International Business and AI

International business and AI is a combination designed for a world in which artificial intelligence is transforming how organisations operate, compete, and create value across every sector and geography. International business provides the strategic, financial, and operational understanding of how companies navigate global markets, manage cross-border operations, and respond to the economic, political, and cultural forces that shape international trade and investment. AI adds a rapidly growing layer of technological capability and disruption, reshaping supply chains, customer relationships, decision-making, and competitive advantage in ways that no internationally active organisation can afford to ignore.

At Derby this two-year full-time programme includes a foundation year and a year abroad, making it a highly intensive but well-supported pathway into the field. Case studies, live briefs, and guest lectures from industry partners are embedded in the curriculum, ensuring that what you study is grounded in real-world business challenges rather than purely abstract theory. An applied project runs in your second year, ensuring you graduate with demonstrable experience of working on genuine business problems and with a portfolio and network of industry contacts.

The accelerated two-year structure means you can move into the graduate market more quickly than a conventional programme would allow, which is a practical advantage in a field where demand for graduates combining business and AI skills is growing rapidly.

Graduates move into roles in international business development, AI strategy and implementation, operations and supply chain management, marketing and commercial analysis, and technology consultancy. The combination of business fundamentals and AI understanding is valued by organisations navigating digital transformation in global contexts. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in international business or data science.