International Business Management MSc



Our course will allow you to examine international businesses and their activities, also learn how to put this into practice

Overview

Our MSc in International Business Management provides the essential tools you need to succeed in the international business management arena. Covering key issues such as intercultural business communication, strategy, innovation, global economics, and global marketing, this course equips you with a comprehensive understanding of modern international business. 

Open doors to increased employment opportunities at the postgraduate level. With a 94% overall student satisfaction score (PTES, 2023), our program ensures you gain the skills and knowledge to excel in the global business landscape. 

Don't miss the opportunity to advance your career in international business. Typical entry points to this course are in January and September. Enquire now for more information and take the first step towards a successful career in international business management. 

 
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Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

1 years

Start date:

JunSep

Course details

We expect this course to attract students from various countries and cultures. This provides an excellent opportunity for discussion with your peers, allowing you to acquire and deepen your understanding of the diversity of international approaches to global business challenges.

You’ll be encouraged to reflect on the approach to international business in your own culture and contribute relevant examples in class discussions.

You’ll learn to creatively address the issues of global competition and sustainability while acquiring knowledge of international business and its economic environment. You’ll graduate with an advanced understanding of the complexities of global economics and international business.

How will my degree reflect sustainability and sustainable development?

The Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) – established under the UN Global Compact – placs a clear onus on Higher Education to ‘transform management education and develop the responsible decision-makers of tomorrow to advance sustainable development’. The Business School is a PRME signatory, and we seek to influence professional practice and policy nationally and internationally, helping to drive key societal, economic and environmental impacts.

Our mission is ‘to empower communities to apply business knowledge for positive societal impact’ and we work constantly to embed practical actions into our curriculum, to promote sustainability and relate these to the key ideas of sustainability, as reflected in the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes now reflect one or more of the SDG, and our research is targeted to solve real world problems, mapped against the criteria used in the Times Higher Education’s Impact Ranking. 

The most recent annual league table for Sustainability - compiled by People & Planet, the UK’s largest student campaigning network - again places Edinburgh Napier in a top 3 position among Scotland’s 19 universities. This reflects their assessment of our performance across a range of environmental and ethical considerations, which include carbon reduction and management, and education.

What is distinct about equality, diversity and inclusion?

Edinburgh Napier University is enriched by the diversity of perspectives, cultures and backgrounds brought by all within our global community. We are committed to a positive environment where diversity and inclusiveness is celebrated and everyone is treated fairly regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, disability, age, ethnic origin, religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status or whether pregnant or on maternity leave. We commit ourselves to providing a learning, working and social environment that is free from discrimination, prejudice, intimidation, stigmatisation and all forms of harassment and bullying.

The Business School's vision: 'To be the Business School for empowerment, enterprise and employability for all'.

Our mission statement: 'Empowering our communities to apply business knowledge for positive societal impact'.

Modules

  • Sustaining Organisational Performance
  • Global Economic Environment and Marketing
  • Leadership, Strategy and Innovation
  • Global Marketing
  • Intercultural Business Communication
  • HRM in an International Context
  • Research Methods
  • Dissertation
  • calendar

    How you’ll be taught

    You’ll learn by a variety of teaching methods including lectures, tutorials and independent study.
    This is a full-time course and is split up into three trimesters. You can choose to start in either January or September.

    Duration:

    September starts: 12 months;
    January starts: 18 months with a three-month break over the summer (after the first taught trimester).
  • note and pen

    Assessments

    Assessments for this course include:

    Report writing
    Case-study assignments
    Oral presentation
    Research proposal
    Examinations
    Dissertation

Modules

Modules that you will study* as part of this course

Business Economics and Finance in a Global Environment ( SOE11146 )

This module will teach you the most essential analytical tools required for economic decision makingsuch as: the concepts of economic systems, profit and utility maximisation, demand elasticity, marketequilibrium, market structures, macroeconomic objectives, government policies (monetary, fiscal andtrade policies) tools and their impact on businesses. You will also learn how to evaluate theadvantages and disadvantages to the business of a range of sources of finance, how managers reporton the financial affairs and financial position of the business, and how to analyse financial reports inorder to evaluate business performance.

Further information

Creating Business Excellence and Marketing ( SOE11112 )

This module focuses on the interconnected nature of business and the importance of achieving and maintaining business excellence in a global environment.We will begin by examining internal business processes and asking what a business should excel at. You'll learn tools and models to measure an organisation's success, like the Balanced Scorecard and EFQM. These help you get a quick, comprehensive view of the business before covering lean thinking, operations/supply chain management, quality management, business improvement, and sustainability within the context of a circular economy. Secondly, we focus on customer/stakeholder relationships and ask how customers view the business. We focus on marketing, sales, stakeholder relationship management, market entry and development strategies, and digital communications. Additionally, we will seek to understand consumer journeys and broader societal concerns like responsible consumption and diversity.Both themes will underpin theory and practical discussions on emerging issues in sustainability. To include the latest thinking and trends in sustainability, decarbonisation and the circular economy. Discussions will draw on taking a systems thinking approach to sustainability and framing within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) and how to engage multiple stakeholders meaningfully in creating sustainable value with impact.

Further information

Dissertation ( TBS11130 )

In this module you will work with your assigned supervisor to complete your MSc dissertation. The focus of this module is to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills to prepare you for your professional career.The module will utilise the research methods content from the previous Research Methods module. The topic chosen for the dissertation should align with your degree pathway but the focus is decided by you. The research can be qualitative, quantitative or mixed. There are no lectures within the MSc Dissertation module format, instead there will be meetings and guidance from your supervisor.

Further information

Global Marketing ( MKT11104 )

In this module, you will develop an in-depth understanding of Global/International Marketing theories and concepts and how these theories can be applied to analyse international markets and inform international marketers' decision-making process in the internationalisation of a firm. Each week's lecture will introduce you to key theories in global/international marketing and how these can be applied in real international marketing cases. In tutorials, you will apply theories covered in the lecture to analyse real business cases and come up with solutions to different problems. You will engage with a range of international and Global marketing literature to learn important concepts in global marketing and develop academic reading skills such as evaluation and appraisal of global marketing literature. Upon successful completion of the module, you will understand the global marketing process and be able to provide solutions to challenges that global/international organizations face under the current global business climate from a global marketing perspective.

Further information

HRM in an International Context ( HRM11111 )

After a brief introduction to models of national culture, the focus of the module is the HR issues and practices of organisations operating across national boundaries with a multi cultural workforce. It covers a range of key HRM areas: (1) global manpower planning, recruitment & selection (3) international performance management, training and development; (3) comparative employment regulation, employee voice and the management of conflict (4) the ethical considerations specific to international operations. These are explored through the use of examples and cases drawn from a range of international contexts and MNC practice. Students are encouraged to reflect on the approach to HRM in their own culture/country and contribute to the consideration of similarity and difference.

Further information

Intercultural Business Communication ( IBC11101 )

This module will provide you with a thorough understanding of specific theories of culture and communication, cultural systems and dimensions offered by majorintercultural researchers and the critiques they have received in order to contribute to a more widening debate of intercultural theory and research. Taught sessions willaddress the notions of culture and intercultural business communication, and theoretical frameworks about cultural systems, cultural complexity and acculturation. There is also one session devoted to an intercultural workshop that helps you rehearse, through practical activities, the input from the previous taught sessions.

Further information

Leadership, Strategy and Innovation ( HRM11119 )

Leadership, Strategy and Innovation covers a range of topics that address and explore contemporary approaches to leadership, innovation, and strategic decision-making processes, in business organisations. You will have the opportunity to learn and explore the role of leaders in encouraging and inspiring creativity in organisations. As corporations seek to increase and stimulate creativity and innovation across all their hierarchical levels, this module focuses on factors and processes that enable leadership and strategic thinking to generate transformational change. You will learn how organisations can efficiently and effectively harness the resources and the variety of creative talents available within their structures and systems to attain their goals. This module will also give you the opportunity to expand your knowledge and deepen your understanding of the role and importance of strategy, decision making and leadership processes in supporting creativity and innovation. This module includes relevant theoretical models to examine more closely the role that leaders play in setting the strategic directions of their organisations. You will explore leadership processes and critically analyse how leadership fosters creativity and innovation. Both the ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ aspects of leadership are explored in this module, which also gives you the opportunity to critically consider how leaders interact with their followers and promote a culture of innovation in organisations.

Further information

Research Methods ( SOE11131 )

The focus of this module is for you to develop an understanding of research method approaches. The emphasis is on developing research skills that will equip you with the expertise to undertake relevant and topical research required for your future dissertation. The module will work logically through the techniques for writing a critical literature review Then offer sound insights into methodological considerations, along with the importance of the research design elements and ethics. The data gathering for both qualitative and quantitative will be explored, along with appropriate analysis techniques. Lastly, there will be a focus on how to evaluate and communicate your research.

Further information

Skills for Success ( TBS11108 )

Module is designed to ensure you are equipped with a longitudinal induction which ensures ‘How to be here’ foundation moves through Professionalism in classroom and beyond to Careers awareness and guidance as part of pass/fail attended module. This ‘levelling-up’ will provide an you with an enhanced experience if you have an identified skills gaps, and provide more skills balances for you within individual cohorts.

Further information

* These are indicative only and reflect the course structure in the current academic year. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Entry requirements

What are the entry requirements for International Business Management?

The entry requirement for this course is a Bachelor (Honours) Degree at 2:2 or above. We look for applicants to have a background in any discipline in order to be eligible for the programme.

We may also consider lesser qualifications if you have sufficient professional work experience within the industry.

Can I get admission into International Business Management based on my working experience in this sector?

This course has academic entry requirements which are assessed alongside relevant work experience. Full details of any relevant work experience, including references should be submitted with your application and may be considered for entry where the minimum academic entry requirements are below those required.

Usually, unrelated work experience is not considered sufficient for entry without meeting the minimum academic entry requirements. Please contact us with your specific circumstances by submitting an enquiry form above and we will be happy to discuss your options.

Can I make an appointment with an advisor to discuss further about the admission process?

If you want to get more information on the admission process, please get in touch with the postgraduate admissions team by submitting an enquiry form above.

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English, or your undergraduate degree was taught and examined in English (within two years of starting your postgraduate course). Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees
Students from 2024/25 2025/26
Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £8,715 £9,160
Overseas and EU £18,800 £19,750
Please note tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other tuition fee matters, please see our Fees and Funding
The University offers a 20% discount on Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes to its alumni. The discount applies to all full-time, part-time and online programmes. The discount can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount. For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount. Please read our full T&C here
Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.


Please note:

The discount for Edinburgh Napier alumni can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount.

For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount.

Please read our full T&C here

Careers

What can you do with an MSc International Business Management Degree? 

  

By studying and MSc in International Business Management at Edinburgh Napier University, you will have developed a professional attitude and business mindset, allowing you to develop the practical skills to plan and analyse business strategies and come up with solutions to international business problems.  You will have strong cross-cultural communication skills and be a team player, along with sound decision making skills. If you are a good problem solver, and enjoy presenting and collaborating with others, then this might be the right course for you. Careers you may pursue on completion of this degree will likely be working in the commercial or public sector in financial services, sales and marketing, operations or human resources.  

  

What does an International Operations Manager do?

As an International operations manager, you will be responsible for ensuring different departments of the organisation work collaboratively in order to achieve the global activities of the business and monitor the performance and output of different functions. You will be able to adapt to the challenges of an international business environment and have excellent communication and leadership skills within this role.

Daily tasks and responsibilities will likely include:

  • Strategic planning
  • Cross-cultural communication
  • Crisis management
  • Performance monitoring
  • Process Improvement
  • Managing budgets
  • Supplier management
  • Ensuring compliance

 

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