Students preparing for their graduation ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral

International Business (clone) - BSc (Hons)

UCAS code N126

This is an archived page and for reference purposes only

2016

Business is global; to be successful you need to understand international cultures and markets and adapt your business to their needs. As an International Business student at Kent, you develop the essential business skills to lead any business anywhere.

2016

Overview

Taught in Kent Business School, the International Business programme benefits from our global links and the international make-up of our staff and students. You are taught by lecturers with experience in a range of management disciplines, as well as by leading experts currently in business.

In the National Student Survey 2016, Business Studies at Kent was ranked 15th for overall satisfaction.

Our degree programme

In your first year, you are introduced to all aspects of business including accounting, financial reporting, business modelling and the global business environment.

In your second and final years, you cover international business strategy, business ethics, operations management, innovation, strategy analysis and interactive decision modelling. You can also focus on areas you are particularly interested in, such as new product marketing, international entrepreneurship and enterprise.

Study resources

Resources to support International Business students include:

  • a brand new building, housing Kent Business School and the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science
  • a wide range of publications, reference materials and news resources in the library
  • the Student Learning Advisory Service, which provides information on all aspects of effective learning and study skills.

Inspiring community

Kent Business School provides a friendly, student-focused environment, which helps you to make the most of your studies.

Alongside your lectures and seminars, you have many opportunities to interact directly with the business community. Special events and schemes within the School include:

  • workshops and seminars
  • business challenges
  • enterprise initiatives including the Business Start-Up Journey
  • networking events.

You can also get involved with the student-run Kent Business and Kent Enterprise societies, which organise regular events with guest speakers from industry and support budding entrepreneurs with their ventures.

Professional network

Kent Business School has long established links with business schools in China, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Finland. We also have excellent links with local, national and international businesses.

Your options

Many International Business students choose to take a year in industry or a year abroad. You don’t have to make a decision before you enrol at Kent but certain conditions apply: see International Business with a Year in Industry or International Business with a Year Abroad for details.

As a student at Kent Business School, you also have the opportunity to gain the Chartered Management Institute’s (CMI) Level 5 Professional Diploma in Management and Leadership alongside your degree.

And don’t forget – at Kent you can always enhance your degree studies by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as adding much sought after analytical skills to your degree via Kent’s Q-Step Centre or learning a language.

About Kent Business School

Studying at Kent Business School is an exciting life experience, especially if you are moving away from home. We have combined a solid academic portfolio with excellent accommodation options, as well as hosting plenty of social and cultural activities.

Kent Business School delivers a high standard of business education and is the largest department at the University of Kent. Our academic research and links with global business inform our teaching, ensuring a curriculum that is both rigorous and current.  We are a top 30 UK business school for our academic teaching and student satisfaction.

Independent rankings

In the National Student Survey 2016, Business Studies at Kent was ranked 15th for overall satisfaction. Business Studies at Kent was ranked 17th in The Times Good University Guide 2017.

Of Business Studies students who graduated from Kent in 2015, 93% of were in work or further study within six months (DLHE). Business Studies at Kent was ranked 16th for graduate prospects in The Times Good University Guide 2017.

 

 

 

Course structure

The course structure provides a sample of the modules available for this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.  Most programmes require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University.

Based on ongoing sector research, new or updated modules for 2016/17 will include, subject to final approval:

CB756 - Digital Information Systems: A Management Perspective

The following modules are offered to our current students. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation:

Year in industry

As part of your degree programme, it is possible to go on a year’s business placement or to spend a year studying or working abroad. This is taken between Stages 2 and 3.

Students at Kent Business School have had placements with many major companies both in the UK and overseas. Opportunities for managerial level jobs are available in a wide range of sectors. Organisations who have recently participated in the scheme include Denne, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Ernst & Young, Eurosport, Fujitsu, IBM, Lloyds Banking Group, Morgan Stanley, National Grid, The Walt Disney Company, UBS AG Bank and Vauxhall Motors.

Year abroad

For your year abroad, taken between Stages 2 and 3, you spend your time studying at one of our partner institutions in Europe or Asia. It may also be possible to spend your year abroad on an approved work placement.

Teaching and assessment

We use a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, case-study analysis, group projects and presentations, and computer-based situations. You have approximately 12 hours of class time per week, and regular access to a personal tutor for advice on any matter concerning your studies or your performance on the course.

For language study, teaching takes place in small groups, with regularly assessed work throughout the year. The latest language learning technology is used extensively to support classroom-based learning.

Assessment is by a mixture of coursework and end-of-module examinations, with the examinations normally counting for up to 70% of the marks for each module.

Programme aims

The programme aims to:

  • develop understanding and knowledge of a broad range of organisations, their management and the international environment in which they operate
  • provide an academic preparation for a career in international business and management
  • provide a broad, analytical and highly integrated study of business and management issues
  • provide a sound academic base from which students may continue to benefit from lifelong learning skills and personal development
  • develop key intellectual skills, subject-specific and transferable skills with applications to employability and international management
  • integrate theory and practice through a variety of means, including exposure to business issues through employer-based case studies, visits and inputs from practising managers
  • provide students with opportunities to study chosen aspects of business and management in greater depth
  • develop an understanding of the economic, social and cultural environment of business and management in another country (European or Asian)
  • develop skills in a second European language, suitable for use in a business context (where language option is taken).

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You gain knowledge and understanding of:

  • organisations, their environments and the management of people, operations, finance, marketing and organisational strategy
  • social science concepts and theories, and the ability to apply them to business and management contexts
  • contemporary and pervasive issues, deepening core knowledge
  • European and international developments relevant to management.

Intellectual skills

You gain the ability to:

  • critically evaluate arguments and evidence
  • analyse and draw reasoned conclusions to structured and unstructured problems
  • apply core numeracy and IT skills to problems.

Subject-specific skills

You gain the ability to:

  • identify, formulate and solve business problems using qualitative and quantitative tools
  • create, evaluate and assess options in a range of business situations, applying concepts and knowledge
  • communicate effectively, orally and in writing, about business issues
  • apply core numeracy and IT skills to business problems
  • conduct research into business/management issues using a variety of sources and methodologies.

Transferable skills

You gain the ability to:

  • identify and use information from various sources to assess ideas
  • be an effective self manager of time, planning and delivering outputs effectively
  • communicate well, orally and in writing, using a range of media
  • work in groups and apply other interpersonal skills
  • make good use of numeracy and IT skills.

Careers

Of Business Studies students who graduated from Kent in 2015, 93% were in work or further study within six months (DLHE).

You graduate with a solid grounding in core business management concepts, theories and skills, with a particular focus on global business.

To help you appeal to employers, you also learn key transferable skills that are essential for all graduates. These include the ability to:

  • think critically
  • communicate your ideas and opinions
  • manage your time effectively
  • work independently or as part of a team.

Graduate destinations

Our International Business graduates find work in public and private sector management and consultancy both overseas and in the UK. Recent graduates have taken up positions in a wide range of companies and sectors, including:

  • Deloittes
  • KPMG
  • PwC
  • Lloyds
  • Sainsbury’s
  • Tesco
  • Transport for London
  • Yahoo! UK
  • Thames Valley Police
  • Heineken.

Help finding a job

Kent Business School has an excellent international reputation and good links with businesses globally. This network is very useful to students when looking for work in industry. Our qualified careers practitioners provide support to all business undergraduate students for up to three years after graduation.

The University also has a friendly Careers and Employability Service, which can you give you advice on how to:

  • apply for jobs
  • write a good CV
  • perform well in interviews.

Independent rankings

Business Studies at Kent was ranked 16th for graduate prospects in The Times Good University Guide 2017.

What our graduates say

“Kent Business School helped me to find my placement, which was really the starting point for my career.”
Sarah Roddis
International Business with a Year in Industry graduate

Entry requirements

Home/EU students

The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.

Qualification Typical offer/minimum requirement
A level

ABB

GCSE

Mathematics grade C

Access to HE Diploma

The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above.

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma)

The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances.

International Baccalaureate

34 points overall or 16 at HL including Mathematics 4 at HL or SL

International students

The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.

Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.

English Language Requirements

Please see our English language entry requirements web page.

Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.

General entry requirements

Please also see our general entry requirements.

Fees

The 2016/17 annual tuition fees for this programme are:

UK/EU Overseas
Full-time
Part-time

For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.

The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.

The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.

For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk

UK/EU/International students on an approved Year Abroad for the full 2016/17 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Those on an approved Year in Industry pay an annual fee of £865 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.

Funding

Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on our funding page.  

General scholarships

Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.

The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence

At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. For 2016 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page. 

Full-time

Part-time

The Key Information Set (KIS) data is compiled by UNISTATS and draws from a variety of sources which includes the National Student Survey and the Higher Education Statistical Agency. The data for assessment and contact hours is compiled from the most populous modules (to the total of 120 credits for an academic session) for this particular degree programme. Depending on module selection, there may be some variation between the KIS data and an individual's experience. For further information on how the KIS data is compiled please see the UNISTATS website.

If you have any queries about a particular programme, please contact information@kent.ac.uk.