International Business BA (Hons) top-up

Study level: Undergraduate
Top-up courses
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This fast-track programme leverages your existing qualifications to help you earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree and propel your international business career forward.

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

1 year full-time (Entry at level 6)
2 years full-time (Entry at level 5)

Course code

N121

Start date

September 2025
January 2026
May 2026

How to apply
Book an Open Day
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Course overview

Transform your existing international business studies into a BA (Hons) degree with Coventry Business School's top-up course.

  • Enrich your understanding of the contemporary international business environment and key functions of business organisations.
  • Expand your knowledge of applied business theories through various contexts.
  • Develop your skills for continuous professional development and gain a solid grasp of international business strategy in today's setting.
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Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023
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5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings
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Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

This course aims to develop your comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the international business environment, business strategy and the key functions of business organisations.

  • Through core modules, we focus on building your essential management skills in international logistics, human resource management, international trade management, global markets and entry strategies, and marketing in an international perspective.
  • We aim to offer opportunities to engage with real business issues from highly innovative companies, ranging from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to large multinational corporations2.
  • Supporting our international focus is the experience of our current academic staff and the typically internationally diverse makeup of our students. You’ll be taught by experienced staff (subject to change) who have worked in positions that include directors and consultants for many large multinational companies, not only in the United Kingdom but also abroad.
  • We aim to provide optional field trip opportunities2 visiting multinational organisations within a range of sectors and industries. Previous visits have included a visit to Jaguar Land Rover and Manchester United in the UK, as well as visits to New York, Berlin and Paris.
  • You will have access to a range of learning spaces such as our Trading Floor, DigiComm Lab and Business Simulation Suite4.

What you'll study

The below modules are studied in your first year if you enter the course at Level 5. They aim to give you an overview of contemporary innovation practices, principles of business accounting, an increased understanding of people management in a global context and an understanding of effective business communication.

Modules

The below modules are studied in your second year, if you enter the course at Level 5, or in your first year, if you enter the course at Level 6.

We will build on knowledge gained from your previous undergraduate studies to provide an overview of international business, examining world trade patterns and the functions of international institutions such as the advertising industry.

Level 6 provides increased specialisation in international leadership, global strategy, business process management and project management. Level 6 also provides you with the opportunity to deepen and broaden your knowledge and skills in managing global organisations.

You will explore the skills needed to become a flexible future manager, spot international business opportunities quickly and respond to challenges effectively.

Modules

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

This course can be studied full-time over either one year or two years, depending on the stage of entry. The teaching and learning embraces an active, applied, social and inclusive approach. It is designed to enable critical thinking and an appreciation of effective communication skills fundamental to good leadership.

 This is facilitated through traditional teaching and learning methods which may include:

  • lectures
  • workshops
  • seminars.

You will use innovative business techniques and tools4 including practical market entry software tools to achieve this.

This course equips students with contemporary knowledge and on-demand competencies by applying a real practical focus while practising Research-Enriched Learning (REL) using innovative tools and business simulation. The course also embeds responsible and ethical leadership in its learning outcomes. The course also enables you to dive into subjects such as sustainable supply chain and big data. You may also learn from guest lecturers, who are invited to bring theoretical knowledge to life through industry practices (subject to their availability).

Teaching contact hours

We understand that everyone learns differently, so each of our courses will consist of structured teaching sessions which may include:

  • on-campus lectures, seminars and workshops
  • group work
  • self-directed learning
  • work placement opportunities2.

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 20 credit module requires a total of 200 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours:

If joining in year 2:
Teaching hours vary each semester, year of study and due to module selection. You can expect 12-15 teaching hours each week during the second year of a degree course. You will also have the option to attend optional sessions including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

For 1 year (final year) top-ups:
Teaching hours vary each semester, year of study and due to module selection. During your top-up year you can expect 9-12 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend optional sessions including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Guided and independent study:

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You'll be digging deeper into topics, review what you've learnt and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you'll spend more time in independent study.

Online learning:

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods may include:

  • phase tests
  • essays
  • group work
  • presentations
  • reports
  • projects
  • coursework
  • exams
  • individual assignments.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes.

International experience opportunities

This course is international drawing on business practice and real-life case studies (where possible) from all over the world2. You may be taught by international business leaders from across the world, who are invited as guest lecturers (subject to availability) on modules to share their knowledge and experience. Furthermore, the international experience of the course team means you could benefit from the experience of lecturers in business operations from (but not limited to) Asia, Middle East, Europe and Africa.

You may also be able to collaborate with students from other international universities on Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects2.

Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability, and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements, and are therefore not guaranteed2.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

You must possess a minimum of 240 credits (RPL with 120 credits at level 4 and 120 credits at level 5) obtained in any business-related area. This could be in business management but may also be in subject areas such as project management, events management, or a more specific field of business, such as marketing, strategy or finance.

An HND in a business-related area with 240 credits awarded will also be considered for entry into the 1-year programme. This is subject to approval from the Course Director.

Other qualifications and experience

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, each with a unique story. We recognise a breadth of qualifications. If your qualifications differ from the above, contact our Admissions Team who will be happy to discuss your qualifications and routes into your chosen course.

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Contextual offers and Fair Access Scheme

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme, you could automatically receive a contextual offer that may be up to 24 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

Europe

Americas

Middle East

South Asia

South East Asia

East Asia

Africa

Russia and Central Asia


You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.0 overall, with no component lower than 5.5.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £9,250 per year		 Not available
EU 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £9,250 per year with EU Support Bursary**
2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £16,800 per year without EU Support Bursary**		 Not available
International 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £16,800 per year		 Not available

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement2 or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee3 of £1,250 to cover your academic support throughout your placement year.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see the university’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the niversity may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip
  • any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

Facilities

Our facilities4 include:

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Business Simulation Suite

You can use the Business Simulation Suite on specific courses. It aims to provide you with some of the hands-on skills needed to succeed and stand out in business.
 

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The Enterprise Hub

Part of Coventry University Social Enterprise, the Enterprise Hub is an incubation, collaboration and knowledge base in the heart of Coventry. It can advise and support you with new business ideas or entrepreneurial ventures.

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The Talent Team

With employability at the forefront of all of our courses, you will have access to our dedicated employability service, the Talent Team, from day one.
 

Careers and opportunities

The business world is increasingly internationally focused. This course aims to help prepare you for potential future career options in a range of multinational organisations, businesses, management consultancies and government organisations.

The course aims to develop and hone your business skills, building on your understanding of business and management to help you understand the subject in the international context of today's corporate environment.

This course aims to equip you with the intellectual and professional skills to perform strategic analysis, choose winning strategies, and execute them for optimal results. You can also strengthen your cross-cultural awareness, communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills – all highly sought-after by employers.

Where our graduates work

Previous graduates of our international business courses have found employment positions within generalist HR, general management, specialist pay and reward, people development and employee relations roles.

Further study

You can choose to continue your studies at Coventry University with the International Business Management MSc. You may be entitled to an alumni discount on your fees if you decide to extend your time with us by progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.

How to apply

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