International Business and Economics BSc

From predicting the impact of Brexit to the implications of globalisation on local demand, the International Business and Economics degree will unlock answers to some of the biggest questions faced by business today with a global perspective.

What you’ll learn

You will understand how businesses work from an international perspective, gain analytical skills to evaluate the international market, and make informed decisions relevant to any business setting.

You will be asked to communicate economic theories from an international business perspective to audiences who do not specialise in this area, giving you the opportunity to develop your verbal and written communication skills.

Your interest and knowledge of international markets will be put into practice in your placement year, which you will do overseas. This helps you to put your learning into practice and also explore the areas of economics and business that you are most interested in. It also provides you with invaluable experience that will stand out on your CV and support your future career prospects.

Two undergraduate degrees

This course offers an Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway, meaning you could study overseas at one of our partner institutions during your placement year and graduate with two undergraduate degrees for the price of one.

Find out more.

International students

Information for international applicants

International students

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students. Students from over 120 different countries chose to study with us every year. Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study, it’s also a great place to live.

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and, as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career. One of the great things about Aston is our focus on employability. Our close links with businesses, industries and professions make this possible.

For more information on applying as an international student, visit our webpage: www.aston.ac.uk/international/students-applying

 

Post-study work visa

Graduate Immigration Route

Aston University welcomed the creation of a new Graduate Immigration Route which enables international students to remain in the UK for two years after you complete your studies to find work. This new post-study work visa applies to international students completing full-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Find out more information about the Graduate Immigration Route.

Foundation programme

Choosing to start your Aston journey with our foundation programme in business will help you develop specialist knowledge to ensure that you are fully prepared to study your chosen undergraduate course. During your foundation year, you’ll have excellent support from academics while group projects will give you the chance to meet new people, make new friends and build a network of peers who will share your university journey. We also have a Learning Development Centre that can provide additional support and offer pre-sessional English language programmes.

For International Students intending to do a foundation year, visit ONCAMPUS

Modules

You will study a range of topics, designed to give you a solid foundation for your business degree.

Year 1

The core and compulsory modules are: 

• Introductory Accounting for Business
• Introduction to Organisational Behaviour
• Mathematics for Economics 
• Statistics for Economics
• Introduction to Marketing Management
• Applied topics in Economics
• Principles of Macroeconomics
• Principles of Microeconomics

Year 2

You will develop your understanding of economics, the international business environment and the international operations of business.

The core and compulsory modules are:

• Intermediate Macroeconomics
• Intermediate Microeconomics
• Corporate Financial Management
• Introduction to Econometrics 1
• International Business and Emerging Market Economies
• International Business Economics

Students must choose one module from the following options: 

• Introduction to Econometrics 2
• Business, Government and Society 
• Markets, Games and Strategy
• Sport Economics and Finance
• Virtual Business Simulation 
• Public Economics 

*Availability of any optional modules will be subject to staff availability and a minimum number of students who express an interest in studying the optional modules.

Year 3

You will spend this year in professional placement or you may choose to take up an international study opportunity at one of our partner institutions. This year is compulsory for all UK students.

See placement year section or find out more about the Aston placement year.

This course offers a double degree option. Achieve two degrees for the price of one, and study abroad at one of our partner institutions.

Final Year 

This year focuses on the implications of managing the major functions of finance and marketing within the international context, the application of economic theories in understanding international business, analysing policy and carrying out economic research.

All students must take the following core modules:

• Strategic Management
• Advanced Topics in International Business 
• International Trade 

You will then choose from the following optional modules:

• Further Topics in Macroeconomics 
• Further Topics in Microeconomics 

And then from the remaining options: 

• Macroeconometrics (time series) 
• Microeconomtrics 
• Environmental Economics 
• Competition Policy
• Regional and Urban Economics 
• Economics of Entrepreneurship 
• Innovation
• Fraud, Bribery and Corruption 
• Derivatives
• Financial Economics 
• International Finance 
• International Marketing 
• Sustainable Operations
• Behavioural Economics 

*Availability of any optional modules will be subject to staff availability and a minimum number of students who express an interest in studying the optional modules.

Professional accreditations and exemptions

Graduates may be able to claim exemptions from the examinations of a number of professional bodies. For further details, please check the accrediting body's webpage.

At present exemptions are available from:

• Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
   

Accreditation is a stamp of quality and prestige for a business school and its programmes. Aston is proud to be among 1% of business schools worldwide with triple accreditation. 

Typical offers:

A Levels

BBB (standard offer)

BBC (with EPQ or Core Maths minimum grade B)

BBC (contextual offer*)

IB

31 points overall in the IB diploma with 5, 5, 5 in 3 higher level subjects.

Minimum score of 5 in Maths at Standard level.

BTEC, Access & other

BTEC Extended Diploma - DDD (standard offer)

BTEC Extended Diploma - DDM (contextual offer*)

We accept the QAA-recognised Access Diploma which must consist of 45 credits at Level 3. You must obtain a minimum of 30 distinction and the rest must be at merit or distinction. Please note that we do not accept the English and Maths components within the Access qualification and you must meet the GCSE entry requirement.

The University also accepts the BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate/BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma and BTEC Level 3 National Diploma/BTEC Level 3 Diploma for entry onto degree programmes, provided that they are studied in combination with other qualifications that are equivalent to three full A2 Levels.

T Levels

The following T levels are accepted qualifications for this course:

• T-Level - Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction Grade D
• T-Level - Digital Production, Design and Production Grade D
• T-Level – Education and Childcare Grade D
• T-Level – Onsite Construction Grade D
• T-Level – Building Services Engineering for Construction Grade D
• T-Level – Digital Business Services Grade D
• T-Level – Digital Support Services Grade D
• T-Level – Health Grade D
• T-Level – Healthcare Science Grade D
• T-Level – Science Grade D

GCSEs

5 GCSE grades A*/9 – C/4 to include:

• GCSE Maths – grade B/5
• GCSE English Language or English Literature – grade C/4

Learn more about admission to this course

View our Admissions Policy.

Whilst the grades listed here are our entry requirements, we understand that predicted grades are only an estimate. We will therefore consider applicants with predicted grades that fall below these entry requirements if the application is of a high standard (however, initial offers will not be lower than stated above).

Entry onto our Foundation Programme may be offered as an alternative to the degree course if lower entry grades are achieved. Aston University welcomes applications from students with a wide range of qualifications from the UK and overseas, including combinations of qualifications. If your qualifications are not listed here and you wish to check whether they meet the entry requirements for this course, please contact the university.

Please note that General Studies does not contribute towards the UCAS points requirement but is welcomed as an additional qualification.

International students

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification. Find out more about our English language requirements.

For more information about qualifications view our Aston in your country webpage. 

Aston University provides a range of opportunities for international students to join our community and study on our campus. A key part of our strategy is our relationships with teaching partners, providing multiple pathways to Aston. Find out more.

*For details on our Aston Ready contextual offer scheme, please see here.  

Our close links to industry and our focus on delivering practical business experience provides a blend of learning and teaching experience to equip you for your future career.

Learning and teaching

You will experience a range of teaching methods on our International Business and Economics BSc at Aston including lectures, tutorials, group-work, case studies and, individual and group presentations.

Traditional teaching is supported by a virtual learning environment that is used to host a range of electronic supporting materials. Additionally, students have the option to undertake a virtual business simulation module and compete in teams in a computer simulation exercise.

Our economics teaching team include experienced practitioners and well-respected authors on the subject. The largest employer of economists in the UK is the Government Economic Service (GES). Currently, our Economics teaching staff include two GES assessors, which gives you a unique opportunity to learn from people making hiring decisions for one of the most prestigious professional bodies. Our economics teaching team includes the authors of one of the best-selling economics textbooks and five winners of national teaching awards.

Assessment

You will have a wide range of assessments from the first to third year, including traditional style exams and coursework, combined with more modern techniques such as poster reports, online assessments and group video projects, the highest quality of which are sent to the Royal Economic Society.

Personal development

Our business degrees are designed to give you a range of transferable and practical skills to succeed within your chosen career. We make extensive use of group working and presentations to prepare you for the reality of working life. This experience will develop your team working and negotiating skills.

Placement year

The Aston placement year forms an integral part of your educational journey and is compulsory for all home students. International/EU students can request permission to opt out of the placement year, but we strongly recommend that it is completed where possible. 

Find out more about the Aston placement year.

The integrated placement year takes place overseas and will give you invaluable practical work experience.  This year will provide an opportunity to apply your learning to real-world situations as well as an appreciation of working overseas, both of which cannot be replicated in the lecture room.

We have a dedicated Employer Team within our Careers and Placements department who have links with local, national and international organisations and advertise vacancies to students through an online platform exclusively for Aston students and graduates.  

This course offers an opportunity to study a second degree at one of our international partner institutions once you have completed your year at Aston. Find out more here.

Aston University was recognised as the 'Best University Placement Service'.

The Careers and Placements team at Aston University won the 'Best University Placement Service' category at the National Undergraduate Employability (NUE) Awards 2022. This was achieved by launching Virtual Employability Festivals and recognising the power of peer-to-peer communication by pairing 500 students looking for placements with 500 students who had completed placements.

The United Kingdom government has confirmed that European Union (EU), other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals commencing academic courses in England from August 2021 will no longer be charged the same tuition rates as home students. Further information can be found here.

Tuition fees for students are reviewed annually and may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to take account of the University’s increased costs of delivering the Programme. Any such increase shall always be in accordance with the law. When undertaking a placement year, a placement year fee applies.

More information on fees and funding

Scholarships

At Aston University we are committed to supporting the most talented and hardworking students to achieve their potential by providing a range of scholarships to help lower tuition and living costs. Find out more about our scholarships here.

This course will provide you with theoretical knowledge such as such as analysis and problem solving, as well as practical skills gained from your placement year and other assignments. You will have the ability to apply these skills within an international business context, which will be beneficial to a broad range of career paths.

Recent graduates

The largest employer of economists in the UK is the Government Economic Service (GES). Our economics teaching staff include two GES assessors, which gives you a unique opportunity to learn from people making hiring decisions for one of the most prestigious professional bodies.

Our graduates are targeted by major global companies year after year. Many of our graduates are now working in roles such as:

• International Procurement Trainee
• Chief Operating Officer
• Data Analyst
• Tax Consultant
• Foreign Exchange Money Market Dealer
• Trade Fund Analyst
• Policy Advisor
• Audit Associate
• Deal Assurance Manager.
   

Our graduates have gone on to work at organisations such as Lidl UK, HSBC, GSK, the Royal Bank of Scotland, PwC, General Electric, Mazars and EY.

Why study International Business and Economics at Aston University?

You will learn about the theories, models and methods in economics, brought to life and contextualised from an international perspective. This means you will develop your understanding and experience, such as your placement year, establishing relevant, transferable skills to help you launch your career.

Is a placement useful for International Business and Economics?

Aston has some of the most employable economics graduates in the UK. Your placement year helps to demonstrate to employers that you are able to transfer your knowledge to a real-world environment. There are opportunities to study abroad as well as undertake a double degree for the same price through studying at one of our international partner universities.

The international placement year also helps you to understand the type of career you may want to pursue once you graduate.

What kind of jobs does a degree in International Business and Economics lead to?

Studying international business and economics, gaining both theoretical and practical experience with an international perspective, means you can progress a career in a broad range of settings in business and finance. Some of our alumni have gone into roles such as data analyst, international economist, international banker and many have progressed into big business graduate schemes. 

Economics can help answer some of the biggest questions in today’s modern society that affect everyone and, with added relevance of what this means on an international scale, you will have experience and knowledge sought after by global businesses.

What is the Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway at Aston Business School?

You can deepen your learning and stand out from other graduates whilst gaining a fantastic learning experience overseas. The Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway is similar to an exchange programme. During your placement year, you’ll follow a curriculum that sets you on track for our partner institution’s degree award. This means, if successful, you will graduate with two undergraduate degrees. Find out more here.

Why should international students choose Aston University?

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students on many of our undergraduate programmes. Students from over 120 different countries chose to study with us every year.  Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study, it’s also a great place to live.

Choosing to start your Aston journey with our foundation programme in business will help you develop specialist knowledge to ensure that you are fully prepared to study your chosen undergraduate course.

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career.