Key Info

Bachelor of Arts in International Business

NFQ Level 8 major Award Honours Bachelor Degree
CAO points history
542
Course code
LM056
Duration
4 Years
Subject area
Business
Course Director
Kieran Gallery
Email
kieran.gallery@ul.ie
Admissions:
Tel
+353 (0)61 233755

If you wish to develop your knowledge of business while learning about the influence of politics, law, history and sociology on business decisions, then this programme might be for you. While other business programmes contain an international perspective, this programme provides an extensive international context that will drive your understanding and creativity. On graduation, you can expect to be well-positioned for a career in business, not just in Ireland but with overseas organisations.

If you want to;

- Discover a distinctive undergraduate experience

- Design your own degree programme

- Study and work abroad

- Enjoy a programme that puts business in an international framework

- Be prepared for rewarding graduate-level employment

Then this programme might be for you.

Why study International Business at UL?

The BA in International Business will provide you with a distinctive and challenging undergraduate experience. The programme is structured around a broad and flexible curriculum with subject choices that will help you to understand how business decisions are undertaken in a globalised world shaped by political, social and legal issues.

Under the ‘normal’ pathway, students spend years 1, 2 and 4 in UL. International study and work placements in Year 3 are a core part of the programme.  This international experience will allow you to attend university in Europe, the US, Latin America, Africa, Asia or Australia.

Dual Degree Opportunity

In addition, students can avail of an amazing opportunity to earn a second degree from a leading international business school. Under this alternative ‘dual degree’ pathway, BA in International Business students spend their first two years studying in Limerick and their last two years studying at another Business School (while retaining an international work placement). Upon successful completion of their four years of study, students will receive both UL’s BA in International Business degree and an equivalent degree from the other business school.

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What you will study

 

Electives within International Business

For your first semester there is one mandatory module, so you will only need to choose 4 more. Your choices are outlined below. 

Category Module Code Module Title
Mandatory BS4001

Principles of International Business

     
Business AC4001 Principles of Accounting
(min. 2, max. 4) EC4101 Microeconomics
  IN4003 Principles of Risk Management
  MG4031 Management Principles
  MI4007 Business Information Management
  CM4203 Communications
     
Humanities LA4901 Principles of Law
(min. 0, max. 2) PO4051 Introduction to Politics and International Relations 1
  SO4001 Introduction to Sociology
  HI4071 Doing History: Past, Present, and Practice
     
Languages FR4921 French for Business 1A
(min. 0, max.1) GE4921 German for Business 1A
  JA4911 Japanese for Business 1
  SP4151 Spanish for Business 1 (Beginners)
  SP4161 Spanish for Business 1

You can get more information on the Language options here

What you will study

Choice and flexibility are central to the BA in International Business. You will select modules from business, finance, economics, law, sociology and languages in several possible combinations that reflect your interests, and help your understanding of international business. You will have the option of either choosing a language elective stream (selecting from Spanish - beginners or advanced French, German, and Japanese for beginners), or business/humanities elective stream.

There are three broad categories that you will study on this course:

  1. Business
  2. Humanities
  3. Languages

Each semester you will have the choice to study 5 modules across these categories. Certain restrictions apply for each category but the overall flexibility will allow you to study the areas of International Business that interest you. 

By the end of the course, you will have:

  • the ability to apply specialised technical, analytical and creative skills which are fundamental to problem-solving and decision-making in the business world
  • the knowledge and skills to acquire information and engage with ideas and concepts that emerge from other business cultures
  • an array of advanced skills needed to conduct guided research in a range of business contexts
  • the capacity to effect change responsibly in business, professional and academic environments.

Set out below is the course structure for the ‘normal’ pathway:

Year 1

Semester 1

Credits

Semester 2

Credits

 

CORE

     

 

Principles of International Business

6

   
 

ELECTIVE A

 

ELECTIVE A

 

 

Choose - Min 2 Max 4

 

Choose - Min 3 Max 4

 

 

Principles of Accounting

6

Managerial Accounting

6

 

Microeconomics

6

Macroeconomics

6

 

Principles of Risk Management

6

Insurance Law & Claims

6

 

Management Principles

6

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

6

 

Business Information Management

6

Principles of Organisational Behaviour

6

 

Communications

6

Marketing

6

 

ELECTIVE B

 

ELECTIVE B

 

 

Choose - Min 0 Max 2

 

Choose - Min 0 Max 2

 

 

Principles of Law

6

Comparative Legal Systems

6

 

Introduction to Politics and International Relations 1

6

Introduction to Politics and International Relations 2

6

 

Introduction to Sociology

6

Global Political Economy

6

 

Doing History: Past, Present and Practice

6

 

 

 

ELECTIVE C

 

ELECTIVE C

 

 

Choose - Min 0 Max1

 

Choose - Min 0 Max 1

 

 

French for Business 1A

6

French for Business 2A

6

 

German for Business 1A

6

German for Business 2A

6

 

Japanese for Business 1

6

Japanese for Business 2

6

 

Spanish for Business 1 (Beginners)

6

Spanish for Business 2 (Beginners)

6

 

Spanish for Business 1

6

Spanish for Business 2

6

      ELECTIVE D  
      Choose - Min 0 Max 1  
      Broadening: Social and Civic Engagement 6
      Broadening by Understanding and Controlling Crisis and Risk 6
      Broadening: Social Media for Social Good 6
      Broadening: Through Awareness, Activism and the Arts 6
      Broadening: Exploring the Brain and Understanding Behaviour 6
      Broadening: Active Body, Active Mind 6

Year 2

Semester 3

Credits

Semester 4

Credits

 

ELECTIVE A

 

ELECTIVE A

 

 

Choose - Min 3 Max 4

 

Choose - Min 3 Max 4

 

 

Financial Information Analysis

6

Auditing & Accounting Frameworks

 

 

Economics for Business

6

Financial Accounting and Reporting

6

 

Finance

6

Life Insurance

6

 

Risk and Insurance

6

Marketing Communications

6

 

Principles of Human Resource Management

6

Employment Relations

6

 

International Management

6

Applied Organisational Behaviour

6

 

Applied Business Mathematics

6

Applied Business Statistics

6

 

ELECTIVE B

 

ELECTIVE B

 

 

Choose - Min 0 Max 2

 

Choose - Min 0 Max 2

 

 

Sociology of Work

6

Sociology of Globalisation

6

 

Comparative European Politics

6

Consumption and Consumer Culture

6

 

Commercial Law

6

Human Resource Development

6

 

Psychology and Everyday Life

6

International Economics

6

 

ELECTIVE C

 

ELECTIVE C

 

 

Choose Min 0 Max 1

 

Choose - Min 0 Max 1

 

 

French for Business 3A

6

French for Business 4A

6

 

German for Business 3A

6

German for Business 4A

6

 

Japanese for Business 3

6

Japanese for Business 4

6

 

Spanish for Business 3 (Beginners)

6

Spanish for Business 4 (Beginners)

6

 

Spanish for Business 3

6

Spanish for Business 4

6

Year 3

Semester 5

 

Semester 6

 

 

International academic placement

30

International work placement

30

Year 4 

Semester 7

 

Semester 8

 
 

CORE

 

CORE

 

 

International Business

6

International Business

 
 

Confirmation Paper 1

 

Confirmation Paper 2

6

 

ELECTIVE A

 

ELECTIVE A

 

 

Choose - Min 2 Max 4

 

Choose - Min 2 Max 4

 

 

Management Accounting 1

6

Management
Accounting 2

6

 

Advanced Financial Reporting

6

Corporate Taxation

6

 

Taxation Theory and Practice

6

Public Finance

6

 

International Political Economy

6

Monetary Economics

6

 

Managerial Economics

6

Empirical Finance

6

 

Investments: Analysis and Management

6

Reinsurance and Alternative Markets

6

 

Insurance Organisations and Markets

6

Strategic Management

6

 

Project Management Theory and Practice

6

Marketing Leadership

6

 

Marketing Intelligence

6

Marketing Relationships and Networks

6

 

Strategic Brand Management

6

Contemporary Human Resource Management: Context and Strategy

6

 

Social Psychology of Organisations

6

   
         
 

ELECTIVE B

 

ELECTIVE B

 

 

Choose - Min 0 Max 2

 

Choose - Min 0 Max 2

 

 

Governance and Risk

6

Issues in World Politics

6

 

The European Economy

6

Contemporary Issues in the Global Economy

6

 

Legal Environment of Business

6

Company & Partnership Law

6

 

Enterprise Management and Growth

6

Management Consulting

6

         
 

ELECTIVE C

 

ELECTIVE C

 

 

Choose - Min 0 Max 1

 

Choose - Min 0 Max 1

 

 

French for Business 7A

6

French for Business 8A

6

 

German for Business 7A

6

German for Business 8A

6

 

Japanese for Business 7

6

Japanese for Business 8

6

 

Spanish for Business 6

6

Spanish for Business 7

 

6

Entry requirements

CAO points history
542
Minimum grades

Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: Two H5 (Higher Level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary Level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English.

Subject requirements

In addition, applicants must hold at least an O4/H7 grade in Mathematics.

Students wishing to take a language option must have a H4 in that language, with the exception of Japanese or Beginners Spanish where a H4 in a language other than English is required.

Additional considerations

Mature Students

We welcome applications from mature students. Mature applicants must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1 February.

Application information for mature student applicants (PDF)

Non-EU Entry Requirements

How to apply

Where are you applying from? How to Apply
Ireland Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found here. 
The UK  Students who have completed their A-Levels can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. 
The EU EU Students can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website.
Non-EU country If you are outside of the EU, you can apply for this degree here.

Fees and funding

Student course fees are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Levy and Tuition Fees.

A number of illustrative examples of fees for this course based on the current fee levels have been set out in the tables below.

An explanation of the components, how to determine status and the criteria involved is provided below the examples as is a list of possible scholarships and funding available.

EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant

HEA pays Tuition Fees €2,558
SUSI pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€5,658

EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant

HEA pays Tuition Fees €2,558
Student pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€5,658

Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant

Student pays Tuition Fees €2,558
Student pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€5,658

Non-EU Students

Student pays Tuition Fees €16,300
Student pays Student Levy €100
€16,400

Student course fees are comprised of the following components:

Student Contribution

Annual charge set by the government for all full-time third level students. All students are liable unless they have been approved for a grant by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please refer to https://www.studentfinance.ie to determine your eligibility for a grant and for instructions on how to apply. The current student contribution is set at €3000.

Student Levy

All students are liable to pay the Student Levy of €100. Please note the Student Levy is not covered by the SUSI Grant.

Tuition Fees

These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.

Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows

  1. Residency
    • You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
  2. Citizenship
    • You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
  3. Course Requirements (all must be met)
    • You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
    • You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 year’s duration
    • You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)

Depending on how you meet these criteria your status will be one of the following -

  • Free Fee Status: You satisfy all three categories (1, 2 and 3) and therefore are eligible for the Higher Education Authority’s Free Fees scheme.
  • EU Fee Status: You satisfy the citizenship and/or residency criteria but fail to satisfy the course requirements and are liable to EU fees
  • Non EU Fee Status: You do not meet either the citizenship or residency criteria and are therefore liable to Non EU fees.

More information about fees can be found on the Finance website

These scholarships are available for all courses

Your future career

  • Numeracy and the ability to research, interpret and use business and financial data
  • Self-reliance, initiative and the ability to manage time, projects and resources
  • Appreciating the causes and effects of economic and other external changes

Employability skills from this degree

  • Understanding organisational behaviour and structure
  • Analytical and critical thinking skills
  • A creative approach to problem-solving
  • Decision making
  • Persuasive written and verbal communication
  • Numeracy and the ability to research, interpret and use business and financial data
  • Self-reliance, initiative and the ability to manage time, projects and resources
  • Appreciating the causes and effects of economic and other external changes

Further study options

Job titles for graduates with this degree

Graduates progressing directly into employment take up a wide variety of roles. The following provides a sample of initial roles listed on the Graduate Outcomes Survey by graduates approximately one year after graduation:

  • Business Analyst
  • Marketing Analyst
  • HR Solutions Representative
  • Bank Official
  • Speciality Ingredients Buyer
  • Trainee Accountant
  • Trainee Auditor
  • Multi Category Marketing Intern
  • Corporate Sales Developer
  • Commercial Insurance Broker
  • Accounting and Finance Graduate
  • Finance Analyst
  • Trainee Auditor
  • Sales Associate
  • Community Support Representative
  • Customer Support Specialist
  • Supply Chain and Procurement Grad
  • Hospitality Sales Executive
  • Junior Auditor
  • Trainee Chartered Tax Advisor

Student Profiles

 

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Alicia Cronin

My first impression of UL was that it is huge, it incorporates lots of greenery and open space, and has a variety of cafes and restaurants for students to relax and socialise.  My lecturers were also very helpful and accommodating during our first few weeks as we settled in.  There were also very good student events organized on campus, especially through Freshers week to welcome us to UL! 

I chose the Bachelor of Arts in International Business because I wanted to study business and heard great things from past students of UL. I course appealed to me specifically for the international aspect of Erasmus and Co-op abroad and because we are allowed to pick our own modules. I enjoyed the idea of an individualised degree.  I decided to specialise in marketing. I enjoy working with people and think of myself as a creative individual. I think marketing is the business field where my skills would most excel.  

I went to Seville, in Spain for my Erasmus. The best parts of my Erasmus experience always involved adventures with the amazing people I met around the incredibly beautiful city. 

On my Co-operative placement, (Co-op), I worked as a marketing intern, in Barcelona. This role gave me first-hand experience of reality in an office. I worked with other people as part of a team and put my learned academic theory to use doing hands on work, a massive difference from simply memorising things in class. 

My best memory of UL is Cabal in the courtyard at the end of my first year (2019). This was a UL student life organised events for students.  


 

Ben Kiely

The Kemmy Business School has given me the support, freedom, and flexibility to discover my true self. The BA in International Business has given me confidence in a range of subject areas that are so pivotal to both industry and entrepreneurship. I chose to specialise in the fields of Marketing, Human Resource Management, Entrepreneurship, and Management because the subject material was practical and I could apply the learnings directly to both the family business and the building of my own personal brand and career.  

As part of my UL experience, I have also engaged in Clubs and Societies, Student Council, Faculty Board, accreditation meetings, and helped answer questions from prospective students on KBS Open Days. Sharing my experience of Co-Operative Work Placements, the unique structure of the International Business Programme, and my social and peer-to-peer learning side of third-level education is something that I will treasure for the rest of my life!  

After I graduated from International Business, I wanted to take the further opportunity to add to these skills and expand my knowledge base in the Entrepreneurship field. I signed up for the Masters in International Entrepreneurship Management which has been a deep-dive into the niches and complexities of engaging with consultative services and running your own business, as well as helping you discover new talents and traits within yourself through professional and leadership development, innovation and creativity management, as well as human resource, financial, and data analysis management. I have also had the pleasure of teaching undergraduate Management tutorials for the BBS and BAIB programmes, giving me the opportunity to reengage with the material I had just graduated from and also the opportunity to experience the dynamics of teaching and learning from another perspective.  

Now in the second semester of my Master's programme, I can reflect on the plentiful opportunities that have allowed me to grow and give back to the community that has curated and enriched my personality and development. I will be eternally grateful to the Kemmy Business School and the University of Limerick for the support and friendships that will continue long after my graduation, and the memories that I will smile at when I think back on my time studying business at UL. 


 

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Ben Kiely
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Rachel Frost

Choosing a college course can be easy, but the difficulty lies in selecting the RIGHT college course for YOU. I was one of those students who did not really know what direction I wanted to go in and once the CAO applications came around, I was still very indecisive. This is where the appeal of International Business (IB) lured me. 

You see, the beauty of IB is that you can tailor your degree to your specific interests every step of the way. This was a godsend for me as it afforded me the opportunity to try a variety of modules and figure out what was best for me as time went on. This unique feature of the IB course meant that I was not restricted in terms of choosing a major/minor in second year and could create my own formulation of a degree, drawing on core business, arts and language modules. The dual degree opportunity available through the IB programme was also a deciding factor that largely enticed me.  

Yet another appeal for me was the fully-international aspect of 3rd year, with both an Erasmus programme and a cooperative placement abroad. I can safely say, hand on heart, that it was the best year of my life. I spent the first semester in Nice in the south of France and the second semester alongside many of my friends working in Luxembourg. These amazing experiences provided me with many opportunities that I will never take for granted and often reminisce on. If, like me, you jump at the opportunity to travel, this course facilitates that and ultimately prepares you for an international career. The course not only allowed me to travel and experience different cultures but also provided me with valuable skills and knowledge that I can apply in my future career. I highly recommend IB  to anyone who wants to broaden their horizons and gain a competitive edge in the global job market. 

Now in my final year, back on campus at long last, I have also begun to truly appreciate just how much the University of Limerick itself has to offer. From sporting facilities, clubs and societies to the grounds of the university itself, UL has a lot to give to its students. As my time here is sadly drawing to an end, I know that although I initially struggled to decide on a college course, I now know that I ultimately chose the right one for me. In addition to the course, the University of Limerick has provided me with a supportive community and endless opportunities for personal and professional growth. My time at the University of Limerick has been thoroughly enjoyable and to everyone who has shaped my experience, I am eternally grateful. Now it can be your turn to revel in it!