Overview
Who is it for?
Ranked 2nd in Europe and 7th in the world*, the International Business MSc will help you realise your ambition of a successful business career in a global setting, by providing a deeper knowledge and understanding of international business. This course prepares you for functional and operational roles such as international project manager, product manager, account manager, and for accounting, finance, marketing and strategy roles.
You’ll have an upper second degree or equivalent, but you don’t need experience in business, management or finance. You’re ready to connect with and learn from business leaders and managers from global firms based in London.
*QS’ International Trade Rankings
Objectives
Our Master’s in International Business programme explores the world of business with modules, such as cross-cultural management, leadership in different international contexts and ethical considerations in business, that equip you to manage successfully and rise to the challenges of a complex and interconnected world. The curriculum provides you with the tools to remove obstacles and achieve success abroad.
The course delivers top-level academic theory and professionally relevant education. You’ll study the foundations of international business and management, including strategy, marketing, finance and accounting. You have an opportunity to apply your learning through a compulsory, internationally-focused project and a choice of specialist electives, including some based abroad.
Your lecturers have world-class international business expertise and practical research experience. You’ll study in London, where you’ll benefit from our close links to international businesses and access to industry practitioners and guest speakers.
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Structure
- Develop a strong grasp of international business principles and how they are applied across different international business contexts
- Develop a specialised understanding of international business management in a variety of industries and business settings such as multinational companies, SMEs or emerging markets
- Develop a wide range of skills (including cross cultural management) required to function effectively when doing business across borders
- Be able to gauge and judge the potential impact of relevant global influences and drivers and technology changes to international business practices
- Develop your own global network of peers and professionals through the Bayes facilitated special blend of academic and experiential learning
- Seize the opportunity to develop your own specialisation in an international business discipline.
Induction weeks
All of our MSc courses start with two compulsory induction weeks which include relevant refresher courses, an introduction to the careers services and the annual careers fair.
Term 1
Core modules:
Provides four modules on the foundations of international business and management.
International Business and Economics
The aim of this module is to give you a sound foundation to international business and explains why and how firms internationalise as well as ensuring that you understand the global opportunities and threats available to companies and the challenges that international business practitioners are likely to face. The course also provides you with practical understanding of the tools and language used by economists to analyse the functioning of economies and networks of economies as a whole (macroeconomics).
Managing People in a Global Context
This module firstly, provides an understanding of the behaviour of individuals and groups in cross cultural situations. Secondly, provides a critical understanding of the role and practice of human resources management in an international corporate context.
Managerial finance and accounting
The aim of the module is to equip you with a foundational understanding of financial and accounting techniques and practices that are relevant for your international business career. When seeking a career in international business you need to have a thorough understanding of the fundamental principles in accounting and finance. The accounting and finance module is designed to teach key areas of accounting and finance that every modern and successful international manager should be aware of.
Research Methods & Business Analytics
This module provides a set of analytical and methodological tools that will be fundamental and relevant for carrying out research projects in an international business setting based on empirical data. The module will also introduce you to some of the most important statistical tools used in business analytics, focussing on descriptive and predictive analytics. The focus is on application and interpretation of the tools and results.
Term 2
You have the option to begin specialising your content through a combination of core offerings and electives.
Core modules:
Strategy in a Global Context
This module will assist each student in developing a strong foundation in strategy relevant to your future career in international business. The module will make it possible for you to appreciate the complexity of strategic decision making, develop advanced international strategy analysis skills, and equip you with analytical tools, up to date conceptual frameworks, and experiential learning that brings to life insights from leading edge academic research
Global Leadership
The purpose of this module is to facilitate your understanding of leadership in a global context. This will be achieved by introducing you to theoretical approaches to leadership and then move to explore leadership in a global context and in different contexts with the aim of encouraging you to reflect on your own role as an international business leader. A key aspect of the module will be to reflect on different leadership styles and how these may need to vary across different international work settings.
Elective modules
You may choose any two electives from the below.
International Marketing
The aim of the module is to provide you with a sound understanding of the principles and strategies that underpin international marketing. In a nutshell, understanding international marketing comes down to understanding how the scope and challenges that arise from cross country differences impact our understanding of your customers and how they may be effectively served.
Global Supply Chain Management
This module provides an analytical emphasis of core operations management (OM) and supply chain management (SCM) knowledge relevant for the international business manager. In the increasingly globalised industries of today, the challenges of managing processes, operations and supply chain that span across different countries and locations is one of the most important tasks of a modern enterprise. Therefore, having a thorough understanding of these two areas is critical to your success in international business.
Multinational Finance
This module aims to allow you to get a solid grasp of the following topics: international trade and the multinational corporation, the global FX and derivatives markets, FX risk and currency exposure, use of derivatives and cash market hedges to mitigate FX exposure, international loans and bond issues, swap-driven financing, natural and real hedges and other strategies to mitigate long-term operating risks.
Entrepreneurship & managing growth in a global context
The main aim of this module is to provide a distinct understanding of why and how the considerable energy and risk of domestic entrepreneurship is considerably compounded in global entrepreneurship. The course is therefore a careful blend of the basic and essential issues in entrepreneurship with how these relate to international entrepreneurship. Hence, the course provides some of the skills you will need to become an international entrepreneur or to act entrepreneurially within existing international business organisational settings. This is an integrative module addressing both the theoretical and practical issues of entrepreneurship.
Term 3
You have the option to further specialise and apply your content through a combination of core offerings and electives.
Core modules:
International business research project
This module allows you to demonstrate, by conducting an independent internationally focused research project, your ability to integrate and apply concepts and techniques you have learned in international business in an in-depth study of a topic of your choice, and to organise your findings in a report. The project, is aimed at developing international business leadership qualities, skills and competences. You are required to independently plan, execute an internationally focused empirical research project all conducted within a given time limit.
Global Issues in CSR
The module provides an introduction to the interactions between global business and society and explores the changing role and responsibilities of the multinational firm in the 21st century. The goal of the module is to provide you with an overview of the current issues and prospects with regard to the expectations of society towards business, and with contemporary social and environmental issues in global business.
You will also take any two electives from the Bayes-based or internationally delivered electives across all master’s degrees.
Electives offered in 2021
- Corporate Restructuring
- Ethics, Society and the Finance Sector
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Corporate Entrepreneurship
- Driving Supply Chain Innovation through Technology
- Fashion Brand Management
- FinTech - Financial Services in the Digital Age
- Negotiation Skill for Multidiscipline Managers.
International electives
- Corporate Open Innovation (taught in Milan, Italy)
- Creating Value with Suppliers (taught in Bologna, Italy)
- FinTech (taught in Italy)
- International Real Estate Markets (taught in Dubai, UAE)
- Project Finance and Infrastructure Investment (taught in Madrid, Spain)
- Luxury Marketing Strategy (taught in Paris, France).
Please note that electives are subject to change and availability.
Assessment methods
We review all our courses regularly to keep them up-to-date on issues of both theory and practice.
To satisfy the requirements of the degree course students must complete:
- Nine core courses (10-15 credits each)
- International Business Research project
- Two electives (10 credits each)
Assessment of modules on the MSc in International Business, in most cases, is by means of coursework and unseen examination. Coursework may consist of standard essays, individual and group presentations, group reports, classwork, unseen tests and problem sets. Please note that any group work may include an element of peer assessment.
Term dates
Term dates 2023/24
- Induction: 11th September 2023 - 22nd September 2023
- Term one: 25th September 2023 - 8th December 2023
- Term one exams: 8th January 2024 - 19th January 2024
- Term two: 22nd January 2024 - 5th April 2024
- Term two exams: 22nd April 2024 - 3rd May 2024
- Term three - international electives: 6th May 2024 - 17th May 2024
- Term three: 20th May 2024 - 5th July 2024
- Term three exams: 8th July 2024 - 19th July 2024
- Resits: 12th August 2024 - 23rd August 2024
- Additional resit week - tests only: 26th August 2024 - 30th August 2024.
Timetables
Course timetables are normally available from July and can be accessed from our timetabling pages. These pages also provide timetables for the current academic year, though this information should be viewed as indicative and details may vary from year to year.
View academic timetables (add timetable and search for your programme)
Please note that all academic timetables are subject to change.
Teaching staff
Course Director

Academic expert working at Bayes Business School
The teaching staff on the MSc International Business programme are globally recognised experts in their fields. Many of the module leaders also have extensive practical international industry experience. The lectures in the modules are highly interactive and make use of a wide variety of approaches, including guest speakers from the major London International companies and consultancies.
Module Leaders include:

Application
How to apply
Apply for MSc International Business
Documents required for decision-making
- Transcript/interim transcript
- Grading system used by your university
- Current module list if still studying
- CV
- Personal statement - this should be 500-600 words in length and answer the following:
- Why have you selected this course? What are your motivating factors?
- What are your areas of interest within the course?
- What contributions do you feel you can make to the course?
- How do you see the course affecting your career plans?
Documents which may follow at a later date
- English language test result if applicable
- GMAT result if applicable
- Confirmation of professional qualification examinations/exemptions/passes, if applicable
- Two references
- For a successful application to receive an unconditional status, all award documents must be verified, and should be provided to the relevant Admissions Officer via one of the methods stated in your offer.
We cannot comment on individual eligibility before you apply and we can only process your application once it is fully complete, with all requested information received.
Individual Appointments
If you would like to arrange an individual appointment to discuss the application process and be given a tour of the facilities, please complete this form.
Please note - these are subject to availability.
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Terms and conditions
Students applying to study at Bayes Business School are subject to City, University of London's terms and conditions.
Entry requirements
- A UK upper second class degree or above, or the equivalent from an overseas institution.
- Previous study of business, management or finance is not required.
GMAT
- GMAT is not required for application, but may be requested as a condition of offer at the discretion of the Admissions Panel.
Please note that this programme is designed for recent graduates with limited work experience. If you have in excess of three years of full-time experience, you should consider the MBA programme.
English language requirements
If you have been studying in the UK for the last three years it is unlikely that you will have to take an English language test.
If you have studied in the UK at degree level for less than three years (e.g. 3+1, 2+1, 2+2, etc.) you will be required to provide the results of an approved English language test and possibly resit the test to meet our academic entry requirements.
Full list of approved English language tests/qualifications and minimum requirements.
Fees
Fees in each subsequent year of study (where applicable) will be subject to an annual increase of 2%. We will confirm any change to the annual tuition fee to you in writing prior to you commencing each subsequent year of study (where applicable).
Deposit: £2,000 (usually paid within 1 month of receiving offer and non-refundable unless conditions of offer are not met)
First installment: Half fees less deposit (payable during on-line registration which should be completed at least 5 days before the start of the Induction period)
Second installment: Half fees (paid in January following start of course)
Career pathways
As a graduate of the MSc in International Business programme, you’ll be following recent graduates who now work in private enterprise and professional services firms in roles such as business analyst and commercial executive, and in areas including market analysis, business strategy, sales and client solutions.
Our London location offers excellent career opportunities, and our careers team will support you to identify your goals and make invaluable connections at careers fairs and networking events.
Class profile
Recent graduates of the MSc in the International Business programme have secured positions in companies including:
- Associate Product Manager - Strategy & Consulting - Accenture
- Project Manager - Biddable Team - M. i. Media
- Intern - Audit - PwC
- Digital Account Executive - M&A and Transaction Solutions - Aon
- Graduate Broker - Logistics - Tokopedia
Previous graduates have gone on to work in consulting, management and financial services, across the UK, EU and Asia.
(Data provided from alumni who completed the annual destination data survey for 2020/21 and 2019/20).