International economics vs. International business: They may seem similar, but the differences are surprising!

📈 With the two majors International Economics and International Business, the Faculty of International Economics at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam has continuously strived toward the goal of training high-quality human resources capable of applying economic- and business-related knowledge and skills to promote the increasingly dynamic labor market.

👥 However, while they may “seem similar at first glance,” International Economics and International Business do have certain distinct differences. To gain a clearer understanding of these differences, K50-Wannabes, let’s listen to the sharing from two students representing these two majors!

Nguyen Thi Thanh Thu - K49 Student, International Economics Major

"Hello everyone, I’m Thanh Thu, a sophomore majoring in International Economics (Class 49). After nearly a year of studying at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV), I feel that the experience in this environment in general, and the International Economics major in particular, is truly worthwhile!

In my opinion, students in both International Economics and International Business share a common foundation of general economic knowledge. However, each major has a different orientation. International Economics provides students with a comprehensive overview of all economy-related fields by developing synthetic thinking and professional expertise in international economics. On the other hand, International Business tends to focus deeply on the business sector, specifically business administration, corporate modeling, logistics, etc. As I aspire to work across various sectors within the economic field, I chose International Economics to realize this goal early on.

Thanks to the extensive experience and enthusiasm of our lecturers, we have been able to link theory with practice, making the subjects more interesting than ever. Courses like 'Macroeconomics', 'History of Economic Theories', or the habit of starting classes with news briefings and updating 'hot' domestic and international news have become familiar to us. We learned about financial instruments such as stocks and bonds, and even practiced trading on simulation apps in the 'International Financial Markets' course. General subjects are equally fascinating; students are equipped with fundamental knowledge of the economy and get to implement PR plans or sell products in a simulated supply-demand market right in the classroom.

I hope my sharing will help future K50 FOIE-ers gain a better understanding of the International Economics major at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam. I hope DAV will be your new destination for the next four years, and I wish you truly valuable experiences with the Academy’s International Economics department!"

Vu Minh Anh - K49 Student, International Business Major

"Hello everyone, I’m Minh Anh – an International Business student at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV). After a year of being part of this major, I am certain that my choice was the right one.

Although International Business and International Economics share many similarities, I believe the biggest difference lies in their subjects of study. Unlike Economics, which examines broad subjects such as the entire economy, our Business major focuses on in-depth research of specific entities like enterprises and particular markets. In this major, I have the opportunity to explore not only business theories but also to learn from practical experiences and the distilled wisdom that our professors passionately and dedicatedly pass down to us. Over the past two semesters, I have completed several courses shared with the International Economics major, such as 'Microeconomics' and 'Macroeconomics'; however, the subjects that left the deepest impression on me were 'Principles of Management' and 'Business Statistics'.

In addition, I have been able to hone many soft skills, such as leadership and management, report writing, critical thinking, and scientific research methodology. There are also numerous opportunities to participate in activities organized by our Faculty. These experiences allow me to apply my classroom knowledge to reality and sharpen my mindset when participating in specialized competitions.

To all K50-Wannabes, choose the Diplomatic Academy for a beautiful four-year journey in this wonderful environment. And if you are destined for International Business, don't forget to cherish every moment as an official FOIE-er! The Academy is waiting for you!"

Contact information:

• Hotline:482.840 or 0936.018.433
• Email: tuyensinhhvng@dav.edu.vn
• Website: https://www.dav.edu.vn
• Fanpage: Admissions Consulting – Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam