Course Overview

Ever wondered how successful communication transcends cultural and linguistic barriers? Ever considered how global companies manage their diverse workforce? Or what makes for successful communication in business specifically?

On this course, you’ll develop your understanding of global business and discover the essentials of business, marketing and global communication, discovering how important global communication and intercultural awareness are today for individuals and businesses.

Your intercultural training will invite you to challenge yourself and the cultural stereotypes that create barriers to successful communication. You’ll develop your understanding of how global businesses manage workforces with widely differing languages, values, and business practices. You’ll then have the chance to put your skills to the test by spending your third year in a placement, gaining invaluable work experience to complement your studies.

You’ll be taught alongside UK, EU and international students, enhancing your linguistic and global communication skills. You’ll also be able to start, or improve, your fluency in another language.

You’ll graduate ready to work in a range of fields, or to deepen your learning with further study.

About

Intercultural awareness is more crucial now than ever. On this degree, you’ll work with experts in the field of global communication to explore key global challenges. You’ll consider how we can break down barriers to successful communication within business, communities, education and politics.

You'll develop your business acumen by undertaking modules that will give you a solid foundation in business management. Later in your degree, you will have the chance to specialise in marketing, business ethics, or global intercultural communication.

Throughout your degree, you’ll learn through a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops. Our teaching in Language and Communication Studies is informed by cutting-edge research and practice in intercultural communication, and you’ll receive teaching in business management from the Norwich Business School. That means you’ll get direct insight into the latest issues and debates from a range of perspectives.

You’ll carry out independent and group study, pursuing research in UEA’s state-of-the-art library, writing essays and carrying out practical work or projects. You will develop not only written and spoken skills, but also project management, teamwork and interpersonal skills, and leadership skills. You’ll also be encouraged to develop links with local businesses, schools, and charities, which will require you to engage with them outside of formal teaching time. By applying your theoretical knowledge to a range of real-world situations, through authentic assessments you will develop a wide range of skills, honing the qualities you need to succeed in today's globalized world.

On Global Communication with Business Management with a Placement Year, you’ll normally spend 9-12 months of your third year in a placement, gaining invaluable working experience and employability skills in a relevant area of your choice.

Placement Year and Study Abroad

Want to graduate with professional experience? On this course, you will normally spend 9-12 months of your third year* in a placement, gaining invaluable work experience and employability skills in a relevant area of your choice. You will be expected to seek your own work placement, and will be supported in doing so by UEA’s Career Central Service and your School. Support for you to find your placement will start early in the first year and will be tailored to the particular needs you will have at various stages of the process.

The field in which you will do your placement will depend on your own interests, and some of the preparatory workshops will help you have a clearer idea of what these are, what your values are, and which career they may lead to. Global Communication with Business Management graduates go into a wide range of sectors, and so placements can be done in fields such as heritage, business, the public sector, creative industries and many more. We will, however, require that the tasks you will conduct as part of your placement meet the required learning outcomes and are complex enough to help you develop a range of skills that you will be able to translate and use during the final year of your degree and your post-graduation career.

*Placements may be shorter on some occasions, or take place during different years of the degree, but this has to be agreed by the Placement Director and Learning and Teaching Services.

Have a business idea? If you have an idea you think would make a great business, you may be able to turn your Placement Year into a ‘Year in Enterprise’*. Your idea (business plan, budget etc.), motivation and academic record would have to be assessed by our team. Should you be given the go-ahead, you could use the year to start your businesses in a structured and supportive environment, accessing numerous training courses and extensive mentoring.

*Note that if you’re studying with us on a Student Visa, you can’t currently undertake a Year in Enterprise due to Visa rules.

This version of the degree gives you the opportunity and support to greatly enhance your employability by securing and undertaking a year-long placement in the third year of your degree. Find out more about this exciting opportunity on our 'Placement Years in Arts and Humanities' page.

Employability

After the Course

With this degree, you’ll be equipped to enter a whole host of career sectors, both in the UK and abroad. These include tourism, hospitality and leisure, human resources, marketing, sales, business, international banking, media, the civil service, local government and administration, teaching and education, translation and interpretation, international trade and business, journalism, arts administration, and customer services.

Alternatively, you might continue your studies with a Master’s degree such as MA in Global Intercultural Communication or MA in Applied Translation Studies, or an MBA. To get your career off to the best start, our Careers Service run an annual Arts and Humanities events programme. This includes alumni-led presentations and workshops across a range of sectors, including charities, politics and government, writing and communications, and museums and heritage.

You will also benefit from our annual Careers Using Languages Fair, where we showcase the range of opportunities available to you. This is a great chance to meet employers and to hear alumni speak about their career paths since graduating.

Careers

A degree at UEA will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We've been ranked 1st for Job Prospects by StudentCrowd in 2022.

Examples of careers you could enter include:

Communication
Human resources
Consultancy and PR
Translation
Mediation and training
Sales and marketing

Discover more on our Career pages.

Entry Requirements

A Levels

BBB If you are taking an EPQ and three A-levels, we may offer you a one grade reduction on our advertised typical offer alongside an A in the EPQ.

T Levels

Obtain an overall Pass including a B in the core of the T Level and a Merit in the Occupational Specialism.

BTEC

DDM See below for accepted subjects and combinations

Contextual Offer

A Level - BCC

BTEC L3 Extended Diploma - DMM

Scottish Highers

AABBB

Scottish Advanced Highers

CCC A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable

Irish Leaving Certificate

2 subjects at H2, 4 subjects at H3

Access to HE Diploma

Access to Humanities & Social Sciences pathway Pass the Access to HE Diploma with Merit in 45 credits at Level 3.

International Baccalaureate

31 points

GCSE

You are required to have Mathematics and English Language at a minimum of Grade C or Grade 4 or above at GCSE.

English Foreign Language

Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading): 

IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components)

We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.

If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study: 

Interviews

Most applicants will not be called for an interview and a decision will be made via UCAS Hub. However, for some applicants an interview will be requested. Where an interview is required, the Admissions Service will contact you directly to arrange a time. 

Deferred Entry

We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year.  We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application. 

Intakes

This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake is in September each year. 

Additional Information or Requirements

BTEC combinations

Extended Diploma: DDM

Diploma: DD plus B at A-level

Extended Certificate: D plus BB at A-level

Foundation Year programmes

If you do not meet the academic requirements for direct entry, you may be interested in one of our Foundation Year programmes such as

BA Intercultural Communication with Business Management with a Foundation Year

Contextual admissions schemes

Alternative qualifications

International requirements

We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. View our International Students pages for specific information about your country.

If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, INTO UEA offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree:

International Foundation in Business, Economics, Society and Culture (for Year 1 entry to UEA)

International Foundation in Humanities and Law (for Year 1 entry to UEA

Admissions Policy

Fees and Funding

Tuition Fees

View our information for Tuition Fees.

Scholarships and Bursaries

We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.

Course Related Costs

Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs.

How to Apply

Apply for this course through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS), using UCAS Hub. 

UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.

Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started. 

Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.

The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.

View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information:

How to apply through UCAS

BA (Hons) Global Communication with Business Management with a Placement Year

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