Overview

An alternative route to a degree

GCU Pathway programmes offer you an alternative route to a degree.

You'll begin your studies at City of Glasgow College, studying HND Business. Once you finish your first two years at college, you'll jump straight into Year 3 of your degree at Glasgow Caledonian. At the end of your fourth year, you'll graduate with an honours degree from Glasgow Caledonian.

This is just another way to get there.

You’ll join the Glasgow Caledonian community right from the start of your studies. You can use all our support facilities on campus, such as the library and the Students’ Association.

The course

Shape the future of global business by putting people at the centre of every decision.

Perfect for HND graduates, this two-year course is your next step into a career in international business, human resources or wider management.

The course brings together international business and human resource management, so you build commercial awareness alongside the skills to lead, support and develop teams across cultures and markets.

You’ll explore how organisations grow internationally, how they manage talent, and how they respond to change in a fast-moving global environment.

During your studies, you’ll focus on areas such as:

managing people
diversity and inclusion
employment rights
talent development
strategic leadership
leading responsible change.

You’ll apply your learning through case studies, projects and live business scenarios, building the confidence to make decisions, solve problems and lead in complex situations. Alongside this, you’ll develop practical skills in communication, collaboration and decision-making that employers look for.

This course is accredited by both the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), ensuring your degree meets recognised industry standards and supports your progression into professional HR and management roles.

Why study International Business and Human Resource Management Pathway at GCU?

Develop expertise in international business and human resource management. Gain a degree with professional accreditation that supports your progression into HR and people management careers.
Apply your learning through real-world case studies, consultancy projects and simulations. Build the technical and interpersonal skills employers expect in global business environments.
Learn to lead responsibly. You’ll explore ethical decision-making, sustainability and how to manage people and organisations in a changing global context.
Build skills for long-term career growth. You’ll develop digital literacy, reflective practice and the ability to adapt in fast-moving international workplaces.
Graduate ready to work across cultures and markets. You’ll have the confidence and flexibility to succeed in a range of international business and HR roles.

European Foundation for Management Development.

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Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

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What you will study

We aim to display the most up-to-date information possible.

The modules listed on this page and the Programme Specification are intended to give you an idea of what you may be able to study on this course. Please note that course content, modules, teaching and assessment may change each year and after you have accepted your offer to study at GCU. This might be because we are required to do so by law, by a governmental authority, regulator or accrediting body. We may also make changes for quality assurance reasons, or to enhance the course.

Year 1 and Year 2

In your first two years, you'll study a HND in Business or Legal Services at City of Glasgow College.

Year 3

Core modules

Business Case Investigation

International Business Strategy

Contemporary Employment Relations in the Global Economy

Sustainability, Corporate Responsibility and Ethics

Managing People and Diversity in Work

Optional modules

Citizenship and Community Participation

Work Experience Placement

Talent Management in a Changing Global Context

Professional Practice 2

Six Month Exchange – Trimester B

Year 4

Core modules

Graduate Talent Employability

Leading for Change

Honours Research Project

Strategic HRM in Contemporary Contexts

Optional modules

Managing Sustainable Business Excellence

Global Social Entrepreneurship and Enterprise

Global Brand Storytelling

Contemporary Issues in the World Economy

Understanding core and optional modules

The core modules shown are based on the standard full-time route for students entering Year 1 of the course. If you study full time from Year 1, you will normally study the outlined core modules for each year of the course.

Optional modules provide opportunities to tailor your studies. You will not normally study every optional module shown and will be asked to select from the available options during your studies. Information about available options and the module selection process will be provided after you enrol. Please note that the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and is subject to factors including student demand, timetabling, staffing and academic requirements.

The module information shown is based on the standard full-time route through the course. If you study through an alternative entry or study route, including part-time study or Advanced Entry, the modules you take in each year and the order in which you study them may vary.

Careers

If you're interested in management, human resources, employee development or organisational strategy, this degree will open doors to a wide range of professional opportunities.

Glasgow Caledonian has 90% of graduates in employment and/or further study, outperforming the Scottish sector average by +2% (HESA, 2026). Graduates have taken up opportunities with multinational companies, UK businesses with international links, and organisations across the private, public and third sectors.

You could go into roles in human resource management, employee development, recruitment, or organisational strategy. You may also choose broader business and management roles where people management is key.

Typical roles include:

HR advisor
Talent and development officer
Recruitment specialist
Business analyst
Management trainee.

We focus on people management to give you the skills to lead diverse teams, manage change and foster inclusive workplace cultures.

With a strong foundation in international business and HRM, you’ll be prepared to work in fast-moving, global organisations. You’ll graduate with the confidence to adapt to different roles, take on new challenges and progress your career over time.

Whether you choose to specialise in human resource management or use it in a broader business role, you’ll graduate with the tools to lead responsibly and make a meaningful impact in the world of work.

Course information

Award	Mode of study	Duration	Start date	Location	UCAS
BA (Hons)	Full Time	4 Years	Sep 26	Glasgow	2T5T	Enquire Apply

Please note that admission to GCU is considered on a competitive basis, and the academic entry requirements stated here may be the minimum required to be eligible for an offer.

International students can get information on entry requirements specific to their country in our International Study section.

Year 1

UCAS Tariff: 75

Scottish Higher:
Standard entry requirement - BBC or equivalent

Progression criteria
Progress to year three with HND Business with HRM - graded units AB

English language: IELTS score of 6.0 with no element below 5.5 (or equivalent)

Additional information for international applicants

Entry requirements by country
Application deadlines
English language tests
Knowledge of English - Applicants from a majority English speaking country may not be required to provide further proof of your English language proficiency. Information about this requirement is available on the Student Visa section of the gov.uk website.

Additional information for all applicants

Relevant experience (Recognition of Prior Learning)

GCU's flexible entry policies exist to allow relevant work experience and prior learning to be considered towards standard entry or advanced entry into a course.

If you do not have the typical academic entry qualifications, but can demonstrate relevant work experience and/or credits from recognised professional bodies, you may be eligible to enter this course via the University's Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) scheme.

Shaping future-ready, responsible HR leaders

This course will prepare you for a dynamic global career, combining real-world experience and responsible leadership with ethics and sustainability. With people at its heart, it focuses on how to lead, support and develop individuals and teams in diverse organisational settings.

Modules cover core HR functions including:

recruitment and selection
learning and development
performance management
employee relations.

You’ll get to grips with how these contribute to organisational success and employee wellbeing. Exploring what it means to be a responsible people manager, you’ll consider how ethical decision-making and sustainable HR practices shape success in today’s global environment.

Employability and professional development are integrated throughout the course, helping you build the confidence, communication skills and strategic thinking that employers value.

We offer modules to help you:

develop your professional identity
enhance workplace readiness
boost your career prospects.

You'll regularly hear from guest speakers working in HR about how they manage talent, foster employee engagement and navigate complex workplace dynamics.

We work closely with employers, international partners and professional bodies to make sure that all the course content supports your personal and professional growth. We focus on collaboration, reflection and innovation, so you’ll graduate ready to lead responsibly - and make a meaningful impact in the world of work.

Work placements

You’ll have the opportunity to develop real-world experience through work placements, international exchanges, and shorter work-based projects. These will enhance your CV and connect your studies with professional practice. They will develop key human resource management skills such as negotiation, conflict resolution and coaching.

International experience

You’ll be able to choose from a variety of international opportunities, including short-term summer events and longer exchanges where you study at a university abroad for a trimester.

Studying abroad exposes you to different economic systems, cultures and business practices. This is essential for understanding international markets and global trade dynamics. Living and learning in another country develops cultural awareness, adaptability and global citizenship.

Employers value exchange experience as evidence of independence, resilience and problem-solving. These qualities will make you stand out in competitive job markets and prepare you for leadership roles in diverse settings.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), a globally recognised mark of excellence reflecting outstanding quality in curriculum design, teaching and assurance standards.

Visit the EFMD website

It is also accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), regarded by large employers within and outside the UK as a standard for human resource practice. Completion of the programme provides eligibility for Associate Membership of CIPD.

Visit the CIPD website

Download the Programme Specification

In addition to the core modules that all students must undertake, some courses offer students a choice from a selection of optional modules to shape the focus their degree. Optional modules where available, form part of the overall credit structure of the course.

Download the programme specification for a detailed breakdown of the course structure, including modules, what you'll learn and other useful information.

Terms and conditions

Details of the University’s terms and conditions are available here.

Overview

An alternative route to a degree

The course

Why study International Business and Human Resource Management Pathway at GCU?

Accreditations

What you will study

Core modules

Optional modules

Core modules

Optional modules

Understanding core and optional modules

Careers

Course information