The International Business programme offers three specialisations:

1. Entrepreneurship develops your ability to identify business opportunities, design scalable business models, create and manage growth of new ventures.
2. International sales develops your understanding of international customers and global sales and purchase processes in both B2B and B2C. You will also learn about the importance of customer relationships and global sales team management.
3. Digital Marketing prepares you for careers in social media and digital marketing. This specialisation deepens your skills related to planning, managing and implementing digital marketing strategies.

Studies at Savonia University of Applied Sciences are diverse and practically oriented. Projects and collaboration with local businesses, international partners, and fellow students are an integral part of your everyday learning. Each academic year is built around two designated themes.

During the first study year, students develop essential business competencies and gain an understanding of the environments that businesses operate.

In the second year, studies focus on planning global operations through customer and market understanding, supported by contemporary management approaches and tools. Students also begin to specialise in Digital Marketing, International Sales, or Entrepreneurship.

During the third year, students further deepen their specialist expertise and enhance their understanding of global business environments. The capstone of the studies includes a professional internship and a bachelor’s thesis.

The degree consists of 210 ECTS. According to the curriculum, one academic year corresponds to 60 ECTS, which is equivalent to 1600 hours of a student’s workload.

The studies consist, among others, of lectures, online and independent studies, teamwork and internship(s). Participation in research and development activities also makes up an important part of your studies.

The detailed structure of your studies is as follows:

• Business orientation studies (basic studies) 60 ECTS
• Professional studies 75 ECTS
• Specialisation studies 15 ECTS
• Elective studies 15 ECTS
• Internship 30 ECTS
• Thesis 15 ECTS

You can familiarize yourself with the content of the degree programme in the curriculum.

The whole programme is conducted in English apart from mandatory language courses in Finnish (for foreign students) and Swedish (for Finnish students).

Please note that you are expected to have sufficient English language skills to conduct your studies fully in English. A multicultural learning environment with students speaking various languages is the best way of preparing for the challenges of global business life!

Finnish language is an inherent part of life in Finland and the Finnish culture. Although many Finns speak English quite well, Finnish is the main language of every day operations. Knowing the Finnish language can also be an important factor in finding employment in Finland.

Finnish language studies are integrated in the English-taught programmes. By improving your Finnish language skills yearly you can also get 10% extra scholarship for the next academic year.

BBAs will work, among other things, in import-export, international sales and customer care, logistics and other international activities. You will also have the skills and competences needed to become an entrepreneur.

Possible work titles:

• Entrepreneur
• Export/Import Manager/coordinator
• Export/Import assistant
• Key account manager
• Sales representative
• Sales manager
• Marketing Manager
• Digital Marketing specialist
• Store manager
• Product Manager
• Investment Adviser
• Procurement Specialist
• HRM Specialist
• Commercial Agent

Savonia is active in developing the surrounding community through student projects, joint research projects and various development programmes.

Cooperation with the local working life is highly valued and based on long-term relationships. You can do your internship or work in a development project in cooperation with local companies. These are great opportunities to get integrated into the local working life. It also gives you visibility and the possibility to showcase your talents while increasing your opportunity to find a job in the Northern Savo region, in other parts of Finland, or in the global job market.

Savonia’s BBA groups are multinational and multicultural by nature. You will get accustomed to an international work environment from day one.

In addition, the BBA programme itself is designed for internationalisation. Close cooperation with our international partners brings you in contact with people and organisations outside Finland, making it possible for you to compare views, share knowledge and work side by side on projects by using technology-based communication tools as well as meeting in person. Student exchange is also a natural and recommended part of your second-year studies.

The thesis at Savonia is always work related. This gives you a good opportunity to network with professionals in your own field already during your studies, and often the thesis turns out to be a starting point for your career.

The thesis emphasises the cooperation between you, working life and the UAS – from choosing the topic to setting the goals and to actually doing it. During the process you show that you are capable of working independently in recognising, evaluating and solving developmental challenges in working life. Professional reporting and communications skills are required as well.

Your thesis process will be supported by business research studies, thesis seminars and methodology workshops. You can do your thesis independently or in a group.

A BBA degree is an internationally recognized and approved qualification. A BBA graduate is eligible to apply to continue theoretical studies at most universities worldwide. Often a Master’s degree can be completed in three years, depending on the field of study and the student.

However, should you wish to continue your studies to the Master level at the Savonia University of Applied Sciences, you will be directed to start your working career to gather two years of work experience before entering a Master’s programme.

Our BBA programme is dedicated to helping small and medium-sized businesses in their internationalisation efforts. You will work on various work-related research or developmental projects of SMEs during your studies and gain valuable insight into the business world.