.

* UK Government announcement on tuition fees

On Monday 4 November 2024, the UK Government announced a proposal to increase tuition fees for home undergraduate students from £9,250 to £9,535 per annum from September 2025 onwards. The University of Plymouth intends to apply this new fee from September 2025. However, implementation of this increase will be subject to parliamentary procedure. This change applies to new students starting their studies in September 2025. For current and returning students, the University is reviewing fees and will update you as soon as possible.

Undergraduate scholarships for international students

To reward outstanding achievement the University of Plymouth offers scholarship schemes to help towards funding your studies.

Additional costs

This course is delivered by the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business and more details of any additional costs associated with the faculty's courses are listed on the following page: Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business additional costs .

How to apply
All applications for undergraduate courses are made through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).
UCAS will ask for the information contained in the box at the top of this course page including the UCAS course code and the institution code.
To apply for this course and for more information about submitting an application including application deadline dates, please visit the UCAS website.
Support is also available to overseas students applying to the University from our International Office via our how to apply webpage or email admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

Plymouth Business School

  • ?Accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)

  • ?Committed to social, economic and environmental responsibility

  • ?Supporting the internationally recognised focus on sustainability and social purpose of the University

  • ?Leading business ready graduates onto a successful career and happy life

  • ?Supporting graduates to make informed choices based on current economic and market trends

  • ?Building students resilience and confidence

  • ?Promoting practical skills development

Marcella Amorim

Marcella Amorim

“The combination of good lecturers, great debates, and a multi-cultural environment provided by the University prepared me in so many ways for what was ahead of me.”
Marcella now works as a Trader for Razac Trading in Sao Paulo.

Course leader

  • Lecturer in Service Operations Management and Business Strategy (Education)
    Expert in services and operations management

Creating confidence and resilience

We have worked to build capabilities around confidence and resilience into all our courses, and develop in our students an ability to be fearless and nimble when it comes to their careers.
International student Luying describes her experience:
“Study is quite different between China and UK. I learned how to organise my life better, studying at Plymouth required me to make a reasonable plan for my assignments so I learned to make full use of my time. There were many activities, which encouraged me to speak to different people which helped me to build my confidence. My favourite experience was taking part in the Languages Café, I love to listen to people and share my opinions. It helped me to improve my English and make some friends as well.

I strongly recommend undertaking a course with the University because the teachers are so patient and kind. They will answer your questions with great patience and they gave me useful advice.”
The University of Plymouth

Fitzroy Building

The University of Plymouth is creating an exciting new space for the Plymouth Business School in which current and future students can foster the knowledge and enthusiasm that they will need to achieve their ambitions. Work is underway at the heart of our city centre campus.
Watch our video visualising what the new building will look like.