Who wants a successful business career?

So you want to succeed in business. Whether that’s by managing a multinational corporation, wheeling and dealing on the stock market, or running your own business, what is the key to this success? Is it the number of degrees you have, where you study, or how you start your career?

In this subject guide, we look at five key elements to having a successful business career – right now.

1. Finding the right course

There are many different types of business programs, all around the world. Undergraduate, post-graduate, and of course the MBA. So you need to spend time researching all the options to choose the best course for you.

Most undergraduate degrees give you two or three years of general business education, and the option to specialise in the last years in subjects such as finance, marketing or accounting.

Some universities offer even more specialised areas of expertise, such as corporate social responsibility, East Asian Studies or e-commerce.

When Na Xu chose her course at the University of Salford, she was looking for a strong grounding in finance and accounting, but also the chance to learn to speak English fluently. This has led her to a career as an English Anchor in the media sector of her home country, China.

Stand out from the crowd – study your masters in management at Derby University

Take your learning one step further.  Build on your bachelors degree and turn yourself in to a strategic thinking, valuable asset ready to embark on a successful management career.

At Derby you can join students from all over the world to study your masters.  Our courses include:

• MA Management
• MA Marketing Management
• MA Human Resource Management (CIPD accredited)
• MSc Strategic Financial Management

You will take part in a residential weekend as one of the first parts of any of the management masters course.  The residential combines fun, learning and development and is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow students, your lecturers and to form new friendships in a friendly and challenging environment. 

Enhance your business career at Westminster

Westminster Business School provides professional and supportive postgraduate business education with an international flavour.

Located in central London, Westminster Business School delivers internationally focused master’s level education in all the major business disciplines, including the MA International Business & Management.

WBS is a Centre of Excellence for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.   Students who successfully complete the MA Human Resource Management or the MA International Human Resource Management may also become affiliates of this professional body.

The MA Marketing Communication and MA Marketing Management attract students from all over the world.  The course material is delivered by marketing and advertising practitioners as well as highly qualified marketing tutors.  Successful completion of these courses will also provide links into the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

The lazy student’s guide to getting a visa

Sorting out your student visa takes a little time and planning. But it needn’t be as hard as you think. Just be prepared with these five simple tips to getting your student visa.

1. Get the timing right

You must wait until you have an acceptance letter for your course before you apply. But you also need to apply well in advance of leaving. Allow at least three months to be sure, and wait until your visa is confirmed before you pay for your flights.

2. Check all visa requirements carefully

Every country is different. And some embassy websites are, unfortunately, a little confusing.

So if you’re not sure of exactly what documentation you need, call first to check. This is especially important if you have to travel far for a visa interview – you don’t want to be stuck in another city waiting for extra paperwork.

It’s also worth asking someone else who has been through the same process already. If you don’t know anyone, why not post the question on the StudyLink discussion forum?

Study smarter, not harder: Top 10 study tips

Better results mean more choice and opportunity. So pick up a few new study tips, and prove your outstanding ability in your assignments and exams!

1. Don’t miss a class

‘A’ students never miss a class. They also never miss the beginning or end of a class, because important announcements about exams and projects are often made then. If you find you lose concentration during lectures, record them on your phone or a simple voice recorder and listen again later.

2. Review your notes quickly and often

After a lecture or class, read through your notes quickly again. It helps store the information in your long-term memory.

Australia: Study, work and live at Education City

Imagine a community that was designed just to meet the needs of students from around the world. A campus offering study and work opportunities, brand-new accommodation and all the lifestyle amenities you need, all within walking distance. It’s the ideal student lifestyle – and it exists in Queensland Australia.

Education City is in Greater Springfield, just 30 minutes from Brisbane’s city centre and about and hour from the long sandy beaches of the Gold Coast.

The idea behind the unique campus is to offer multiple learning opportunities to the local and international community by bringing education, training and learning providers together to the one location. So no matter what you want to study, or what pathway you need to take to get there, you can achieve your dreams at Education City.

UK: Financial support for Sheffield’s global students

When Sameeruddin Shaikh, from India, was choosing an MBA course in the UK, he was looking for support. “I short-listed Sheffield Hallam, because it offers a lot of facilities for its students,” he recalls.

“It has an international student support team, always ready to help students in any matter they need. It has accommodation services. The University arranges an induction program. And I received an International Achievement Scholarship, worth £1,000.”

The Sheffield Hallam University International Achievement Scholarship program is open to students from any non-EU country. Each scholarship is worth between £1,000 and £4,000, and is awarded to qualified students who show academic, personal or professional achievement in their application form.

Canada: Sauder kick-starts your Canadian business career

The Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is certainly a business school like no other.

Regarded as Canada’s leading business school it has an excellent reputation for research, learning and global partnerships. But it’s campus location, just 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver on Canada’s west coast, is also breathtaking.

Snow-capped mountains meet the sea and forests, views abound, and some of the city’s best attractions are right on campus.
Vancouver has been ranked as the world’s most liveable city, and its pacific-rim setting provides an excellent perspective on global business. The school’s 29,000 alumni work in over 70 different countries.

They also work in leading companies throughout Canada. As one marketing graduate remarks, “If you’re looking to settle in Vancouver and break into the job market here, the UBC MBA does an excellent job of providing you with industry contacts.”

Student Poll

How important is a post-graduate visa?

For many international students, the main point of studying overseas is the option to stay in that country to work once they finish their studies.

It’s not as challenging to do this as you might think. While you study, you have the chance to network with business and potential employers, especially through internships. You become more confident speaking the local language. And your university will usually have a career office to help you with your CV and interview skills.

But some countries make it easier than others. We’re talking about visas, of course. You cannot work anywhere legally without a work visa. And if you work illegally, you could get into far more trouble that you anticipated.

Ask Anna

Question:

"Can you help me understand the new UK points based visa system for international students?"

Answer:

If your native language is not English the answer is “yes”. All international students have to prove a certain level of English ability before undertaking undergraduate or postgraduate study where the mode of instruction is in English.