Business and International Relations

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Monash University

Program Overview

Program Overview
The Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of International Relations (B2056) at Monash University offers a unique blend of practical business skills and a deep understanding of global politics and international systems. This program is perfect for students who want to thrive in the world of commerce while also exploring governance, diplomacy, and international affairs. You’ll graduate ready to navigate both boardrooms and global arenas with confidence.

Curriculum Structure
Year 1 – Your first year lays the groundwork. You’ll gain essential business knowledge through units like Introduction to Management and Business Law, while also exploring the basics of international relations with units such as Global Governance and Introduction to International Relations. You’ll begin to understand how business operates globally and start thinking critically about international power and politics.

Year 2 – In your second year, you’ll dive deeper. Business units such as Marketing, Finance, or Business Analytics will expand your practical skills, while international relations units like Security Studies and International Political Economy deepen your understanding of global affairs. This is when you’ll start seeing how business and international relations influence each other — business decisions shape global politics, and vice versa.

Years 3 & 4 – In your final years, you’ll specialise and integrate your knowledge. Advanced business units like Strategy, International Business, and Corporate Governance are combined with higher-level international relations units such as Conflict & Cooperation, Diplomacy, and Development, Rights & Gender. You’ll also undertake major research projects or capstone-style assignments, preparing you to tackle complex challenges at the intersection of business and global affairs.

Focus Areas

Business fundamentals
Global affairs and diplomacy
International economy and governance
Strategy in a global context

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the program, you’ll be able to:

Analyse business problems within global frameworks
Evaluate international political and economic systems
Communicate effectively across cultures and disciplines
Design strategies that respond to complex global-business challenges

Professional Alignment
This double degree is managed jointly by Monash Business School and the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. On the business side, the program aligns with industry expectations for global business professionals. On the international relations side, it prepares you for roles in diplomacy, global policy, NGOs, or intergovernmental organisations.

Reputation and Employability
Monash University is ranked in the top 1% of universities globally for humanities and social sciences. This strong reputation gives your degree extra weight, making you an attractive candidate to employers in business, government, and international organisations.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Here’s how the Monash University Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of International Relations (B2056) degree gives you real-world, hands-on learning that goes far beyond traditional lectures:

The program is designed so you don’t just learn theories—you actually put them into practice. At Monash, you’ll tackle case studies, work on real business and international relations scenarios, and partner with industry. You’ll also have access to fantastic facilities, including the Monash Business School’s industry-experience units, global study tours through the Global Study Experiences program, and the extensive library and research resources at the Clayton campus. These opportunities help you build practical business skills alongside a global, international-relations perspective.

Here are some of the specific experiential learning opportunities built into this double degree:

Industry internship units, where you can earn credit while working for partner organisations in Australia or overseas.
Global study tours and immersive programs through the Monash Business School’s Global Study Experiences.
Capstone, consulting projects, international experiences, or internship units in your final semester, allowing you to apply your knowledge in real-world contexts.
Integrated double-degree learning, where you study core business subjects (like accounting, marketing, and finance) alongside international relations themes (such as geopolitics and global governance), and work in diverse teams on practical projects.
Access to Monash’s extensive library system and research facilities, especially at the Clayton campus, providing a resource-rich environment to support your studies and projects.

For the international relations component, the program also highlights internships, study tours, and networking opportunities with experienced practitioners and faculty experts, giving you practical exposure to global affairs.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Future Progression & Opportunities
Graduates of this double-degree are well-prepared for careers that bridge business and global affairs. You could step into roles such as Business Development Analyst, International Trade Specialist, Policy Advisor in a multinational firm or global NGO, or Strategic Partnerships Manager. This program gives you a real advantage by combining commercial insight with international relations expertise.

Key Supporting Details:

Careers support: The university’s careers and employability services will guide you throughout your studies. The Careers & Employment team runs resume and interview workshops, while internship and placement programs provide practical experience. For example, Monash’s Industry Internship Experience units allow students to gain credit while working with host organisations.
Graduate employment: Around 70% of Monash bachelor graduates secure full-time employment within six months of finishing their degree, showing strong outcomes for students.
Industry connections: The Monash Business School has partnerships with over 400 organisations, offering a wide range of placements in business, marketing, international business, and more.
Global recognition: Monash is ranked among the top ~11% of universities worldwide for graduate employability, reflecting the long-term value and respect of your qualification.
Graduation outcome: Completing this dual-degree (Bachelor of Business + Bachelor of International Relations) gives you a recognised qualification that equips you for roles requiring both commercial skills and international awareness.

Further Academic Progression:
After finishing this double-degree, you can expand your studies in several ways:

Pursue a specialised master’s in international relations, global policy, or international business, either at Monash or another leading university.
Move into a business-focused master’s (such as an MBA) if you aim for leadership or executive roles.
Explore research pathways (Honours or Master by Research) that could lead to a PhD in global studies, international business, or related fields.