Academics

The Joint Academic Sports Program

The academic program is delivered in accordance with US accreditation standards by Richmond, The American International University in London, which holds independent accreditation from three separate agencies; The Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the British Accreditation Council and The Open University.

The degree program reflects the main strands of the University's mission, its commitment to liberal arts, multiculturalism, and to the employability of its graduates. Leadership is an integrating and unifying theme throughout the Business Administration degree program, which prepares students for careers in the global workplace.

The BA Degree in Business Administration: International Business with Sports Electives provides a multidisciplinary approach to managing in the global economy, including understanding of cultural diversity, the theory and political economy of international trade and foreign investment, the global monetary system, and the strategy of international business. Additional sports electives will allow students to focus the knowledge gained in the business courses to particular areas of sports interests.

The Liberal Arts Core Curriculum program is based on the liberal arts educational philosophy that the most important aspect of becoming well-educated is to have a broad knowledge. Thus the first three semesters in this program encourage exploration of a wide range of subjects and skills.

2011/2012 Costs: 21,000 British Pounds.

Included in Cost

Please note this is a 40 week program inclusive of academic and sporting activities, (August to May playing season), for playing, housing and food and not a typical 30 week program as in the case with traditional University programs. Special coaching program and Summer school are not included.

Academic Tuition
Room and Board (September through May)
Soccer Academy Training (does not include books, or transport to and from the RIASA UK site)
Students must be full time in order to meet visa requirements.

US Federal Aid

US citizens and eligible permanent residents of the US are eligible for Federal Direct and PLUS loans on satisfactory completion of the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov, the FAFSA deadline is May 1st. Richmond's school number is G10594. All of the Federal loan program costs, attendance, satisfactory academic progress, and disbursement dates, for example are associated with the academic program exclusively. These conditions being the same as for any other similar Richmond degree program. Applications

Admissions Requirements and Eligibility

To gain admission to the academy, students will be evaluated academically and athletically. All applicants must contact the Richmond International Academic and Soccer Academy (RIASA) first before making application.

To be considered for admission, students should have completed 11 or 12 years of schooling, depending on the education system in their country, with a minimum of C+ (2.5 out of 4.0) in the American high school grading system. Other factors such as the letter of reference, personal statement, results of standardized examinations and participation in extracurricular activities, are also considered in the application process. All applicants must meet all Richmond Admissions Requirements to be given entry on to the RIASA program.

If applicants have advanced placement credit or have completed an International Baccalaureate, they will be considered as advanced students. This may entitle them to university credits, which will reduce the number of courses that they need to complete in order to graduate. Other types of transfer credit will be evaluated on an individual case basis.

The RIASA BA Degree in Business Administration: International Business

The International Business major addresses issues such as setting organizational mission and goals, how to allocate a company's resources, meeting business obligations and fostering social responsibility.

It focuses on managing people, diversity in culture, and ways of conducting business in a global marketplace. This concentration prepares students for managerial positions in international profit and nonprofit organizations.

Courses cover human and organizational behaviour in the workplace, global financial markets, global marketing,entrepreneurship, social responsibility, and multinational management strategy.

During the academic year 2011-2012 RIASA will be adding its own selection of sports electives to complement the core International Business classes, and add a more specific sports dimension to the classes available to students at the RIASA Leeds campus.