International Business Management BA (Hons)

Course Content

• Course Details

  Experiencing creative learning activities and authentic assessment tasks, students on the International Business Management course will navigate the complex world of international business with strong emphasis on cross-cultural capabilities, ethically-responsible business management and international strategy. University of Northampton graduates with a degree in international business will be able to:

  • Analyse and respond to the potential influence of ethical and social responsibility issues within international business
  • Evaluate strategic decisions in international business, considering success and risk factors and competing organisational priorities
  • Critique and apply principles of cross-cultural management appropriate to the organisational context and priorities
  • Critically analyse and evaluate the implications of cultural factors, both national and organisational, in effectively operating in diverse business contexts
  • Make judgments by interpretation and critical analysis of a range of business-related data and information to support organisational decision-making
  • Identify and respond to the complex interrelationships and integration between business and functions
  • Identify and use relevant data from a wide range of resources, including industry sources and academic publications, and competently undertake research tasks
  • Analyse a range of factors relevant to the global business environment in order to access the implications for business operations.

  Placement Year Opportunity

  You are encouraged to undertake an optional placement year in between Years Two and Three of study for your international business degree in international business. If you choose to take up a placement year, you will find it an invaluable experience that helps you to apply your learning in your final year and prepares you for your career. We offer a lot of support in helping you to find a placement, which can be in the UK or overseas.

  Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 24/25. The modules relating to the academic year 25/26 will be available from June 2025.

  • Stage 1
    • Social Impact of International Organisations (20 Credits)
      Module code: BUS1021

      Status: Compulsory
      This module explores the ways in which the interests of international firms align with the interests of the rest of society. Learners explore how businesses, as part of society, can be the locus of productive activities harnessed for the greater good of society at large.
    • International Business in Practice (20 Credits)
      Module code: BUS1022

      Status: Compulsory
      In this module, learners examine international business practices, which have grown exponentially due the rise of the Internet, reduced trade barriers and a commercial and political orientation towards internationalization. Learners explore globalisation, speed and uncertainty of change, and how businesses operate in dynamic international markets.
    • International Trade and Commerce (20 Credits)
      Module code: BUS1023

      Status: Compulsory
      This module equips learners with contemporary theoretical knowledge about how international trade is facilitated through exporting, importing and countertrade, and the role played by governments? trade policies, and foreign exchange markets. Learners explore some of the challenges and opportunities of international trade, and their implications for current business practices.
    • Working Across Cultures (20 Credits)
      Module code: BUS1024

      Status: Compulsory
      This module aims at equipping learners with the professional tools and skills of working across cultures and multicultural organizations. The module focuses on enhancing cultural awareness, basic skills of working in various cultural contexts, and guides the learners through the process of entering the international job market.
    • Intercultural Management (40 Credits)
      Module code: BUS1025

      Status: Compulsory
      This module examines the concepts of culture, cultural identity and diversity in the context of contemporary international business. Learners explore cultural theories and management principles to consider the connections between different cultures and individual, group and organisational behaviour, and the implications for effective management.
  • Stage 2
    • International Strategy (20 Credits)
      Module code: BUS2021

      Status: Compulsory
      This module focuses on fundamentals of international business strategy in theory and practice to examine how organisations formulate, implement, and evaluate strategies. Learners explore how organisations measure their successes and compete effectively in their international markets.
    • Data for Decision Making (20 Credits)
      Module code: BUS2022

      Status: Compulsory
      This module introduces learners to big data and business analytics, and their application to real-world challenges in international business. Learners identify valid, reliable tools and methods to collect, analyse and visualise data, and explore how that data is utilised and managed to support decision-making in a range of industries.
    • FDI and MNEs (20 Credits)
      Module code: BUS2023

      Status: Compulsory
      In this module, learners explore foreign direct investments (FDIs) and multi-national enterprises (MNEs) and their roles in global economy. It focuses on evaluating the potential impacts of FDI on local businesses and MNEs? role in transferring technology, knowledge and talent, in the contexts of emerging as well as developed economies.
    • Organisational Challenges in International Business (20 Credits)
      Module code: BUS2024

      Status: Compulsory
      This module takes an integrated and strategic view of international business challenges and their implications for organisational decision-making. Applying key concepts, models and tools of international business to real cases, learners identify and analyse the core issues, and synthesise a variety of data to produce appropriate conclusions and recommendations.
    • Reflections on International Business (40 Credits)
      Module code: BUS2025

      Status: Compulsory
      In this module, learners reflect on the dynamics of international business practices across cultures. Through a range of reflective models and taking part in international business visits, learners are exposed to the practicalities of travelling abroad on business and interacting in a range of group dynamics.
  • Stage 3
    • Social Responsibility in Practice (20 Credits)
      Module code: BUS3022

      Status: Compulsory
      This module focuses on ethical and sustainable business practices given the challenges facing international operations and their communities. Using practice-based examples, learners explore current issues such as finite resources, climate change, and global social issues in conjunction with the roles, responsibilities and ethical stances of international businesses.
    • Contemporary Issues in International Business (20 Credits)
      Module code: BUS3023

      Status: Compulsory
      In this module, learners explore changing international business trends and their implications for multi-national enterprises? (MNEs?) strategy processes. Learners research, debate and evaluate contemporary and emerging forces driving significant changes to firms? international strategies, subsidiary control mechanisms and management practices.
    • Trade and Trade Blocs (20 Credits)
      Module code: BUS3024

      Status: Compulsory
      This module provides a theoretical framework of economic integration and its impact on business activities in a globalised world. Learners explore opportunities to establish business and commercial relationships with(in) the main trade blocs in the world, sustained by the trade treaties / trade agreements currently in place.
    • Negotiating Across Cultures (20 Credits)
      Module code: BUS3025

      Status: Compulsory
      This module builds on the learners? knowledge of national cultural dimensions and organisational cultures and focuses on managing multi-cultural teams and conflict resolution in international business contexts. Highlighted in this module are the challenges of negotiating across cultures, cultural intelligence, motivation and empathy with self-analysis at the core.
    • International Business Project (40 Credits)
      Module code: BUS4006

      Status: Compulsory
      This module enables learners to apply knowledge and skills gained throughout the programme in a capstone international business project. Learners practise project management in a real-world piece of work, exercising choice over project format between an international-business case study, a business plan, a market entry plan or a thematic paper.

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• Student Perks

  At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

  If you join our full-time BA International Business Management degree at Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

  Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

  To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.

  *UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details).

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• Integrated Foundation Year

  The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) offers a new and exciting route into studying for a degree, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance.

  If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements for International Business we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year International Business programme which includes a Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award.

  The University of Northampton’s  four-year courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.

  Please see our Integrated Foundation Year page for more details.

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• Optional Work Placement Year

  The optional placement year enables you to put into practice what you have learned on your degree and gain practical industry experience. Your International Business Management degree is extended to four years and the placement is undertaken at the end of your penultimate year, this is for one year (48 weeks) and paid. If you meet the entry criteria, and choose to take up a placement year, you will find it an invaluable experience that helps you to apply your learning in your final year and prepares you for your career. We offer a lot of support in helping you to find a placement, which can be in the UK or overseas.

  Where have previous International Business Management students worked during their placement year?

  • Lake District Country Hotels
  • Atlas Copco UK Ltd
  • Kall Kwik

  Hear from previous International Business Management students about their placement experience

  • Efaz Uddin

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• FAQs

  How will I learn on the International Business degree?

  The University of Northampton’s BA International Business course is taught by a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops, usually for 12 hours class time per week, although this may drop in later years of the programme. In addition we recommend that you spend at least 18-24 hours per week in self-directed study time.

  Once you have graduated from this course you can choose to progress onto a full-time, part-time or distance learning postgraduate course. This will enable you to focus your studies in a specialist area or gain a general management qualification such as the MBA.

  How will I be assessed on the International Business degree?

  A variety of assessment methods will be used – from business reports, individual and team projects and student-led seminars, essays, case study analyses and examinations. Many modules also use multi-choice tests and portfolio style assessments.

  Are there any special features for this course?

  • Diverse student body
  • Multi-national and multilingual teaching team
  • Optimum cohort size with intensive staff/student allows for greater support
  • Compulsory European and Asian trips totalling five weeks abroad*
  • The opportunity for international placements and involvement in local business and charitable projects
  • Various extra-curricular activities include theatre trips, guest lectures and visits to local and foreign businesses, as well as the potential to engage with major international networking opportunities
  • An in depth look at business practices in key regions of the world – with a focus on Europe and Asia
  • An introduction to the case study methodology
  • Opportunity to engage in year-long work placement abroad

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