MSc International Business

The MSc International Business is designed to bring reality into the classroom. The course ensures that formal sessions are interactive with an emphasis on discussion, debate and critique of theoretical concepts, and application to real world business problems. The examples of professional practice are integrated in each module outline. You will also have plenty of opportunities to hone your presentation skills and to work on group tasks. An important element of your learning process is a lively debate, and consideration of experiences and practices from different countries and cultural background is central to discovering more about the complexities of the fields of international business.

A range of teaching and blended learning strategies will be used, including lectures (on-line and offline), interactive workshops; independent study; guided study; focused readings; student presentations; tutorials and illustrative case-study analyses. You will have the opportunity to offer evidence from your own experiences where this is relevant and will critically examine strategic issues from other organisations. We will make extensive use of the University’s virtual learning environment (Blackboard and Collaborate Ultra) and other, appropriate online resources for all aspects of teaching, learning, assessment, communication and administration. All modules will have a dedicated Blackboard containing a wide range of learning resources and other material that support, supplement and in some cases provide an alternative to lectures and seminars.

One of the main assessment strategies used on the MBA International is group work. This is because we operate student-centred classrooms which encourages active learning and inspires you to work together with other students on the programme. Through discussion and group work in seminars, you will engage critically and directly with a range of contemporary business issues within international business, like globalisation, culture and their implications for international business strategies.

Writing written reports will demonstrate to future employers your ability to present and write in a professional manner. This applies to all business management subjects, and would be a core transferable skill you will need to possess. Through independent study, you will learn to find, assimilate and organise information from a range of source (library books and journals, internet, etc.) and take responsibility for your own learning and skill development. Written assignments will assess your applied knowledge and understanding of key business and management problems. You will be able to critically evaluate findings, and draw on mainstream business, finance, careers and marketing journals as well as industry style reports.

Presentations and academic posters allow you to demonstrate your ability to integrate, contrast and evaluate ideas and findings and present them orally in a professional manner. It allows you to demonstrate your creative flare and further allows you to give a detailed summary of the research project or aims and objectives of the assessment. The number of ways you can emphasise your key points in presentations is much greater than a written report. It will also help you practice the art of speaking and articulating publicly. Presentations and academic posters also help you practice a skill beneficial to employers and management within the international business. Presentations and academic posters will address your postgraduate skills of communication in all its forms. Presentations in particular will demonstrate professional employability key skills and attributes such as ‘verbal communication skills’ and personal skills such as ‘creativity’ and ‘self-awareness’. These skills are necessary to progress in the major international business fields at a management level.

To complete your 10,000-12,000 word dissertation, you will be assigned a supervisor to guide you through the process. The role of the supervisor is to assist you by providing you with bespoke advice and guidance on how to prepare, produce and improve your dissertation. It may include: giving advice on choosing a suitable topic; drawing up a suitable preliminary bibliography; planning the primary and secondary research you may need to do; using suitable research methods, including obtaining any necessary research ethics approval; methods of improving the presentation of the dissertation; sources of information, advice and guidance in undertaking the dissertation and other general academic advice. The supervisor will be available to advise you on approach, coverage, questions to be asked and the outline structure and research design. There will be interactive workshops, student presentations, and faculty staff will help by providing formative feedback as part of the development of dissertation proposals, as well as the main project/dissertation itself. Your supervisor and research methods co-ordinator will also assist you in the definition and organisation of the project in the early stages of preparation, advise you on the feasibility of what you plan to do and approve the dissertation proposal.