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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.
Overview
The International Business programme is taught in Kent Business School (KBS) in a brand-new building, providing modern study facilities. KBS is a top 20 UK business school for academic teaching, student satisfaction and graduate employment prospects. We provide a friendly, student-focused environment, which helps you to make the most of your studies.
You benefit 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.
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.
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.
Year in industry
Your spend a year working between your second and final year – we have a Placement Officer who can give advice and guidance. In previous years, students have spent their year in industry with:
- Denne
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car
- Ernst & Young
- Eurosport
- Fujitsu
- IBM
- Lloyds Banking Group
- Morgan Stanley
- National Grid
- The Walt Disney Company
- UBS AG Bank
- Vauxhall Motors.
Year abroad
If you would like to spend a year studying or working abroad, see International Business with a Year Abroad.
You don’t have to make a decision before you enrol at Kent but certain conditions apply.
Alternatively, you can take our three-year International Business degree, without a year abroad or a year in industry. For details, see International Business.
Extra activities
You can also get involved with the student-run Kent Business and Kent Enterprise societies, which in previous years have organised regular events with guest speakers from industry and supported budding entrepreneurs with their ventures.
Alongside your lectures and seminars, Kent Business School gives you many opportunities to interact directly with the business community. Special events and schemes have previously included:
- workshops and seminars
- business challenges
- enterprise initiatives, including the Business Start-Up Journey
- networking events.
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.
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% 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 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
All students spend a year in industry, supported by a dedicated placement team and a programme designed to ensure that students gain experience in the functional areas and industries of their choice. For students taking one of the specialist pathways, our strategic partnerships provide opportunities for placements in specific areas.
The placement allows you to experience, first hand, many of the issues addressed in the taught programme and to use the tools, techniques and applications in a real business setting. It will become a vital component of your CV and will give you a distinct advantage over other business graduates.
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 an academic adviser 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 changing 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, subject-specific and transferable skills with applications to employability and international management
- integrate theory and practice through a variety of means, including work-based learning, work experience or placement, 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 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
- the integration of business theory and practice through a work placement.
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
- apply these skills in practice through a work placement.
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
- apply these skills in practice through a work placement.
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
- apply these skills in practice through a work placement.
Careers
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 organisations, including:
- Deloitte
- KPMG
- PwC
- Lloyds Bank
- 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 give you advice on how to:
- apply for jobs
- write a good CV
- perform well in interviews.
Career-enhancing skills
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.
You can also gain skills 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.
Professional recognition
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. CMI qualifications are highly sought after by employers.
Independent rankings
Of Business Studies students who graduated from Kent in 2015, 93% 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.
According to Which? University (2017), the average starting salary for graduates of this degree is ‘high’ at £22,000.
I enjoyed my studies at Kent. Every module gave me an insight or skill that I have found useful in my work.
Sarah Roddis International Business with a Year in Industry
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice.
It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
New GCSE grades
If you’ve taken exams under the new GCSE grading system, please see our conversion table to convert your GCSE grades.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | ABB |
| GCSE | Mathematics grade C |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all Access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If we make you an offer, you will need 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 for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 16 points at HL including Mathematics 4 at HL or SL |
International students
The University welcomes applications from international students. Our international recruitment team can guide you on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country.
If you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes.
Meet our staff in your country
For more advise about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events.
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. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2017/18 tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
UK/EU fee paying students
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
In accordance with changes announced by the UK Government, we are increasing our 2017/18 regulated full-time tuition fees for new and returning UK/EU fee paying undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses will also rise from £4,500 to £4,625. This was subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. This fee will ensure the continued provision of high-quality education.
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.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Fees for Year Abroad/Industry
As a guide only, UK/EU/International students on an approved year abroad for the full 2017/18 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Please note that for 2017/18 entrants the University will increase the standard year in industry fee for home/EU/international students to £1,350.
General additional costs
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Funding
University funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
Government funding
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
The Government has confirmed that EU students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will still have access to student funding support for the duration of their course.
Scholarships
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. The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
The scholarship is also extended to those who achieve AAB at A level (or specified equivalents) where one of the subjects is either Mathematics or a Modern Foreign Language. Please review the eligibility criteria.
