University of Bradford
Division of Economics
Awarding and teaching institution:
Final award:
Programme title:
Duration:
UCAS code:
Subject benchmark statement:
Date produced:
Updated:
University of Bradford
BSc (Honours) [English National Qualifications Framework level H]
International Business Economics
1 year full time
NL11
Economics
May 2009, July 2010, July 2011
This progression degree (‘top-up’ degree) comprises of 120 credits at level 3. It is designed to build on your
previous study of economics and business-related topics in order to provide you with the ability to analyse the
wider economic context within which business operates. You will study alongside other students from the
Division of Economics.
The Division of Economics operates within the School of Social and International Studies, where teaching
staff have research interests in the fields of trade, economic integration, macroeconomic policy, finance,
individual behaviour and social economics, and these are reflected in developments in the curriculum.
Degrees courses within the Economics Programme have an emphasis on transferable skills in addition to
subject knowledge and aim to be relevant to contemporary life, occupations and events.
All courses comprising the Undergraduate Economics Programme in the Division of Economics provide a
structured approach to the discipline of economics that is informed by the Quality Assessment Agency for
Higher Education (QAAHE) Benchmarking Statement in Economics with respect to the aims of the degree
programme, subject knowledge and understanding, together with subject-specific skills including numeracy
and quantitative skills. Each course offers a choice of complementary options taught in the Division of
Economics, in other departments within the School of Social and International Studies, and appropriate
subjects taught in other Schools.
Programme Aims
Building on your previous study of economics and business-related topics, this degree aims to extend and
apply your knowledge of individual and firm behaviour and provide you with an appreciation and
understanding of the wider international economic context that shapes business decision-making and
developments in government policy that impact on the regulatory environment.
The BSc International Business Economics degree has been developed to complement the other
undergraduate courses offered by the Division by providing a route to develop the skills and knowledge of
graduates from advanced diploma programmes. You will share modules with students in the final or
penultimate year of our other economics degree courses.
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes indicate what you should know and understand, and be able to do, on successful
completion of the programme. They have been developed with reference to the QAAHE Economics
Benchmark Statement (2007). When you have completed the BSc (Hons) International Business
Economics degree successfully, you will have acquired the following:
1



Knowledge and understanding of the theories and concepts of economics as they apply to
international trade, business decision-making and business finance.
Discipline skills including abstraction of essential features of complex systems; analysis, deduction
and induction applied to assumption-based models; quantification and design of data and their
effective organisation; framing of parameters in problems.
Personal transferable skills in critical thinking, independent and group study experience, analytical
skills and an ability to develop simplifying frameworks for studying the real world, IT skills, effective
communication and fluency in speech and writing.
Course structure
You will study 120 credits of modules which includes a compulsory (C) 40 credit Project, a further 40
credits of compulsory modules and 40 credits of optional modules (O). In selecting options, you may not
choose two options that cover essentially the same subject matter.
The curriculum has been devised to allow you to extend and complement the skills and knowledge you
have gained during your previous studies. At the beginning of the year, you will be given help to choose the
most appropriate modules, taking into account how your previous education and/or experience meet the
demands of the modules, your career aspirations and personal preference.
Notes for the curriculum
1. You will study 120 credits during the year, with at least 100 credits of level 3 modules
2. Each semester you will study 60 credits (the credits for year long modules denoted ‘L’ and the Project
are apportioned equally to each semester)
3. If you wish, you may choose up to 20 credits of modules offered at level 2.
2
Code
Course Unit Title
Level
Semester
Credit
IBE
Curriculum map: International Business Economics
STAGE 3
ID-4254L
ID-4207M
ID-4252Q
ID-3111M
ID-NEWL
ID-4253M
ID-3110M
ID-4219M
ID-4220M
ID-4208M
ID-3109M
The Economics and Finance of Business
3
1/2
20
C
International Trade*
3
1
10
C
International Business Economics Project
3
1/2
40
C
Research and Study Skills
3
1
10
C
Trade, Regionalism and Globalisation*
3
1/2
20
O
Financial Economics
3
1
10
O
Development Policy Issues
3
1
10
O
Economics of Labour
3
2
10
O
Economics of Leisure
3
2
10
O
International Monetary Economics
3
2
10
O
Integrated Strategic Human Resource
3
2
10
O
Management
ID-4250M
European Political Economy
3
2
10
O
ID-4251M
Public Policy
3
2
10
O
ID-4119L
Statistics and Econometrics
2
1/2
20
O
ID-4117M
Environmental Economics
2
2
10
O
ID-2108M
Financial Markets and Institutions**
2
1
10
O
ID-NEWM
Financial Markets and Institutions**
3
1
10
O
ID-4113M
Industrial Organisation
2
2
10
O
Note: You must study 120 credits. You may choose a maximum of 20 credits of level 2 options
* Students can only take one of the two modules indicated. ID-NEWM covers the learning outcomes of ID4207M.
** Students can only take one of the two modules indicated.
The curriculum may change, subject to the University’s course approval, monitoring and review procedures,
as improvements are made each year. The provision of optional course units may change from year to
year depending on scheduling and resources.
Regulations for Progression
Detailed and definitive university regulations for progression are published on the web and apply to these
courses. Information is available from:
http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/acsec/QA_Hbk/Undergrad_Regs_.html#progression_between_stages
Sustainability
The University of Bradford, and the School of Social and International Studies (SSIS), are committed to the
principles of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) set out in UNESCO (2005) definition which
include: interdisciplinarity; value-driven; critical thinking and problem solving; participatory decision-making;
and applied learning which is relevant and culturally appropriate to local and other contexts.
In your programme you will find these principles underlie the teaching learning and assessment strategies.
ESD is integrated within the programme’s aim of allowing you the opportunity to develop critical thinking
and problem solving skills and appreciation of the interplay between the international economic
environment and business. This programme will provide you with a critical undertanding of the complexity
3
and interconnectedness of the global economic environment and the scope for, and limits to, sustainable
development.
In addition there are modules in which the themes and issues of ESD are particularly exemplified, such as:
 Research and Study Skills which will develop your critical and analytical abilities and provide
you with the tools to undertake independent, scholarly research in order to improve
understanding of the world around us.
 International Trade, in which you will gain understanding of the role of trade in the
development of economies and, through discussion, you will be able to critically evaluate
contemporary developments in trade policy across the world.
We are also committed in SSIS to giving you opportunities to engage in debates about the meaning and
future of Sustainable Development, as well as in the practice of ESD, for example, through volunteering on
and off campus, by taking action in a series of activities as a School.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies
The strategy for learning within the Division is to enable you to achieve your optimum level of competence
and understanding at each Stage in order to be well prepared, and feel confident, to progress to higher
levels of skill, knowledge, learning and experience. While lectures are the main teaching method, a wide
variety of other learning activities take place including: lectures with notes and supplementary reading;
exercises; projects; workshops; independent study and group work. Different assessment methods are
employed to match the learning outcomes of each course unit, and to achieve an overall balance between
methods (e.g. essays and other written work, oral presentations, problem solving exercises and group
work). You may be asked to undertake classroom and mid-semester tests to provide feedback on student
attendance and progress.
The Project is a substantial piece of work that gives you the opportunity not only to draw together your
existing strands of learning and experience but also to increase your specialist subject knowledge and to
demonstrate your ability to undertake independent study. During the course, you will acquire skills that will
be useful not only for the study of economics, but in whatever profession you choose to follow. These will
be taught, practised and assessed.
Admission requirements
You will normally hold one of the following:



A Higher National Diploma (HND) with a merit, merit, distinction profile or equivalent award with an
equivalent grade profile from a recognised university or institution of higher education, which
includes introductory and intermediate study of economics. For holders of SQA HND awards the
equivalent profile is an overall pass with grades A,A,B (the award to include study of introductory
and intermediate economics).
A Diploma of Higher Education or equivalent in Economics or Business (or related subjects),
achieved as a principal qualification from a recognised university or institution of higher education
and which includes introductory and intermediate study of economics, where the grade profile is
equivalent to that stated above for HND award holders.
English GCSE grade C or above; GCSE mathematics grade C or above (or equivalent).
If you are an international student (non-UK) you will need to show competence in English to a high level,
for example, IELTS with overall band score of 6.0 or equivalent.
Learning resources
4
The Learning Support Services of the University of Bradford, comprising the Library, IT Services and the
Career Development Service, have been rated excellent in quality reviews. The Division of Economics
supplements the IT resources available on campus with its own computer cluster for teaching and
individual study. The University Library is a designated European Documentation Centre with a
comprehensive coverage of EU information.
Student support and guidance
We aim to help you become a confident and independent learner who is able to source information from
the wide range of resources referenced in the student handbook, University website and virtual learning
environment, course study guides, libraries and lecture materials. You will be provided with an intensive
introductory training in Research and Study Skills, to help you make the transition to study at the University
of Bradford and to prepare for your Project and other assignments.
Personal contact is also vitally important to successful learning and we seek to maintain a high level of
interaction between students and staff. The Division has a reputation for friendliness and openness in
staff-student relations. It is also a truly international community, with nationals from many different
countries represented in the student population. Lecturers have regular office hours in which they are
available for discussion and we seek to maintain relatively small class sizes in the economics modules. In
addition, you will be allocated a personal academic tutor who acts as a mentor and adviser. Personal tutors
are able to arrange for appropriate specialist help from the wide range of experts across the University, as
well as advise on any matter to do with your academic work or welfare. Student representation in the
Division of Economics is organised through the Staff Student Liaison Committees, chaired by an appointed
academic staff member who reports to Academic Committee. The University infrastructure for support and
guidance is very strong, and includes the Learner Development Unit, Student Support Centre (‘the Hub’),
Disabilities Office, Career Development Service, and the Health Centre. Welfare and social support are
also provided through the Student Union.
Employability of Graduates
Graduates with a training in economics are increasingly in demand for their analytical and problem solving
skills as much for their knowledge of economic principles and applications. Our graduates pursue a range
of careers in the fields on finance, insurance, general management, government and education. Many will
also go on to further postgraduate study at Masters level to study economics in greater depth or to
complement their first degree with a specialist business degree. See www.whystudyeconomics.ac.uk for
more information about the skills acquired by economics graduates and the types of careers pursued.
In choosing this degree course you will be able to combine practical, business knowledge with a broader
understanding of the wider economic environment. This will allow you to present a wide range of skills to
potential employers, or indeed provide a solid basis for further postgraduate study in the fields of
economics, business or the social sciences.
Further Information
For further information about the Division please contact:
Division of Economics
School of Social and International Studies
University of Bradford
Bradford
BD7 1DP
Tel: +44 (0)1274 233 981 Fax: +44 (0)1274 235 280
5
E-mail: ssisugadmissions@bradford.ac.uk
Web: www.bradford.ac.uk/economics
6