Bachelor of International Studies / Bachelor of Business

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Western Sydney University Penrith

Program Overview

If you’re curious about how people, cultures and businesses connect around the world – and ready to build real business know-how – the Bachelor of International Studies / Bachelor of Business at Western Sydney University is for you. It’s the ideal blend of global-thinking (language study, international relations, culture) and business smarts (marketing, enterprise, international business) so you’ll learn not just about the world, but how to make your mark in it.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
You’ll begin by discovering what makes our world tick – for example, you might take units such as Global Relations: Nations and Cultures, Asian Societies and Histories, and Principles of Marketing. You’ll build your foundation in business thinking while also exploring how international systems, migration, culture and language come into play in the global arena.

Year 2
Now it’s time to dive deeper: you could be studying something like International Relations and Asian Studies Major, Marketing Communications, or Consumer Behaviour and Markets. You’ll engage in case studies, language modules (Chinese, Japanese, Arabic or Spanish) and business problem-solving – discovering how a brand in Sydney interacts with customers in Shanghai, for instance, or how government policy in Asia impacts business strategy here.

Year 3
In your final year you’ll apply all that you’ve learned: units may include Strategic Marketing Management, Globalisation and Sustainable Business, or Culture, Power and Global Change. You’ll likely engage in a project or international study experience, bringing together your business major and international studies major to explore real-world issues and opportunities at the intersection of culture and enterprise.

Focus Areas:
International relations & Asian studies; modern languages; business marketing; global enterprise.

Learning Outcomes:
Graduates will be equipped to analyse international cultural, political and economic systems, communicate across languages and cultures and apply business strategies within global markets.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):
The business major (e.g. Marketing) in this double degree meets professional recognition standards – for example eligibility for membership of the Australian Marketing Institute for Certified Practising Marketer status. The international studies component complements this by equipping you for international commercial and governmental contexts.

Reputation (Employability Rankings):
Western Sydney University brings an engaging, modern outlook to higher education, and the business school’s specialised major in Marketing is already known for preparing students for international careers. Choosing a double degree with both international studies and business gives you that extra edge in employability: you’ll offer global mindset and business capability, which is increasingly valued in today’s connected world.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Choosing the combined Bachelor of International Studies / Bachelor of Business at Western Sydney University means you’ll be learning by doing – not just sitting in lectures. From delving into real-world global business challenges, to studying international relations and Asian languages, this program gets you into action: you’ll analyse how economies and cultures interact, choose a language to deepen your cross-cultural edge, and build business expertise in a highly globalised workspace. These experiences leave you genuinely career-ready, with practical tools and global insight under your belt.

Here are some of the real experiential-learning opportunities you’ll get in this program:

A major in International Relations and Asian Studies that challenges you to explore politics, history, culture and economics in Asia and beyond – equipping you to mediate between Australia and the world.
A minor in one of Arabic, Chinese, Spanish or Japanese languages, helping you gain communication skills across cultures.
A major in Marketing (within the business side), giving you market-facing knowledge to apply in real business environments.
In the Sports Management major (within the business component) the subject BUSM 3008 “Developing Sport Professionals” gives you a minimum of 120 hours in an industry placement (internship or work-integrated learning) working with sport-industry practitioners.
Hands-on opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in real workplace settings, for example through industry placements or internships.
A broad curriculum that encourages you to engage with global issues such as globalisation, transnationalism, migration and cultural diversity — preparing you for dynamic international and business contexts.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Bachelor of International Studies / Bachelor of Business at Western Sydney University sets you up for an exciting, globally-minded career. By the time you graduate, you’ll have gained a strong foundation in international relations, Asian languages and cultures, and a business major — which means you’re well-placed to step into roles like:

international business analyst
marketing manager with regional/global scope
diplomatic or trade-relations officer
policy or strategic advisor in government or NGOs

Here’s what this means for you:

The university’s Careers & Employability team gives you personalised career advice, access to job and internship portals, workshops and real employment-preparation support — including special programs for international students.
The degree includes work-integrated learning (for example in the Sports Management major you’ll find an internship/placement-type subject) and you’ll build real-world business and cross-cultural skills.
Western Sydney University has a huge network of 320+ international partnerships across 53 countries — so you’ll have options beyond borders, for study travel or global exchange.
Corporate and community partnerships in the region means real-life business links and opportunities are woven into the university experience.
By completing both the International Studies and Business majors you’ll graduate with a broad, high-level skill set (languages + global affairs + business) — an asset in the long term as employers increasingly seek graduates who can operate across cultures, markets and sectors.

Further Academic Progression:
After graduating from this program you’re by no means limited to “just” a job — you can also continue your studies if you wish. For example, you could move into postgraduate coursework in international relations, global business, or development studies within Western Sydney University. Or you might decide to specialise further with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a research-oriented degree (like a Master of International Studies) that pulls together your language, culture and business training. This kind of pathway keeps your options open: industry, government, academia — whichever direction you feel drawn to.