BSc International Business Management with Study Abroad (N121)

2027 entry | view 2026 entry

Course summary

This four-year degree mirrors the three-year BSc International Business Management, with the addition of a year abroad at one of our partner universities. You will complete your first and second years in Bristol, spend your third year studying business and management in English overseas, and return to Bristol for your final year. This structure allows you to build the same rigorous grounding in international business management while gaining first-hand experience of business education in a different academic and cultural environment.

Across the degree, you will develop the capacity to interpret global economic and market shifts, work confidently with quantitative and qualitative information, assess how multinational firms structure and adapt their operations, and evaluate the policy frameworks that shape international business activity. You will also gain a strong grounding in organisational behaviour, strategy and leadership, equipping you to work effectively with diverse teams and complex organisational systems. Attention is given to both advanced and emerging markets, helping you understand how firms navigate institutional diversity, rapid growth and evolving regulatory environments. Sustainability, ethical practice and responsible business conduct are embedded throughout, encouraging you to consider how firms address social and environmental challenges while competing internationally.

The year abroad enhances this development by immersing you in a different educational, cultural and business environment, strengthening your adaptability, global awareness and confidence in working across borders, while giving you first-hand insight into how international business is taught and practised in another country.

Accreditations

Our International Business Management with Study Abroad BSc is accredited by CIMA and ICAEW.

Course structure

In your first year, you will establish a strong foundation in management through a blend of qualitative and quantitative approaches. You will explore core areas such as organisational behaviour, marketing, accounting and finance and the global environment in which firms operate, alongside developing essential analytical and communication skills.

In your second year, you will deepen your engagement with international business. You will study the central frameworks and theories of the field, examine the organisational complexities of managing multinational enterprises, and analyse how people work and behave within organisations. You will also strengthen your research capabilities through training in research design, data collection and data analysis.

Your third year is spent abroad, studying business and management in English at one of our partner universities. This year provides exposure to different academic traditions, business environments and cultural contexts, and supports the development of independence, adaptability and global awareness. To find out more about studying abroad, visit the Centre for Study Abroad.

In your final year, you will return to Bristol, where you will study international business policy and explore how firms respond to contemporary political and policy challenges. You will also choose from a wide range of optional units to tailor your studies, and complete a dissertation: a supervised piece of individual research on a topic of your choosing.

The first two years of this course are taught at our vibrant Clifton Campus, where you'll gain a thorough understanding of your subject. In your final year, you'll benefit from teaching delivered at our cutting-edge Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus. Here, enhanced links with businesses will provide you with real-world knowledge, networks and skills to succeed once you graduate.

Full details about the course structure and units for this course can be viewed in the programme catalogue.

Go to programme catalogue

Entry requirements

We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.

AAA or A*AB
DDD in any Applied General BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma

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36 points overall with 18 at Higher Level
32 points overall with 16 at Higher Level

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Advanced Higher: AA, and Standard Higher: AAAAB
Access to HE Diploma in Business, Humanities, Social Sciences, Psychology, Law or History (or similar titles). The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include at least 30 credits at Distinction and 15 at Merit or above.

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Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales or the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.
Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/M2 is B, and M3 is C.
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students, and we accept a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

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