An honours business degree designed to develop learners’ specialised knowledge and understanding of key areas of business management in the international context.

Course Type: Undergraduate Accredited by: QQI
Delivery: In-class Fees: February  2025 annual tuition fee for applicants legally residing in Ireland or holding a European Union passport is €5,800. The annual tuition fee for non-EU/EEA applicants is €8,000. September 2025 annual tuition fee for applicants legally residing in Ireland or holding a European Union passport is €6,000. The annual tuition fee for non-EU/EEA applicants is €8,800.
Duration: 1 Year (Full-Time) or 1.5 Years (Part-Time) Location: Independent College, The Steelworks, Foley Street, Dublin 1, Ireland, D01 X997
NFQ: Level 8 Next Intake: Enrolling now for September 2024 & February 2025 intakes.
  • Overview
  • Details
  • Entry Requirements
  • How to Apply
  • Aims & Objectives

What is this Course?

Course Overview

The Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in International Business will facilitate learners to further develop their interpersonal and intellectual skills, while also gaining expertise in International Business. By enabling learners to build upon previous certificated and experiential learning, through a focused engagement within the area of international business, learners will gain an appreciation of the complexities involved when working in a global business context. The programme will equip them with the necessary skills to be able to contribute in an applied manner to overcome such complexities. 

The aim of this programme is to support learners in their academic, intellectual and personal development to enable them to work as professionals who develop, lead and sustain business organisations on a national and international basis.

Students will develop specialised, practical knowledge and understanding of key areas of management. They will gain knowledge and understanding of complex issues related to international business and management through critical and analytical approaches to management theory, practice, and research. During the course, learners will gain the ability to critically evaluate management techniques, tools and models across a variety of international business contexts. Students will develop a specialised understanding of international business management in a variety of industries and business settings such as multinational companies, SMEs or emerging markets. The potential impact of relevant global influences and drivers, such as technological, economic, or political changes, within international business practices, will be analysed and understood.

Employment Opportunities

The major multinational companies in Ireland continue to offer graduate programmes. Start-ups and fast growing SMEs are looking to hire talented graduate professionals who can illustrate their growth potential with business.

The combination of these employment prospects, both nationally and internationally, and the broad nature of this programme, facilitates a wide range of potential employment opportunities for graduates. Graduates will be equipped to work in global business, international marketing, business consultancy, international trade, exporting and related areas.

Term Module
Stage 1 - Semester 1 Applied Project 1
Global Marketing
Cross - Cultural Management
E-Commerce Marketing
Leadership Ethics and Corporate Social Governance
Strategic Management
Stage 1 - Semester 2 Applied Project 2
Contemporary Issues in International Business
Global HRM
International Finance
Global Operations and Logistics
Strategic Management in Practice

What do you need?

The BA (Hons) in International Business is intended to provide learners who already have appropriate cognate academic knowledge at Level 7 (minimum) to broaden/further their academic qualifications and gain a Level 8 award.

Students applying on the basis of a previous qualification obtained internationally can confirm equivalency of foreign qualifications to the Irish National Framework via the following website: https://qsearch.qqi.ie/webpart/search?searchtype=recognitions.

Entry for international applicants for whom English is a second language requires the attainment of IELTS 6.0, or CEFR B2+, or equivalent, as a minimum level of English language competency. EU applicants are required to have achieved an equivalent standard to the minimum academic qualifications.

  • Cambridge (FCE, CAE, CPE) 170
  • TOEFL (IBT) 79
  • TOEFL (CBT) 213
  • TOEFL (PBT) 550
  • Duolingo (Before 31st Dec 2022) 90
  • Duolingo (From 1st Jan 2023) 105
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) 51.6

How to Apply?

You can apply here

Apply by clicking our Apply for September or Apply for February button

During your application process you will be asked to supply the following documents:

  • Original copy and English translations of degree and transcript of results from previous courses
  • Copy of applicant’s passport
  • Copies of any other previous academic qualifications
  • Copy of GNIB card if already resident in Ireland
  • Copy of English certificate – IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent test is required

For further information email admissions@independentcollege.ie or phone +353 1 877 3903

Aims & Objectives

Programme Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of the programme, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of essential business knowledge, theoretical models and principles within the core aspects of business.
  • Assess knowledge and information, tools and techniques in a critical manner to effectively adapt to changing business environments.
  • Critically assess the fundamental elements of business in particular accountancy and finance, IT and management and marketing how they are inter-related with other functional areas in order to enable effective strategic business decisions.
  • Be able to identify and harness new business models in pursuit of business objectives and to optimise personal productivity.
  • Evaluate the responsibilities of business professionals in a professional manner, identifying potential ethical dilemmas and the evaluation of possible solutions.
  • Demonstrate an extensive set of acquired business skills, including the capability to participate creatively and responsibly in teams.
  • Exhibit command of research processes, and the ability to successfully apply this in an applied business project in a professional setting.
  • Reflect on and demonstrate a level of academic ability at Level 8, allowing further academic or professional development.

On successful completion of the programme, graduates will have the following attributes:

  • Ability to generate, analyse and review data relevant for strategic management decisions in the area of international business;
  • Be effective decision-makers in international business;
  • Ability to review developments in the field of international business and adept in developing solutions to problems;
  • Be knowledgeable in the core areas of international business/international management;
  • Undertake critical evaluation of evidence in support of an argument or proposition;
  • Be able to apply appropriate management theories, principles and data;
  • Be effective communicators of business and management ideas, theories and solutions;
  • Cognisant of the ethical implications of doing international business;
  • Able to retrieve relevant information from a variety of sources; and
  • Effective independent learners and team members through participation in group scenarios

Successful completion of the degree course requires the application of knowledge and understanding of international business and management to complex issues through critical and analytical approaches to management theory and practice.

Upon completion of the programme, learners will have the ability to critically evaluate management techniques, tools and models across a variety of international business contexts. It prepares graduates to develop a wide range of skills and competencies required to function effectively when doing business across borders and employ personal and interpersonal skills that are relevant to management.

The main objectives of the programme are as follows:

  • To develop specialised, practical knowledge and understanding of key areas of management.
  • To facilitate the application of knowledge and understanding of international business and management to complex issues through critical and analytical approaches to management theory, practice, and research.
  • To enhance the ability to critically evaluate management techniques, tools, and models across a variety of international business contexts.
  • To develop analytical and decision-making skills.
  • To develop personal and interpersonal skills that are relevant to management and communicate the arising issues in written and oral form.
  • To equip learners with the necessary knowledge and skills to achieve the appropriate level of undergraduate award and continue their lifelong learning development.
  • To develop a specialised understanding of international business management in a variety of industries and business settings such as multinational companies, SMEs or emerging markets.
  • To facilitate the acquisition of a wide range of skills and competencies required to function effectively when doing business across borders.
  • To be able to gauge and judge the potential impact of relevant global influences and drivers, such as technological, economic, or political changes, within international business practices.
  • To make a meaningful and practical contribution to organisations operating in a turbulent business environment

The achievement of these aims will provide the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in International Business graduates with the knowledge and skills required to develop and build a career in International Business.

 

Teaching & Assessment

The programme teaching and learning strategy is designed to allow the learner to progress through the theoretical and practical concepts in an orderly and logical fashion. The assessment strategy is planned to ensure practical application of the core principles of the module and facilitates feedback, which underpins the overall learning experience.

The primary purpose of Independent College Dublin’s strategy is that teaching and assessment support learning. In addition, assessment supports standards based on appropriate learning outcomes. The programme teaching and assessment strategy is informed by the QQI Business Award Standards. The programme learning outcomes (PLO), the module learning outcomes (MLO), and the graduate attributes also inform this process.

Throughout the programme, learners will experience a varied range of teaching and learning strategies, which are selectively chosen, based on level, module content and suitability to assessment. Most modules will primarily be delivered through a mix of lectures and practical workshops, with tutorials in place to support where necessary. Typically, material will be presented during lectures and workshops, with supporting documentation available via Moodle to learners.

It is envisaged that the learners will assimilate much of the material through problem solving and practical exercises. Emphasis will be placed on allowing the learners to examine the exercise problem descriptions and try possible solutions in the workshops. Tutorials will be used to allow the learners to get help, reinforce more difficult subject matter and provide learners with the opportunity for assistance to a specific problem.

Teaching will focus on the learner applying problem solving skills to existing programme material. Skills will be developed through a variety of mechanisms, for example:

  • Integrated tutorials with industry engagement.
  • Problem-based learning exercises with trade practitioners.
  • Co-delivering and guest lecturing on focused syllabus content.
  • Application workshop sessions, diagnostic and troubleshooting skills.
  • Case study analysis, review, critiquing – reflective learning and writing skills.
  • Blended learning and Flipped Classroom delivery
  • Online synchronous and asynchronous delivery of lecturers.
  • Directed e-learning

Formative assessment will from an integral part of the learning journey or the learner with feedback being provided on the solutions to problems posed in class and through assignment being critiqued and challenged in the educational environment. This will allow for risk assessment and a continuous improvement process to become part of their solution design.

Additionally, the teaching and learning strategy is informed by Independent College’s overall teaching and learning strategy, the scheme of assessment and the module specific teaching and learning strategy.