International Business BSc (Hons)

UCAS code: GOW3

Explore international business, economics and marketing. Understand how companies operate on a global platform. Study with us and gain eligibility for Affiliate Member status of the Chartered Management Institute.

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Overview

Course length:	3 years full-time
Start dates:	September 2025 September 2026
Location:	Edge Hill University
Example offers:	BCC-BBC (A Level) or DMM (BTEC) View full entry criteria
Subject(s):	Business Management
Faculty:	Arts and Sciences
Department:	Business School

A group of students walking past the Business School with the Hub in the background.

How do we structure businesses to reach a global audience? How do we operate in new markets? And what is the best way to negotiate collaborations and international partnerships? Study at Edge Hill to develop the expertise needed to work in business anywhere in the world.

On our international business degree you’ll get an advanced understanding of the fundamentals of modern business. Develop skills in accounting, economics and how to manage the human resource. Spend time acquiring skills in marketing, and exploring the strategies used in global commercial and industrial environments.

Embrace the international community and develop your language skills by choosing to study a modern language as part of your course. The opportunity to start your own business, or take a work placement will allow you to hone your new skills, and increase your opportunities after graduation.

A professionally recognised degree

You will gain affiliate membership of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), a globally recognised professional body, for the duration of your degree and one additional year after graduation. The CMI is dedicated to promoting the highest standards in management and leadership excellence. On successful completion of your international business degree, you will also be awarded a CMI Level 5 Certificate in Management and Leadership.

Chartered Management Institute HE Partner

This course is also delivered by Van Lang University, Vietnam.

Course features

International students can apply
Learn a language option available
Professional accreditation
Sandwich year option available
Studying abroad option available
Work placement opportunity

Similar courses were available at other institutions, but I felt that Fastrack at Edge Hill was the only place to fully prepare you for the course, giving me the confidence that I was starting on a level playing field with other students coming straight from education.

Paul Harkin

BSc (Hons) International Business

View alumni profile

"There are so many opportunities at Edge Hill. Studying abroad, a placement year, internships and all the support from tutors and staff. You have support to find the opportunities you want to pursue."

Danielle Davis

BSc (Hons) International Business

View alumni profile

What you'll study

You’ll start with business environment, looking at organisational behaviour and how businesses operate in international environments. We’ll introduce you to accounting and statistics. Exploring operational management, you’ll look at how businesses are run efficiently and profitably. Then you’ll have the option to study small business development, where you will have the opportunity to create a business start-up project. Or take the opportunity to develop your language skills ready for the global business world.

Compulsory modules:

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Principles of Marketing provides an introduction to marketing and demonstrates its centrality to business decision making. The key focus is on customers and meeting their needs, which is central to the success of any business organisation. A range of marketing concepts, theories will be explored and set within the context of the fast moving and dynamic business environment. You'll also be introduced to the central philosophies of marketing thinking and practice. Topics covered include the marketing concept, the marketing mix and the theories of segmentation, targeting and positioning.

Module code: BUS1043

Credits: 20

Assessment

50% Coursework

50% Exam

One of:

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New Venture Creation introduces you to business planning and the development stages in business start-up. You will organise and evaluate theoretical perspectives in a practical setting, informing your future learning processes and outcomes. A key element of the module is a review of entrepreneurial skills and small business development through theoretical concepts of enterprise, self-employment and small business management. This module creates an awareness of emergent business types and their markets, the factors behind small business start-ups, entry routes, funding, and barriers. A practical element includes foundational steps towards a business start-up project which will require you to demonstrate key skill areas such as the development stages of business planning, communication, negotiation, self-management, and problem solving. The combination of these aspects will enable you to critically engage in academic thinking and writing about enterprise, evaluate business ideas, choose one main idea, strategically conceptualise that idea, and prepare a business plan and pitch for how the idea could be brought successfully to market.

Module code: BUS1054

Credits: 20

Assessment

50% Coursework

50% Practical

Language 1 is ideal if you want to learn a new language, or further develop your current language skills, as an integrated part of this degree. You can study French, German, Arabic, Italian, Mandarin, Japanese or Spanish (subject to minimum numbers for your preferred language). Delivered at the Edge Hill Language Centre, the module will be taught in an interactive, communicative manner, using authentic materials in the target language. Emphasis will be placed on all four areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening. You will play an active role in the weekly two-hour classes, engaging in role-plays, short conversations, videos, authentic texts and listening materials. You will also be encouraged to reflect on your own learning needs. On enrolment to the module, you will complete a language induction form and be placed into a language level group appropriate for your prior knowledge of your chosen language. Please note, while we will endeavour to accommodate varying language levels per module, this is not always possible. While you can join the module with some prior experience of your target language, you will not be able to study a language you are already fluent or proficient in.

Module code: TLC1010

Credits: 20

Assessment

85% Coursework

15% Practical

In Year 2 we’ll explore how businesses operate internationally. You’ll understand exactly what affects today’s global economy and look at the different ways companies expand into new markets. You’ll also study international economics and learn how to manage the human resource effectively. You’ll choose two optional modules. These could be in topics like digital strategy, entrepreneurship, or business law. If you studied a language in Year 1, you can continue to develop your skills in Year 2.

Compulsory modules:

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International Business provides an overview of key management activities related to International Business. The module considers a range of corporate functions including global supply chain management, international marketing and human resources management, and accounting and financial management. You will analyse the different ways and conditions under which firms internationalise their operations, and how different structural changes in the global economy are impacting upon the international business environment.

Module code: BUS2212

Credits: 20

Assessment

50% Exam

50% Practical

Operations Management gives you the opportunity to learn about relevant concepts and practicalities for application in a working environment. The module will enable you to improve your competitiveness at a global level. Operations management is an area of study that recognises that resources are scarce and that choices must be made between the alternatives available in terms of running and improving operations to a high standard and within budget. Progressing from basic economic concerns, the module considers the practical apportionment of people, time, finances and materials and outlines best practice for how organisations can ensure output is achieved as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

Module code: BUS2213

Credits: 20

Assessment

60% Coursework

40% Practical

One of:

Expand all

Entrepreneurship and Innovation explores characteristics, behaviours, attributes, and skills of entrepreneurship as well as the whole process of innovation from idea to product development and the conditions that must be fulfilled for innovation to thrive. The module explores research from a number of areas to highlight the importance of factors such as social and economic capital, local and regional infrastructure and the role of government in enabling (or disabling) innovation. You'll develop your entrepreneurial skills, identifying opportunities and developing ventures. On top of this, you'll consider the risk environment including legal issues, funding issues, start-up and growth strategies. This module provides you with the ability to act entrepreneurially to generate, develop and communicate ideas, manage and exploit intellectual property, gain support, and deliver successful outcomes.

Module code: BUS2229

Credits: 20

Assessment

50% Coursework

50% Practical

Language 2 is ideal if you want to learn a new language, or further develop your current language skills, as an integrated part of this degree. You can study French, German, Arabic, Italian, Mandarin, Japanese or Spanish (subject to minimum numbers for your preferred language). Delivered at the Edge Hill Language Centre, the module will be taught in an interactive, communicative manner, using authentic materials in the target language. Emphasis will be placed on all four areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening. You will play an active role in the weekly two-hour classes, engaging in role-plays, short conversations, videos, authentic texts and listening materials. You will also be encouraged to reflect on your own learning needs. On enrolment to the module, you will complete a language induction form and be placed into a language level group appropriate for your prior knowledge of your chosen language. Please note, while we will endeavour to accommodate varying language levels per module, this is not always possible. While you can join the module with some prior experience of your target language, you will not be able to study a language you are already fluent or proficient in.

Module code: TLC2000

Credits: 20

Assessment

85% Coursework

15% Practical

One of:

Expand all

Social Media Monitoring and Analytics equips you with an appreciation of the need for analytics in the market place. As companies are collecting large amounts of data, marketing decisions made by them have become more data-oriented. More and more companies are now heavily investing in marketing analytics. Therefore, analysing the ‘digital footprints’ in a meaningful manner is essential. Due to the unstructured nature of data, understanding behavioural patterns is complex. This module will provide a background understanding of analytics in relation to marketing strategy and communication.

Module code: BUS2219

Credits: 20

Assessment

60% Coursework

40% Practical

We’ll spend time focusing on sustainability and global supply chain management. You will develop an advanced understanding of the factors that influence sound business decisions. You will have the opportunity to work on an extended live business project with a sponsoring organisation or opt to set up and trade your own company through our Graduate Enterprise initiative. Additionally, you can choose optional modules, including leadership, global marketing, or responsible business. If you have taken the language option throughout your degree, you will solidify your language skills, preparing you to operate on the international stage.

Compulsory modules:

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Sustainability and Business recognises that sustainability is increasingly shaping business practice and culture in the 21st century while acknowledging that business has a vitally important role to play in all our sustainable futures. The module will equip you with a comprehensive and holistic understanding of sustainability and the various business and societal contexts in which these can be applied. Exploring the broad and holistic concept of sustainability, as framed by the United Nations’ 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), you will discover a range of ideas, concepts and theories of sustainability and gain insight how they are shaping the future business agenda. You will examine the inter-connectedness of different sustainability challenges facing humanity, such as climate change, energy and health, and consider the vital role that business has to play in addressing them. You will critically analyse specific approaches to climate action, as well as broader sustainability strategies, that are being devised by companies, business coalitions and partnerships between public and civil sector organisations.

Module code: BUS3064

Credits: 20

Assessment

100% Coursework

One of:

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Live Project is based upon an employer/student collaboration, enabling you to take part in a live business project in a real-world setting with a company from our network. You will experience at first hand the issues faced by large and small business owners. You’ll develop skills such as business analysis, negotiation, and strategy, whilst developing networks which will stay with you beyond your studies. Where the right opportunity is not available, you will instead study our Graduate Enterprise module.

Module code: BUS3060

Credits: 40

Assessment

85% Coursework

15% Practical

One of:

Expand all

Contemporary Issues in Economics provides you with an understanding of, and an ability to critically analyse, contemporary issues in economics. Economic theories and understanding established earlier in the programme will be utilised to analyse contemporary economic situations and policies. The module will cover current, significant economic events both nationally and internationally, in respect of both the economic situation and policy. All issues will be considered from the perspective of business and management.

Module code: BUS3069

Credits: 20

Assessment

50% Coursework

50% Practical

Development Economics discusses the key economic, social and political factors responsible for economic development and growth. In particular, the module provides an insight into economic theories analysing the development patterns across different countries and explaining differences. You will consider what factors effectively enhance or hinder economic growth and explore the relationship of economic development with national and international institutions, macro-economic policy and foreign direct investment. The role of civil society and the environment on economic development will also be examined, as will socio-economic issues such as poverty and inequality.

Module code: BUS3070

Credits: 20

Assessment

50% Coursework

50% Exam

One of:

Expand all

Leadership Ethics and Change considers how to turn a good idea into a successful market-leading product. Entrepreneurship and innovation go hand in hand and involve the development and release of a new product/service or the repacking of an existing one to provide competitive advantage or even create new markets. This module explores a variety of concepts around strategic entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship. We will examine the difference between an idea, an invention and an innovation and provide you with a case-led understanding of the process in action, from creation to implementation. The module provides you with a number of tools and techniques to critically evaluate success and build on your previous experiences of work-based learning or enterprise education.

Module code: BUS3063

Credits: 20

Assessment

50% Coursework

50% Practical

Enterprise Management cultivates entrepreneurial skills, fostering innovation, creativity, and strategic thinking. It immerses you in real-world business contexts, promoting adaptability and resilience. Emphasising practical application you'll develop an understanding of the intricacies of entrepreneurship. You will refine your problem-solving and decision-making capabilities and explore theoretical frameworks with hands-on experiences. The module emphasises collaboration, communication, and risk management, equipping you with the skills and mindset needed for success in the ever-evolving landscape of entrepreneurship and enterprise.

Module code: BUS3079

Credits: 20

Assessment

50% Coursework

50% Practical

Responsible Business offers a comprehensive overview of the complex landscape surrounding business responsibility. Irresponsible business acts include damaging our natural environments, exploiting workers, selling unsafe or sub-standard products, overusing natural resources, and exacerbating income inequality. The existence of viable alternatives to irresponsible business practices will be explored, showcasing successful implementations across various contexts. You will gain a deep understanding of the hurdles involved in transitioning toward responsible business operations. This module prepares you not just to critique the status quo but to actively contribute to shaping a future where businesses operate responsibly, ethically, and sustainably.

Module code: BUS3080

Credits: 20

Assessment

50% Coursework

50% Exam

Language 3 enables you to build on and develop your previous language knowledge in French, German, Arabic, Italian, Mandarin or Spanish. You must have either studied the prior language module in the previous year or be able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge of your target language (though you will not be able to study a language you are already fluent or proficient in). The language levels available will be determined by the continuation of corresponding groups from the previous language module. You will gain the language skills necessary to become a more proficient user of the language. Classes will be taught in an interactive and communicative manner using authentic materials to promote meaningful communication. They will be conducted in the target language as much as possible. Emphasis will be on speaking and listening, with appropriate attention also being paid to other communication skills. Other work will include a variety of tasks which may be completed in the Language Centre.

Module code: TLC3000

Credits: 20

Assessment

85% Coursework

15% Practical

How you'll study

As well as preparing for and attending lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops, you will spend time reading and completing coursework, including written assignments, portfolios, presentations, and poster and video production.

You will have the opportunity to develop your employability profile through a work placement or participation in a graduate enterprise project. In addition, you will undertake live client projects with organisations or work on agreed projects with real outcomes and impact.

How you'll be assessed

Throughout our international business degree, there are a combination of assessments used to test intellectual development, vocational capability and critical thinking. Coursework often involves both individual and group-based working, simulating some of the situations that will be emulated in the workplace. Case studies and problem-solving exercises are used and examinations may include both seen and unseen questions.

Who will be teaching you

Edge Hill Business School is home to a thriving research community, hosts a growing international partnership portfolio, and is a member of AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), the world’s largest management education network.

All of our staff are passionate about student learning and development. This international business degree has been designed by specialists in accountancy, business development, economics, human resource management, marketing, and the digital economy. The programme team includes several researchers who publish regularly while also working with local and national businesses and international research groups on cutting-edge projects. Many staff also have experience working internationally and provide expertise in international business and globalisation.

Timetables for your first week are normally available at the end of August prior to enrolment in September. You can expect to receive your timetable for the rest of the academic year during your first week. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week. Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities.

Where your course includes optional modules, these are to provide an element of choice within the course curriculum. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by timetabling requirements. Some restrictions on optional module choice or combinations of optional modules may apply.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements (2025 / 2026)

Typical offer 104-112 UCAS Tariff points. No specific subjects are required. You will also need GCSE Mathematics and GCSE English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or equivalent.

Example offers

Qualification	Requirement
A Level	BCC-BBC.
BTEC Extended Diploma (or combination of BTEC QCF qualifications)	Distinction, Merit, Merit (DMM).
T Level	Overall grade of Merit.
International Baccalaureate (IB)	We are happy to accept IB qualifications which achieve the required number of UCAS Tariff points.
Access to Higher Education Diploma	45 credits at Level 3, for example 9 credits at Distinction and 36 credits at Merit or 15 credits at Distinction and 30 credits at Merit. The required total can be attained from various credit combinations.

Please note, the above examples may differ from actual offers made. A combination of A Level and BTEC awards may also be accepted.

If you have a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent), there is no maximum number of qualifications that we will accept UCAS points from. This includes additional qualifications such as Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), AS Levels that haven't been continued to A Level, and General Studies AS or A Level awards.

English language requirements

International students require IELTS 6.0, with a score no lower than 5.5 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification.

If your current level of English is half a band, one band, or one-and-a-half bands lower, either overall or in one or two elements, you may want to consider our Pre-Sessional English course.

Fair Entry Criteria

Our new Fair Entry Criteria is a Contextual Admissions Policy that takes an applicant’s personal and educational background into account. This policy will allow eligible applicants to receive up to a two-grade reduction in their entry requirements for this course. Find out more and see if you qualify.

For further information on how you can meet the entry requirements

UK EU International

If you don't meet the entry criteria, you might be interested in...

Fastrack

How to apply

Apply online through UCAS

Read our guide to applying through UCAS to find out more about the application process.

Apply as an international student

Please see our international student pages for further information about how to apply as a prospective international student.

Part-time applications require a direct application to Edge Hill. Please select the year of entry that you wish to apply for.

Apply for September 2025 part-time.

Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.

Facilities

A stunning £8million building provides impressive teaching and learning facilities for students in Edge Hill Business School.

The contemporary three-storey building offers a 100-seat lecture theatre and modern seminar and meeting rooms. There are also social learning areas which encourage a more informal and interactive style of learning, in addition to an attractive roof garden and atrium.

Where you'll study

Finance

Tuition fees

£9,535

a year

£17,000

a year

The University may administer a small inflationary rise in tuition fees, in line with Government policy, in subsequent academic years as you progress through the course.

EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.

Financial support

Subject to eligibility, UK students joining this course can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the full cost of tuition fees. UK students enrolling on the course may also be eligible to apply for additional funding to help with living costs.

Scholarships

We offer a range of scholarships, which celebrate the determination, commitment and achievement of our students. Many of our scholarships are awarded automatically. There are some however, where you will need to be involved in an application or nomination process. To find out more about our scholarships and check your eligibility, please visit our dedicated scholarships pages.

Money Matters

Please view the relevant Money Matters guide for comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students.

Money Matters

EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals can ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). If you are an EU student who does not have settled or pre-settled status, or are an international student from a non-EU country, please see our international student finance pages.

Your future career

The options available to you when you graduate from our international business degree will be diverse. You might use your business expertise to pursue careers in banking, marketing, product development, and the management of small and medium businesses. Alternatively, you could use your knowledge to start your own business, with the skills to take it to an international platform.

Graduates of this course have entered careers in a number of different fields, including roles such as:

Project officer
Operations manager
Engineering project coordinator
Business analyst
Business adviser

Recent graduates have gone on to work for organisations like British Aerospace, Airbus, Bentley Motors, Matalan and HMRC. Wherever you find work, you’ll have the skills to innovate, strategise and lead.

Applying for a graduate role isn’t your only option though. You could stay at Edge Hill to take your studies further. Take a look at our postgraduate options in business and management.

You will gain affiliate membership of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), a globally recognised professional body, for the duration of your degree and one additional year after graduation. You will then have the option to renew your affiliate membership on an annual basis, however this would be at your own expense. The CMI is dedicated to promoting the highest standards in management and leadership excellence. Membership entitles you to full access to ManagementDirect, an extensive online portal that provides invaluable careers information, course-based resources and advice on best practice.

On successful completion of your international business degree, you will also be awarded a CMI Level 5 Certificate in Management and Leadership.

Course changes

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, however our courses are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses.

Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of professional bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

Modules removed from Year 1:

BUS1012 Business Economics
BUS1013 Introduction to Accounting and Statistics
BUS1016 Marketing for Business
BUS1015 Operations Management
BUS1014 People and Organisations
BUS1017 Business Start-up
BUS1031 Introduction to Digital Marketing
BUS1018 Statistics for Economics

Modules added to Year 1:
BUS1040 Business Environment
BUS1041 Introduction to Business Finance
BUS1042 Organisational Behaviour
BUS1043 Principles of Marketing
BUS1044 Introduction to Business Analytics
BUS1054 New Venture Creations

Modules removed from Year 2:

BUS2025- International Business
BUS2036- International Economics
BUS2018- Managing the Human Resource
BUS2017- Research Methods for Business
BUS2032- Branding: Integrated Digital Campaigns
BUS2035- Consumer Behaviour
BUS2019- Employability
BUS2030- Finance and Performance Management
BUS2020- Graduate Enterprise
BUS2027- Intermediate Economic Analysis
BUS2029- Leadership Culture and Change
BUS2038- Loyalty Generation and CRM
BUS2024- Managing People
BUS2022- Project Management
BUS2023- Quality Management
BUS2031- Retail Marketing Planning
BUS2034- Services and Experiential Marketing
BUS2033- Social Media Marketing and Analytics

Modules added to Year 2:
BUS2212- International Business
BUS2218-International Economics
BUS2210- Work Placement
BUS2213-Operations Management
BUS2211- Human Resource Management
BUS2214- Strategic Management
BUS2216- Finance and Performance Management
BUS2217- Business Digital Strategy
BUS2219- Social Media Monitoring and Analytics

Modules removed from Year 3:
BUS3039 Global Marketing Management
BUS3024 Strategic Management
BUS3022- Dissertation
BUS3025- Extended Business Project
BUS3041- Advertising in Marketing Communications
BUS3030-Business Strategy and Digital Goods
BUS3034- Contemporary Issues in Economics
BUS3032- Development Economics
BUS3044- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
BUS3031- Global Logistics and International Trade
BUS3040- Marketing and Society
BUS3042- Marketing Simulation
BUS3037-Organisational Misbehaviour
BUS3029-Seeing the Future: The Next Decade of Commerce
BUS3027- Strategic Financial Management
BUS3036- Strategic Human Resource Management
BUS3048- Sustainability and Business

Modules added to Year 3:
BUS3068- Global Supply Chain Management
BUS3064- Sustainability and Business
BUS3060- Live Project
BUS3061- Graduate Enterprise
BUS3069- Contemporary Issues in Economics
BUS3070- Development Economics
BUS3063- Leadership Ethics and Change
BUS3067- International HR Management
BUS3071- Global Marketing Management
BUS3079- Enterprise Management
BUS3080- Responsible Business