International Business
International Business has become a catch-phrase for any business activity that crosses national and international borders. With rapid globalization, both private and public businesses find themselves faced with international, linguistic and cultural challenges.
With the addition of the new International Business (IB) concentration in September 2021, the International Business option will be discontinued. Students who started Year 1 in 2020W will be the last cohort eligible to complete the option. Current IB option students can choose to complete the IB concentration instead, but they cannot complete both. Any eligible students planning to complete the option must apply to the option by July 31, 2021.
Am I the right fit for this option?
If you’re interested in learning about new cultures and different languages, you will thrive in the International Business (IB) option. It’s a great way to challenge preconceived notions and critically evaluate yourself and your environment.
International Business option requirements
International Business is completed as a double option. You need to first register in one of the other ten options as your primary specialization and submit an application to be admitted to IB as your secondary option. The IB language and international studies requirements will count towards your elective credits. Double counting between your primary option and IB is not permitted. A maximum of six credits may be double counted between IB and a minor.
| Requirements | |
| COMM 498 | International Business |
Minimum of 12 credits of language studies (in one language1), of which six credits must be at the 300/400 level, OR 18 credits of lower-level or combination of lower and upper-level language studies (in one language). IB acceptable language course list Students completing Chinese, Cantonese or Japanese as their IB language should refer to the Asian Studies course renumbering document for changes to course numbers as of 2016 Summer. | |
| Six credits of internationally oriented courses, such as Commerce, History, Political Science, Geography, Sociology, Asian Studies, Economics, etc. At least three credits should focus on your world region while three can be broad in focus. | |
| Participation in a Commerce approved international exchange or study abroad program. You must be away for a minimum of five weeks, completing at least six credits. The UBC Sauder School of Business has exchange partnerships with 69 business schools in 30 countries, and you can also choose to apply for university-wide exchanges to over 200 partner universities2. | |
1 Your language of study must be one in which you are not already fluent.2 You cannot go “home” for your international experience unless you have lived outside that country since at least the fall of Grade 8. | |
Application deadline
Effective September 2021, the International Business option will be discontinued. Students who started Year 1 in 2020W will be the last cohort eligible to complete the option. Any eligible students planning to complete the option must apply to the option by July 31, 2021.
To apply, please submit your completed IB application to bcomquestions@sauder.ubc.ca. Upon approval of your study plan, we will add the IB designation to your academic record.