International Business Administration

Your programme in a nutshell

IBA is a full-time, English-taught programme that takes three years to complete. A year has six periods. During each period you will work intensively on two courses simultaneously. Outside of class you will work on assignments in small student teams.

The programme starts with introductory courses on the main disciplines of Strategy and Marketing, Finance and Accounting, Organization & Human Resource Management, and IT & Logistics. Furthermore you will follow courses that will provide you with the skills and insights that you will need throughout your professional and academic career.

In your third year you will start specializing in preparation for the Master’s programme of your choice by taking elective courses. This will give you the opportunity to gain even more in-depth knowledge in your specific areas of interest.

"The academic offering of the programme is very stimulating, in that not only do you get to learn theories, but you actually get the chance to apply them to real life situations and actual companies. Studying this wide array of subjects has given me the opportunity to explore a wide range of employment opportunities in different business sectors when I graduate."
Nadia Hassen, 3rd year student IBA from Zimbabwe

Some first-year subjects

Marketing
You will learn how to how to identify, create, and deliver customer value from an international perspective and how to create marketing strategies from a customer-oriented perspective.

Cross-cultural management
You will gain knowledge and understanding of cultural differences between nations and organizations and of the impact of cultural differences on cross-cultural issues in organizations. You will learn to recognize cultural dilemmas and differences in a business context.

Organizational behaviour
You will gain knowledge and understanding of concepts and theories related to human behaviour in organizations and you will learn how to apply this knowledge in practical situations. You will develop the competence to describe basic interactions between individuals, groups, and organizations in the appropriate terms. You will be able to compare different theoretical approaches that deal with this interaction.

Second and third years

Humand Resourse Management
Human Resource Management is the design of formal systems in an organization to ensure the effective and efficient use of human talent. These formal systems should generate activities that involve the utilization and development of an organization's resources, including personnel, technical equipment and policies. Upon realizing these objectives, organizations are equipped with the essential elements for increasing both the individual’s and the organization's potential for achieving the stated goals.

Management accounting
While accounting information as reflected in financial statements (balance sheet, income statements) is useful for managers, it typically needs to be supplemented by far more detailed and specific accounting-based information to arrive at a complete picture. Information like this is needed for making decisions (are certain activities profitable?) and for monitoring the activities of lower-level managers and employees (is a department being run efficiently?) This course will introduce you to various types of costing systems that generate this type of information.

Compulsory Exchange
For all IBA students starting their Bachelor programme in 2012 or later, an exchange semester is an obligatory part of their study programme. More information about exchange possibilities .

Elective courses
In your third year you will be able to take a number of elective courses. These electives serve as a preparation for the Master’s programme of your choice.
All IBA students get the chance to spend a semester abroad in their third year. This exchange will turn you into a global citizen. We have close connections with over 60 partner universities all over the world. You might for example go to South Africa, Australia, Argentina, Taiwan, Indonesia, China, the USA, France, Italy, Spain or Sweden. The possibilities are endless!

In structuring the programme, we have chosen to combine in-depth subjects concerning business with research methods and an international orientation.
The subjects in the first year build the basis for the subjects in following years. The pillars of the programme are Strategy & Marketing, Finance & Accounting, Organization Studies & HRM, and IT & Logistics. In the third year you will choose a topic for your Bachelor’s thesis, follow elective courses and consider the steps you would like to take upon completion of your Bachelor’s degree. You might, for example, wish to pursue a Master of Science degree in Business Administration.

For detailed information see:
Studyguide
Course descriptions