Management and International Business (Online) - MSc
Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.
Do you want to study a Masters degree online? The MSc Management and International Business course is an ideal course if you are looking to enhance your employability and take the next step with your career. The course is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). It is research and practiced based with an active international, business ethics and sustainability focus....
- Level Postgraduate Taught
- Study mode Distance Learning
- Award MSc
- Start date October 2025
- Fees View course fees
- Subject
- Location Online Learning
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
[00:00:02] Looking into online postgraduate study? At Birmingham City Business School, we offer a range of postgraduate online courses to suit your needs, empowering you to widen your horizons, enhance your career and open up new opportunities.
[00:00:20] Just like our campus based students, you will be supported by our fantastic industry-experienced staff, including a personal tutor who will provide pastoral and academic support throughout your studies.
[00:00:33] Our content reflects the needs of industry. The focus is on putting your skills into practise through real life scenarios, enhancing your professional credibility and allowing you to take your career to the next level.
[00:00:48] You will collaborate with fellow students in other countries and gain knowledge and experience from different sectors and cultures. Our online courses allow you to earn a degree from a UK university and give you the option to study with us at a time and place that suits you, from almost anywhere in the world.
[00:01:07] To ensure you feel comfortable with the e-learning process, all our online students will participate in an introduction module that will help you familiarise yourself with our virtual learning environments and the whole e-learning experience.
[00:01:25] Find out more about the online business courses available to you on our website. We're looking forward to welcoming you soon.
Do you want to study a Masters degree online? The MSc Management and International Business course is an ideal course if you are looking to enhance your employability and take the next step with your career. The course is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). It is research and practiced based with an active international, business ethics and sustainability focus. The Course teaches you the fundamental skills and attributes you need to become a successful international manager. You’ll become adept at strategic and tactical business decisions, understanding international cultural differences, and managing and motivating staff in businesses on an international scale through virtual leadership.
You will experience working on projects of an international nature, collaborating online to deliver effective and professional reports and presentations as part of module assessments reflecting the professional practice of international management. Throughout the course, the course team will give you the support you need to realise your potential and we look forward to working with you online to develop your knowledge, understanding and skills for the career of your choice.
The benefits of studying this online course include:
- 100% online bringing learning to you, where ever you are.
- Complete it within 1 year (full time) or 2 years (part time).
- Develop a professional network with your peers while you learn.
- Delivers flexible study, ideal for those in work.
- Builds your confidence to take-on senior leadership roles in business.
What's covered in this course?
Initially in the first stage, you will examine the key challenges faced by global businesses to fully appreciate the complexity and dynamics of leadership and management practice. This will see you broaden your skills in organisation, communication and working with others, particularly within an increasingly diverse cultural context.
During the second stage of your course, you will begin to explore the complexity of international operations management integrated with corporate social responsibility, sustainability and the role of innovation. You’ll be taught international strategy while also developing your research skills in preparation for your major project.
The final core Major Project module is tailored to your career aspirations. The module provides three project options;
- A work-based study route enabling you to relate the project to a current employer;
- A ‘consultancy project’ option where you find a client who has an international business problem that you feel you can solve;
- A traditional dissertation involving an in-depth exploration of both the theory and practice of international business using primary research.
Whatever route you choose, it will give you the opportunity to identify a topic and industry of your choice related to your specialist area of International Business tailoring your degree to enhance your employability for your final chosen career destination. Previous projects have involved International marketing strategy, global supply chain management in the food sector and sustainability issues in the sourcing of cotton.
As an online degree, each module on the course will consist of a series of ‘sessions’. All sessions will be made available from the start of the module - however the activities are kept to a timetable set and managed by the module leader. Each session will be comprised of four components:
- Align and Focus: An introductory section giving an overview of the content and activities, as well as explaining the session objectives and how they connect with the module's Learning Outcomes.
- Explore and Discover: Where the bulk of the content, including lectures and learning materials, is provided.
- Review and Reflect: Where mostly formative activities linked to summative assessments are provided, allowing students to engage in individual activity based on their understanding of the materials they have studied in the Explore and Discover section.
- Collaborate and Share: Where students engage in group activities, including both group projects and presentations, to display the knowledge they have acquired during the module.
Why Choose Us?
- Our flexible online delivery means that you can study with us full-time or part-time, and at a time that suits you, from almost anywhere in the world. See ‘course in depth’ to find out more.
- You will develop fundamental skills in business management while having the opportunity to gain enhanced and specialist expertise to help you enter the complex and challenging field of international business operations.
- On graduating you will receive an industry recognised professional qualification from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).
- You will work alongside a diverse range of international students giving a real experience of what it is like to work and collaborate with your peers from a range of diverse cultures from Europe, Nigeria, India, China, Vietnam and North America.
- You will be supported with Business English language diagnostics and tutor support to help improve you in the international language of business.
- You’ll be taught by highly qualified module tutors with significant professional practice experience of a range of management and international business roles.
- Opportunity to undertake a research project management module, where you can use a real-world life challenge as your topic.
- Our online discussion groups and forums help to give you the learning community you need to thrive.
OPEN DAY
Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.
Next Event: 24 November 2024
Entry Requirements
Essential requirements
We require one of the following:
Essential Requirements
| Essential |
|---|
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An honours degree of a British University or equivalent institution (minimum 2:2) |
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An equivalent graduate level qualification from an overseas university or equivalent institution (minimum 2:2) |
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A pre-masters programme approved by Birmingham City University |
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A pre-masters programme with a minimum of 55% average |
*Other qualifications will be considered on a case by case basis.
Additional information for EU/International students
| Essential | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Applications from international applicants with equivalent qualifications are welcome. Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept. In additional to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require the qualifications detailed in this table. |
||
| English language requirements 2020/21 | ||
| IELTS |
6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum in all bands If you do not meet the required IELTS score, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English courses. Please note that you must have a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to study on the pre-sessional English course. More information. |
|
| Other accepted qualifications | Visit our English language page | |
If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MSc
Starting: Oct 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Distance Learning
- 1 Year (Full Time)
- £10,820
- Distance Learning
- 2 Years (Part Time)
- Show fees
- £1203 per 20 credits
- Year 1 - 80 credits
- Year 2 - 100 credits
Fees for Distance Learning students
This course can be studied on a Distance Learning study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MSc
Starting: Oct 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Distance Learning
- 1 Year (Full Time)
- £10,820
- Distance Learning
- 2 Years (Part Time)
- Show fees
- £1203 per 20 credits
- Year 1 - 80 credits
- Year 2 - 100 credits
Fees for Distance Learning students
This course can be studied on a Distance Learning study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.
Personal statement
You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application for this course. This will need to highlight your passion for postgraduate study – and your chosen course – as well as your personal skills and experience, academic success, and any other factors that will support your application for further study.
If you are applying for a stand alone module, please include the title of the module you want to study in your Personal Statement.
Not sure what to include? We’re here to help – take a look at our top tips for writing personal statements and download our free postgraduate personal statement guide for further advice and examples from real students.
Course in Depth
Modules
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 180 credits):
This module aims to develop your understanding of the main financial objective of the firm i.e. wealth maximisation and how it is achieved through alignment of financial decisions under constraints from within and outside the organisation. The module covers topics such as financial statements analysis, budgeting, cost-benefit analysis, time value money, investment appraisal, working capital management, sources of capital and choice of capital structure.
The aim of this module is to provide you with the key knowledge and understanding of the integrated nature of business functions focusing specifically on marketing and operations. It will give you both a foundation in what business is and how it operates using these two key functional perspectives whilst also highlighting leadership and financial implications of managerial decision making in these areas to provide an integrated and holistic view of business in a variety of contexts.
This module will provide you with an opportunity to engage and consider contemporary issues in leadership from both UK and international perspectives and how leaders address these within organisations. The module will enable you to develop a critical insight and outlook in order to explore relevant solutions for organisational effectiveness and success.
International Strategic Management is a core module for all MSc business pathways. Strategy is a field that breaks you out of a functional perspective and integrates the functional Stage 1 themes of finance, marketing, leadership and operations to offer a holistic view of an organisation, be that a small or medium sized business or a large corporation in an international context. The focus of this course is on the business unit level or competitive strategy, not corporate level strategy.
The purpose of the Research Project module is to provide a framework for you to undertake a substantial piece of disciplinary-relevant research. It is founded upon Birmingham City Business School’s teaching and learning philosophy which integrates theory and practice.
The aim of this module is to explore the diverse range of activities that comprise the area of International Operations Management, innovation, new product or service development and the need for leadership when introducing change initiatives. Specifically, the module is designed to enable students to appreciate the truly international nature of the modern firm and how many processes are now undertaken across national borders.
This module examines the task of management in today's international and global business environment in general. Specifically, it develops your skills to be able to critically examine the key tasks of management and the theories that underpin them, to advance your understanding and skills in international business area.
Download course specification
Download nowDelivery
This course is delivered fully online, enabling you to study at a time that suits you. Each 20-credit module is studied over ten weeks. You don’t have to attend any face-to-face sessions, and delivery of course materials is done through our e-learning platform, Moodle.
You can choose to study with us full-time over one year or part-time over two years. As a guide, you should be allowing around 16 hours a week for part-time study, on average, as a combination of directed study (engaging with the online materials) and personal study.
Please see our Online Learning FAQs for more information on what to expect when studying with us.
Assessment
You will be assessed throughout your course, with assignments set at the end of each module. Assessment will be primarily by coursework, e.g. essays, research papers, reports, presentations, reflective journals, portfolios or posters. However, some modules may also have online exams.
What our students say
"The University has been really helpful in enabling me to adapt to online learning and having a personal tutor allocated for the duration of the course is reassuring. The platform on which the modules are delivered, Moodle, works really well. I’ve studied other online courses in the past and typically the content delivery platforms have been a notable let-down. The way in which the modules are delivered are great as they allow flexibility to study around work and family commitments."
William Read, MSc Management and International Business student
Employability
International
Welcome to Birmingham City University, home to students from over 70 countries all around the world!
Our Business programmes are practice based and many have an international focus, which means your course will be entirely relevant to today’s business world. Almost all of our courses, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level, are open to international students.
We also have links with universities across the world, including Europe, the USA, China, India and Malaysia.
International ServicesOur international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Details of the entry requirements for our courses
- Some of the good reasons why you should study here
- How to improve your language skills before starting your studies
- Information relevant to applicants from your country
- Where to find financial support for your studies.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Facilities & Staff
Our MSc Management and International Business course is delivered through the Moodle online learning resource, with online study materials to guide you through the appropriate topics, as well as providing links to other resources. You will also need textbooks, and a full reading list is provided with each module syllabus.
Although it is taught by distance learning, you will still have regular contact with your module tutor by email or telephone. You also have access to all the facilities at our City Centre Campus.
Our Facilities
We are constantly investing in our estate and have spent £400 million on new learning facilities.
The Curzon Building
This course is based at our City Centre Campus – and specifically The Curzon Building, alongside other Social Sciences, Law and Business students.
The £63m building offers students a unique social learning space, including a dedicated student hub incorporating student support services, in the heart of Birmingham’s Eastside development.
The Business floors house an extensive number of IT facilities, breakout areas, and specialised rooms. The Marketing Link Agency is designed to replicate a modern marketing firm, allowing students to get real-life experience of working in the marketing sector. There is also the City Trading Room, which features state of the art stock market tracking equipment, keeping you up to date with all the financial comings and goings of the London Stock Exchange and Wall Street.
The Curzon building is also conveniently close to Birmingham’s business and financial centre, allowing for strong links between your studies and the real world.
The Curzon Building also features:
- An impressive library with access to over 65 million full text items and stunning views of Eastside City Park
- Your Students’ Union which is located in a beautifully restored 19th century pub, The Eagle and Ball
- A modern 300-seat food court with space to study and socialise
- Accessible IT facilities with full Office365 for all students for free
- Shared facilities with the wider campus including the Parkside Building and Millennium Point