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University of Plymouth

Faculty of Business

Plymouth Business School

Programme Specification

Award Title and Internal Code BA (Hons) International Business / 0435

BA (Hons) International Business with French / 0436 BA (Hons) International Business with Spanish / 0439

Final Version August 2017

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1. Final Award Title: UCAS JACS

BA (Hons) International Business N120 N120

BA (Hons) International Business with French N1R1 N120 / R100

BA (Hons) International Business with Spanish N1R4 N120 / R400

2. Awarding Institution: University of Plymouth

Teaching institution(s): University of Plymouth

3. Accrediting body(ies): N/A

4. Distinctive Features of the Programme and the Student Experience

Employability. This degree is designed to produce graduates who have the theoretical underpinning, practical orientation and skillset required for employment in the International Business Environment. Work or study abroad. Students have as an integral part of the programme have to undertake a work placement, (UK or Overseas) or study placement abroad. This study placement overseas is guaranteed. Study placements are available in universities in France, Germany, Spain Netherlands, USA, Canada, and further afield. Learn a language. Students can learn a foreign language and enhance their ability to communicate internationally. Language Minor. The International Business programme additionally offers a minor pathway that further enhances the students ability to gain work. Mentoring and Support. Throughout the programme we provide a supportive community and environment in which to learn. Students are supported in their study by subject tutors and they also receive individual support for their academic and personal development from their personal tutor. Personal development. The skillset embedded in the programme seeks to enhance participants’ personal development by improved self-awareness, and continuous development of the requisite business and study skills. Research and practice informed teaching: Staff teaching on the programme underpin their teaching with a range of scholarly activity and work based professional practice and consultancy.

5. Relevant QAA Subject Benchmark Group(s)

General Business and Management

6. Programme Structure see Appendix 1.

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7. Programme Aims

1. To provide the opportunity for students to enhance their employability through undertaking an appropriate work / international study placement. 2. To produce graduates who are enterprising, readily employable and well equipped for lifelong learning and the professional world. 3. To provide the opportunity for students to communicate internationally through learning additional languages, including the possibility of a language minor. 4. To develop graduates with a broad range of key personal, cognitive/intellectual, transferable, practical and employment skills. 5. To promote in-depth knowledge and understanding of the functional disciplines and identify their contribution to strategic decisions. 6. To develop an appreciation of the dynamic global marketplace in which businesses operate and the implications of this for business decisions and organisational culture. 7. To develop knowledge and understanding of the ethical and moral responsibilities of businesses. 8. To provide students with pastoral support, to assist their personal development and adaptation to higher education.

8. Programme Intended Learning Outcomes

8.1. Knowledge and understanding

On successful completion, graduates should have developed knowledge and understanding of: 1. The complex, dynamic and diverse internal and external business environment in which business operates. 2. The key functional areas of business and the inputs, processes and outcomes of strategic decision making. 3. The skills and techniques relevant to the management of people, operations and other resources, effective decision making and performance. 4. A range of current pervasive issues confronting international businesses including; sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethics, globalisation, innovation and enterprise Additional Learning Outcomes for BAIB with a Language Cultural understanding in chosen language area

8.2. Cognitive and intellectual skills

On successful completion, graduates should have developed the ability to: 1. Analyse new and/or abstract data and situations using appropriate techniques 2. Select and manage information, research, investigate and critically evaluate evidence using critical thinking and other appropriate research methods and use the findings to support conclusions and recommendations. 3. Apply appropriate knowledge and skills, including numeracy and quantitative skills, in unfamiliar contexts to identify, define and resolve complex problems. Additional Learning Outcomes for BAIB with a Language

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Apply chosen language fluently at all levels.

8.3. Key and transferable skills

On successful completion, graduates should have developed the ability to: 1. Interact and work effectively in a group, negotiating and handling conflict as appropriate, in order to achieve an objective. 2. Access and utilise a wide range of learning resources and manage own learning. 3. Communicate effectively in writing and orally using a range of methods. 4. Undertake ethical research using appropriate strategies and methods. 5. Demonstrate competence in the application of numeracy and quantitative skills. Additional Learning Outcomes for BAIB with a Language Communicate effectively applying language skills and cultural understanding i.e. conversational, written and interpretation.

8.4. Employment related skills

On successful completion, graduates should have developed the ability to: 1. Successfully manage and deliver a project/work on time. 2. Choose and utilise a range of appropriate skills and techniques relevant to the management of people, operations, other resources and making effective decisions. 3. Reflect upon and evaluate own actions and performance with a view to enhancing self-management and devising plans for enhancing personal and career development. 4. Demonstrate awareness of ethical and sustainability issues in their work. Additional Learning Outcomes for BAIB with a Language Ability to work in multinational environments utilising language.

8.5. Practical skills

On successful completion, graduates should have developed the ability to: 1. Write reports for commercial and academic audiences. 2. Select and apply appropriate skills and techniques and work with minimal supervision.

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9. Admissions Criteria, including APCL, APEL and DAS arrangements

All applicants must have GCSE (or equivalent) Maths and English at Grade C or above.

Entry Requirements for BA International Business

A-level Normal minimum entry requirements are 96 points, minimum of 2 A Levels, any subject is considered.

BTEC National Diploma/QCF Extended Diploma

18 Unit BTEC Extended Diploma: majority of distinctions in second year units with merits in remaining units (Pass MMM in any subject).

Access to Higher Education at level 3

Access to HE will be considered on a case by case basis.

Welsh Baccalaureate

Welsh Baccalaureate is ok to accept as add on points of 48 but also to have the 2 A Levels. Total tariff should be 96 points from 2 A levels.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

96 points.

Irish Leaving Certificate Obtain H3 H4 H4 H4 H4 H4 (all at Higher level)

International Baccalaureate

International Baccalaureate: 26 overall to include 4 at any subject at Higher Level. If overseas and not studying English within IB, must have IELTS 6.0 overall with 5.5 in all other elements.

For language minor: include 4 in French/Spanish at Higher Level.

Management, Government and Law (Foundation Route for Specified Qualification)

Students who pass the Faculty Foundation route are guaranteed progression into this programme

Other qualifications may be accepted for entry; information is provided on Programme Course pages specifying what these are and the level at which they need to be achieved.

Students wishing to transfer into the programme at the end of level 4 will normally have to demonstrate achievement of similar entry qualifications and to have satisfactorily completed level 4 of a programme with similar level 4 content or equivalent. 10. Progression criteria for Final and Intermediate Awards As per university regulations.

11. Exceptions to Regulations N/A

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12. Transitional Arrangements N/A

13. Mapping and Appendices:

13.1. ILO’s against Modules Mapping

Level 4 / Stage 1

Key:

WE World of Enterprise

ACC Business Accounting

ECON Economics for Business

OB Organisational Behaviour

ETA Entrepreneurial Thought and Action

ILO WE ACC ECON OB ETA

8.1.1 X X

8.1.2 X X X

8.1.3 X X X

8.1.4 X X X X

8.2.1 X X X X

8.2.2 X X X

8.2.3 X X X X

8.3.1 X X

8.3.2 X X

8.3.3 X X X X X

8.3.4

8.3.5 X X

8.4.1 X X

8.4.2 X

8.4.3 X X

8.4.4 X X

8.5.1 X X

8.5.2 X X

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Level 5 / Stage 2

Key:

IB International Business

OMSCC Operations Management and Supply Chain Challenges

PM People Management

CBE Contemporary Business Economics

MF Marketing Fundamentals

ILO OMSCC IB PM CBE MF

8.1.1 X X X

8.1.2 X X X

8.1.3 X X

8.1.4 X X

8.2.1 X X X

8.2.2 X X X X

8.2.3 X X X

8.3.1 X X

8.3.2

8.3.3 X X X X

8.3.4 X X

8.3.5 X X

8.4.1 X

8.4.2 X X X

8.4.3 X X

8.4.4 X

8.5.1

8.5.2 X X X

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Level 6 / Stage 3

Key:

GE Global Enterprise

SARM Strategic Analysis and Research Methods

PM Project

IHRM International HRM (Soft Core)

MKT International Marketing Management (Soft Core)

CIM Current Issues in Management

ILO SARM PM IHRM MKT GE CIM

8.1.1 x

8.1.2 X X X

8.1.3 X X X X

8.1.4 X x x

8.2.1 X

8.2.2 X X X X X X

8.2.3 X X

8.3.1 X X

8.3.2 X X X X

8.3.3 X X X X x

8.3.4 X X

8.3.5 X

8.4.1 X X x

8.4.2 X X X X

8.4.3 X

8.4.4 X X

8.5.1 X X X X X

8.5.2 X X X X

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13.2. Assessment against Modules Mapping

Level 4 / Stage 1

WE ACC ECON OB ETA

Essay X X

Individual Report

Group Project/Plan

X X X X

Simulation X

Portfolio X X

Case Study X

Debate

Group presentation

X

Exam/Test X Field/Practice Work

X

Level 5 / Stage 2

OMSCC IB PM CBE MF

Essay X

Individual Report

X x

Group Project

X X

Case Study x

Simulation

Portfolio X

Debate X

Group presentation

Exam/test X X X

Field/Practice Work

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Level 6 / Stage 3

SARM PM IHRM IMKT GE CIM

Essay

Individual Report

X X X X X

Group Project

X X

Simulation

Portfolio

Debate

Group presentation

Exam X X

Field/Practice Work

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13.3 Skills against Modules Mapping

Level 4 / Stage 1

Skills WE ACC ECON OB ETA

Oral Presentation

X X

Essay Writing X X

Report Writing X X

Project Management

X X X

Research Skills X X X X

IT/Digital Literacy

X X

Team working X X X X

Academic Literacy (reading/note taking etc.)

X X X X X

Time management

X X X X X

Evaluation Techniques

X X X

Data Analysis X X X

Data Interpretation

X X X X

Data/ Information collection

X X

Networking X

Debating X

Persuasion X X X X

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Level 5 / Stage 2

Skills OMSCC IB PM CBE MF

Oral Presentation

X X

Essay Writing X X

Report Writing X

Project Management

X

Research Skills X X

IT/Digital Literacy

X X

Team working X

Academic Literacy (reading/note taking etc.)

X X X

Time management

X X X X X

Evaluation Techniques

X X X X

Data Analysis X X

Data Interpretation

X

Data/ Information collection

X

Networking

Debating X

Persuasion

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Level 6 / Stage 3

Skills SARM PM IHRM IMKT CIM GE

Oral Presentation

Essay Writing X

Report Writing X X X X X

Project Management

X X

Research Skills X X X X X X

IT/Digital Literacy

X

Team working X X

Academic Literacy (reading/note taking etc.)

X X X X X X

Time management

X X X X X X

Evaluation Techniques

X X X X X

Data Analysis X X X X X

Data Interpretation

X X X X X

Data/ Information collection

X X X

Networking X X

Debating

Persuasion X

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Appendix 1 - Programme Structure

Level 4 / Stage 1

Semester Activity

0 Induction

1

STO100

World of Enterprise

HRL100

Organisational Behaviour

ACF103 Business

Accounting

*Language Elective

Christmas vacation

continued

continued

continued

Exams, assessment and personal tutoring

2

ENT1001PP Entrepreneurial

Thought and Action

continued

ECN1009B

Economics for Business

Elective

Easter Vacation

continued

continued

continued

Exams, assessment and personal tutoring

Summer Vacation

*Language electives chosen as the semester 2 elective run all year from week 5.

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Level 5 / Stage 2

Semester Activity

1

STO207

Operations Management & Supply Chain Challenges

HRL200 People

Management

ECN2008A

Contemporary Business

Economics

Christmas vacation

continued

continued

continued

Exams, assessment and personal tutoring

2

STO205

An Introduction to International

Business

MKT214

Marketing Fundamentals

Elective

Easter Vacation

continued

continued

continued

Exams, assessment and personal tutoring

Summer Vacation Semesters 1 & 2 – All students will be registered on EPIE200 Placement Preparation

(a non-credit bearing module)

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Level 6 / Stage 3

Semester Activity

1

STO302

Strategic Analysis and Research

Methods

STO300 Global

Enterprise

EITHER HRL313

International HRM OR

MKT310 International

Marketing

Christmas Vacation

continued continued continued

Exams, assessment and personal tutoring

2

STO310 Project

STO306

Current Issues in Management

Elective

Easter Vacation

continued

continued

continued

Exams, assessment and personal tutoring

Summer Vacation

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For BA International Business

At Level 6 students have a choice of electives but must study at least one of the two following modules: MKT310/International Marketing or HRL313/ International HRM For BA International Business with a language minor

The Language minor requires 40 credits of language study at Levels 5 and 6 and in order to accommodate this:

At Level 5 students are asked to choose between HRL200/People Management and ECN2008A/Contemporary Business Economics, thereby creating the space in the first semester for the language module.

At Level 6 students must study STO300/Global Enterprise, STO302/Strategic Analysis and Research Methods, STO310/Project and one of the following: STO301/Operations Management for Competitive Advantage or STO306/Current Issues in Management.

Electives: Level 4 / Stage 1 – all Semester 2 STO101 Information for Business Decisions ELC102 English for Academic Purposes HTM137B The Tourism Industry LNG100 International Communication HRL101 Digital Skills and Communication for Business

*Languages

Level 5 / Stage 2 – all Semester 2

STO204 Business Ethics ELC202 English for Academic Purposes #

STO206 Shaping the Future: creating sustainable organisations ENT200 Enterprise and Innovation

*Languages

Level 6 / Stage 3

Group A – Semester 1 HRL313 International HRM MKT310 International Marketing Group B – Semester 2

ACF312B Financial Management STO301 Operations Management for Competitive Advantage ELC312 English for Global Communication #

HRL310 Equality and Diversity in the Workplace HRL308 Gender at Work

*Languages

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*Languages

Language electives chosen as the Semester 2 elective start in week 5 and run across both Semester 1 and Semester 2 # Direct Entrant International students are strongly advised to choose an English module (ELC202 in Level 5 and ELC312 in Level 6) and not a language module, as English modules are only available to students whose native language is not English.