Bachelor of Business (International Business)
Student type:
Quick facts
-
Duration
Full-time 3 years, Part-time 6 years -
Location
Melbourne City -
Fees
Next intake
February, July
Entry score
ATAR 66.20
Duration
Full-time 3 years Location
Melbourne city
Overview
Your career in international business
Having staff with international skills is now an organisational imperative. Our program is focused on producing graduates who can think critically about managing international business responsibly, and sustainably and be equipped with the skills to build a successful career across corporate/business sectors, government, third sector, and consultancy in Australia and overseas.
What you will learn in this program
You will gain foundation knowledge across several areas of international business in the first half of the degree. You will then develop deeper knowledge and the ability to apply a range of critical perspectives across key areas of business practice and management. In the second half of the degree you can incorporate specialised studies or electives in a different discipline to expand your career options.
Details
In this three-year program you can choose a second business major, or a minor from another business discipline, a set of international studies courses or a foreign language to suit your career goals.
Examples include foreign languages, international studies, sustainability and environment, geospatial studies, statistics and data management, politics, social justice, gender studies, and conflict mediation.
The program enables you to develop an understanding of core business issues relating to financial markets, international trade, and global logistics and supply chain management, and to develop skills in cross-cultural management.
In addition, you will learn how to think critically about managing international business responsibly, and sustainably, about design and entrepreneurship, and gain insights into the institutional roles of business that reveal how the global political economy shapes, and is shaped by, international business organisations.
Most of your classes will be held in RMIT's Swanston Academic Building which features innovative learning spaces interspersed with retail and social spaces resulting in a stimulating environment for students.
Throughout your studies you will collaborate with peers and engage meaningfully with industry through small group projects and simulation exercises. You are also able to engage in learning or working overseas as part of your studies.
RMIT offers you a variety of experiences so that you can learn and develop concepts in the classroom, as well as engage with the world of work and apply your learning to both real and realistic problems.
You will have the chance to demonstrate what you have learned in class or out in industry by:
- presenting ideas and solutions to industry representatives
- using custom-built simulators
- applying your knowledge to address real issues presented in case studies
- completing workplace projects according to specifications and timeframes.
Through RMIT University’s online learning portal, myRMIT, you will be able to view online resources and learning activities created by lecturers, access course materials via Blackboard, collaborate with lecturers and fellow students, and access your student email account. Educational software, the Learning Hub, resources and printers are accessible on campus via the RMIT wireless network using your own laptop, tablet or smart phone or via computer facilities on-campus. You will be able to access the same software from home using myDesktop.
Find out more about student computing at RMIT.
Ongoing assessment throughout the semester includes examinations, presentations, group projects, research projects and practical assignments.
Inside the course experience
From industry experience to leadership development, students share what they gained during their programs.
You will have the opportunity to directly apply your academic skills to a work context in the following work-integrated learning courses:
- Managing International Business Responsibly. In this core course you will be guided by an academic who specialises in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and who has worked as a management consultant in CSR and sustainability. You will appraise different approaches to this field, learning how to engage with a range of stakeholders in order to improve outcomes for business and society.
- Political Economy of International Business. In this capstone course you will study the historical and institutional context of the world economy, and contemporary trends in trade, finance, production and economic scalability of global businesses and the political, economic and cultural environments in which they operate.They are designed to develop your work-ready capabilities and your ability to analyse and manage information and contexts, resolve problems and communicate effectively in your future business career.
Other work-connected and industry-relevant options include:
- Working in a student team as part of the Fastrack Innovation Program. In this elective course you will work with mentors to develop and present a solution to a real problem. This form of fast-prototyping is designed to tap into fresh thinking from RMIT students.
- Business Internship electives where you take up a position for one or two days per week for one semester. These positions are normally unpaid and are designed to develop your soft skills and increase your overall employability upon graduation. You are responsible for finding your own placement, however job search assistance is available.
- BUSM4599 Business Skills for Start Ups, a course designed for students interested in starting up their own business.
Guiding the development of the College of Business, both nationally and internationally, is an Industry Advisory Board of high-profile executives chaired by Gerhard Vorster, Chief Strategy Officer, Deloitte. The Board creates a strategic bridge between the latest in technology and design thinking and business.
RMIT University is committed to providing you with an education that strongly links formal learning with professional or vocational practice.
You are actively encouraged to experience the wider world inside both traditional and virtual classrooms. Exposure to different types of cross-border collaboration during your studies will provide insights into how organisations develop ideas, and present you with different behaviours, learning styles and practices that you will encounter after graduation.
Options include:
- studying with RMIT in Vietnam
- studying with RMIT’s educational partner the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics in China and Singapore Institute of Management in Singapore
- participating in a student exchange
- participating in a study tour that combines an overseas travel and cultural experience with coursework completed in intensive mode which is credited towards your degree
- collaborating on projects across campuses and locations with students from business and other disciplines
- undertaking an overseas internship as part of the Global Entrepreneurship and Internship Program (GEIP).
Find out more about international opportunities in the College of Business.
This program is suited to students who already have significant working experience, or for those who want to extend studies in business and related disciplines by choosing from a range of second majors and minors to suit career or personal development goals.
The program consists of 24 courses (each 12 credit points) and includes:
- 8 compulsory common business core courses
- 8 business discipline major courses
- 8 flexible courses.
The 8 flexible courses can be selected from three options:
- a second business discipline major (8 courses)
- a compulsory business discipline minor (4 courses) plus second minor (any discipline)
a compulsory business discipline minor (4 courses) plus 4 electives.
A second business major can be selected from:
- accounting
- economics
- finance
- financial planning
- information systems
- logistics and supply chain management
- management
- marketing.
Business minors (PDF 201KB 14p) can be selected from the same disciplines as listed above, as well as behavioural business, business analysis, economics and finance, entrepreneurship, financial planning and taxation, human resource management, IS security and risk management, law or the flexible business minor. Other minors can be selected from many disciplines offered across RMIT.
When planning your studies, you are advised to check which elective and minor courses are offered each year.
You will gain foundation knowledge across several areas of international business in the first half of the degree. You will then develop deeper knowledge and the ability to apply a range of critical perspectives across key areas of business practice and management.
Your core international business studies will cover:
- Financial markets. You will be introduced to the financial markets environment in which business organisations operate globally, and you will collaborate in small teams to critically analyse problems in real-life treasury dealing situations using live data in the RMIT Trading Facility.
- Economics and trade. You will be introduced to the economic theory of free trade and the effect international trade (or intervening in the trade process) has on economic welfare, economic growth and income distribution.
- Global trade operations. You’ll gain insights in to the operational and strategic aspects of global trade operations related to the exchange of goods and services across international borders, as well as the politics of global trade and the regulatory environment.
- Cross cultural management. Equips you with the awareness, knowledge and skills needed to work in a multicultural workplace and successfully lead in organisations by considering behaviours, intercultural sensitivity, cross-cultural communication and diversity.
- Socially responsible management. Provides you with knowledge and skills to think innovatively about how to take social and environmental issues into account in ways that both contribute to core business strategy, and also improve outcomes for society through engagement with stakeholders in the value chains of international business.
- Political economy. Consolidates and deepens your understanding of the political, economic and cultural environments in which international business operates, and the role of global business as actors in the international political economy, including relationships with the key international institutions and actors.
- Design thinking. You will explore creativity, innovation and design and their importance within organisations and business in the context of increasing levels of risk and uncertainty globally, thereby gaining a uniquely RMIT perspective on contemporary challenges and opportunities in international business.
Here are some examples of how an international business degree incorporating the most popular majors, minors and elective sequences can align with a career path.
- Economics – analyse and interpret quantitative data and communicate recommendations for strategic decision-making.
- Finance – work on a foreign exchange trading desk, or advise on capital expenditure or foreign investment.
- Logistics – combine expertise in supply chain management informed by knowledge of global and regional trade, political and cultural environments, and the growing imperative to manage global operations responsibly.
- Marketing – advise on marketing concerns beyond the brand and company, but also in the context of a product or company’s impact on society and in different cultural contexts.
If you choose electives as your flexible courses, you may wish to consider
- a business internship elective
- global experience options
- BUSM4599 Business Skills for Start Ups, a course designed for students interested in starting up their own business, covering the stages from concept through to launch
- a sequence of electives related to a particular career specialisation.
Choose a program structure
| Title | Location | Duration | Plan code | CRICOS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Business (International Business) | City Campus |
3 years full-time or part-time equivalent
|
3 years full-time
|
BP253 | 063096K |
Choose a program structure
Program code: BP253
Career
RMIT's aim is for international business graduates to become better global citizens because they have benefited from examining business practices through a global lens, and through a socially responsible business lens. You will emerge with an understanding of how various activities within and between organisations and industry sectors are connected.
The roles and industries an international business qualification can lead to include:
- policy development and advice, especially within an organisation
- a wide range of trade, and finance related roles
- business analyst
- logistics and supply chain management roles, such as advising procurement managers regarding fair trade and ethical sourcing in logistics import/export industries
- government relations and consultancy, for example, advising on trade-related issues
- economic research and developing economic policy or regulatory guidelines
- management consultant
- business roles relating to corporate social responsibility and sustainability, with respect to business strategy, rankings, ethical ratings and indexes, and improving business consultation, partnerships, and social and environmental impacts.
Professional bodies may offer students and/or graduates membership, opportunities for entry into professional qualification programs and other career enhancing benefits.
For further information about membership and opportunities for students and graduates, please visit our accreditation and membership page.
Admissions
RMIT is committed to providing transparency to the admissions process. In line with this commitment, we provide you with information that will help in making informed choices about your undergraduate study options. Find out more about RMIT’s commitment to admissions transparency.
You must meet the minimum academic entry requirements for this program. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee you entry due to the competitive nature of this program. Overseas qualifications will be assessed for Australian equivalence.
*ATAR refers to the lowest selection rank to which an offer was made (including consideration of any adjustments) for current and recent year 12 applicants.
RMIT’s selection criteria, outlined below according to your highest completed level of education, will provide you with a better understanding of the minimum admissions requirements needed for this program.
Selection criteria
This information is for applicants who are currently undertaking an Australian Year 12 or equivalent or whose highest qualification is a completed secondary education within the last two years (2017, 2018).
Selection criteria
You are required to meet the following minimum academic requirements:
- successful completion of an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent) including units 3 and 4 with a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL
You may be eligible for adjustment factors which will be applied to your selection rank. You can find more information under the heading 'Adjustment factors'.
ATAR profile
View the ATAR profile and selection rank from students offered a place into this program wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in 2019.
This information is for applicants who have completed an accredited award at an Australian Registered Training Organisation.
Selection criteria
You are required to meet the following minimum academic requirements:
- successful completion of any Australian diploma or advanced diploma (or equivalent)
You may satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice. You can find more information under the heading 'Additional information'.
You may be eligible for adjustment factors which will be applied to your selection rank. You can find more information under the heading 'Adjustment factors'.
This information is for applicants whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education program.
Selection criteria
You are required to meet the following minimum academic requirements:
- successful completion of an Australian higher education diploma (or equivalent overseas qualification); or
- successful completion of at least four courses (subjects) at an Australian associate degree (or equivalent) and no double-fail in any required course of the receiving degree; or
- successful completion of at least four courses (subjects) at an Australian undergraduate level (or equivalent) and no double-fail in any required course of the receiving degree; or
- successful completion of two Open Universities Australia higher education units. Scored or graded results are required
You may satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice. You can find more information under the heading 'Additional information'.
You may be eligible for adjustment factors which will be applied to your selection rank. You can find more information under the heading 'Adjustment factors'.
This information is for applicants who left secondary school more than two years ago and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since then.
Selection criteria
You are required to meet the following minimum academic requirements:
- successful completion of an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent) more than two years ago, including units 3 and 4 with a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL
You may satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice. You can find more information under the heading 'Additional information'.
Work and life experience does not provide any additional consideration for entry to this program.
You may be eligible for adjustment factors which will be applied to your selection rank. You can find more information under the heading 'Adjustment factors'.
Available only to current or recent Year 12 applicants
Subject adjustments
A study score of 25 in Accounting, Business Management, Economics, Geography, any Information Technology, Legal Studies, any Mathematics or Psychology equals 1 aggregate point per study. A study score of 35 in any English equals 2 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 5 points.
Regional adjustments
RMIT automatically allocates adjustment factors to Year 12 applicants from a low socio-economic status area for all certificate IV, diploma, advanced diploma, associate degree and degree level programs that select primarily on ATAR. Low socio-economic status areas are determined by applying the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Socio-Economic Index for Areas (SEIFA) Index of Education and Occupation.
School Network Access Program (SNAP)
The SNAP access scheme is designed to increase tertiary participation by giving priority access to RMIT diploma and degree programs to eligible applicants currently studying Year 12 at a SNAP partner school.
Available to all applicants
Equity access schemes
Equity access schemes take into account personal information and location, difficult circumstances, disadvantaged financial background and disability or medical condition that may have impacted on an applicant’s most recent academic performance.
Find out more about the eligibility requirements for each Special Entry Access Scheme and RMIT access categories.
If you are applying through VTAC you should apply for the Special Entry Access Scheme.
If you are applying directly to RMIT you should apply for RMIT Access. The system will prompt you to do this during your application.
Elite Athlete Program
The RMIT Elite Athlete Program supports eligible elite and emerging athletes to achieve sporting and academic excellence, allowing students to balance the demands of both their studies and their athletic responsibilities.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
The Indigenous Access Program supports your application to RMIT through an informal interview process where you will receive help from the Ngarara Willim Centre. Additional consideration will be given if you have relevant life, work, education or training experience.
Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
If you are applying to RMIT as an applicant with vocational education training, higher education study or work or life experience, you may sit the STAT multiple choice if you:
- are 19 years of age or over as of 1 January in the year in which you will start your studies and
- have not been enrolled in secondary studies for at least two years and
- have no prior secondary school (Year 12), VET studies, HE studies or relevant work experience that can be considered for entry, or these do not meet the minimum academic requirements for the program
The STAT overall score will be competitively ranked for selection.
STAT results are valid for two years prior to the commencement of study and can be used to meet Year 12 English and Year 11 Mathematics prerequisites. You must meet all other program prerequisites or equivalents.
Learn more about RMIT STAT results including minimum STAT scores required to meet prerequisites.
You must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 or an equivalent senior secondary school qualification with a minimum average of 65% (see calculator below).
Equivalent qualifications may also include completion of the RMIT Foundation Studies program or a recognised post secondary diploma in the relevant discipline with the required grades.
Meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee entry. Your application will still need to be assessed and accepted.
To study this program you will need to complete one of the following English proficiency tests:
- IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 6.5 (with no individual band below 6.0)
- TOEFL (Paper Based Test): minimum score of 580 (TWE 4.5)
- TOEFL (Internet Based Test - IBT): minimum overall score of 79 (with minimum of 13 in Reading, 12 in Listening, 18 in Speaking and 21 in Writing)
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE (A)): minimum score of 58 (with no communication band less than 50)
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): minimum of 176 with no less than 169 in any component.
For detailed information on English language requirements and other proficiency tests recognised by RMIT, visit English language requirements and equivalency information.
Don't meet the English language test scores? Complete an Advanced Plus Certificate at RMIT English Worldwide.
Pathways
When you successfully complete this program you may be eligible for entry into the Bachelor of Business (Honours).
Alternatively you may be eligible for entry into other RMIT honours or postgraduate programs.
Fees
2020 indicative fees
In 2020, the annual student contribution amount (tuition fee) you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$6,684 to AU$11,155*.
Additional expenses
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$308 maximum fee for 2020.
- Other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment.
Annual fee adjustment
Amounts quoted are indicative fees per annum, and are based on a standard year of full-time study (96 credit points). A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load.
Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.
Defer your payment
You may be eligible to apply for a HECS-HELP loan, which can be used to defer payment of up to the full amount of your student contribution fees. You may also be eligible to apply to defer payment of your SSAF through the SA-HELP loan scheme.
Learn more about fees for undergraduate study.
All undergraduate and honours degrees have Commonwealth supported places (CSP) available. In 2020, the annual student contribution amount (tuition fee) you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$6,684 to AU$11,155.
In a CSP, your tuition fees are subsidised by the Australian Government. Your share of the fee (student contribution) is set each year by the Australian Government and is determined by the discipline areas (bands) of the courses in which you enrol, not the overall program.
How much can I expect to pay for my Commonwealth supported place?
Courses (subjects) fall into one of three bands. The band determines the student contribution amount for the course.
Amounts listed in the table below are based on a standard, full-time study load (96 credit points per year) with all courses in the same band. A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load or for enrolment in courses (subjects) from a combination of bands.
You can learn how to calculate your exact tuition fees for units from different bands at fees for Commonwealth supported students.
Maximum student contribution amount for Commonwealth supported places in 2020
Student contribution band by course (subject) |
Maximum annual student contribution amount in 2020 |
Band 1: humanities, behavioural science, social studies, clinical psychology, foreign languages, visual and performing arts, education, nursing |
$6,684 per standard year $835 per standard (12 credit point) course |
Band 2: mathematics, statistics, computing, built environment, other health, allied health, science, engineering, surveying, agriculture |
$9,527 per standard year |
|
$11,155 per standard year |
HECS-HELP Loans
The Australian Government provides financial assistance via the HECS-HELP loan scheme, which allows eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) to defer payment of up to the full amount of their student contribution.
SA-HELP Loans
You may be eligible to apply to defer payment of the Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) through the SA-HELP loan scheme. If you use SA-HELP, the amount will be added to your accumulated HELP debt.
How does a HELP loan work?
If your HECS-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT, on your behalf, up to the full amount of your fees. This amount will become part of your accumulated HELP debt.
You will only start repaying your accumulated HELP debt to the Australian Government once you earn above the minimum income threshold for repayment, which is set each year by the Australian Government (this also applies if you are still studying).
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will calculate your compulsory repayment for the year and include this on your income tax notice.
For more information about loan repayment options see Commonwealth assistance (HELP loans) or Study Assist.
In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student.
The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2020 is $308.
For more information about calculating your actual SSAF see Paying SSAF.
You may also be required to purchase other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from program to program.
The annual tuition fee for 2020 is AU$34,560.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2020 commencement is AU$109,440.
In addition to tuition fees you also need to pay for:
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) in each calendar year.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) - Student visa holders must have cover for the total duration of their visa.
- Some programs incur additional expenses.
You also need to account for your living expenses. Estimate the cost of living ;in Melbourne.