MSc International Business

Master your future in International Business

• Gain practical and applied experience of global business.
• Dedicated support to build your own business plan.
• Optional modules to tailor the programme to your interests.

MSc International Business is a flexible programme designed for ambitious students who want to launch a global career. You will be equipped with the practical skills to develop effective strategies to solve real-world issues and be able to apply a global context to a variety of businesses, wherever in the world you choose to work.

You will be supported by the programme director in developing your own business plan in place of a dissertation, fostering practical and applied business skills, ensuring you stand out in a competitive graduate marketplace.

As part of your learning journey, you will attend specialist workshops taught by leading international academics on issues relevant to international business, globalisation and sustainability. You will also explore international business from a range of disciplines and stakeholder perspectives from Marketing and Economics to Accounting and Finance, equipping you with the skills and knowledge to enter a diverse range of careers when you graduate.

Programme structure

This programme is available for study 12 months full-time over three terms and is University-based throughout this time. The taught components of the programme are delivered in the first two terms, leaving the third term and most of the summer to research, write and submit your business plan. The programme in its entirety runs from September to September.

During the programme, you will study modules totalling 180 credits.

Please note that programme structures may be subject to change.

The programme is divided into units of study called modules which are assigned a number of 'credits'. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with 1 credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work.

Learning and teaching

Our postgraduate taught programmes utilise a range of teaching methods including lectures, seminars and tutorials.

Lectures

The aim of lectures is to give you information on ideas that are central to the module and to help you in developing your understanding of complex ideas. Many of the teaching materials for lectures are made available to you electronically to accompany the notes you take during the lecture. Lectures are given by a range of staff members, including leading professors, who integrate their latest research findings into the teaching that you receive. Guest lecturers, including members of industry, also contribute to some modules.

Seminars and tutorials

Seminars and tutorials involve an in-depth exploration of the issues covered in lectures as well as giving you the opportunity to discuss various concepts and theories and receive feedback on your written assignments.

Assessment

Modules are assessed through a mixture of group work, coursework, project work and examinations; the weighting of each of these components will vary according to the academic requirements of the module. Examinations are normally held at the end of the module, in January and May/June.

Entry requirements 2020

• A 2:2 degree (50%+) with honours in any discipline from a recognised university.
• IELTS (Academic) Overall score 6.5. No less than 6.0 in any section.
• TOEFL IBT* Overall score 90 with minimum scores of 21 for writing, 21 for listening, 22 for reading and 23 for speaking.

International students

If you are an international student, please visit our international equivalency pages to enable you to see if your existing academic qualifications meet our entry requirements.

Careers

This flexible and innovative programme has been designed for ambitious students who want to launch a career across international cultures and be able to apply a global context to a variety of businesses, wherever in the world they choose to work.

As part of your learning experience, you will attend specialist practical workshops equipping you with the knowledge and skills to tackle real-world problems.

Graduates can look to work in a diverse range of roles including:

• International Business Director
• Marketing and Strategy Consultancy
• Procurement and Purchasing Manager
• Business and Commercial Analyst
• Brand Manager
• Human Resource Manager

Careers in Finance and Marketing

This degree programme prepares you for a variety of roles related to marketing communications in the competitive world of financial services, comprising: Actuarial, Insurance, Regulation & Compliance, Retail Banking and Risk Management. It is an excellent conversion programme for those wishing to specialise in marketing and the promotion of financial services, whether your first degree is in general marketing, business, accounting, finance or another discipline. With intensive computing training covering Thomson Reuters Datastream and other financial databases and software being incorporated into relevant modules, you will also develop highly valued IT skills.

By carefully selecting your optional modules, you can start to develop a specialisation to enhance your employability and achieve Graduate Gateway status from the CIM or Associate Chartered Banker designation from the CBI.

Potential employers include:

• Financial services providers – often multi-nationals like Hiscox, Oliver Wyman, Willis, Swiss Re, Mercer
• Diverse international groups which have diversified into financial services (e.g. supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s or Tesco)
• Specialist organisations by sector (Risk, Insurance) and by country (e.g. Ping An Insurance Group in China)
• Regulation – managed by specific regulators in each country, like the FCA in the UK

Graduates from this programme have secured roles at a wide range of organisations including China Merchants Bank, HSBC, Prestige, China Development Bank, ZAI Corporate Finance, and Red Bull.

Our Careers & Employability team will help you identify your career path and support your route to a fulfilling global career.

Developing your skills and career prospects

The University of Exeter Business School provides a range of support to help you develop skills attractive to employers.