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International Business BA (Hons)

Gain the global business skills you need as you study abroad on this flexible international business degree. You’ll explore a range of business specialisms including marketing, accounting, operations and leadership, and have the option to convert this course to a dual degree.

University of Portsmouth Connected Degree - 3 year course with 4th year placement

Key information

UCAS code:

N123

Accreditation:

This course is Accredited

Typical offer:

112-120 UCAS points from 3 A levels, or equivalent

See full entry requirements
Study mode and duration
Start date

Showing content for section Overview

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. 

Students that go abroad are more likely to obtain first-class honours, more likely to be in graduate employment or further study, more likely to have a higher average starting salary, and less likely to be unemployed than their non-mobile peers.

Universities UK International: ‘Gone International, Rising Aspirations’, 2019

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

Business and management studies at the University of Portsmouth is ranked 2nd of the modern universities by research power

Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021

Read more about our business and management research

Earn a second degree

On this course you can choose to study a dual degree in international business. This means that you can earn 2 degrees in 4 years instead of the normal 6 years. The degrees are: 

To achieve this you must:

  • spend your year abroad in your second year at FH Münster University of Applied Sciences, or IDRAC Business School
  • complete a 1-year work placement in your third year (either in the UK or abroad)
  • pass all relevant assessments at both universities

Our Faculty Global Engagement Office can advise you on travel arrangements, visas, finding accommodation and accessing funding that can help pay for your study and living costs when you're abroad.

Emine's story

"It was a great opportunity for me to meet other people..."

Find out about the amazing opportunities Emine has taken advantage of as part of her studies, and what she plans to do next.

 As part of my course we have a compulsory year abroad and I did my year abroad studying in the Netherlands. It was a great opportunity for me to meet other people. 

 I did have a work placement working for Rolls-Royce Motor cars in the logistics department where I was responsible for arranging all the inbound and outbound transports for the company. 

 After graduating I'll be working for EUI as being an insurance graduate where I will have the opportunities to study towards my ACCA qualification in being able to gain experience working in an audit firm. 

Accreditation

We have partnered with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) so that you can gain a value added professional qualification alongside your degree. Students on our BA (Hons) International Business can be awarded a CMI Level 5 Certificate in Management and Leadership upon successful completion of their degree programme. Upon joining their degree course, students become members of the CMI and are able to access a range of benefits, resources and events to support their professional development.

AACSB Logo

95%

of graduates in work or further study 15 months after this course

(HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2018/2019)

Contact information

Admissions

+44 (0) 23 9284 5566

Contact Admissions

Entry requirements

BA (Hons) International Business degree entry requirements

Typical offers

  • A levels - BBB-BBC
  • UCAS points - 112-120 points from 3 A levels, or equivalent (calculate your UCAS points)
  • T-levels - Merit
  • BTECs (Extended Diplomas) - DDM-DMM
  • International Baccalaureate - 29

You may need to have studied specific subjects – find full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept.

English language requirements

  • English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.

See alternative English language qualifications.

We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.

If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

We look at more than just your grades

While we consider your grades when making an offer, we also carefully look at your circumstances and other factors to assess your potential. These include whether you live and work in the region and your personal and family circumstances which we assess using established data.

Explore more about how we make your offer

Your year abroad

You must spend your second year abroad studying business modules at a partner university. You'll have the option to split the year into 2 x 6 month sections and experience 2 different universities and countries if you wish.

Many students from Portsmouth take the opportunity to study abroad, but students on this course get priority when placements are being allocated.

We recognise that spending a year abroad is both exciting and a little scary. In your first year you'll take a whole module dedicated to helping you prepare and make the right choice about where you study. Throughout your time away you'll have the full support of your course leader, our global office and our placements team.

You do not pay any fees to the overseas university, but you'll continue to pay a reduced tuition fee to Portsmouth during your year abroad. You'll still be able to get both your tuition fee and maintenance loans. You may also qualify for a government travel grant

Explore your possible destinations.

Choosing to study abroad was by far the best decision I made during university. I moved to Lille, in France, to study at EDHEC Business School and it provided me with the opportunities to travel across Europe and meet people from all across the globe, while improving my confidence and independence.

Molly Jones, Alumna of BA International Business

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.

Work placement year

You can boost your employability even more by taking an optional paid placement year in the UK or overseas. You could take your placement straight after your year abroad (in Year 3) or after your third year of study, right before your graduate. The average salary for a 12-month paid placement is £19,800 for students in the Faculty of Business and Law, but your salary could be more or less than this amount depending on your placement. You'll only pay a very small percentage of your tuition fee for this year.

Previous students have had placements in organisations such as:

  • UBS Wealth Management
  • Prysmian Group
  • L'Oreal
  • IBM

Many of our students are offered a graduate job by their placement employer.

You could also choose to set up your own business, or take a voluntary placement.

If you don't want to take a whole placement year we offer plenty of other ways to get great work experience whilst you study, from summer internships to entrepreneurial support.

If you want to qualify for a dual degree you must do a placement in your third year. This placement can be in the UK or overseas and you'll be supported by both universities.

Modules

Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.

In each year, you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. For example, 4 modules worth 20 credits and 1 module worth 40 credits.

What you'll study

Core modules

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Discuss the purpose of accounting in the financial management of an entity
  • Interpret the Annual Report for a quoted company
  • Describe the main financial principles and conventions
  • Identify and use budgeting and the basic costing principles, concepts and cost classifications
  • Identify and use costing techniques and methods for analytical and managerial problem solving purposes

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll:

  • Have knowledge and understanding of the concepts, principles, decision frameworks and practices of operations and systems management in business

 

  • Understand the contribution of operations and systems management to the performance and sustainability of businesses

Explore this module

 

You'll engage in problem-based learning and expand upon the use of economic and financial theory to evaluate a range of relevant and contemporary issues.

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Understand key concepts and principles of economics

  • Explain topical economic issues and Government policy decisions

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Explain the nature and context of working and managing in organisations with diverse membership, including consideration of equality, diversity, cross-cultural and ethical issues in the management of people

  • Select and apply a range of appropriate theoretical and conceptual frameworks in the analysis and potential resolution of management issues within an organisational context

  • Identify and apply some key activities of people management practice, and consider their potential impact in achieving organisational goals, and the role of line managers in their implementation

 

  • Review and discuss contemporary issues in managing people in organisations and identify the implications of these for managers and other employees

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Explain the significance of marketing as a management process and discuss it in the wider context of the organisation
  • Understand the importance and relevance of the global marketing environment to sustainable and ethical marketing decision-making and be able to use resources to gather data to undertake a marketing audit
  • Identify key marketing problems and opportunities within an organisation
  • Recognise the stages within a marketing plan and be able to differentiate between strategic and tactical marketing decision making
  • Identify and recognise the key model, tools and concepts associated with marketing decision-making and apply them in the appropriate context of the organisation
  • Recognise the elements of the marketing mix and explain how they are used to inform marketing decision-making

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Develop and apply academic skills related to creating original content, researching, reading, writing and communicating effectively for the higher education context

  • Evaluate and reflect on personal experience, employability skills and performance and develop actions for the future

  • Demonstrate an understanding of transferable skills in sensitivity to diversity in terms of culture and inter-cultural competencies

  • Demonstrate co-operative working in a virtual team and the ability to communicate effectively and professionally in a virtual context to peers

Explore this module

Core modules

The learning outcomes for this module will be confirmed soon.

Explore this module

Core modules

 

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Critically evaluate the main characteristics, ideologies and debates shaping the economic, political and socio-ecological context in which global sustainable business take place; including foundations of market economies, good governance and theories linking economic growth with environmental and social outcomes

  • Critically evaluate the challenges and opportunities for business and Sustainable Development arising from Globalisation and communicate findings in a professional manner

  • Compare, contrast and critically assess from sustainability, ethical and business perspectives, the strategies available to business for developing innovative business models to advance progress towards sustainable development goals

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Diagnose issues of strategic importance for an organisation

  • Analyse the strategic environment of an organisation operating in an international context

  • Synthesise the findings into creative strategic options

  • Evaluate strategic options and communicate appropriate recommendations for implementation of the chosen option

Explore this module

Optional modules

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Work effectively in a consultancy project team, whilst developing your skills in communications, cross-cultural collaboration and creativity
  • Successfully develop and manage a consultancy project for a client, using relevant problem solving and project management methods
  • Critically apply business and management concepts to analyse your client's situation, design and evaluate solutions, and develop a sustainable implementation plan

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Implement schemes of business analysis

  • Distinguish the important and relevant information necessary to undertake a research project

  • Interpret quantitative evidence and research findings

  • Articulate findings effectively

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Critically discuss the nature and evolution of continuous improvement and evaluate the use and application of high performance and continuous improvement methodologies, tools and techniques

  • Critically evaluate the use and relevance of a range business change and improvement systems, models and techniques

  • Evaluate and discuss cultural, human and behavioural factors contributing to the successful implementation and sustaining of business improvement

  • Critically assess the creative environment and utilise a range of tools and techniques to enhance organisational and employee creativity and problem-solving

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Critically evaluate the nature of an 'Intelligent Enterprise' in terms of business intelligence theory
  • Examine the nature of the BI tools and techniques described in the Module Description Overview
  • Apply BI theory using business intelligence and analytics software
  • Be able to defend a group BI proposal, and produce an individual BI report

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Evaluate product and service development management theories, models and concepts
  • Compare and contrast key decisions and tools used within product and service development projects
  • Compare and contrast emergent external factors influencing product and service development within an international context
  • Critically appraise new product and service development in light of ethical and environmental sustainability issues

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Evaluate the leader versus leadership and management versus leadership debates

  • Appraise arguments, underlying assumptions and theoreitcal differences in traditional and contemporary leadership research

  • Compare, contrast and critically evaluate leadership theories

  • Identify and justify linkages between theory and practice in the enactment of leadership

  • Develop self-awareness of leader/leadership ability and formulate action plans to develop potential

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Examine what is meant by culture and its influence on the individual's behaviour

  • Analyse the nature of differences in workplace behaviour in a cross cultural context

 

  • Articulate the need to develop cross cultural competence as a business attribute
  • Justify the significance of the cross cultural dimension in the increasingly multicultural globalised working environment

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Critically analyse destination marketing material produced by a range of organisations

  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the significance of branding in destination marketing at local, national and global levels

  • Critically evaluate the challenges facing Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs)

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Describe and critically appraise the use of financial statements in evaluating a company's financial position

  • Apply and analyse knowledge of financial analysis techniques to explain items in published financial information

  • Evaluate and synthesise information on financial analysis' theoretical developments to items in publicly available financial data

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Examine knowledge and understanding of the reasons why multinational firms adopt certain types of strategies, both internal and external, in pursuit of shareholder wealth maximizing foreign projects, and be able to take an informed view on how developments in international markets affects the investment choice of the multinational firm

  • Apply and critically compare different theories of the MNC, theories of exchange rate determination and the strengths and weaknesses of the theories

  • Apply knowledge and understanding of how economic news impact on asset prices, and how financial institutions may respond to price expectations.

  • Undertake foreign exchange risk management, the financing of foreign operations and foreign investment analysis

  • Examine and apply techniques to determine the cost of capital for foreign investments.

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how to manage a multinational firms financing and investment decisions, including cross-border mergers and acquisition, and techniques for the measurement and management of a multinational firms exposure to exchange rate and interest rate risks

  • Examine and demonstrate why multinational firms list their stocks on international stock exchanges, and how and why multinational firms use bank markets such as the Eurobond market, currency options and futures markets, and interest rate and currency swaps

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Appreciate the need for a strategic approach to information systems

  • Understand how information systems may be applied to achieve competitive advantage

  • Understand the role and nature of information systems in the management decision making process and the contribution to Organisational Knowledge

  • Understand the implications of the Internet and E-Business

  • Understand the management issues associated with managing IT Services and an IT Project

Explore this module

 

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Critically evaluate theoretical and conceptual prespectives of equality and diversity
  • Apply knowledge and understanding of equality and diversity issues in the workplace
  • Collect and synthesise relevant information related to equality and diversity issues

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • To understand and evaluate the key principles and theories of negotiation

  • To apply the principles of negotiation to develop practical skills to plan and conduct negotiations

  • To critically reflect on their own negotiating styles and strategies

  • To develop and appraise interpersonal skills through practical exercises and simulations 

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Demonstrate critical and reflective knowledge of global supply chains, their environments and impacts on the wider society

  • Investigate and analyse international supply chain case studies, using theoretical problem solving techniques

  • Evaluate opportunities for supply chain development and improvement

  • Work as a member of a group to research and analyse the wider supply chain environment

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Understand key contemporary labour market trends and their significance to organisations
  • Be able to undertake core talent planning activities and know how to contribute to the development of resourcing strategies including managing and planning recruitment and selection activties effectively and within the expectation of the law and best practice
  • Understand the development of managing performance in organisations and evaluate the theoretical and conceptual frameworks that contribute to high performance organisations
  • Critically evaluate the key perspectives, principles, policies and practices that inform reward decision making
  • Apply knowledge and understanding on how to manage grievance, disciplinary, dismissal and redundancy effectively, ethically and lawfully within the workplace
  • To demonstrate understanding of People Resourcing & Talent Management and to be able to select and apply appropriate practitioner & academic resources to identify People Resourcing & Talent Management issues and propose relevant and realistic solutions

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Compare the characteristics and perspectives of projects with those of ongoing tasks

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of calls for planning estimating monitoring and controlling projects

  • Be able to communicate, lead and/or participate in project teams

  • Understand and apply the fundamental aspects of the Prince2 methodology

  • Be able to develop and implement meaningful project schedules using project management and planning software (Microsoft project)

Explore this module

 

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Justify government intervention in markets and its implications for efficiency and equity

  • Assess how the size and composition of the public sector has changed over time and how its structure differs across economies

  • Examine key concepts that underlie tax theory, the characteristics of tax systems, and variations in patterns of taxation

  • Analyse the links between central government and devolved regions

  • Prepare effective written materials

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Have a critical understanding of tourism experience concept

  • Think independently, analytically and creatively with the variations in consumer behaviours

  • Be able to identify and communicate clearly about current issues in tourism

Explore this module​​​​​​

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Explain how marketing concepts and techniques can be applied to the marketing of social challenges
  • Examine how marketing approaches can be used to change behaviour and encourage ethical, responsible and sustainable consumerism
  • Apply marketing concepts and techniques to address a real social issue to achieve behavioural change

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Develop a critical awareness of current and future technology trends

  • Develop an awareness of the impact of technology on sustainable, ethical and responsible marketing

  • Critically appraise the impact of current and future technology trends on marketing activity and decision making

  • Synthesise and disseminate research findings and implications

Explore this module

 

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Select a topic for investigation that is appropriate in terms of its relationship with current developments in the respective subject area(s) and that is defined through clear research objectives or questions

  • Access and critically evaluate a range of appropriate literature relevant to the study

  • Select appropriate research method(s) and systematically organise and interpret data obtained in the course of the research project

  • Derive relevant conclusions and recommendations from the research findings and discuss in relation to the relevant literatures

  • Demonstrate an awareness of research ethics and safeguard the welfare of all subjects potentially affected by the research project

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Select a topic for investigation that is appropriate in terms of its relationship with current developments in the respective subject area(s) and that is defined through clear research objectives or questions
  • Access and critically evaluate a range of appropriate literature relevant to the study
  • Select appropriate research method(s) and systematically organise and interpret data obtained in the course of the research project
  • Derive relevant conclusions and recommendations from the research findings and discuss in relation to the relevant literatures
  • Demonstrate an awareness of research ethics and safeguard the welfare of all subjects potentially affected by the research project

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Demonstrate the ability to select a original topic for investigation, and define clear, original and actionable research questions or objectives

  • Critically evaluate the relationship of the topic with relevant literature in the respective subject area(s)

  • Select an appropriate research method, concisely and clearly explain data collection and subsequent findings

  • Present insightful conclusions and recommendations, and clearly discuss the theoretical utility to relevant literature and practical utility to marketers

  • Demonstrate an awareness of research ethics and safeguard the welfare of all subjects potentially affected by the research

  • Appreciate the production and dissemination of a research project that focuses on immediacy and current interest, and that appeals to anyone working in consumer research and marketing strategy and management

Explore this module

 

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Select a topic for investigation that is appropriate in terms of its relationship with current developments in the respective subject area(s) and that is defined through clear research objectives or questions
  • Access and critically evaluate a range of appropriate literature relevant to the study
  • Select appropriate research method(s) and systematically organise and interpret data obtained in the course of the research project
  • Derive relevant conclusions and recommendations from the research findings and discuss in relation to the relevant literatures
  • Demonstrate an awareness of research ethics and safeguard the welfare of all subjects potentially affected by the research project

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Select a topic for investigation that is appropriate in terms of its relationship with current developments in the respective subject area(s) and that is defined through clear research objectives or questions
  • Access and critically evaluate a range of appropriate literature relevant to the study

  • Select appropriate research method(s) and systematically organise and interpret data obtained in the course of the research project.

  • Derive relevant conclusions and recommendations from the research findings and discuss in relation to the relevant literatures

  • Demonstrate an awareness of research ethics and safeguard the welfare of all subjects potentially affected by the research project

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to:

  • Select a topic for investigation that is appropriate in terms of its relationship with current developments in the respective subject area(s) and that is defined through clear research objectives or questions

  • Access and critically evaluate a range of appropriate literature relevant to the study

  • Select appropriate research method(s) and systematically organise and interpret data obtained in the course of the research project

  • Derive relevant conclusions and recommendations from the research findings and discuss in relation to the relevant literatures

  • Demonstrate an awareness of research ethics and safeguard the welfare of all subjects potentially affected by the research project

Explore this module


Changes to course content

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Facilities and clinics

Business Consultancy Project

Put your learning into practice by helping real local companies and start-ups with their business problems.

BAL-0419-Business Consultancy Project Awards; 4th April 2019; TO BE USED ONLY IN RELATION TO THE BUSINESS CONSULTANCY
Find out about our business consultancy

Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) room

Our technology enhanced active learning space promotes social learning.

12/05/2021.University of Portsmouth - B Roll - Day One..All Rights Reserved - Helen Yates- T: +44 (0)7790805960.Local copyright law applies to all print & online usage. Fees charged will comply with standard space rates and usage for that country, region or state.
Discover our TEAL learning space

Business Simulation Suite

Experience the boardroom in our replica business suite.

Business Simulation Suite
Discover our Business Simulation Suite

Teaching

Around 20% of your timetabled teaching will be online.

The majority of your timetabled teaching at Portsmouth will be face-to-face and will include:

  • lectures
  • seminars
  • tutorials
  • workshops
  • practical sessions
  • We pride ourselves on the academic support we offer our students. In addition to our dedicated teaching team, you'll have a personal tutor, student engagement officers and study support staff to help you throughout your studies.

Assessment

How you're assessed will depend on the modules you select. As well as online assessments and coursework you may be assessed using:

  • examinations
  • analysis of topical case studies
  • written reports and essays
  • presentations
  • practical projects

Teaching staff profiles

These are some of the expert staff who'll teach you on this course.

Alan William Tait Portrait

Media ready expert

Dr Alan Tait

Senior Lecturer

Alan.Tait@port.ac.uk

School of Strategy, Marketing, and Innovation

Faculty of Business and Law

Read more
Bianca Jane Cartin Portrait

Miss Bianca Cartin

Teaching Fellow

Bianca.Cartin@port.ac.uk

Read more

How you'll spend your time

One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.

We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies.  As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.

A typical week

We recommend you spend at least 35 hours a week studying for this degree.

Your total study time will depend on the modules that you take, but in your first year this is what your week may look like:

  • timetabled teaching activities (lectures, seminars, tutorials, classes and workshops) = about 13 hours a week
  • independent study (research, reading, coursework and project work, alone or in a group) = about 22 hours a week

You'll probably do more independent study and have less scheduled teaching in years 2 and 3, but this depends on which modules you choose and where you spend your year abroad.

Term dates

The academic year runs from September to June. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter.

See term dates

Supporting you

The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Types of support

Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.

As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.

In addition to the support you get from your personal tutor, you'll also have access to our student engagement officers. They can give you confidential, impartial advice on anything to do with your studies and personal wellbeing, and refer you to specialist support services if you need extra help or support.

You'll have help from a team of study support tutors. Based within the Faculty of Business and Law, these tutors are familiar with the specific requirements your assignments and work closely with faculty academics. This means they can give you focused support with the specific study skills you need to be successful on your course. They're available face-to-face, by phone, email, and by video call.

They can help with:

  • Academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations, projects and literature reviews)
  • Reflective writing skills
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
  • Understanding and using assignment feedback
  • Managing your time and workload
  • Revision and exam techniques

If you're a mature student, specialist support to help you return to learning is available.

As well as support from faculty staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University's Academic Skills Unit (ASK).

ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:

  • academic writing
  • note taking
  • time management
  • critical thinking
  • presentation skills
  • referencing
  • working in groups
  • revision, memory and exam techniques

Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University's library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from librarians who specialise in business and law.

The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.

Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.

You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.

If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.

They'll help you to

  • discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
  • liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
  • access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
  • liaise with external services

If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.

Course costs and funding

Tuition fees

  • UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
  • EU students – £9,250 a year, including our Transition Scholarship (may be subject to annual increase)
  • International students – £17,200 a year (subject to annual increase)

Tuition fees terms and conditions

Studying abroad

You won't pay any extra tuition fees to another university for taking part in a study/work abroad activity if you choose to do it for the whole academic year. During a year abroad you'll only have to pay a reduced fee to the University of Portsmouth.

Dual degrees

If you study this course as part of a dual degree, your tuition fees for years 1 and 4 are the same as the single degree option. You'll pay a reduced fee for your year abroad, and for your placement year, years 2 and 3. If you're eligible for a student loan, you can use this in years 1 to 4.

Additional course costs

These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.

Funding your studies

Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.

Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.

Travel costs

If you're eligible for a student loan you may be eligible for a Student Finance England Travel Grant to cover some of the travel costs, visas, vaccinations and medical insurance you need to study abroad. They are means-tested and vary by local education authority.

Funding schemes

The UK Government has launched a new scheme to replace Erasmus+ for UK institutions, named after British code breaker and mathematician Alan Turing.

The Turing Scheme can provide funding for University students to study abroad worldwide (subject to the Scheme's terms and conditions).

We’ve had successful applications to the Turing Scheme in previous years and are continuing to apply for this funding for each upcoming year.

Additional course costs

Our accommodation section shows your accommodation options and highlights how much it costs to live in Portsmouth.

You’ll study up to 6 modules a year. You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each module.

You can borrow most of these from the Library. If you buy these, they may cost up to £60 each.

We recommend that you budget £75 a year for photocopying, memory sticks, DVDs and CDs, printing charges, binding and specialist printing.

If your final year includes a major project, there could be cost for transport or accommodation related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.

In your second year, for your placement abroad, you’ll need to fund the costs of travel, transport, accommodation and your living costs. The exact costs will depend on the destination. Depending on the location of your placement, there may be further costs for communication or specialist clothing.

When you spend your year at a partner university you don't pay any tuition fees to that university. You will need to pay a small percentage of the annual tuition fee to the University of Portsmouth in your year abroad. This funds the support and assessment we give during your year away. 

You'll still be eligible for your tuition fee and maintenance loans and you may be eligible for extra funding through Erasmus+ or the Government's travel grants scheme

If you take a placement year or study abroad year, tuition fees for that year are as follows:

  • UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,385 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
  • EU students – £1,385 a year, including Transition Scholarship (may be subject to annual increase)
  • International students – £2,875  a year (subject to annual increase)

Apply

To apply for this course as a single or dual degree, follow the steps below. You'll apply to BA (Hons) International Business and decide whether to pursue this course as a single or dual degree after you arrive.

If you plan to study the dual degree version of this course, you only need to apply to the University of Portsmouth and do not need to apply to our partner university.

How to apply

To start this course in 2024, apply through UCAS. You'll need:

  • the UCAS course code – N123
  • our institution code – P80

Apply now through UCAS

 

If you'd prefer to apply directly, use our online application form.

You can also sign up to an Open Day to:

  • Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
  • Speak with lecturers and chat with our students 
  • Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join

If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.

Applying from outside the UK

As an international student you'll apply using the same process as UK students, but you’ll need to consider a few extra things. 

You can get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region.

Find out what additional information you need in our international students section

If you don't meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Admissions terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.