The BA (Hons) International Business allows you to focus on the study of International Business as a specific field of interest, combined with the study of more general business concepts and management techniques. Concepts and techniques covered in the programme are relevant to four areas vital to any business. They are:

• the ability to produce output, either as a product or service;
• the reasons why consumers buy the product or service;
• the management of business resources;
• the impact of the external environment on the business.

This programme will include a focus on the global dimension to these areas and therefore International Business is multi-disciplinary in nature and can lead to many possible careers.

The International Business degree at UEL has four distinctive attributes:

The first is that it provides the opportunity to study International Business in some depth while also gaining a broad understanding of a range of business functions, processes and environmental influences.

The second is that the programme contains a lot of flexibility. The programme structure allows you to switch to another Business degree programme at any time up to half way through the degree, and you can also switch between full-time and part-time modes of study.

The third is that at each stage of the degree you will receive support in developing a personal development plan. This will consolidate learning, provide evidence of development to potential employers and also help you plan your future after graduating.

The fourth is that within the International Business degree scheme there is an optional year on work placement between years 2 and 3, as well as the option of studying a semester at a partner institution in Europe. If you choose the work placement option you can gain several advantages which should help your career development:

• You can put into effect what you learnt in Years 1 and 2;
• You can gain valuable work experience in, and a wider understanding of, international business and its implications;
• You can develop a network of contacts in your chosen career route, thus enhancing again your employability profile.

The BA (Hons) International Business is offered as single honours, major, joint or minor award. The degree is normally studied over three years in the full-time mode and over four to five years in the part-time mode. It is possible to switch between modes, subject to timetabling constraints.

The International Business programme comprises eighteen 20 credit modules. In line with all business related programmes, the BA International Business shares a number of modules with other business degree awards at UEL. This allows you to specialise in areas of interest and facilitates transfer at any point up to half way through the programme.

Completing level 1 successfully qualifies the student for the award of the Certificate of Higher Education, and completing level 1 and 2 qualifies for the award of Diploma of Higher Education in International Business. Note that level 3 provides a deeper emphasis on the strategic issues in a highly global business environment relevant to a variety of business areas and potential career pathways.

International Business (Single honours): Modular Structure

A one year sandwich placement is available between Level 2 and 3 to all students

*Option modules can be chosen from a range of Business modules.

Whilst studying with us you will use our network facilities and we will teach you how to maximise the benefit you can develop from this powerful resource. In addition, student learning is supported via Web CT, our virtual learning environment to develop skills for life.

Additionally you will develop proficiency in information researching using our extensive, subject-specific, online databases and CD-ROM facilities.

We will encourage you to use presentation techniques such as PowerPoint or videos.

By using these Information & Communications Technology (ICT) resources you will enhance your learning and increase your ICT skills. Therefore when you enter employment you will have a very wide range of skills which will enable you to effectively demonstrate and apply what you have studied on your degree.

Work placement:
Between your second and final year you can gain valuable work experience by working full time in an organisation. You should note that:

• We may be able to assist you in finding a placement with a suitable organisation;
• We recommend that you work in an international business environment;
• The work placement is normally paid, thus reducing the financial burden of degree study.

There are several other major advantages of this placement:

• It enables you to practice the ideas you have previously learnt;
• When you return for the final year you will be able to critically analyse your continued study in the light of your own practical experience.
• You may be able to claim 20 credits towards your programme as Work Based Learning

Before the placement year starts in semester A of Year 2 there are six taught sessions which cover Curriculum Vitae Writing, Sourcing a Placement, Presentation by Past Placement Students, Interview Skills, Written Applications and Health and Safety. The objective of these is to ensure that you are fully briefed on what you should expect on the placement year and how it should interact with and strengthen your studies and employability profile.

It is the policy of the Royal Docks Business School to include information on assessment criteria in Module handbook

Assessment is by a combination of many different types of coursework and examination.

• There are no formal examinations at Level 1 but there are some short time constrained tests.
• In the second and final year the examinations will typically, although not always, account for around 40% - 50% of the assessment.
• Your marks in Level 2 and Level 3 modules will determine your final degree classification, Level 1 marks are not used for this purpose.

You will undertake a project at Level 3 on an International Business related topic of your choosing. You will receive specific guidance on its preparation in modules taught in the preceding semester, and also at Level 2, so you will be well prepared!

You will also find that mini projects or group work exercises feature in some of the modules taught in the degree throughout all of the three years.

Studying for a degree is not just about acquiring knowledge but is also about developing a range of skills and confidence which are valued by employers. The programme is designed to help you to develop knowledge, skills and experience. We will help you to reflect upon this and recognise how you have developed and what the evidence is for this. This will help you to present yourself in the best possible light to employers.

• Global business issues
• International markets and finance
• International logistics and supply chains
• International business environments and cultures, and how organisations react
• The methods used to establish competitive strategy from an international perspective
• Business operations in an increasingly inter-connected and globalised world

• Inter-personal communication and working with others
• Finding solutions to complex and challenging problems
• The challenge of reading about and thinking about many different subjects from Law to Business Economics, from Marketing to Corporate Strategy, from Accounting and Finance to Organisational Behaviour
• The challenge of understanding the links which may exist between many different business subjects
• Thinking about how globalisation affects you
• Working with others from different cultures
• If you can answer ‘yes’ to some or all of these, then you will probably enjoy studying for an International Business degree

The International Business programme has been designed to be combined with other programmes that run across UEL. As stated above, International Business can be combined as either a Major, Joint or Minor award when taken in conjunction with other awards. Typical combinations might include:

• Marketing
• Accounting
• Business Studies
• Human Resource Management
• Economics

If you want to combine International Business with other subjects you can, subject to availability and timetabling

For details on possible combinations see the Combined Honours web pages at http://www.uel.ac.uk/combined/programmes/index.htm

Studying International Business with another subject may increase the range of career choices open to you.

Talk to your careers adviser, they should be able to give you further advice or come and see us on an Open Day, the details of which you can find on our web page: www.uel.ac.uk

The range of potential careers is probably limitless, there are so many that they cannot all be listed here.

As well as going on to run their own business, our International Business graduates have the potential to work in many different organisations. To give you an idea of the organisations which employ our graduates from a range of business degrees, we show below some of the destinations of our most recent graduates:

Please click on the organisation’s name to be taken to their web-site:
Abbey National plc http://www.abbeynational.co.uk/
Cancer Research Fund http://science.cancerresearchuk.org/
Clarins (UK) Ltd. http://uk.clarins.com/
College of Law
Credit Suisse First Boston Bank http://www.csfb.com/
Department for Education and Skills http://www.dfes-uk.co.uk/
Direct Computer Training Ltd
Hamleys of London Ltd http://www.hamleys.com/
HM Customs and Excise http://hmce.gov.uk/
HSBC Bank plc. http://hsbc.co.uk/
Intec Telecom Systems Plc http://www.intec-systems.com/
Lloyds TSB Group http://lloydstsb.com/
London Borough of Redbridge http://www.redbridge.gov.uk/
London Borough of Waltham Forest http://www.lbwf.gov.uk/
London School of Economics and Political Science http://www.lse.ac.uk/
Marks & Spencer plc. http://www.marksandspencer.com/
Merrill Lynch Inc. http://www.ml.com/
J.Sainsbury plc http://sainsburys.co.uk/
The Financial Services Authority http://www.fsa.gov.uk/
The Home Office http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/
The National Health Service http://www.doh.gov.uk/nhs.htm
United Dairies plc

Graduates have also progressed to study Masters Degrees in either specialised subjects, or the Master of Business Administration (MBA). Additionally graduates can also proceed to take professional qualifications in their chosen fields.

As you can see, our graduates work in many different sectors of the economy, so there is a very wide choice of possible careers.

We hope you will use your degree at UEL to identify what you wish to do and in preparing for that career.

You should start achieving your goals both before and after graduation.

Introducing you to degree level study:

• we have designed the assessment and teaching processes throughout the first year so that you are progressively introduced to degree level study
• we have developed a specific module in the first year that gives you the techniques needed for degree level study

Academic and administrative support :

• our Undergraduate Student Centre will be able to answer the queries you may have about the operation of the International Business degree
• a personal tutor will be allocated to you for each year of study who can advise on academic matters and personal development planning
• the Year Tutor for your programme and/or Programme Leader can help if you have problems or programme related issues you wish to raise