International Business BSc (Hons)
Subject and course type
- Business, management and marketing
- Undergraduate
Prepare for a career in business with Kingston Business School. Our courses are truly experiential, providing you with opportunities to undertake company visits, attend networking events and hear best practice from industry guest speakers.
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Begin your journey to leadership in international business
You’ll be exposed to all aspects of global business and supported to pursue your individual career ambitions.
On the BSc (Hons) International Business course, you’ll join a diverse network of peers and future colleagues from the UK and around the world. In just three years, you’ll graduate with the degree and real-world experience employers are looking for.
Plus, if you choose to undertake a placement year, you will gain an additional year of practical hands-on business experience working and/or studying in an overseas setting. This will greatly enhance your career prospects.
This course is proudly accredited by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade (CIEIT). These accreditations give your degree global recognition, proven excellence and valuable access to professional networks and industry connections.
It was important to me to pick an International Business degree at a University offering the chance to study and work abroad. This will increase my employability, as well as help me build an international professional network. Plus, I'll get to travel, immerse myself in a different culture, learn a new language and make new friends.
Why choose this course
Working across multiple countries is an everyday reality for most businesses. In an increasingly global environment, studying business from an international perspective is a must for business graduates. It is essential to understand the complexities that underpin internationalisation (connectedness, boundaries, regulations and cultures).
This course will give you an understanding of business management practices all over the world and prepare you to work in global organisations. It will provide you with hands-on, practical experience. You’ll work through real business problems and consultancy projects with real clients and get opportunities for internships.
A complementary personal development programme will help you to discover your career ambitions. Your studies will then prepare you for your next career step by providing you with support to set up your own business.
Kingston University's business management programmes, including International Business BSc (Hons), have some flexibility to choose or change specialisation at the end of Year 1. Additionally, you can undertake a professional placement year between your second and final year, even if you didn’t originally apply for the course with an integrated placement.
The experiences you'll gain will help you establish a business network and stand out from the crowd when starting your career. You'll learn from academic tutors, from experts from industry and from each other.
International Success Support Scholarship
If you are an international student, you may be eligible for a £2,500 International Success Support Scholarship for this course, for September 2026 start only.
Accreditations
Kingston Business School holds the prestigious international accreditation by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) in recognition of the excellence of its business education. This accreditation has been earned by just 6% of the world's business schools. It recognises the high quality and standard of our business degree offerings.
This programme is accredited by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade (CIEIT).
Ready for business
At Kingston Business School, we believe that professional success is shaped by honing your personal capacity and skillset, supported by the academic framework of knowledge. Through vocationally rich, employer-engaged and research-informed courses, we work alongside our students to help them meet personal goals and career ambitions.
Course content
Take a look at some of the content and modules that you may have the opportunity to study on this course.
Foundation year: Business
If you would like to study this business degree at Kingston University, but are not yet ready to join the first year of a BSc (Hons) course, you may want to consider studying this course with a foundation year.
The Foundation Year in Business is part of a four-year degree. It is taught at Kingston College, close to Kingston University's Penrhyn Road campus. You'll be introduced to professional skills, numerical concepts, business IT, marketing, customer care and business law.
Year 1
Year 1 introduces the foundations of business. You'll cover the environmental influences faced by organisations, and the key concepts of marketing and sales. You'll also explore disruptive technologies and how they can be used to deliver digital enhanced solutions for all areas of business. You'll gain insights into how organisations and individuals collaborate to achieve organisational excellence.
Core modules
30 credits
Understand the dynamic external environment shaping businesses today. This module equips you as a future manager with essential skills to understand how organisations operate in today's rapidly changing world. You'll explore the economic forces, market structures, and external factors that shape organisational success, from consumer behaviour and pricing strategies to globalisation and industrial policy.
30 credits
Information Technology (IT) is the ultimate change agent impacting industry structures, strategic positioning, customer interactions and every part of a business function.
This module focuses on how data analytics and digital technologies are utilised by businesses to enable better decisions and alter consumer interactions. Understanding the business value of data and digital technology not only requires knowledge and an appreciation of various analytical techniques, but also on the effective use of IT for the gathering, summarising and communication of this information.
You will use a problem-centric approach to apply analytical techniques with the aid of information technology, while developing your employability skills.
30 credits
Why do some teams and organisations thrive while others struggle? This module explores the critical relationship between people and organisational success, combining organisational behaviour theory with applied practical human resource management. You'll examine how individuals, groups, and organisations interact, covering motivation, leadership, team dynamics, organisational culture, and strategic HR planning. Through live briefs, role play, games, and real-world challenges from external organisations, you'll learn to build effective stakeholder relationships in (technologically advanced) workplaces.
30 credits
This module introduces you to the core principles of marketing and how they apply in today’s digital world. It covers fundamental marketing concepts, principles, and frameworks before exploring digital marketing, sales management, and professional selling.
You will learn how to create and deliver value to customers, understand buyer behaviour, and develop effective marketing communications. The module also examines how selling and buying have evolved in the digital era.
Through real-world examples, case studies, and interactive role-plays, you will gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in marketing, digital communications, and sales techniques.
Year 2
In Year 2, you will develop your analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills across key business functions. You will study core modules in accounting and financial management, and business analytics and digital intelligence, gaining hands-on experience with data-driven tools and emerging technologies. You will also explore global innovation, sustainability and responsibility, and learn how organisations are managed across cultures and national borders.
Core modules
30 credits
This module looks at value creation across all functions of the corporation for different industries and types of businesses. It begins with an evaluation of key financial ratios used to evaluate financial performance of different types of businesses, focusing on how these metrics vary across industries and how firms can be assessed relative to peers and broader industry benchmarks.
It then moves to evaluating investment decisions, including capital budgeting, calculating project returns and how to choose the best projects that maximise returns for investment objectives and given risk constraints.
You will learn how to unlock value in a choice of capital structure and financing decisions in terms of instruments, markets where you issue and how you determine your optimal capital structure subject to a target cost of funding and other structural constraints.
It finishes with a review of how to put all this together to be able to value a business. Throughout the module you will also be introduced to how negotiation has an impact on each area.
30 credits
Understand strategic role of business analytics and digital intelligence in modern organisations. You will explore how data-driven approaches and emerging technologies - such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data are transforming business models, customer experiences and innovation processes.
Through your studies you will gain hands-on experience with analytical tools, create impactful visualisations, and tackle ethical challenges ensuring you understand the broader implications of digital intelligence in business contexts.
30 credits
This module explores business situations where ethical decisions are made, focusing on corporate social responsibility (CSR), sustainability, and business ethics - key topics in today’s business world.
You will examine the theoretical and practical aspects of managing CSR and sustainable development (SD). The module helps you to understand the critical ethical issues that shape business goals and activities.
Your learning will be supported through tutorials, lectures, guest speakers, case studies, and videos, giving you a well-rounded perspective on how CSR and sustainability influence modern business practices.
30 credits
This module explores the importance of culture in international management and its impact on global business practices. You will develop key skills in research, analysis, observation, and communication within multicultural contexts.
Working in groups, you will apply theories and concepts to a real-world company, connecting academic knowledge with practical experience. The module also examines international business environments, including regional economic integration and institutions like the World Trade Organisation, and their influence on business strategy.
You will also explore internationalisation theories and learn how firms use them to design effective strategies for entering and competing in global markets.
Optional year
You have the option to take an additional year to study abroad or to undertake a year-long work placement (or even a mix of both).
For business students, this is a great opportunity to gain international experience and apply your learning in real-world settings. Whether through study abroad or a professional placement, you’ll broaden your outlook, build global connections, and develop key skills like adaptability and problem-solving.
Professional placement year
This course has a professional placement option which takes place between Year 2 and your Final Year. During this professional placement year you will take a placement within a relevant setting, ensuring you gain essential experience to add to your CV and help you secure a graduate job.
Final year
In your final year, you will deepen your critical understanding of business and develop your ability to contribute to strategic thinking in a global context. You will gain practical skills in data analysis, emerging technologies, and their ethical and operational implications.
You will also explore international operations management and international trade and markets. You will develop insight into managing businesses across borders, assessing global opportunities and risks, and applying strategies to respond to changing international business environments.
Core modules
30 credits
This module covers the concepts, theories and techniques on which strategic management is based and explores their application in a wide range of international business and other settings.
It aims to expand your' perspective on wider issues and scenarios, identifying opportunities and growth over medium and long terms. You will develop your ability to communicate and present your commercial awareness across the board.
15 credits
Harness the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence to drive business success. This module equips you to apply AI effectively for smarter decisions and operational efficiency, making you a valuable asset to any organisation. Gain hands-on experience with AI tools, explore ethical and governance implications, and master real-world applications through case studies.
15 credits
This module gives you a dedicated opportunity to develop your Future Skills Graduate Attributes.
At the start of the module, you will be supported to self-assess your current skills profile. You will determine which attributes and skills you need to develop to support your career ambitions. In this process, you will be supported by a dedicated career coach, helping you explore a range of options that includes self-employment/freelancing, starting your own business, higher level study, and other professional graduate-level opportunities. Throughout the module, you will be given opportunities to engage with external mentors, to support reflection and to develop a professional network.
You will undertake a tailored series of activities and projects, aligned to your goals, from a menu of development options. This could include short courses, enrichment activities and experiential learning options such as micro-placements. You will also be able to reflect on activities outside the University that develop your graduate attributes, such as work or volunteering.
30 credits
This module focuses on the practical and applied aspects of international business, exploring current and evolving issues such as emerging technologies, climate change, geopolitical tensions, emerging markets, sustainability, and future trends. You will develop your ability to analyse business opportunities and risks when a firm operates beyond its domestic market, gaining insight into the real-world challenges faced by international companies.
You will build practical knowledge and expertise across a range of international operational contexts and develop an integrative framework for facilitating global operations. This includes organisational structure, location decisions, international procurement and production strategies, international transport, and global supply chain risk management.
Successful completion of this module will enhance your ability to work effectively in an international context and equip you with a strong, practice-based understanding of international business.
30 credits
This module equips you with the knowledge and understanding of the international business environment. It is designed for students who are interested in working in the international business arena.
You will develop the tools needed to assess changes in business environments across the world and understand how organisations can be configured to adapt to these changing conditions.
You will examine international business environments and internationalisation strategies, including regional economic integration and the role of institutions such as the World Trade Organisation and their implications for businesses. The module also explores key internationalisation theories and concepts, and how firms can apply these to formulate appropriate internationalisation strategies.
International students: direct application
Are you an international student? Have you decided Kingston is the place for you? If so, you can apply for this course directly, rather than having to go through UCAS.
What career opportunities does this course offer?
This course can lead to a wide range of careers, particularly in an international environment. Graduates work as account executives, marketing coordinators, operations managers, technology officers or entrepreneurs developing an international business. Employers include Blue Pen, Experian Cheetah Mail, JP Morgan, Logic, S3 Group and the Swedish Embassy.
You will take part in an Assessment Centre Experience, providing the opportunity to experience the pathway to employment with tailored feedback. As part of this experience, You will:
- Develop your understanding of the jobs market, including current trends and opportunities, different recruitment processes and how to identify relevant roles
- Receive personalised feedback reports to help you to improve and progress
Access additional webinars on top tips, employer expectations and best practice
Assessment Centre Experience at Twickenham Stoop Stadium. Photo by James Tye.
Future Skills
Our Future Skills programme is embedded within all our undergraduate courses and throughout the whole Kingston experience. These skills will help you to become a future-proof graduate by equipping you with the skills most valued by employers, such as problem-solving, digital competency and adaptability.
As you progress through your degree, you'll learn to navigate, explore and apply these graduate skills. You’ll also understand how to demonstrate and articulate to employers how these future skills give you the edge.
Teaching and assessment
Scheduled learning and teaching on this course includes timetabled activities including lectures, seminars and small group tutorials.
Outside the scheduled learning and teaching hours, you will learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, preparing for and completing your work for assessments. Some independent study work may need to be completed on-campus, as you may need to access campus-based facilities such as studios and labs.
Our academic support team here at Kingston University provides help in a range of areas.
When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of academic staff who will provide academic guidance, support you throughout your time at Kingston and show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer at Kingston University.
A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.
One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 120 credits across a year (typical for an undergraduate course) would equate to 1,200 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below for each year of study. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.
- Year 1: 30% scheduled learning and teaching
- Year 2: 22% scheduled learning and teaching
- Year 3: 24% scheduled learning and teaching
The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.
Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.
Types of assessment
- Year 1: Coursework 70%; practical 30%
- Year 2: Coursework 87%; practical 13%
- Year 3: Coursework 90%; exams 10%
Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. If your course includes optional modules, this breakdown may change to reflect the modules chosen.
We aim to provide feedback to you on your assessments within 20 working days.
Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student friendly as possible, scheduled learning and teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9am and 6pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.
Fees and funding
| Fee category | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | |
| £10,050* | |
| Foundation Year | £5,760 |
| International | |
| Year 1 (2027/28): | £To be confirmed |
| Year 2 (2028/29): | £To be confirmed |
| Year 3 (2029/30): | £To be confirmed |
| Year 4 (2030/31): | £To be confirmed |
The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student.
Please visit the Fees and Funding page for more information.
For courses with Professional Placement, the fee for the placement year can be viewed on the undergraduate fees table. The placement fee published is for the relevant academic year stated in the table. This fee is subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body.
*For full-time programmes lasting more than one academic year, a tuition fee is payable for each academic year of the course.
Your annual tuition fee covers your first attempt at all modules required for that academic year. Any re-study or repeat of modules will incur additional charges, calculated according to the number of credits taken.
Home students (UK):
Tuition fees are subject to inflation-linked increases in line with government policy. Updated fees will be confirmed in line with the maximum fee cap set by the Government or the Office for Students (OfS) for each academic year. This means your fee may increase for each academic year of study, but only up to the maximum amount permitted for that year.
Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest-rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.
International students:
Full-time taught international student fees are subject to an annual increase, which is published in advance for the full duration of your programme.
| Fee category | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | |
| £9,790* | |
| Foundation Year | £5,760 |
| International | |
| Year 1 (2026/27): | £18,500 |
| Year 2 (2027/28): | £19,200 |
| Year 3 (2028/29): | £19,900 |
| Year 4 (2029/30): | £20,700 |
The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student.
Please visit the Fees and Funding page for more information.
For courses with Professional Placement, the fee for the placement year can be viewed on the undergraduate fees table. The placement fee published is for the relevant academic year stated in the table. This fee is subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body.
*For full-time programmes lasting more than one academic year, a tuition fee is payable for each academic year of the course.
Your annual tuition fee covers your first attempt at all modules required for that academic year. Any re-study or repeat of modules will incur additional charges, calculated according to the number of credits taken.
Home students (UK):
Tuition fees are subject to inflation-linked increases in line with government policy. Updated fees will be confirmed in line with the maximum fee cap set by the Government or the Office for Students (OfS) for each academic year. This means your fee may increase for each academic year of study, but only up to the maximum amount permitted for that year.
Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest-rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.
International students:
Full-time taught international student fees are subject to an annual increase, which is published in advance for the full duration of your programme.
| Fee category | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | |
| £9,535* | |
| Foundation Year | £5,760 |
| International | |
| Year 1 (2025/26): | £17,700 |
| Year 2 (2026/27): | £18,500 |
| Year 3 (2027/28): | £19,200 |
| Year 4 (2028/29) | £19,900 |
The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student. In 2025/26 the fees for this course are above.
Please visit the Fees and Funding page for more information.
For courses with Professional Placement, the fee for the placement year can be viewed on the undergraduate fees table. The placement fee published is for the relevant academic year stated in the table. This fee is subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body.
*For full-time programmes lasting more than one academic year, a tuition fee is payable for each academic year of the course. Your annual tuition fees cover your first attempt at all of the modules necessary to complete that academic year. A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full time taught International fees are subject to an annual increase and are published in advance for the full duration of the programme.
Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest-rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
Kingston University will pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames and Norbiton.
If you choose to do a placement year, travel costs will vary depending on your location. These costs could be up to £2,000.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying this course at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support.
The AVSH Scholarship
The AVSH Scholarship is for a student studying either Business Management BSc (Hons) or International Business BSc (Hons). This scholarship includes four years’ tuition fees for a home student (including a placement/'sandwich' year) and bursary support of £5,000 per year of study.
For more information on how to apply for this scholarship, visit The AVSH Scholarship page.
International Success Support Scholarship
The International Success Support Scholarship provides £2,500 towards tuition fees if you are an international student starting in September 2026, on this course or selected others. Eligible undergraduate students can receive £2,500 per year for up to three years, helping to support their academic journey from day one.
You don’t need to apply separately. If you’re eligible, the scholarship will automatically be applied to your tuition fee invoice, empowering you to focus on achieving your goals at Kingston University.
For more details, please visit the International scholarships webpage.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
Key information
The scrolling banner below displays some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).
