BA Honours International Business Administration (Final Year Entry) Distance Education

Overview & facilities

This course aims to enable you to develop effective business skills, realise the interrelationship of business functions, build essential business skills, and be proficient in addressing current international business issues and situations. The course will prepare you for an international business career encompassing different cultures.

Why is the course special?
• A one year course ideal for anyone wanting to understand what makes international businesses successful
• Designed to build on the knowledge that you have already developed in your studies
• This course draws together key business areas in an integrated programme

Who is the course for?
It is for those who have a broad background in business studies from the UK and overseas. This includes students:
• With Business foundation degrees and HNDs
• Who have completed the first two years of a three-year business degree at another institution
• With two-year business diplomas from outside the UK

Content & modules

Modules

• Year 1

  Global Business Strategy (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to introduce students to the main concepts, analytical tools and theoretical frameworks in the field of global business strategy. The module will introduce general strategic concepts and theories of internationalisation, and then draw together and integrate knowledge and skills that students have learned previously, applying these to the issues that typically faced by organizations when they operate internationally. It intends to develop student s awareness to and sensitivity of the differences between global international and domestic business, and improve their analytical, critical and problem solving abilities.

  International Finance (30 Credits) - Optional

  This module aims to provide students with knowledge of the international monetary system and skills of managing financial assets in a global environment. The first half of the module introduces theories of exchange rate, balance of payments and macroeconomic policies in an open economy. The second half of the module talks about the application of financial instruments and techniques in managing the financial assets and risks. Students have the opportunity to study the operations of the world capital markets and participate in the discussions of various contemporary international financial issues and policies.

  Managing Across Borders (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to explore issues of managing across borders in terms of the cultural subjectivity of management theory and practice, with a specific focus on ethics. It examines the influence of national culture on organisational functioning and managerial work. Leadership, negotiation, communication, and decision making are considered in the context of local values, beliefs and behaviours. The module thus aims to develop students sensitivity to cultural issues. It will also give students knowledge relating to ethical issues in global business and management, provides a framework for identifying and analysing these, with appropriate strategies for resolving them.

Final year

Module 1 MGT3202 Global Business Strategy

Module 2 MGT3204 Managing Across Borders

Module 3 MGT3196 Business Game

Module 4 choose between ECS3123 International Finance or MKT3134 International Marketing

Entry & applying

Standard entry requirements

We normally require evidence that you have completed an equivalent Year One and Two of an Undergraduate business course, for example an HND, or foundation Degree or equivalent.

International entry requirements

We accept the equivalent of the above from a recognised overseas qualification, to find out more about the requirements from your country, see further information under support in your country. For details of other equivalent requirements that Middlesex accepts see entry requirements.

English language requirements

You must have competence in English language and we normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. The most common English Language requirements for international students are IELTS 6.0 (with minimum 5.5 in all four components) or TOEFL internet based 72 (with at least 17 in listening & writing, 20 in speaking and 18 in reading).

Middlesex also offers an Intensive Academic English course (Pre-Sessional) that ranges from 5-17 weeks depending on your level of English. Successful completion of this course would meet English language entry requirements. For more information on applying for the pre-sessional please email english@mdx.ac.uk.

Entry into year two or three (transfer students)

If you have achieved a qualification such as a foundation degree or HND, or have gained credit at another university, you may be able to enter a Middlesex course in year two or three. For full details of how this works see transfer students.

UK/EU applicants with existing higher education qualifications

If you have already been awarded a qualification at the same level as the course you are applying for, you may not be eligible for a tuition fee loan, see fees and funding for more information.

How to Apply

UK/EU students

Apply now

Applications for UK and EU students should be made to UCAS – the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. The institution code for Middlesex is M80, and the code name is MIDDX. You also need the code for the course you wish to apply for – this is found in the 'at a glance' box above.

International students

International students from outside the EU can make a direct application.  We have a network of regional offices across the world to assist you with your application.  They have experience with helping students from your country and supporting them with their applications to study at Middlesex. Read more on international applications. 

Fees & funding

The tuition fee for the 2012/2013 academic year for UK/EU students is £9,000.
The tuition fee for the 2012/2013 academic year for International students is £10,400.

Click here to find out more about fees, funding and our scholarships in 2012.

Careers & placements

The University has a dedicated Careers Advisory Service that you can drop into on campus. They run workshops on CV writing and interview techniques, as well as providing information on the graduate job market, so you will be well-supported for planning your future career.

Graduates are highly attractive to employers because of their understanding of global business operations, their analytical and problem-solving skills and their ability to think logically. You will be particularly prepared for working for an international firm, in the UK or abroad.

Our careers service offers you a range of support both while you’re studying with us – and after you’ve graduated.

Placements
Work placements are proven to increase your success in the job market – as well as being a fantastic experience. Business is a highly competitive field so we encourage as many students as possible to grasp this opportunity.

We have a dedicated Placement Service which helps you find and plan for a placement.

Graduate Employment prospects

Latest survey figures show that six months after graduating:  

• 84% of Middlesex graduates were in employment or further study

• 16% were assumed to be unemployed or doing something else, such as travelling
  

(Based on data from BA International Business respondents of the 2009-10 Destination of Leavers in Higher Education Survey)

The average salary for graduates included in the survey was £20,000 for those in full time employment.

Examples of the types of jobs that graduates from the class of 2009-10 are doing include:

Graduate Account Exec, Consultant, Conference Manager, Journalist, Business Manager, Duty Support Officer, Learning Mentor, Managerial Assistant.

in the following organisations:

Hydrogen Group, NHS, International Trade & Development, YMCA, ITSS, Rhodia, O2, Ikea, CPW, Haringey 6th Form College, Total Security

Graduate Roles
Below are just a few examples of the types of careers that you could pursue after graduating with us: 

Administrative Manager – An administrative manager applies specialised technical or professional principles, practices and skills or the use of a wide range of administrative methods in the solution of problems. This may include planning, developing, evaluating, advising, and improving various management control systems, programmes and policies, for the purpose of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of programmes and operations.

Advertising Manager – As an advertising manager you will develop, implement, and manage a company's advertising strategy, both from a business, sales and technical perspective. Your job will be to initiate and manage discussion and sales with sponsors and agencies. You will spend your time negotiating agreements with outside sales representatives and managing the development of sales materials, including media kits.

Retail Area Manager – As a retail area manager you will be responsible for the management and overall profitability of a group of stores. You will promote the generation of sales, forming an important link in the management communication chain, by liaising with store managers as well as key departments within head-office.

Branch Manager – As a branch manager you will be responsible for the management of specialty or department stores. Your responsibilities will include the profits of the store, stock, costs, security and administration of the store, as well as the selection, interviewing and training of staff.