Your year abroad

My experience of simultaneously being both a full-time student at Carlos III University, Madrid, and a becaria (intern) at a market research company gave me the best of both worlds. The combination of studying, working, and socialising was at times exhausting, but I have no regrets about merging professional and academic life.

Divya Kukar, BSc International Business with Spanish 2004

Spending your third year abroad is an exciting part of the study programme. Your year abroad improves your foreign language skills and helps you explore the cultural context of management in other countries, fostering the knowledge and skills needed in an increasingly international environment. It is of huge benefit to you and future employers, and for many of our students it's the highlight of the course.

You can either study at a partner institution and/or undertake a work placement, visa and work permit restrictions permitting. You will be guaranteed a place at a one of our partner institutions, but we do not organise work placements although we do publish details of employers offering them. WBS has exchange partnerships with leading business schools in several EU countries. All placements must first be vetted and approved for suitability by the International Business Year Abroad Coordinator.

You are expected to undertake a similar workload abroad as you would at WBS, and the year counts for 10 percent of your final degree classification. Assessment is split between two core modules.

International Business in Context includes a compulsory three-day seminar held in the Spring which is designed to provide a forum in which you can exchange experiences with your peers. The Year Abroad Portfolio requires you to document, critically evaluate, and reflect on your experiences.

Your year abroad improves your foreign language skills and helps you explore the cultural context of management in other countries, fostering the knowledge and skills needed in an increasingly international environment. It is of huge benefit to you and future employers, and for many of our students it's the highlight of the programme.

Current international exchange partners

French speaking

German speaking

Italy

Spanish speaking

More...