Studies & Degrees in Global Business
Global Business Study Programs
Global business, also called international business, is the study of how companies operate across national borders. It looks at what changes when a firm sells, buys, produces or raises money in more than one country: different markets and consumers, currencies and exchange rates, trade rules and customs procedures, legal systems, and teams that work across cultures and time zones.
Programmes build on the usual business subjects (economics, accounting, finance, marketing, operations and strategy) and add an international layer to each: international trade and finance, global marketing, international supply chains, cross-cultural management and negotiation. Languages, a period abroad or an internship are often part of the course. EAE Business School, for example, describes its Master in International Business as focused on the international aspects of management, and offers students an optional two-week residential stay at Pace University in New York at the end of the programme.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degrees. Global business is usually a major or specialisation within a business degree. Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Canada, lists Global Business Management among the 12 majors of its Bachelor of Commerce, and its students can earn three credit hours per co-op work term. The Swiss School of Management, which has a campus in Rome, describes its Bachelor of Business Administration as a full-time programme of 180 ECTS credits divided into three years.
- Master's degrees and MBAs. In Spain, official bachelor's degrees (grados) have 240 ECTS credits and master's degrees 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. The Master in International Business of EAE Business School has 60 ECTS credits, is taught full time in Spanish and English and requires a bachelor's degree for admission. EAE's International MBA in Barcelona (60 ECTS credits, in English, next intake October 2026) leads to two qualifications according to the school: its own Máster de Formación Permanente (título propio) and an official Máster Universitario en Administración y Dirección de Empresas from the Universitat de Lleida. The Swiss School of Management lists a 1-year MBA of 60 ECTS credits.
- Vocational training. In Spain the higher vocational qualification in this area is Técnico Superior en Comercio Internacional, a 2,000-hour programme in the Comercio y Marketing professional family.
- Short programmes. Study abroad providers offer credit-bearing summer courses. Forum-Nexus Study Abroad runs a multi-country summer programme in which students travel together across several European countries, from Stockholm to Barcelona, and earn 3, 6 or 9 transferable college credits.
Business schools often award their own qualifications alongside or instead of official university degrees. Before enrolling, ask the school what recognition the qualification has in the country where it is awarded and in your own.
Where to study global business
SpainExchange lists 14 active schools for global business. Five are in the United States and four in Spain; Canada, Italy, Peru, Denmark and the United Kingdom have one each.
In Spain the directory includes ESADE, EAE Business School and Global Business School Barcelona, all in Barcelona. Elsewhere it includes Susquehanna University and the New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies in the United States, Saint Mary's University in Halifax, the University of York, VIA University College in Horsens (Denmark), the Universidad del Pacífico in Lima and the Rome campus of the Swiss School of Management.
English is the most common language of instruction in this subject, including at many business schools in non-English-speaking countries. Programmes in Spain are offered in Spanish, in English or in both, and programmes in Peru are normally taught in Spanish. Check the language of each programme and the language certificate it asks for.
Careers
Graduates work in export and import departments, international sales and marketing, purchasing and supply chain, consulting, banking and trade finance, and in the international offices of companies and public bodies. The Spanish vocational qualification names roles such as international sales technician and freight forwarder. EAE lists management positions such as global sales director, chief operating officer and business development director as career destinations for its master's graduates; those are roles reached with experience, not first jobs.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of management analysts to grow 10 percent from 2025 to 2035 and employment of top executives to grow 5 percent. It notes that top executives typically need at least a bachelor's degree and considerable work experience. These figures refer to the United States only.
Frequently asked questions
Is global business the same as international business?
In practice, yes. Schools use both names, as well as international management or global business management, for programmes about doing business across borders.
How long does a master's in international business take?
Often one academic year. The EAE Master in International Business has 60 ECTS credits and the Swiss School of Management MBA is a 1-year programme of 60 ECTS credits.
Do I need to speak several languages?
English is enough for admission to many programmes, but a second language is useful for work in international trade. Programmes in Spain may be taught in Spanish, English or both.
Is there a vocational route in Spain?
Yes. The 2,000-hour Técnico Superior en Comercio Internacional prepares for planning and managing international trade operations.