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Introduction
Why choose this course?
Overview
Our MSc International Business Management course is accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). The course will prepare you for a successful international career with either a commercial or not-for-profit organisation.
You will learn to:
 identify, analyse and evaluate a range of business related issues
 develop suitable responses to these problems
 select the most appropriate course of action
You will learn about all the key functions of a twenty-first century business. Depending on your interests, you can personalise your course with one of the specialisations of the MSc International Business Management course.
 International Business Management and Corporate Social Responsibility
 International Business Management and Entrepreneurship
 International Business and Marketing Management
 International Business and Supply Chain Management
Modules
Compulsory modules
Developing Skills for Business Leadership
Successful leaders have different approaches to their work, sharing a range of diverse personality traits. A key purpose of this module is to encourage you to develop a strong sense of self-awareness of your own strengths and weaknesses as a manager and colleague. In addition, you will develop a range of transferrable skills which are pivotal to successful management practice. These include decision-making skills, team-working and interpersonal skills and others associated with developing personal effectiveness.
Research Methods
This module prepares you for completing high quality, systematic business and management research, and equips you to be successful in your Final Research Project. You will learn how to undertake effective research drawing upon a range of secondary and primary data sources, and will be introduced to a range of tools required for research including methodological issues, data collection techniques and study skills.
Operations Management
In this module you will develop your understanding of an organisation's ability to deliver goods and services of the quality, quantity and cost that will satisfy customers' needs, while making efficient use of resources. The key principles introduced in this module can be applied to any business sector and function. Issues covered include ethics, environmental sustainability, global business, complexity and uncertainty, and continuing professional development.
Finance and Accounting for Business
In this module you will develop your critical assessment of corporate financial information from the users' perspective. You will study both financial and management accounting covering three areas: basics (terminology, purposes, users), rules and regulations, and business entities.
 Financial accounting - key financial statements, published accounts and analysis and interpretation through ratios.
 Management accounting - costing, budgeting and forecasting, budget management and pricing.
Introduction to the Principles of Responsible Marketing
In this module you will be introduced to the key principles of marketing. You will explore the roles of buyers, the marketing environment, and the ways marketers plan, manage, and monitor marketing programmes in an international environment.
Global Strategic Management
Strategic management is the process by which managers formulate and implement strategies to generate high performance. In this module you will develop your understanding of the managerial strategic challenge; how to deliver sustainable competitive advantage. You will engage in critical evaluation of the key strategic issues. You will consider the wider economic environment and explore why strategy is important, how organisations make strategic decisions through the processes of analysis, choice and responsible and ethical management and leadership.
Innovation, Change and Organisations
The aim of this module is to provide insight into a series of topics that represent key issues around innovation and change and the organisational context in modern general management. The module is forward looking from the contemporary organisation towards future developments. A key perspective is the development to date of entrepreneurship, innovation, change and organisational practices making students aware of long-term patterns and cycles, and the way and extent to which the past can shape the present.
Strategic Planning in Practice OR Consultancy Project OR Virtual Global Study Trip
Choose between:
Strategic Planning in Practice: a hands-on, intensive experience with the ideas and practices of international business through working in a Strategy Planning Software. Students will work in groups and analyse real organisations. The experiential nature of the module puts the knowledge of the participants to work.
Consultancy Project: gain practical international project experience by working in a cross-cultural team on a real problem for a client organisation. You will develop problem solving and communication skills as well as the ability to work in cross-cultural teams. Your team will work virtually, face-to-face and with help from tutors.
Virtual Global Study Trip: this module gives you a hands-on experience of current business ideas through visiting multinational enterprises and international organisations. You meet with leaders of global firms and have the opportunity to tour facilities. The programme includes presentations to executives, managers and experts.
Optional modules
Understanding Customer Behaviour
You will critically appraise the behaviours of customers and their interactions with marketing. Informed by behavioural science, you will analyse why customers behave as they do and how marketing activity influences their behaviours. This analysis informs your critical understanding and implementation of both strategic and responsible marketing practice. An innovative dimension of this course is the investigation of change agents that will significantly influence the behaviours of customers in the future, for example neuroscience, climate change and technology innovation. This is an analytical module that utilises research evidence to inform evaluation, behavioural and communications research.
Sustainable Global Marketing Strategy
This module embraces the UN Sustainable Development Goals and their relevance for responsible marketing practitioners. Students learn how to select and apply a range of theories, concepts and approaches in order to inform the decision-making processes involved in developing sustainable global marketing strategy. The main aim of this module is to ensure that students understand and appreciate the importance of ethical, social, cultural and environmental issues in the global marketplace and the profound impact these areas have on sustainable global marketing practices
People Resourcing and Talent Management
This module will give you an understanding of the principal internal and external environmental contexts of contemporary organisations and how these affect both organisational and HR strategies. You will engage with leading edge practices for planning and recruiting organisational workforces, including the risks and benefits of using technology, and learn how to create an integrated people plan.
Employee Engagement, Performance and Reward
This module aims to provide a critical understanding of how contemporary organisations can elicit employee engagement and performance, and the challenges associated with doing so. It presents theoretical perspectives on the individual and collective employment relationship as the basis by which students can understand the challenges of managing employees – drawing on the key themes of authority, power, and control - and how the levers at management’s disposal, notably, those associated with reward and performance management, can be deployed to best effective. The module also explores dysfunction and conflict in the employment relationship from both theoretical and practical standpoints, and the role of the HR professional in managing the relationship between stakeholders.
Entrepreneurial Theory and Practice
This module enhances your understanding of enterprise and entrepreneurship, and helps you develop vital entrepreneurial skills. These skills include idea generation and evaluation, communication, networking and the evaluation of risk. In addition, you will develop an understanding of the social and economic impact of entrepreneurialism. The module focuses on developing an understanding of factors relating to the development of the entrepreneur, the entrepreneurial idea and the entrepreneurial organisation. By studying these topics the module bridges the gap between theory and practice.
Planning for New Business Ventures
This module develops your business planning skills and is essential for those students who intend to start and run their own businesses. At the heart of the module is an evaluation of a firm's business model. You will prepare a business plan in groups for a new or existing venture, which will be assessed by a panel. You will be evaluated on its economic logic, value to customer and return on investment for its owners.
Strategic Business Simulation
This module teaches you about group decision making. It involves a live new business development scenario, through which you apply your understanding of business and entrepreneurship principles to a computer simulation. The simulation will challenge your business, entrepreneurial and responsible management decisions when running an international business and will consider a range of business functions. You will develop management skills such as team management, budgeting, strategising, implementing a communications strategy and coping with unexpected competitor activity.
Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility
In this module you will learn about alternative perspectives on strategic management and corporate governance. This will encompass stakeholder issues including ethics, sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR). You will develop your understanding of approaches to solving problems when governing in the corporate sector. Your studies will consider current issues and consider the social implications of governance. You will also focus on the impact of globalisation on international management practices. You will be equipped with the knowledge to enhance management decisions involving ethical choices. Finally, you will consider your assumptions about the role of managers and organisations in a complex and challenging context through the exploration of contemporary issues in CSR.
Corporate Finance Concepts
You will study how businesses manage their finances within a company in line with their corporate strategy. This includes understanding the different methods used for valuing a businesses. You will also understand how key business decisions are made from a financial perspective, such as the investment in major projects, managing working capital and evaluating risk.
Financial Markets and Institutions
You will study how businesses interact in an external financial context by understanding how funds are provided through markets and institutions. This module looks at how financial markets operate, including stock markets, markets for fixed income assets and derivative markets and focuses on issues of asset pricing and market efficiency. With regard to institutions we examine the transformation of the financial sector as a result of globalisation, technical innovation and regulatory change.
Procurement & Supply Chain Management
In an increasingly globalised business environment, the ability of organisations to identify, and then to manage, supply networks and individual chains of supply has grown in its significance. It is of vital importance that both the upstream and downstream relationships with suppliers and customers are managed effectively to ensure value is added whilst controlling costs and ultimately satisfying the customer. In this module you will learn about the key elements and activities within procurement and supply chain management, how this function supports the wider organisation and its objectives, and how these activities can be managed to ensure the optimal outcome.
Strategic & Sustainable Logistics
Physical logistics is concerned with managing and controlling the activities and processes along a chain of supply, from procuring materials to moving, distributing and delivering finished goods that satisfy customer orders. Customers have become ever more demanding, wanting more for less and greater added value. This often involves customised products and services, quick response deliveries, and state-of-the-art information systems. This new era of customer ‘pull’ as well as the globalised business environment, alongside with the emphasis on sustainability, has led to the concept of ‘Strategic and Sustainable Logistics’. Students will evaluate how effective logistics and distribution systems can become key business enablers, and the importance of managing international logistics systems.
Digital Business Strategy
It is no overstatement to say that digital technologies are having pervasive and disruptive effects on organisational life. Few industries and areas of work have been untouched by their ever-deeper penetration into products, services and business processes. The 21st century has seen the rise of new industries and business models unthinkable without the availability of fast, affordable and flexible digital devices – together with their associated networked infrastructures. This module aims to help students appreciate and address the organisational challenges and opportunities bound up with digital innovation and transformation. It looks in particular at the strategic and leadership issues managers are likely to confront, and the concepts, theories and frameworks they need to understand and apply in response to these.
Information Systems in Organisations
Digital technologies, as diverse as accounting and sales software, internet and mobile technology, artificial intelligence and robotics, have wide-ranging roles and impacts in organisations that need to be understood and managed. This module aims to equip students with knowledge and skills for understanding, analysing and evaluating the use of digital technologies in organisations, taking an information perspective. This will be grounded in systems theory, and focus on the role of data and information in management decision making and business processes.
The Practice of Data Analysis
Students will learn how to examine data and use statistics to produce information to help businesses, to formulate strategies and make decisions. Statistics underlies business analytics and intelligence and becomes a powerful tool for decision-making. Essential concepts in business analytics and intelligence will be introduced, as well as statistical and econometrics concepts that underlie areas such as business analytics, data mining, data analytics, big data and artificial intelligence. Students are encouraged to work with diverse datasets, learn how to prepare these and test basic models of analytics.
Business Intelligence
Business Intelligence (BI) refers to technologies, applications, and practices for the collection, integration, analysis, and presentation of business information. The purpose of business intelligence is to support better business decision making. This course provides an overview of the technology of BI and the application of BI to an organisation’s strategies and goals. This module equips students to apply data extensively using theory and knowledge to perform statistical and quantitative analysis to drive business decision and actions. Students will learn the business intelligence techniques and skills to understand, evaluate and interpret business and performance metrics and tools, in order to improve individual and organisational performance, and use this to inform and update organisational policies and procedures.
Compulsory modules
Final Research Project
The final research project module is a 50 credit module and runs over two semesters. This module will provide an opportunity for you to undertake a substantial independent research project by applying and extending the streams of study, knowledge and practical skills gained in other modules. It will allow you to demonstrate a wide range of skills such as research, critical thinking, project planning, problem-solving and writing/oral skills. You will be able to choose from different research project options, so they have the opportunity to explore in detail an area of particular interest or relevance. These options currently are Dissertation, Client Project, Integrated Business Research Project, and Business/Concept Development.
Optional modules
Work placement
This supervised work experience module is part of the two-year sandwich mode for students who join the Programme in September. The module supports and assesses students who are engaging in paid supervised work experience (a placement) in a role relevant to their programme. It provides students with the opportunity to understand first-hand how businesses work and to apply the learning gained from the taught element of their programme within a real working environment.
We will provide support to help you find a placement - our team has a database of opportunities and runs events where you can meet potential employers. A placement will provide you with valuable experience, although securing one takes a lot of effort and success is not guaranteed. You would need to cover your own living and travel costs throughout the duration of your placement.
Learning and teaching
This programme focuses on experiential learning. We offer a placement module, a client project as a capstone, study trips to various locations, a group consultancy project and invited guest speakers. In addition our teaching and learning strategy focuses on bringing theory closer to practice, to that end we use a number of international case studies, a business simulation game, in a diverse and inclusive environment.
The outstanding quality of our learning and teaching has been recognised by the accreditations we have received from the Association of MBAs and the Chartered Management Institute. These are hallmarks of high quality, robustness and good employability potential for our graduates.
Our teaching staff are academic researchers and/or from an industry background. They have an in-depth practical experience of business and management issues. Our teaching methods include interactive workshops, simulations and lectures from staff and visiting speakers.
Entry Criteria
ENTRY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Home Office Share Code
For EU students only.
IF no Qualification
Please provide CV with at least 2 years of work experience, and employee reference letter.Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
This course attracts students from a wide range of backgrounds and nationalities. A minimum of a second class honours degree (2:2) in any academic discipline, or equivalent overseas degree from a recognised institution or equivalent professional or other qualification.
Applicants who possess a diploma rather than a good degree may be eligible for entry provided they have compensatory work experience and can demonstrate career development. Applications are welcome from those in work and seeking continuing professional development.
Entry will also be subject to two satisfactory references (one of these must be an academic reference).
Our standard entry requirement is three A-levels or equivalent qualifications. In some cases, courses have specific required subjects and additional GCSE requirements. In addition to A-levels, we accept a wide range of other qualifications including:
 the Welsh Baccalaureate
 the Access to Higher Education Diploma
 a BTEC National Certificate, Diploma or Extended Diploma at a good standard and in a relevant subject
 the International Baccalaureate Diploma
 the European Baccalaureate Diploma
 Scottish qualifications – five subjects in SCE with two at Higher level or one at Advanced Higher level, or three subjects in Scottish Highers or two at Advanced Higher level
 a recognised foundation course
 T-levels*.
 * T-levels are a relatively new qualification but are already included in the UCAS tariff. We welcome prospective students who are taking this qualification to apply. For some programmes with specific required subjects, particular subject areas or occupational specialisms may be required.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you will need to satisfy the university's English language requirements:
 IELTS minimum level 6.0, (with a minimum of 6.0 in reading and writing, and 5.5 in listening and speaking)
 if you have completed your undergraduate degree in the UK (at least one full year of study) you will automatically meet our English language requirements
The entry requirement for your course will be expressed as an IELTS level and refers to the IELTS Academic version of this test. We are now also accepting the IELTS Indicator test, you can find out more about the test on the IELTS Indication site. The University however does accept a wide range of additional English language qualifications, which can be found below.
The university’s English language requirements in IELTS levels are as follows:
Course IELTS level
All other undergraduate courses 6.0 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Law, Architecture, Interior Architecture, English Literature (including combined honours), English Literature and Creative Writing 6.5 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Health and Social Care courses 6.5 or 7.0 overall with 6.5 or 7.0 in all components (see individual entries for course details)
Nutrition BSc (Hons) 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Built Environment Foundation,
Computing Foundation,
Engineering Foundation 6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
International Foundation Business and Technology,
International Foundation Arts, Humanities and Law 5.5 overall with 5.5 in all skills
International Foundation Diploma 5.0 overall with 5.0 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
International Foundation Diploma (Extended pathway) 4.5 overall with 4.5 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
Assessment
ASSESSMENT METHODS
1. INTERNAL ENGLISH TEST if you don't have an English accredited certificate
2. Academic Interview
Learning and assessment
We have designed a highly flexible course for a wide range of interests in a variety of different subject areas/roles/sectors. This course is suitable for individuals:
 from a variety of educational backgrounds
 who may have no previous work experience
 who want to further their knowledge and understanding of business and management to support their career aspirations.
You will study a combination of compulsory and elective modules, and choose to complete either a dissertation, a client based research project, or a synoptic research project.
Our teaching staff come from a variety of academic and non-academic backgrounds. This gives you a comprehensive and diverse learning experience.
Our student cohorts are international. So you will benefit from working with staff and peers with varied experiences and perspectives.
Our assessment strategy offers a variety of assessment formats including individual assignments, group reports and presentations, reflections, oral and written examinations.
Start this course in January
You have the option to start this course in January. You will study a range of modules between January and May. During the summer months of June, July and August you will study further modules and begin work on your dissertation. Between September and December you will complete your final modules and focus on your dissertation.
The programme’s assessment strategy has been designed to expose our students to various forms of assessment, in order to develop transferable skills and create a positive student experience. As such students will be assessed by individual essays and business reports, group presentations, oral exams, written exams and online discussion forums. We have embedded inclusivity and diversity into assessments throughout the programme, allowing students to select the focus of their assignment where appropriate.
The majority of assessments are based on individual contribution, but there is some assessed group work.
Research
Business School academics explore core issues facing contemporary societies, ranging from refugee entrepreneurship and internationalisation to sustainable tourism, security and the changing world of work and organisations including the impact of artificial intelligence. We address questions such as:
 What characterises the interconnections of trade, transportation and technologies?
 How do we organise for security?
 How can social media address well-being and social isolation?
 How can individuals be happier and navigate the increasingly complex world of work?
We also have an expertise in Coaching and Mentoring as well as in Diversity (such as examining pay gaps and gender and spin-outs) and we are always keen to include students into our projects where possible.
Career Opportunities
You will graduate with highly relevant knowledge as well as practical experiences on how to manage different functional units in organisations.
Many of our graduates find managerial positions at a wide range of organisations, including:
 companies producing fast moving commercial goods
 consultancy firms
 financial institutions
 retail giants
 charities
 SMEs
Examples of these employers include:
 Amazon
 IBM
 Deutsche Telekom
 Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, EY
 Oxfam
 BASF Group
 Kautex Unipart
 Raiffeisen Bank
 Revolution Insurance
 American Business Conferences
 Consilio Global
 Or return to their family business
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