Why study this course

There are no requirements to have studied business previously. This course is open to learners of all disciplines preparing students to integrate with organisations operating on an international platform.

We focus on sustainable practises. Guided by the United Nations Sustainable Goals, we bring challenge to the corporate landscape.

We embrace social and cultural differences and seek to actively recruit diverse cohorts who can become future leaders and managers in a complex world.

Scholarships are available – apply now to see if you meet the criteria!

Course summary

Open to graduates from any discipline, our Master of International Business (MSc) course is a specialist award for career entry or career development that will prepare you to successfully integrate with businesses operating an international platform.

The purpose of this degree is to allow you to hone your professional, analytical and personal capabilities in order to develop a global perspective for business. This will be accomplished by developing the agile, curious, resilient and innovative mindsets that are necessary to cope with the levels of uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity and risk that are so evident in a rapidly changing world.

At every juncture, you will be encouraged to consider how you can add value to business processes while being mindful of the ethical, social and cultural responsibilities and challenges facing all organisations.

Key facts


Award

MSc

Duration

12 Months

Mode of study

Full-time

Start date

September

Awarding institution

Bishop Grosseteste University

Institution code

B38

Course details

About this course

This course aims to develop a scientific, theoretical and practical understanding of, and the ability to engage with, business activity at an international level. You will develop a critical appreciation of relevant theories when aligned to practice, an understanding of the importance of data and its analysis and will have the opportunity to reflect on the application of your learning.

Using BGU staff’s significant expertise in business expertise, and that of a variety of guest speakers and international connections, the programme is designed not only to increase theoretical knowledge of business processes, but to challenge you to acquire and analyse the skills and attributes required by future-fit leaders and managers, allowing a full appreciation of what is needed to engage with global markets.

At every level, you will learn to collaborate and communicate with each other as will be expected in a business environment. Taught delivery will be complemented by group coaching sessions to encourage maximum peer-peer interaction, and overseas students will be ‘buddied’ with UK students.

At every juncture, theory and practice will be challenged by considering the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and all modules will acknowledge and link to enterprise and entrepreneurial skills and attributes as defined by The Entrecomp Framework.

The course will naturally promote the use of ‘business English’, however this is further enhanced by collaboration with external partners and stakeholders internationally to introduce a much wider social and cultural palette of business practitioners who use English to communicate.

You will be supported via individual Learning Contracts that will identify and personalise your individual learning goals that augment the learning outcomes for the course.

What you will study

Students on this course currently study some or all of the following modules:

Using a world-class online business simulation model, you will explore and experiment with every aspect of live business process trading virtually over a number of years, growing and developing a sustainable business in order to appeal to an international buyer.

Here you will develop an overview of marketing and brand strategies that can be successful in a international context. You will discover how to critically analyse issues and opportunities faced by organisations as they operate in international markets, the role of sustainability in an international business arena and the emergence of the experience economy.

Enterprise and entrepreneurship are two of the most mis-used and misunderstood words in business vocabulary, yet in order for organisations to flourish, they need to be able to embrace and engage with the concepts and praxis of both. This module will challenge you to learn about, for and through these concepts and equip you to embed them within your own and organisational practice in order to seize opportunity, promote and encourage innovation, creativity, difference and wellbeing, whilst adding value at every level.

Here, we will challenge existing methodologies and theories regarding business development strategy and compare these with the notion of an organisation which actively and continually engages in knowledge management and learning in order to build future-fit capabilities.

Taking a highly analytical approach, this module will develop your understanding of financial strategies including revenues and costs, profit and cash, why these are different and the importance of each to successful financial management. It will look at concepts of cost management including procurement contracts and supply chain management in an international context.

This module provides an opportunity for you to enhance your ability to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively while having the ability to make sound judgements in uncertain and ambiguous environments. You will develop your ability to clearly communicate information to specialist and non-specialist audiences whilst demonstrating self-direction and originality in assessing and addressing complex problems.

Providing an overview of International Business Ethics and corporate social responsibility, this module introduces some of the philosophies behind ethical and moral dilemmas that may arise in international businesses. Here you can develop your abilities to analyse and critically evaluate complex issues by applying philosophical principles and international cultural norms. It will make specific use of the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a benchmark.

The Dissertation forms a capstone to the MSc in International Business, providing you with the opportunity to demonstrate your learning from the course. This will take one of two forms - a literature-based study of an aspect of international business, or an empirical study which will address a live business problem/ challenge with the opportunity for you to explore viable solutions which can realistically be sustainably implemented.

Entry requirements

Students would normally be expected to have, or be predicted to have achieved a 2:2 (or NARIC equivalent) in any degree subject.

If you have any questions about the entry requirements for this course, please contact our Enquiries team for advice on +44 (0) 1522 583658 or email enquiries@bishopg.ac.uk.

BGU is committed to widening access and participation and we adhere to a strict policy of non-discrimination.

Further information

Click here for important information about this course including additional costs, resources and key policies.

In accordance with University conditions, students are entitled to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning, RP(C)L, based on relevant credit at another HE institution or credit Awarded for Experiential Learning, (RP(E)L).

How you will be taught

The delivery of this course will challenge and support you to ensure you receive a positive learning experience by offering a range of delivery styles. Peer learning will be introduced as a critical element that enhances learning opportunities and create a socially enabling learning environment. These will include structured and informal networking, collaboration and exchange of ideas, tutorials, workshops and group learning that is both immersive and supportive.

Module content will be delivered through a blend of traditional face -to-face/classroom-based teaching, blended learning which incorporates elements of practical challenge, the effective use of supporting technology and online tools, and team coaching to support effective peer-peer and group learning.

The modules build on the knowledge, understanding, skills and experience you will accumulate as you progress throughout the course. The course places strong emphasis on the integration and application of learning that can be synthesised with current global issues and thinking. For instance, an understanding of global operations enables the development of market and brand strategy.

Assessment

The assessment strategy for this course has been designed to develop and assess the knowledge, understanding and skills that are required to successfully develop a career in business. It will allow you to demonstrate your confidence in articulating and critically evaluating ideas and knowledge in both written and oral formats. Formative assessment will be embedded throughout, and assessment tools have been chosen to reflect the content and teaching approach to the modules – for instance, the international finance module will be assessed through a timed examination based on financial analysis of provided data, and the marketing module is assessed by the production of marketing material as would be expected in the business world.

What Our Students Say

Discover what life is like at Bishop Grosseteste University from our students.

Support

Studying at BGU is a student-centred experience. Staff and students work together in a friendly and supportive atmosphere as part of an intimate campus community. You will know every member of staff personally and feel confident approaching them for help and advice, and staff members will recognise you, not just by sight, but as an individual with unique talents and interests.

We will be there to support you, personally and academically, from induction to graduation.

Fees & Finance

A lot of student finance information is available from numerous sources, but it is sometimes confusing and contradictory. That’s why at BGU we try to give you all the information and support we can to help to throughout the process. Our Student Advice team are experts in helping you sort out the funding arrangements for your studies, offering a range of services to guide you through all aspects of student finance step by step.

Click here to find information about fees, loans and support which will help to make the whole process a little easier to understand.