BSc in International Business
The BSc IB gives you a broad understanding of business economics and strategy in a global context. You learn how companies analyse and adapt to the complex opportunities and risks inherent when an organisation does business internationally.
Om BSc in International Business
Why choose BSc IB
Hear about BSc IB
Get an insight into what BSc IB is all about and what you will learn during the programme.
Global business is complex
On BSc IB, you learn how global markets work and how companies handle international challenges strategically - like how each country has its own laws and regulations that companies must follow, and customers around the world have different expectations. Businesses also manage financial resources across borders and make decisions about how to use and develop new technologies.
Global business environment
You explore how international markets work and how laws and regulations made by governments or institutions like the EU affect companies. You will also learn how to spot opportunities, understand the competition and how to build strategies for entering new international markets.
Spotting trends and understanding change
Industries and markets are constantly evolving, shaped by shifting customer needs and new technologies. You will learn how to identify important patterns and trends - like how increasing commodity prices affect food companies or how consumer demands for sustainability is changing the fashion industry.
You learn to analyse these changes and understand how they influence companies and the strategies they choose. You will also explore how companies compete in different ways, whether through price, innovation, branding, or technology.
Students share their insights
Odin and Jeppe share their thoughts about BSc SOC
Looking inside international companies
You will explore how international companies are structured and run. This could be how companies carry out global marketing campaigns, manage finances across national borders, or interact with customers and competitors in different markets.
Working in a global organisation
Imagine you are working in a local branch of a global company. To succeed, you need to understand and solve internationally business challenges. This means making smart management decisions about the company’s strategy, like how and where to expand. It also involves deciding on company structure - for example, whether teams should be centralised or spread out. And finally, it means understanding company culture — how people work together, lead, and communicate.
Technology and innovation
You will also investigate how companies use technology to grow their business, drive innovation processes, and tap into new sources of ideas and expertise. This could be developing new green technologies to meet demands for sustainability, or working with international partners to co-create new products.
Tackle business challenges
You gain the tools and methods to collect and interpret data, identify key business challenges, predict possible outcomes, and develop effective strategies in response — for instance, analysing how firms respond to shifts in trade policies or customer demand.
Come to Open Days
Visit us for Open Day and learn more about which programmes might be the right fit for you. You can also meet our students and talk to our staff.
The programme is the same for both events, so you can attend on the day that suits you best.
We look forward to seeing you!
Opbygning
Handel og logistik
At the BSc IB the international environment in which companies operate is examined, together with insigths into companies and how they are structured and operated.
Økonomi og matematik
You work with economics both at the firm level and at a national or international level. You will gain knowledge about how companies interact with their customers and competitors.
Organisation og ledelse
You learn about what motivates employees and how to monitor the quality of their work. You are also taught about the different levels of management in international organisations.
Kommunikation
You learn about communication in companies that operates in international markets, how cultural differences can affect communication and how to handle the difficulties that arise.
Programme overview
1. semester
2. semester
3. semester
4. semester
5. semester
6. semester
Options during the programme
Options during the programme (Panel content)
Electives
On the 5th semester, you can choose to select courses that support your specific interest. CBS offers a large number of electives within a wide range of topics. You can also choose to take electives at other Danish universities. The electives you choose have to be relevant for your programme.
See the current selection of CBS electives courses on Courses at bachelor level.
Exchange
Many students choose to go on exchange on their 5th semester; usually at one of CBS’ more than 300 partner universities. When you go on exchange through CBS, you do not have to pay for the teaching at the foreign university (with a few exceptions), and you can bring your SU (student grant).
Find a list of all CBS partner universities
Internship
You can substitute some of your electives with a so-called academic internship. The academic internship consists of a working period in a company which is completed with a project report. The internship can take place either in or outside of Denmark.
An academic internship gives you the opportunity to reflect on and apply the theory that you have learn at CBS to real cases. Your assignments during the internship and the subject of the project report must therefore be relevant to the programme you are studying.
Global Supply Chain and Logistics Management
You can apply for Global Supply Chain and Logistics Management which is a programme focusing on international business, global logistics and supply chain management.
If you get selected you will spend a semester each in Copenhagen and at two partner universities:
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong, CUHK in Shenzhen, China
- The University of British Columbia, UBC in Vancouver, Canada.
Please note that this option only is available to a very limited number of students.
Read more about Global Supply Chain and Logistics Management.
TREBLE
You can apply for TREBLE which is a tri-continental programme focusing on business knowledge, global experience, and network, from three different continents – U.S, Asia and Europe.
If you get accepted, you will spend a semester each at two partner universities
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), Singapore Management University (SMU)
- Copenhagen Business School (CBS). Please note that this option is available to a very limited number of students.
Read more about TREBLE
Global SCLM (Panel content)
Global SCLM
Global Supply Chain and Logistics Management, SCLM, is a tri-continental programme focusing on a combination of international business, global logistics and supply chain management.
The programme is a collaboration between
- Copenhagen Business School
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) in Shenzhen
- The University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver
Together with 44 other undergraduate students from three continents, you will strengthen your academic skills and gain first-hand experience in an ambitious, multicultural environment. You will face both cultural and academic challenges while exploring global opportunities.
Read more at the Global Supply Chain and Logistics Management webpage
Who can apply?
Each of the three universities will select 15 undergraduate students to form a group of 45 students.
In the selection process, we take the following into consideration:
- grades
- interview performance
- personal motivation and achievements.
The programme is only open to CBS students from BSc Shipping and BSc IB.
Programme structure
During the 18 months you will study at CBS and the two partnership universities, experiencing life both as a host and a visitor.
You will spend your:
- third semester at Copenhagen Business School
- fourth semester at The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.
- fifth semester at The Chinese University of Hong Kong
When to apply?
The application deadline is 1 January at the end of your first semester.
Programme overview of Global SCLM
1. semester
2. semester
3. semester
4. semester
5. semester
6. semester
TREBLE (Panel content)
TREBLE
TREBLE is a tri-continental programme that gives you business knowledge, global experience, and network, from three different continents – U.S, Asia and Europe.
The Tricontinental Exchange in Business and Leadership Education programmme, TREBLE, is a collaboration between:
- Copenhagen Business School, CBS.
- Singapore Management University, SMU.
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, UNC.
Together with 44 other undergraduate students you will strengthen your academic skills and gain exposure to different business environments and practices.
Who can apply
Each of the three universities will select 15 undergraduates to form a group of 45 students who live, study and travel together throughout the 18 months.
You can apply for TREBLE during your first semester. In the selection process, we take the following into consideration:
- grades
- interview performance in both personal and group sessions
- assessment of motivation and achievements.
The programmme is only open to students enrolled in the BSc IB programme.
Programme structure
During the 18 months you will study at CBS and the two partnership universities, experiencing life both as a host and a visitor.
You will spend your:
- third semester at Kenan-Flagler Business School at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- fourth semester at Lee Kong Chian School of Business at Singapore Management University, SMU.
- fifth semester at Copenhagen Business School
When to apply
You can apply for TREBLE during the end of your first semester.
Programme structure of TREBLE
1. semester
2. semester
3. semester
4. semester
5. semester
6. semester
Studiemiljø
Student life
You will begin the programme alongside around 200 other students and quickly get to know many of them through your exercise class. The students are social and often spend time together on campus — studying in the library or having a cup of coffee at the student cafe.
Active student union
The student union organises a wide range of activities that you can join. These include career events and collaborations with companies, as well as social events such as the annual IB Dinner. At the IB Dinner, you can sign up as a host or a guest and enjoy dinner at another student’s home — not necessarily someone from your own exercise class or cohort. Joining the social events is a great way to meet fellow students across year groups and to build friendships and connections outside of lectures.
Competitive study environment
Some students experience the study environment in BSc IB as competitive, as many place great emphasis on their academic results and achievements, both within and outside the programme. While some students thrive in this environment, others may find it more challenging.
An international environment
Students come from both Denmark and abroad. This means you will be speaking English in both academic and social settings. It might feel a bit awkward at first, but it quickly becomes second nature as English becomes part of your everyday life.
As an international student, you might feel a bit lonely at first. However, the more time you spend getting to know your fellow students, the quicker you will build a strong network in Copenhagen.
Read more about Student life on CBS.
What the students think
Learn how Jeppe and Odin experience their student life on BSc IB.
Mød de studerende
Teaching and exams
Teaching activities
You will have lectures with your whole year and smaller exercise classes. In the lectures, you are introduced to the theories and models you need to learn. In the exercise classes, you will work more hands-on with solving assignments and applying what you have learned on a case study.
Groupwork
On BSc IB you mostly work individually, as there are very few group assignments and group exams. That said, many students choose to form study groups where they go over course material, prepare for exams and support each other.
Quarter structure
You follow two courses at a time for about six weeks before taking your exams. This is called quarter structure, and it divides the academic year into four parts.You might see it as an advantage because it lets you focus and go in-depth with just two courses and exams at a time. Or you might find it intense — you need to keep up week by week, and falling behind can make it tough to catch up.
Read more about teaching and working methods.
Exams
You will encounter different types of exams, such as written sit-in exams, home assignments, and oral exams. The majority of exams are individual written sit-in exams, but you also have to hand in home assignments either individually or in a study group.
Read more about exams at CBS.
Time consumption
Workload
Pursuing a bachelor degree is demanding, and the curriculum and workload are much greater than what you experienced in your upper secondary education. So, you should expect spending approximately 37 hours on average on your studies each week.
Busy periods
The workload will vary during the year. The time leading up to assignment submissions and exams can be hectic, and you can easily work more than 40 hours a week in this period. Preparing for oral exams can be especially time consuming, because you have to be able to explain and discuss the covered concepts and theories and learn things by heart.
Read more on Teaching and working methods
Student job
Most programmes are quite flexible in terms of combining studies with a student job. Most students work a maximum of 15 hours a week in order to have sufficient time for their studies.
Studying in Denmark - for internationals
If this is your first time studying in Denmark, you may find teaching and exam formats, the grading scale and the academic calendar very different from what you are used to.
Read about everything you need to know as an international student studying at CBS at Internationals students
Come to Open Days
Visit us for Open Day and learn more about which programmes might be the right fit for you. You can also meet our students and talk to our staff.
The programme is the same for both events, so you can attend on the day that suits you best.
We look forward to seeing you!
Adgangskrav
Specific entry requirement: B with min. 6.0 grade average
Optagelsestal
Challenges and considerations
What you should consider
Learn about the challenges on BSc IB and what you should consider before applying.
Academic challenges
Studying in English
If you are not used to studying in English or if you are not a native speaker, we recommend that you read more about what to consider before applying for an English-taught programme.
Read more here.
Math as a tool
In about a half of the mandatory courses in BSc IB you will use maths as a tool. You will not use maths that is complicated beyond the entry requirement for the programme, but you need to be comfortable having courses where you use maths and do calculations at a practical level.
Focus on global markets and business strategy
The main focus in BSc IB is on global markets and business strategy. There are also courses that deal with the economic side of business such as finance and accounting but they are not as central in the programme.
If it is the quantitative aspects of business that interest you the most and you see yourself pursuing a master programme within e.g. finance then other programmes may prepare you better.
Why they chose BSc IB
Hear what Odin and Jeppe considered before applying for BSc IB
Har du brug for særlig støtte?
Har du en funktionsnedsættelse som fx ordblindhed, angst, autisme, ADHD, senfølger efter hjernerystelse eller en anden fysisk, psykisk eller neurologisk funktionsnedsættelse?
Så har du som studerende på CBS mulighed for at søge specialpædagogisk støtte (SPS) og særlige vilkår på din uddannelse.
Det sikrer, at du kan studere på lige fod med dine medstuderende.
Apply for admission
Come to Open Days
Visit us for Open Day and learn more about which programmes might be the right fit for you. You can also meet our students and talk to our staff.
The programme is the same for both events, so you can attend on the day that suits you best.
We look forward to seeing you!
Efter uddannelsen
Master's degree after BSc IB
The majority of students from BSc IB continue on to a two-year master programme, making it a total of 5 years of studies.
It is very much the master rather than the bachelor programme that shapes your future career opportunities.
After graduating from BSc IB, you are guaranteed a place in the natural progression: MSc in Economics and Business Administration in General Management and Analytics
What you learn
Career
Most BSc IB graduates go straight into a master programme after finishing their bachelor. Later, they typically work in a range of industries or departments, such as
- Management Consulting
- Investment Banking
- Private Equity
- Marketing and brand management
- Data and business analytics
- Sustainability and ESG Consulting
Tasks can vary a lot, but specific examples are
- Research international markets to support business expansion or entry strategies
- Analyse sales data to identify trends and improve business decisions
- Create marketing reports based on customer data and campaign performance
- Coordinate supply chain activities across international markets
- Prepare ESG reports to track sustainability metrics for investors or stakeholders
- Build financial models to evaluate investment opportunities or company performance
Career options after BSc IB
Hear what options you have after graduating from BSc IB.
Come to Open Days
Visit us for Open Day and learn more about which programmes might be the right fit for you. You can also meet our students and talk to our staff.
The programme is the same for both events, so you can attend on the day that suits you best.
We look forward to seeing you!
Mere om BSc in International Business
The BSc IB gives you a broad understanding of business economics and strategy in a global context. You learn how companies analyse and adapt to the complex opportunities and risks inherent when an organisation does business internationally.
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