International Business And Modern Languages Undergraduate

What is International Business and Modern Languages?

International Business and Modern Languages (IBML) is a five-year programme in which the first three years combine the study of business subjects chosen from - Economics, Finance, Human Resource Management, Hospitality and Tourism, Management Science and Marketing - with a modern language selected from French, German, Italian and Spanish. (Spanish cannot be combined with Finance or Hospitality and Tourism due to timetabling constraints).

The IBML programme is designed for those who wish to acquire a firm foundation in essential business subjects at the same time as developing the ability to conduct business in a foreign language. An important feature of this degree is that it offers a broadly-based introduction to business subjects and other relevant skills while allowing students to subsequently specialise in their main business subject.
The languages are taught with the widest possible variety of careers in mind and may be studied without prior knowledge. Year 4 is spent at an overseas business school.

International Business Issues

An important element of the course is the study of International Business. This strand of the degree explores the contexts and interrelationships of business and culture, and gives students valuable training in personal and transferable skills. During the International Business programme (which runs throughout the first three years of the degree), students gain experience of working together in small groups, preparing and presenting reports on international business issues. This not only provides training in highly usable skills, but also helps to form each year-group into a close network of friends and acquaintances. It is designed to generate an active, rather than passive, approach to learning.

Study Abroad

The fourth year of the IBML degree course is spent at an overseas business school or equivalent, normally in the European country of the students language. Students are encouraged to broaden their academic horizons during their year abroad and take some classes in subjects not usually included in a business curriculum.

It may also be possible for students to study abroad in Year 3 as part of the Socrates/Erasmus exchange programme. A high level of proficiency in the language is required before a student is allowed to study abroad in Year 3.

Structure

The curriculum, by year, is as follows :

Year 1

Students select one or two from the following Business subjects :

• Economics
• Finance (Not with Spanish) 
• Marketing
• Hospitality and Tourism (not with Spanish) 
• Human Resource Management
• Management Science

A Modern Language must also be selected in 1st year from the following :

• French
• German
• Italian
• Spanish (not with Hospitality and Tourism)

In addition, all first-year students will take the Management Development Programme and Foundations of Management.

Year 2 and Year 3

Students read their principal business studies subject in greater depth. Students decide on their principal business studies subject, which must be one of those in Year 1. Their modern language also continues throughout Years 2 and 3.  Each year, all students take and International Business class, Management Development Programme 2 and Management Development Programme 3 respectively.

Year 4

The fourth year is spent at a business school or equivalent in the country of the main language, where students attend a prescribed set of classes in which they sit end-of-term/year examinations.   Alternatively, students may undertake an appropriate work placement by arrangement with the University.

Year 5

The principal business subject is studied to Joint Honours level, and there is a compulsory class in International Business Management. A substantial part of the Honours year is a dissertation on a business topic. In their modern language subject they will also study communicative language and written translation in order to maintain their skills.

Career

There is strong interest in IBML graduates from many employers. In the UK we buy in English and sell in the language of our customers, so, as international trade and global commerce become ever more important, there will be an increased demand for graduates competent in Business and Modern Languages.

Graduates with the BA in International Business and Modern Languages have secured, in some instances even before graduation, excellent positions in a wide range of organisations. Banking, finance, sales, accounting, marketing and administration have been the main employment areas for recent graduates, with most of the employing companies having an overseas presence.