Contact
Head of Degree Programme
Hanna Pihlajarinne
Study Councellor
Janne Hopeela
Qualification Awarded and the Level of Qualification
Bachelor of Business Administration, EQF 6
Special Admission Requirements
General admission criteria, see TAMK’s websites.
Recognition of Prior Learning
It is possible for students to have their prior competences recognised.
Qualification Requirements and Regulations
Completion of Degree Programme in International Business curriculum studies and achievement of related competence objectives.
Profile of the Programme
The degree is a Bachelor's Degree -level professional higher education degree.
The degree complies with the criteria set by the Finnish national degree system as well as with the European framework for degrees and other competences.
Key Learning Outcomes
The objective of the TAMK BBA in International Business is to prepare undergraduates for tasks demanding business expertise and for entry-level managerial positions worldwide. The Programme is targeted at students who want to work in a multicultural environment. The students will learn basic business skills and acquire competence essential for success in today’s international working life. The Programme will challenge you to look for your field of expertise and career path in business. A key element of the Programme is a required period of study abroad.
More detailed descriptions of the TAMK BBA in International Business courses, study methods, and grounds for assessment can be found in the online curriculum of the Programme: 16IB
STRUCTURE OF STUDIES
The BBA Degree Programme consists of the following parts:
• Basic and Professional Studies (145 ECTS credit points) including a required International Study Exchange of 4 - 6 months,
• Free-Choice Studies (20 ECTS credit points),
• International Practical Training (30 ECTS credit points)
• Bachelor’s Thesis (15 ECTS credit points)
For Finnish nationals, both a semester of study abroad and a practical training placement abroad are required parts of the degree Programme. For the students of other nationalities, study and training periods abroad are highly recommended but not required.
First Year - Basics of International Business
During the first year of studies, the objective is to give the students a broad perspective on the business operations of a company, including computing and communication skills. A theoretical approach is combined with learning-by-doing. Students learn to apply theory in practice right from the start, as they establish and operate a fictional Practice Enterprise.
Working life skills and competence are developed through the Practice Enterprise, through other modes of learning, and in collaborative learning sessions under the guidance of a team coach. In addition to the supervising work on the Practice Enterprise throughout the first year, the coaches have an on-going role in promoting individual and team learning skills. Within their teams, students learn together and practice their collaboration skills.
The contents of the first year study are presented in detail in separate module guides, which are distributed to students at the beginning of the academic year.
Second Year – Choosing the Fields of Specialization
At the end of the first year, the students will start to plan their own career paths. The second year will give the students a deeper insight into the functions of an internationalizing company.
They can choose two specialization modules (each 15 ECTS credit points) out of the following 7 options: Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Tourism, Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Multicultural Management.
Third Year – Exchange Studies and Practical Training
During the third year, the students (Finnish nationals) choose a foreign partner university for their semester of study abroad (= 4 - 6 months). The International Business Programme has some 130 partner universities all over the world. In addition, students (Finnish nationals) will spend a further 5 months abroad in a practical training placement. It can be done anywhere in the world; students are free to arrange their training placements to suit their own international career plans.
Fourth Year – Bachelor’s Thesis and Developing Professional Expertise
Ideally, the organization where students did their practical training will also commission their Bachelor’s Thesis, which is a development project requiring them to apply their knowledge and expertise to solve a specific problem for the company concerned.
Free-Choice Studies, 15 ECTS credits points
The TAMK BBA in International Business offers a selection of Free-Choice Studies in English. In addition to that, the yearly selection varies according to themes offered by visiting guest lecturers from partner universities.
International Practical Training, 30 ECTS credit points
The International Practical Training in the TAMK BBA in International Business Programme is done abroad (The Finnish nationals). The 5 month supervised placement gives the BBA students a chance to learn more about their own field of specialization. It is a learning process which is beneficial for the student, the company providing the placement and TAMK School of Business and Services. For the students of other nationalities, study and training periods abroad are highly recommended but not required.
Bachelor's Thesis, 15 ECTS credit points
The objective of the Bachelor's Thesis is to combine theoretical knowledge with practical skills, and in this way to produce topical solutions for the organization's needs. The thesis is written following the practices of scientific reporting and with emphasis on practical solutions for existing problems within the organization concerned. It can be a planning or development task, a research, a product, or a guide done for a company, a branch of local government, or other organizations. Ideally, the students should find a practical case for their final thesis during the practical training. Writing the Bachelor's Thesis will take from four to six months, depending on the topic and level of difficulty.
STUDYING
By studying in TAMK BBA in International Business Programme students learn how to function in business life. Students learn the habit of planning and keeping to schedules, co-operation skills, and the ability to access, evaluate, and deploy useful information. Learning is carried out by using a variety of methods, such as
• contact teaching
• virtual studies
• blended learning
• case studies
• development discussions
• research and development assignments with companies
• intensive programmes with international partner universities
• independent studies
• team-based assignments
• individual company projects
• portfolios
Student performance is graded on a scale of 1-5, unless otherwise stated. Setting and reaching personal study goals is the responsibility of each individual student. If a problem should arise with their studies, students can get help from a number of sources; the coaches, teachers, study counsellors, final thesis supervisors, study secretaries, student tutors, and the Head of International Business Programme.
Occupational Profiles of Graduates with Examples
Graduates from the TAMK BBA in International Business Programme face exciting professional opportunities in the fields, e.g. marketing, sales, export-import operations, product management, hospitality management and customer relations. TAMK graduates also work in supply chain management, project management or as consultants or entrepreneurs.
Access to Further Studies
After BBA graduation, you will be eligible to apply for a Master’s Degree programme in Finland or abroad.
TAMK School of Business and Services provides a strong foundation for further studies in an internationally competitive, English-taught Master’s Degree Programme in International Business Management.
The Universities of Applied Sciences require 3 years of work experience from the field.
Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading
Assessment of study performances is based on TAMK assessment criteria.
The detailed assessment criteria can be found in course implementation plans. The teaching and assessment methods are agreed on with students at the beginning of each course.
Graduation Requirements
Completion of studies and achievement of competence objectives in the extent set by the curriculum.
Mode of Study
Day time teaching
Development of the Programme
The Ministry of Education and Culture’s definitions of policy and TAMK’s strategy have been considered in the curriculum.
The Degree Programme in International Business will be continuously developed based on the feedback from the students and employers.
