University of KwaZulu-Natal - UKZN
speciality: Trade

Benefits of a Trade degree

A bachelor’s degree in trade is the path towards high-paying jobs and positions high up in the organizational hierarchy. Individuals with a Bachelor’s degree in Trade have the opportunity to eventually secure international jobs after they gain work experience in a professional setting. A Master’s degree in Trade is a prerequisite for a career with a global corporation and enables individuals to occupy well-paid positions high up in the organizational hierarchy and play managerial roles.

Trade programs often involve work experience or study abroad opportunities. This allows students to gain experience while still at University or explore a new culture and view the discipline from a different perspective.

Trade Degree Structure

Bachelor’s degrees in Trade focus on familiarizing students with the areas of finance, marketing, law, economics and social sciences. They usually cover business communications, business management, business statistics, marketing and economics and often allow students to specialize in a particular area such as global politics or international finance.

Master’s courses are dedicated to developing students’ practical international business skills or exploring international trade theory in depth and students to learn the theories and practices of global economics. Master’s courses in Trade usually cover macroeconomic analysis, economic theory and history, financial markets and mergers and acquisitions.

Doctorate degrees in Trade are rare and Higher Education Institutions usually provide mainly Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in the field of trade, which are more than enough for students to secure a good position in a global corporation.

The duration of Trade degrees varies depending on the country, degree level and mode of study (full-time or part-time). Below are listed the approximate durations of Trade degrees in some of the most popular destinations among students when it comes to Higher Education:

• Trade degrees’ duration in the UK:
  • Bachelor’s in Trade: 3 years (extends to 4 years if students choose a sandwich course, which offers them the opportunity to take a year-long placement between their second and third year)
  • Master’s in Trade: 1-2 years
  • PhD in Trade: 3-6 years

• Trade degrees’ duration in the Netherlands:
  • Bachelor’s in Trade: about 4 years
  • Master’s in Trade: 1-2 years
  • PhD in Trade: 4 years
• Trade degrees’ duration in Spain:
  • Bachelor’s in Trade: 3-4 years
  • Master’s in Trade: 1-2 years
  • PhD in Trade: 3 years

• Trade degrees’ duration in Germany:
  • Bachelor’s in Trade: 3-4 years
  • Master’s in Trade: 1-2 years
  • PhD in Trade: 3-4 years

• Trade degrees’ duration in France:
  • Bachelor’s in Trade: 3 years
  • Master’s in Trade: 1-2 years
  • PhD in Trade: 3-6 years

• Trade degrees’ duration in the US:
  • Bachelor’s in Trade: 4 years
  • Master’s in Trade: 2 years
  • PhD in Trade: 4-6 years.