International Business
MSc/PgDip/PgCert
Salford Business School
2014 THE Award Winner
Business School of the Year
3 good reasons to study International Business at Salford
1.
This is a practical course with an international focus that offers the opportunity to gain a broad overview of the subject before specialising in your chosen area
2.
Our strong industry links allow you to mix theory with practice, visiting companies and hearing from expert industry speakers both in the UK and overseas
3.
You can benefit from a residential study week in Europe, giving you an invaluable insight into organisations and their activities in industrial sectors such as agriculture and tourism
Course Summary
This course is aimed at students with a background in business or business-related studies, who wish to further their knowledge of international business. During your time with us, you’ll develop an integrated and critically-aware understanding of the international activities of business organisations, at both the strategic and operational level. This understanding is necessary if you want to effectively develop and execute international business strategy and operations.
Course Details
The programme is block delivered and there are six entry points per year. Students will take the modules below in a sequence dependent on their start date.
Course Structure
SEMESTER 1
SEMESTER 2
SEMESTER 3
Business Innovation Project (BIP)
Flexible final study options
Salford Business School has one of the most flexible suites of post-graduate taught programmes in the UK.
For the final third of your studies you can choose from 4 differing pathways, all of which are designed to accommodate your career aspirations and enhance your professional practice:
- Dissertation – traditional 3 month research pathway.
- Live Project – 3 month group project activity researching a commercial project.
- Internship – 3 month opportunity to develop your skills working in partnership with an organisation.
- Placement – 6 month paid work experience implementing a commercial project.
The dissertation can be undertaken within a company, a sponsoring organisation, or investigate an area which is of interest to you. Study is undertaken in the UK, or sometimes overseas – some international students may possibly return to their country to work on an industrial research project.
- 3 month research project culminating in a 12-15,000 word dissertation
- Topics can be undertaken in a number of areas:
- personal interest in a topic area which supports your career aspirations.
- an academic’s research area which explores challenging developments in the supervisor’s area of expertise.
- in partnership with a company or sponsoring company.
- an entrepreneurial opportunity, particularly suitable if you wish to research your own business opportunity.
- 3 month commercial research project.
- Group presentation and executive report, coupled with an individual 8-10,000 word report.
- 1 to 3 month commercial project, undertaken full or part-time with the host company.
- Internship positions provide interesting project experience. They vary between paid and voluntary and are facilitated by the School's dedicated Employability Hub.
- 30-40 minute commercial presentation and 10,000 word professional dissertation.
- 4 to 6 month work based project undertaken at the organisations premises.
- Assessment consist portfolio of work, visitor assessment, presentation and interim report, culminating in a work related dissertation of 10,000 words.
- Placements can be undertaken in the UK or overseas.
- Students can undertake placements with their sponsor or employing organisation.
- For international students placements are 6 months maximum due to visa restrictions.
- For home/EU students, placements can possibly be extended to 12 months.
- The salary range for placements range from £14,320 to £25,000 pro rata – the average is £19,555 pro rata.
Part-time
If you are on the part-time course, you will be able to register for individual modules as part of CPD. The following is an example of how the course could be taken on a part-time basis over two years:
Year 1 - Semester 1
Strategic International Business Management
Semester 2
Operations and Information Management
Semester 3
International Financial Management
Year 2 - Semester 1
Marketing International Business: Branding, Communication and Relationships
Semesters 2 & 3
Business Innovation Project
Entry Requirements
Normally a minimum 2:1 honours degree or equivalent.
Student with a 2:2 in a cognate discipline or successful completion of the Graduate Certificate International Management will also be accepted.
A wide range of Professional Qualifications are also accepted either in partial or complete fulfilment of entry requirements.
Where a student has gained a recognised Honours degree in a cognate discipline but does not meet the normal entry qualification requirement, they may still be considered for entry if they can demonstrate work experience of a minimum 2 years duration post study and acceptable level of responsibility.
Accreditation for Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/tradiational entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from your course.
Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certified Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).
English Language Requirements
Normally IELTS 6.5 with no individual element below 5.5, or equivalent recognised Secure English Language Test, (SELT).
If the English language qualification is slightly below this level candidates may be able to take one of the many English courses available in the University. Please search for English using the University Course Finder.
Suitable For
This course is ideal if you wish to develop your knowledge and understanding of business in a rapidly changing international context.
Applicant profile
You should have a strong interest in international management. This course offers excellent scope for aspiring and existing managers who want to improve their career development opportunities and employability. If you want to progress into a senior position in the public, private or third sectors this course will offer you the chance to gain skills which are highly sought by employers across a wide variety of organisations.
Teaching
The course is delivered in four blocks of three day intensive study periods, followed by independent study and online support through the University’s virtual learning environment, Blackboard. Each module is taken and assessed over a six week block.
Teaching is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials, using a wide range of learning activities.
Assessment
Over the duration of your course a range of assessment techniques will be used. Types of assessment include; essays, assignments, exams, multiple choice tests, online tests, group reports, and portfolio work. The weighting between exams and coursework varies between modules and years, but exams still play a major role.
Postgraduate Staff Profile
Dr Jonathan Swift
Senior Lecturer in International Business & Marketing Jonathan began his career teaching foreign languages and moved into cross-cultural training for multinationals such as ICI and Kellogs. He has worked closely with a variety of industrial clients, generally in the areas of international consultancy, and market research. He currently runs an international research project that examines the development of cross-cultural business relationships with various countries. He is currently Visiting Professor at the Universidad de La Salle, Bogotá, Colombia and has been widely published in academic books and journals.
Employability
In addition to a highly-regarded formal qualification, you’ll develop personal and organisational management skills that will significantly enhance your career prospects – particularly if you want to become a manager in a multinational company. Graduates often go on to build careers as managers, business consultants or entrepreneurs, operating on the international stage.
Graduates have become international recruitment consultants, while others go on to join international marketing research and international data analysis roles. This course will provide you with flexible employment opportunities leading to potential roles with a variety of management-level national and international sectors.
Recent Salford Business School graduates have gained employment with leading companies including:
- Ernst & Young
- Dixons Group plc
- British Airways
- Cooperative Insurance Services
- BMW
- American Express
- BBC
- Citibank
- Ladbrokes
- Numberica
- Office of the Legal Services Ombudsman
- KPMG
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Premier Travel Inn
- BUPA
- Thomson Holidays
- BT
- DTS Logistics
- Greater Manchester Police
- The NHS
Career Prospects
Alumni Profile
Links with Industry
Our course team maintains excellent relations with local, national and international organisations, commentators and employers.
Our teaching is industry-led, inspired by contemporary practice and developed in partnership with business leaders. Our academics are experts in their field and work closely with industry to ensure that our courses reflect the needs of business and provide our students with that extra edge when it comes to securing a job.
Our part-time students are drawn from a wide range of public, private and third sector organisations, allowing you to enjoy highly valuable networking opportunities.
Salford Business School also operates a guest lecture course which allows you the chance to mix with professionals from industry, make connections, set up placements and conduct research.
Further Study
This course provides an ideal basis from which to register for a PhD, MPhil, or to take the Chartered Institute of Marketing qualifications. It also provides a useful basis for any further study in the area of international business or management.
Fees and Funding
Fees 2016-17
| Type of Study | Fee |
|---|---|
| Full-time | £8,500 |
| Part-time | £1,250 per 30 credits |
| Full-time International | £14,300, part-time £2,217 per 30 credits |
| Full-time PgDip | £5,000 |
| Full-time PgCert | £2,500 |
Additional Costs
The cost of this MSc is higher than standard MScs within Salford Business School because it includes a mandatory overseas residential study trip. The costs of accommodation and travel for this study trip are included in the tuition fee you pay.
Students may incur a £50 charge for a visa application for the study trip abroad. Costs are approximated based on the current academic year.
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
Scholarships and Bursaries
We offer awards to help you study through our:
- Vice-Chancellor's Excellence Scholarship
- University of Salford student loyalty discount
- Country bursary scheme for International students only
There are also other sources of funding available to you.
For more information please see our funding section
Facilities
Salford Business School is located at the heart of the University’s Peel campus in the newly refurbished Lady Hale Building, and the Chapman Building, offering state-of-the-art facilities for the Business School’s student learning community and just minutes from Manchester city centre. Chapman is a stylish modern space with six lecture theatres equipped with the very latest technology and large screen displays, a series of communal learning and breakout spaces, plus a Fairtrade café with panoramic views across the campus. Lady Hale is the home to all dedicated business school student support including the school office, an employability hub, a base for the Business School society, and several open study spaces. MediaCityUK is a vibrant place in which to live, work, socialise and study. Home to major BBC and ITV departments, the University of Salford and over 80 businesses across the creative and digital sectors, MediaCityUK is recognised as one of the most innovative developments in Britain.