International Business with Languages (BSc (Hons))

Combining business subjects with the study of your chosen language and culture, this degree will equip you with the skills and knowledge to work in a fast-changing global business environment. The BComm (International) degrees are being phased out and students can apply for the BSc International Business with Languages degree through the CAO in 2022.

The BSc International Business with Languages degree combines a comprehensive business education with the study of a language and culture. This four-year degree course will provide you with key insights into international business management and contemporary issues in the global economy. You will study at one of Ireland’s leading business schools with internationally recognised faculty.

The business subjects cover all the major areas of business including accounting, finance, food business, business economics, business information systems, business law, management and marketing to equip you with the skills and knowledge to work in a fast-changing global environment. To succeed in international business, it is important to develop a global mindset, understanding different cultural approaches.

You will complement your international business knowledge with study of your chosen language - Chinese, French, German, Irish, Italian or Spanish. You will develop language proficiency and cultural understanding, enhanced by a year studying abroad in our partner business schools.

FIRST YEAR MODULES

All modules are 5 credits unless otherwise stated:

• BU1001 Professional Development for International Business,
• BU1002 Business and Economic Decision-Making,
• EC1202 Economic Reasoning for Business,
• MG1004 International Business Management,
• MG1006 Principles of Marketing in International Environments,
• IS1001 Digital Business Technologies & Trends,
• AC1102 Financial Accounting,
• LW1108 Introduction to the Legal System.

And choose modules to the value of 20 credits from your chosen language pathway:

The languages currently offered include Chinese, French, German, Irish, Italian, and Spanish. With the exception of French and Irish, all languages have a beginners stream. You will study cultural and social issues to complement your language skills and provide an important context for understanding international business.

Year 2 Modules: Core

International Business; The International Economy; Analytics for International Business; Sustainability in International Businesses; Responsible Leadership and Communication; Research Methods for Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis; Introduction to Business Law; Introduction to Management Accounting; Advanced Language Modules Electives Relevant Topics in Literature and Culture, based on chosen language pathway.

Year 3 Modules:

You will spend the year abroad at one of our partner institutions relevant to your chosen language pathway, studying international business through your chosen language.

Year 4 Modules: Core

BU4001 Capstone: International Business Strategy Advanced Language Modules. Electives Modules in international business from across the range of Departments in Cork University Business School, including Accounting, Finance and Information Systems; Food Business and Development; Business Economics; and Management and Marketing. Relevant Topics in Literature and Culture, based on chosen language pathway.

See the College Calendar for more detailed information on the programme and the Book of Modules for a more detailed description of programme modules.

Additional Teaching Mode Information

This four-year degree course will enable you to develop your knowledge and understanding of the exciting issues in international business, as well as in the language, literature, culture, and society of your chosen language pathway. The course comprises a variety of delivery methods and you will be expected to spend a minimum of six hours a week on selfdirected study (homework, e-learning, reading). You will study a broad range of business subjects, with a global focus, such as economics, management, marketing, and accounting, with the potential to focus on specific subjects later in the programme based on your career plans. All language classes are taught in small groups and are learner-centred.

Course Practicalities

Your studies will involve a range of different types of teaching and learning, spanning small group classes and courses that combine lectures with tutorials where you can begin to apply the knowledge you acquire. Cork University Business School is committed to providing a supportive and challenging learning environment, where you can realise your full potential.

Our student-focused approach is evident in the range of supports available to you in your learning journey and the scope to become actively engaged with activities in the School, to enable you to be a business-ready graduate. Language teaching accounts for approximately three contact hours a week and, as your course progresses, you will have the option of studying a range of aspects of society and culture to complement your new or existing linguistic skills. In all of this teaching, you will have plenty of contact with your lecturers.

This course is ideal if you want to combine your interest in international business and languages. It is the only course in Cork University Business School that has a year of study abroad as an integral element of the programme. If you want to develop an international outlook, practical skills that are in demand from employers in global markets, and an appreciation of other languages, cultures, and literatures then this course is. 

Throughout this course you will learn how to work between and across languages and cultures, developing an enhanced set of communication and intercultural skills. You will emerge as a business-ready graduate, with the practical business and language skills that are in high demand from national and international employers. Ireland is part of the global economy and, because of your international outlook, a wide variety of careers will be available to you in Ireland and overseas, including finance, marketing, management, retail, accounting, advertising, tourism, teaching, human resources, project management, and consulting.

A variety of master’s programmes in related disciplines (Business and Language) are available to you as a graduate of this programme. Graduates have gone on to master’s degrees in International Management & Marketing, Business Economics, and Human Resources, for example. CUBS and the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures provide a range of Postgraduate programmes and a number of our graduates have also pursued the Professional Master of Education (PME) programme which is a fulltime teacher education course, with the intention of teaching business and a language at second-level.

An integral part of the programme is the study year abroad in Year 3. You will spend a year at one of our partner universities to study international business in an immersive environment. You will gain an international perspective on business issues and, at the same time, strengthen and develop your language skills and cultural appreciation. Depending on your chosen language, it is possible to spend your study year in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Belgium, China, UK, Latin and South America, or Canada.

Leaving Certificate entry requirements:

Minimum grade H3 in a language other than English and minimum grade H5 in one other subject. Minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects.

Subjects must include Irish, English, Mathematics, another language and two other subjects recognised for entry purposes.

In addition:

• To study French requires a H3 in French and,
• To study Irish requires a H2 in Irish.
• To study a language at non-beginners’ level, a minimum grade H4 in that Language in the Leaving Certificate is required.

All languages (except French and Irish) have a beginner's stream if you do not meet the specific grade for the language you wish to study.

Mature students:

Applicants should apply directly through the CAO, include a statement of interest and may be called for interview. Leaving Certificate Maths is recommended. A H3 in a language other than English in the Leaving Certificate is required (HB3 if presenting a pre-2017 Leaving Certificate). To study a language at non-beginners level, a minimum grade H4 (or equivalent) in that Language in the Leaving Certificate is required.

International Students should visit the International Education website.

Non-EU Candidates

Non-EU candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to the Irish Leaving Certificate. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language.

To verify if you meet the minimum academic and language requirements for this programme please visit our qualification comparison pages.

For more detailed entry requirement information please refer to the International website.

Mature Students Requirements

Please refer to the mature student entry requirements for details. 

EU Applicants

Application to Year 1 of the degree programme is made directly through the Central Applications Office (CAO). Applicants should apply online at www.cao.ie. The normal closing date for receipt of completed applications is 1st February of the year of entry.

Non-EU Applicants

Mature Applicants

Application is made through the CAO and the closing date for receipt of completed applications is 1st February of the year of proposed entry. Find out about the mature entry requirements here. 

Non-EU Applications

Applicants who are interested in applying for the programme can apply online.

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.

**All Applicants please note: modules listed in the course outline above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course, but these are subject to change from year to year. Please check the college calendar for the full academic content of any given course for the current year. 

In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools and departments.