Bachelor’s Degree in International Business

About the course

A four-year bachelor’s degree taught 100% in English at ESIC’s Pozuelo de Alarcón campus in Madrid, starting September 2027. It covers international business strategy, international marketing, cross-cultural communication and digital business tools. A 5-year option adds a second degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation or in Sustainability Management.

Entry requirements for Irish students

• ESIC asks all bachelor’s applicants for a legal university access credential: the Spanish PAU/EvAU, a homologation certificate or an equivalent. Irish Leaving Cert students usually get this through UNED’s accreditation (UNEDasiss) or through homologation. Under Spanish rules (Royal Decree 534/2024), EU school-leavers who meet the rules for university entry in their own country do not need to sit the PAU. As a guide, UCD’s minimum is six subjects, with at least H5 in two and O6/H7 in the other four, including English and Irish. ESIC publishes no Leaving Cert grade requirements, so confirm with admissions.
• Admission tests (about 1.5 hours): a motivation letter, a business case that tests writing and reasoning, and an English test, plus a personal advisory interview beforehand. No specific maths level is published.
• English: at least B2 is required. For English-taught degrees ESIC asks for an official English certificate, but native English speakers are exempt. Holders of an official certificate skip the English test. Ask admissions to confirm that an Irish applicant counts as a native speaker.

How to apply

1. Advisory interviewContact ESIC admissions through its online form. The team emails or phones you to arrange a personal advisory session.
2. Apply onlineSubmit the online application with your passport, a photo, your school grades (5th year, then the Leaving Cert when available) and an English certificate if you have one (native speakers are exempt).
3. Admission testsSit ESIC’s three-part admission tests (about 1.5 hours): motivation letter, business case and English test. A decision follows within about three working days.
4. Reserve and get your credentialPay the seat reservation by the deadline in your offer. Apply for UNEDasiss accreditation, complete it once your Leaving Cert results arrive in August 2027, and send it to ESIC before the September 2027 start.

Costs

• ESIC lists €12,700 a year for the standard 4-year degree, which includes a specialisation diploma in Professional Skills or in Digital Tools and Multimedia. The 5-year option, which adds a second degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation or in Sustainability Management, costs €13,900 a year. ESIC marks both prices ‘subject to change’. It is a private university, so there is no reduced EU rate. After an offer you pay a seat reservation to secure your place. ESIC does not publish the amount, and it is refunded only if you fail to get your university access credential. Allow for a small fee for the UNEDasiss accreditation as well.

At a glance