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International Business

MSc

Application options include:

Full-time Part-time
On campus

Course Overview

Our MSc International Business provides you with core training and expertise in key issues in international business and management, analytics and research methods, while also enabling you to focus on specific areas of study such as strategy, human resource management, business ethics, globalisation and sustainable development. 

Why choose this course? 

  • The MSc International Business seeks to meet the buoyant labour market demand for more postgraduates in the field of international business and management, by providing you with a critical research-based knowledge and expertise in a broad range of key issues. 
  • It combines specialist modules in international business with general training in business analytics and research methods, taught by a team with an international reputation in their respective areas.
  • It is particularly relevant if you are, or would like to be, a manager with responsibility for international business and policy affairs in a private or public sector organisation. It also provides you with a foundation for pursuing doctoral research.

What you will learn 

On this course you will develop knowledge, skills and competencies to be able to analyse problems in international business, both in conceptual and practical terms. You will also gain an understanding of international business and the multidisciplinary context in which this knowledge exists.

You will carry out research in the field of international business and management, including critical appraisal, theory development and the application of theories, concepts and principles using qualitative and quantitative research methods. Your dissertation on an international business topic will give you the opportunity to tailor your studies to your personal interests and career requirements. 

How you will learn 

This course is available to study full- or part-time. It offers both an evening and daytime timetable, so you can balance other commitments, including those related to work and family, around your studies.

You will be taught using a variety of means including pre-recorded lectures, seminars, online discussions, Moodle discussion forums, self-directed study, reading, activities in the computer laboratories and one-to-one discussions with tutors, in particular during dissertation supervision meetings.

Discover the career opportunities available by taking International Business (MSc).

Key information and modules

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Highlights

  • Birkbeck has a successful track record of delivering postgraduate programmes in international business, which is enhanced by learning in London, a centre of international business.
  • Our strengths in this field are drawn from our research, training and policy advice, which support this course.
  • We engage in significant collaborative research and have excellent contacts with many public and private sector organisations, professional bodies and researchers at other academic institutions.
  • Academic tutorial support and guidance systems are in place to ensure your academic and personal development. We also have a dedicated learning coordinator, who will support you in your studies.
  • Study is organised flexibly and inclusively, accommodating the busy and varied lives of students. You will have access to Moodle, our online learning resource where all information and materials relating to your course of study and modules are available, as well as the Birkbeck Library and e-Library.
Come and meet us Request a prospectus Contact us

Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.

Most of our courses are taught in the evenings, however some of our courses offer a daytime timetable. Where there is an option to attend daytime teaching sessions, this is stated in the Key Information section under Attendance.

  • Entry Requirements Entry Requirements

    Entry Requirements

    Our standard postgraduate entry requirement is a second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university, or an equivalent international qualification.

    Please find details of entry requirements and equivalencies for over 120 countries worldwide.

    Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

    On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

    Apply now to secure your place and allow enough time for the application and enrolment process. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

    English language requirements

    If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

    If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

    Visa and funding requirements

    If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

    The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

    • Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
    • Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

    International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol as a student on Birkbeck's part-time courses (with the exception of some modules).

    For full information, read our visa information for international students page.

    Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country.

    Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

    Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

    If you have studied at university, you may have accumulated credits through the modules you studied. It may be possible to transfer these credits from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

  • Fees Fees

    Fees

    International Business: January start MSc: 1 year full-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2024-25 or 2025-26

    Academic year 2024–25, starting January 2025

    Full-time home students: £14,850 per year
    Full-time international students: £23,220 per year

    Academic year 2025–26, starting January 2026

    Full-time home students: £12,450 per year
    Full-time international students: £20,340 per year

    International Business MSc: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2025-26

    Academic year 2025–26, starting October 2025

    Part-time home students: £6,225 per year
    Full-time home students: £12,450 per year
    Part-time international students: £10,170 per year
    Full-time international students: £20,340 per year

    Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see the College Fees Policy.

    If you’ve studied at Birkbeck before and successfully completed an award with us, take advantage of our Lifelong Learning Guarantee to gain a discount on the tuition fee of this course.

    Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at Birkbeck.

    International scholarships

    We provide a range of scholarships for eligible international students, including our Global Future Scholarship. Discover if you are eligible for a scholarship.

  • Teaching and Assessment Teaching and Assessment

    Teaching

    At Birkbeck, most of our courses are taught in the evening and all of our teaching is designed to support students who are juggling evening study with work and other commitments. We actively encourage innovative and engaging ways of teaching, to ensure our students have the best learning experience.

    Teaching may include formal lectures, seminars, and practical classes and tutorials. Formal lectures are used in most degree programmes to give an overview of a particular field of study. They aim to provide the stimulus and the starting point for deeper exploration of the subject during your own personal reading. Seminars give you the chance to explore a specific aspect of your subject in depth and to discuss and exchange ideas with fellow students. They typically require preparatory study.

    In addition, you will have access to pastoral support via a named Personal Tutor.

    Methods of teaching on this course

    Each module is taught via lectures and seminars lasting one term. Research supervision is provided for the dissertation.

    Key teaching staff on this course

    Teaching hours

    Our evening hours are normally between 6pm and 9pm (6-7.30pm and 7.30-9pm). Some programmes also offer teaching during the day and this will be clearly signposted to you where it is available.

    On our taught courses, you will have scheduled teaching and study sessions each year. Scheduled teaching sessions may include lectures, seminars, workshops or laboratory work. Depending on the modules you take, you may also have additional scheduled academic activities, such as tutorials, dissertation supervision, practical classes, visits and field trips. On our taught courses, the actual amount of time you spend in the classroom and in contact with your lecturers will depend on your course, the option modules you select and when you undertake your final-year project (if applicable).

    Alongside your contact hours, you will also undertake assessment activities and independent learning outside of class. The amount of time you need to allocate to study both for taught sessions (this might include online sessions and/or in-person sessions) and personal study will depend on how much you are studying during the year and whether you are studying full time or part time.

    Birkbeck’s courses are made up of modules and allocated ‘credit’. One credit is equivalent to ten hours of learning time. Modules are usually in 15, 30 or 60 credit units. A 15-credit module will mean around 150 hours of learning, including taught sessions and independent study or group work. This is spread out over the whole period of that module and includes the time you spend on any assessments, including in examinations, preparing and writing assessments or engaged in practical work as well as any study support sessions to help you in your learning.

    On our distance-learning and blended-learning courses, discussion, collaboration and interaction with your lecturers and fellow students is encouraged and enabled through various learning technologies.

    Timetables

    Timetables are usually available from September onwards and you can access your personalised timetable via your My Birkbeck Profile online (if you have been invited to enrol).

    Indicative class size

    Class sizes vary, depending on your course, the module you are undertaking, and the method of teaching. For example, lectures are presented to larger groups, whereas seminars usually consist of small, interactive groups led by a tutor.

    Independent learning

    On our taught courses, much of your time outside of class will be spent on self-directed, independent learning, including preparing for classes and following up afterwards. This will usually include, but is not limited to, reading books and journal articles, undertaking research, working on coursework and assignments, and preparing for presentations and assessments.

    Independent learning is absolutely vital to your success as a student. Everyone is different, and the study time required varies topic by topic, but, as a guide, expect to schedule up to five hours of self-study for each hour of teaching.

    Study skills and additional support

    Birkbeck offers study and learning support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed. Our Learning Development Service can help you in the following areas:

    • academic skills (including planning your workload, research, writing, exam preparation and writing a dissertation)
    • written English (including structure, punctuation and grammar)
    • numerical skills (basic mathematics and statistics).

    Our Disability and Dyslexia Service can support you if you have additional learning needs resulting from a disability or from dyslexia.

    Our Counselling Service can support you if you are struggling with emotional or psychological difficulties during your studies.

    Our Mental Health Advisory Service can support you if you are experiencing short- or long-term mental health difficulties during your studies.

    Assessment

    Assessment is an integral part of your university studies and usually consists of a combination of coursework and examinations, although this will vary from course to course - on some of our courses, assessment is entirely by coursework. The methods of assessment on this course are specified below under 'Methods of assessment on this course'. You will need to allow time to complete coursework and prepare for exams.

    Where a course has unseen written examinations, these may be held termly, but, on the majority of our courses, exams are usually taken in the Summer term, during May to June. Exams may be held at other times of the year as well. In most cases, exams are held during the day on a weekday - if you have daytime commitments, you will need to make arrangements for daytime attendance - but some exams are held in the evening. Exam timetables are published online.

    Find out more about assessment at Birkbeck, including guidance on assessment, feedback and our assessment offences policy.

    Methods of assessment on this course

    We use a variety of assessment methods to enhance student learning, including essays, quizzes and multiple-choice questionnaires, practical assessments (of your work in a lab), case studies and problems to solve.

    You will also be assessed via  examinations, coursework and a 12,000-word dissertation.

  • Careers and employability Careers and employability

    Careers and employability

    Graduates of the MSc International Business stand out to employers because they hold a broad range of subject-specific, intellectual, practical, personal and social skills and competencies to analyse issues critically and to design and implement strategy and policy. 

    The need to gain expertise in the field of international business continues to grow as professionals in the industry are faced with the challenges and complexities of international business in their organisations. This is an expanding academic field, and the job prospects of its graduates are significant and varied. 

    Graduates can pursue career paths in business or management in a domestic or international context or in any more specific area (accounting, finance, marketing or human resources management) in the public or private sector where an understanding of international business and management is essential. Possible professions include: 

    • management consultant
    • international business analyst
    • corporate governance manager
    • accounting or finance executive
    • corporate investment banker
    • human resource officer
    • marketing executive
    • logistics and distribution officer
    • systems analyst.

    The course also provides a foundation for those wishing to undertake doctoral research in international business. 

    We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

  • How to apply How to apply

    How to apply

    You apply directly to Birkbeck for this course, using the online application link.

    You will need to prove your identity when you apply - read more about suitable forms of identification.

    When to apply

    You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure there are still places on your chosen course and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol.

    You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - Birkbeck can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.

    You will also receive information about subject-specific induction sessions over the summer.

    Help and advice with your application

    Get all the information you need about the application, admission and enrolment process at Birkbeck.

    Our online personal statement tool will guide you through every step of writing the personal statement part of your application.

    Apply for your course

    Apply for your course using the apply now button in the key information section.

Visit the Birkbeck Business School

Course structure

Course structure listing

Course structure and modules for International Business: January start MSc: 1 year full-time, on campus, starting January 2025

You must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:

  • eight compulsory modules (15 credits each)
  • a 12,000-word dissertation (60 credits).

Please note: the modules on this January-start course differ slightly from those offered on the October-start course.

Compulsory modules
MSc International Business dissertation

Course structure and modules for International Business: January start MSc: 1 year full-time, on campus, starting January 2026

You must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:

  • eight compulsory modules (15 credits each)
  • a 12,000-word dissertation (60 credits).

Please note: the modules on this January-start course differ slightly from those offered on the October-start course.

Compulsory modules
MSc International Business dissertation