University of Wolverhampton Business School

MSc International Business Management

MSc Full-time 12 months

The MSc International Business Management (IBM) degree from the University of Wolverhampton is a specialised postgraduate degree in an area of high growth and global demand. This Master of Science programme is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills and theoretical understanding needed to succeed in the global marketplace.

The MSc International Business Management (IBM) degree from the University of Wolverhampton is a specialised postgraduate degree in an area of high growth and global demand. This Master of Science programme is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills and theoretical understanding needed to succeed in the global marketplace.

Award
MSc
Start date(s)
September 2024, September 2025, May 2025, January 2025
UCAS Code
Course specifications
Course length
Full-time (12 months)
Campus location
University: City Campus
UCAS points calculator

Why choose this course?

98% for 'Teaching on my course' (NSS, 2024)

96% for 'Academic Support' (NSS, 2024)

6th in the UK for Business and Management courses (The Guardian University Guide 2025)

 

Studying an MSc in International Business Management helps people who are pursuing a career in the global marketplace. This Master’s degree provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities and opportunities of conducting business across borders, thereby preparing them to succeed in international business operations. Through the programme, students acquire a diverse range of skills, including cross-cultural communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and strategic planning, that are essential to succeed in the dynamic and competitive international business environment. 

 

The MSc IBM has been developed to offer you the opportunity to engage with a number of specific subjects relevant to global, national, and local business. Students who are considering starting their own company, joining a graduate training scheme with a multinational, or developing a broader understanding of international business will not only find the course highly relevant, but equally rewarding towards developing future career prospects in established and emerging global markets.

How is the MSc International Business Management course delivered?

The programme delivery of the MSc IBM benefits from a number of close links with large multinational enterprises and innovative agile firms in providing a rich, exciting and challenging active learning environment. Within the course we interlink 'Forage', a virtual learning experience that stimulates real-life industry to ensure students can implement real-life skills. 

The team of professionals and senior academics on the course provide an extensive level of expertise in their respective disciplines, from research to practitioner background, enriching your learning experience in a dynamic environment.

During your International Business Management studies, you will have the opportunity to engage in a number of activities outside normal teaching, which may include guest lectures, visits to companies, or residentials. These activities are designed to enhance your knowledge, understanding, and enjoyment of your course.

Where is the MSc IBM taught?

This award is taught in our Lord Swraj building. Named after our Chancellor, the building offers six floors of purpose-built student space and is our Business School's multi-million-pound home. The building includes modern, professional environments similar to any modern workplace, with comfortable group work and breakout areas, as well as private study spaces to use between sessions.

What's unique about this course?

  • The MSc IBM has been developed to offer you the opportunity to engage with a number of specific subjects relevant to global, national, and local business.
  • Within the course we interlink 'Forage', a virtual learning experience that stimulates real-life industry to ensure students can implement real-life skills. 
  • During your studies you will have the opportunity to engage in a number of activities outside of normal teaching, which may include guest lectures, visits to companies, or residentials.
  • The University is 6th in the UK for Business and Management courses (The Guardian University Guide 2025)

What happens on the course?

MSc International Business Management - Course overview

The MSc International Business Management course is delivered over one year, offering a comprehensive study of global value chain management; international business context and finance; multinational enterprise management; strategic global marketing; and research skills.

Throughout the course, you’ll develop knowledge in supply chains, intercultural competence, marketing strategies, and research methodologies. The course culminates in independent projects and dissertations to apply learned concepts and showcase proficiency in business and research practices.

During your studies you will have the opportunity to engage in a number of activities outside of normal teaching, which may include guest lectures, visits to companies, or residentials. These activities are designed to enhance your knowledge, understanding, and enjoyment of your course. 

Global Value Chain Management:

This part of the module will provide students with relevant knowledge and understanding in global supply chains, value chains, and logistics management. Students will be given the opportunity to critically examine the supply chains and value chains of real-life industry-related case studies and global organisations. When examining these global organisations, an investigation of ‘best practice’ in sustainable purchasing, supplier relationships, and supply chain management will be considered. The student will be given an opportunity to use these to make sense of performance management strategies when these organisations plan and control their supply chains. The Project Management component of the module equips students with the skills of team working and communication in a project environment. Students will be able to define, plan and control projects through their lifecycle while balancing competing performance objectives and managing competing stakeholder requirements. 

International Business Context and Finance:

This module aims to equip students to understand the complexities of the international business environment and global investment market, including the new development in technology, finance, trade and politics across borders. Using frameworks and methodologies, students will be able to investigate and evaluate the interaction/response between company’s strategic decisions, economic policies and the dynamic international environment.

Multinational Enterprise Management:

This module prepares students to work in an international business context such as in multinational organisations or international/global teams. Intercultural competence and management skills within an international context are considered as key competencies required by employers. A key feature of successful international business is the need for taking into account cultural variation and preference in international business strategy. Many business failures and misunderstandings can be attributed to inadequate consideration of the cultural and international context. Students on the module will benefit from engaging with and analysing relevant cross-cultural/cross-border business management case studies to conceptualise academic knowledge and theory within the workplace. The module examines existing cultural and international business management theories and discusses ways in which these can be applied to international business situations. It will consider the role of managers within multinational organisations, together with the impact that cultural and institutional differences can have on interactions and the development of multinational business strategies.

Strategic global marketing:

Good global marketing has been cited by many organisations and governments as key to a thriving economy and growth for individual companies and products. This module will introduce the key stages an organisation has to go through to develop and implement its approach to global marketing and how these factors can be influenced and supported by all aspects of the customer supply chain i.e. logistics, quality and the global marketing mix. It will consider the contemporary approaches to international marketing and how these can be put into practice. Topics covered will include strategy, research, business-to-business marketing, the use of social networking and e-marketing. Also there will be an element of consumer behaviour at global marketing level which is an essential component to understanding differences and similarities between societies and how these impact on business.

The Master's Professional Project:

This module is an independent study unit. Students will be able to come together to learn from their previous subjects, focusing on their key strengths, in the production of a business artefact such as a business plan, a policy, marketing plan, work-based issue or consultancy project. Alongside the artefact, students will develop a thesis outlining the rationalisation for their chosen artefact encompassing methodological approaches and a written critical reflection, which is designed to explain their rationale for choice of artefact and reflect on the process of its production and dissemination.

The Master's Research Project:

Effective leaders, managers, citizens, and employees need to be capable of basing their decision-making on information and knowledge derived from research. The aim of this module is to contribute to the research knowledge and skills appropriate for a taught Master's programme and relevant for careers in professional or management roles. The participant is required to produce a dissertation, at an advanced level, based on independent research. This should demonstrate an understanding of the philosophy and core principles of research (empirical or non-empirical) and show their competence in the design, execution, and reporting of a research-based dissertation. In this way the participant’s ability is developed to carry out subsequent research, independently and to commission, and to manage and evaluate the research activities of others. Therefore, the knowledge and skills acquired in the module and of producing the project, will contribute to the student's effectiveness throughout their career.

Course Modules

Potential Career Paths

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

This award is designed for those looking to enter or progress in business management roles within an international context. Students will have access to high-quality blended learning support and excellent learning facilities. 

During your studies you will have the opportunity to engage in a number of activities outside normal teaching these may include guest lectures, visits to companies or residentials. These activities are designed to enhance your knowledge, understanding as well as enjoyment of your course.

We currently offer cheaper fees to International Students, please see fees for and finance for more information. 

 

At the end of this course you, the student will be able to:

1. critically analyse the changing dynamics of the international business environment (including economic, political, legal, environmental, technological) and its impact on organisations.

2. critically evaluate the governance and management of organisations in an international context.

3. critically evaluate and apply cross-cultural management models and techniques to a range of international business contexts.

4. critically assess and apply a range of perspectives, methodologies and techniques applicable to researching management and organisational issues within a global context.

5. synthesise relevant critical thinking through academic research, completing an independent research project/dissertation at Master's level

6. demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of finance-related issues for non-financial managers within organisations.

Location Mode Fee Year
Home Full-time £11000 per year 2022-23
Home Full-time £11550 per year 2023-24
Home Full-time £11836 per year 2024-25
International Full-time £14450 per year 2022-23
International Full-time £15450 per year 2023-24
International Full-time £15950 per year 2024-25

These fees relate to new entrants only for the academic year indicated for entry onto the course, any subsequent years study may be subject to an annual increase, usually in line with inflation.

A Undergraduate Honours Degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university or overseas equivalent, or a professional qualification and/or experience considered to be equivalent to the above.

A reference from a tutor who has supervised the applicant’s undergraduate studies

International Applicants

Your qualifications need to be deemed equivalent to the above entry requirements.

Read all about alumni Chinedu Ilo and his experience on the MSc in International Business Management. 

Postgraduate Loan (Home Fee Status):

You may be able to get a postgraduate student loan from Student Finance England of up to £12,167 to help pay for a Master’s degree. Applications are made through Student Finance England and more information on the regulations and eligibility criteria can be found at Masters Loans gov.uk.

* Any RPL will invalidate your eligibility as you must study a minimum of 180 credits


Changes for EU students:

The UK government has confirmed that EU students starting courses from 1 August 2021 will normally be classified as Overseas (International) students for fee purposes. More information about the change is available at UKCISA:

EU citizens living in the UK with 'settled' status, and Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland, will still be classified as Home students, providing they meet the usual residency requirements, for more information about EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) click here.


Postgraduate Loyalty Discount:

You can get 20% discount on a taught on-site postgraduate course if you’re a University of Wolverhampton Graduate.

The University offers a generous 20% Loyalty Discount to students progressing from an undergraduate programme to a taught postgraduate programme, where both courses are University of Wolverhampton Awards.

There is no time limit on how long ago you completed your degree as long as this is your first Masters level qualification.

The discount applies to the first year of enrolment only. Students who receive a loyalty discount are not entitled to any further tuition discount or bursary. For full terms and conditions click here.


Self-funded:

If you are paying for the fees yourself then the fees can be paid in 3 instalments: November, January and April. More information can be found by clicking here.


Sponsored - Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

Your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment, confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.


Financial Hardship:

Students can apply to the Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund for help with course related costs however this cannot be used for fees or to cover general living costs.


Charitable Funding:

You might also want to explore the possibility of funding from charitable trusts; please see the following websites Association of Charitable Foundations, Directory of Social Change or Family Action. Most charities and trust funds offer limited bursaries targeted to specific groups of students so you will need to research whether any of them are relevant to your situation.


You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

Telephone

01902 32 22 22

Email

enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

Online

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