Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business

International Business

• Degree: Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Tradenomi (AMK)
• Extent and duration: 210 credits ECTS, 3,5 years
• Location: Wärtsilä Campus, Karjalankatu 3, 80200 Joensuu, Finland
• Study places in Joint Application: 45
• Language of tuition: English
• Application period: 4 — 18 January 2023

Study objectives

The Degree Program in International Business enables you to develop competencies required in global business. Your studies focus on international marketing and service mindedness as a part of a successful business. Studying in a multicultural environment in close cooperation with companies enhances your communication and interaction skills. It also provides you with an excellent starting point for the development of your organizational, self-management, and leadership skills.

More about the language of instruction

In Karelia UAS the language of tuition is Finnish. The language of tuition in the Degree Program in International Business is English. When applicable, the thesis can be done in some other language than the language of tuition.

Study contents

Karelia University of Applied Sciences offers a multicultural learning environment where you can develop your competencies with a special focus on international business, marketing, and sales. The course supply also includes studies in communication, financial administration, and management. Moreover, you can choose complementary studies from other programs of Karelia UAS. A part of your studies is conducted abroad, and the practical training placement is carried out in an international company either in or outside Finland. You cooperate closely with companies, e.g. in projects and assignments commissioned by our working life partners. In teaching, various appropriate study methods, such as lectures, group work, and visits are employed. Part of marketing and international business studies are offered in cooperation with the Degree Program in Business Economics.

The first-year studies familiarise you with the basic elements of business and strengthen your communication skills so that you can effectively operate in a multicultural environment. The second-year studies take you to the level of international business. You are able to get a broad perspective on business and analyze operative environments and corporate activities. During the third year of studies, you will deepen your knowledge of marketing and sales. You can also complement your studies by taking courses in foreign partner universities. Moreover, the third-year studies contain practical training in a company where you can apply your knowledge and skills to international tasks.

At Karelia, you study with your own computer.

Structure of studies

The degree program International Business contains the common core and complementary studies enhancing your key and specialized competencies. The extent of core studies is 180 cr and that of complementary studies 30 cr. Core studies include training of 30 study points and a thesis of 15 study points.

Final project

At Karelia University of Applied Sciences, a thesis is an extensive study unit and a wide-ranging learning process. In the thesis, you develop and show the knowledge and skills that you have acquired during your studies and apply them to specialist tasks in practice. During the process, you cooperate with the commissioning party and the supervising teacher. The process itself contains three stages: planning, implementation, and reporting.

Your thesis is a research, production, or development task closely connected with the world of work. The thesis can be based on an empirical study of applied research that serves the needs of business and industry. Similarly, a thesis can be practice-based, the outcome of which may range from guidebooks, models, and exhibitions, collections, concerts to applications, and technical implements. It is expected that you receive the idea or topic for your thesis from the industry or other cooperative partners.

The thesis is followed by a maturity test, which is a written exam in English. In the maturity test, you write an essay to demonstrate your knowledge on the topic of your thesis.

Internationalization

Studies at Karelia UAS provide you with plentiful opportunities for internationalization. International elements in your studies deepen your understanding of your own field, strengthen your language and communication skills, and support your ability to work with different people. At the same time, you get important connections and can create networks for your professional career in the future.

You can apply for studies to one of our partner universities around the globe, or conduct your practical training abroad or even do both at the same time. Our in-coming international students need peer tutors to help them become part of the student body and our learning community, and to get to know Joensuu and the new culture better. As an international tutor, you will not only help them but also benefit yourself, as you are able to strengthen your language skills, learn something about cultures, and get new friends. International studies at Karelia UAS can be a great way to acquire new competences. Apart from internationalization at home, you can also take part in student mobility.

Create your own international career path – it is worth it!

Co-operation with other parties

Karelia UAS actively collaborates with companies and other organisatíons in the region.

Our key partners have a role in curriculum design and implementation. Moreover, collaboration manifests itself in training placements, project assignments, thesis cooperation, and guest lectures. Partnerships enable students to put theoretical knowledge into practice and to create networks with potential future employers. Moreover, Karelia conducts research and development projects with its partners, which you can also attend during your studies.

The alumni, i.e. the graduates of Karelia UAS stay in contact with us and share their experiences with current students.

Research focus

Karelia UAS implements its research, development, and innovation (RDI) activities as part of its education and chargeable services, and in form of different types of RDI projects. The goal is to both create new and develop the already existing services, products, methods, tools, and processes in order to solve practical problems. Research and development will be used to produce new knowledge and skills for the needs of both education and working life.

Draft Program

Karelia UAS provides all its students and members of staff an opportunity to apply to the Draft program to get funding for one’s innovative business ideas. During the 12-month program period, the teams will develop their own innovative product and service concept into a finished product ready for sale. Karelia UAS may also provide funding for the implementation of ideas.

Epic Challenge

Students from Karelia UAS try to tackle the epic challenge of sustaining humans on Mars together with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA and other regional educational institutions in North Karelia. To accomplish the goal of coming up with new inventive solutions, students will study the innovation processes and methods (Innovative Concept and Engineering Design - ICED) used by NASA. These studies are worth 15 ECTS credits and the work will take place in a local setting in Joensuu with a remote connection to NASA and to its experts. To support the student teams and to gather together all Mars enthusiasts, a new voluntary-based hobbyist and developer community called Survival Systems Joensuu has been established.

Postgraduate study opportunities

After graduating with a Bachelor of Business and Administration degree and having at least two years of work experience, you can apply for master-level programs at UASes. In Karelia UAS, the suitable second-cycle programs are Business Management and Leadership (tuition in Finnish) and Active Ageing (tuition in Finnish).