MSc International Business with Placement Year
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
GBP 14,850 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* international students full time / UK students full time £9450 / EU students full time £14850
Scholarships
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Introduction
"Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, examinations may be replaced by an alternative form of assessment during the academic year 2021/2022. Please refer to the Programme Specification on these pages for further details."
Why choose Herts?
- Work-Related Learning: You have a placement option to gain work experience during the programme. Previous students have worked for organisations such as Bosch, Eisai Pharmaceuticals, and Canada Life.
- Industry connections: Hertfordshire Business School is very well connected and hosts regular business networking events with large organisations such as BT, Tesco, and Ocado.
- Employment prospects: Our graduates work as Business Developers, Senior Managers, and Commercial Operation Managers in organisations including Royal Mail, Network Rail, and BT.
About the course
M.Sc. International Business is an innovative flagship programme with flexible entry points and pathways. The programme is designed to help you build a strong understanding of the way organisations operate globally, and help develop specialist skills that enable you to work effectively across national borders.
The programme offers 3 award routes that you can choose to study:
- One-year full-time M.Sc. International Business (September & January entry)
- Two-year M.Sc. International Business (Sandwich) (September entry only)
- Two-year M.Sc. International Business with Advanced Research (September entry only)
The two-year M.Sc. International Business (Sandwich) programme offers you the opportunity to work on a placement as part of your degree as well as your academic studies.
The ‘sandwich’ degree is also known as a ‘placement’ degree and refers to a placement /internship ‘sandwiched’ between your first year’s study and your second year’s research project.
As a student on the 2-year sandwich programme, you will have the opportunity to work on a full-time placement (normally 40 weeks) and gain experience in your chosen career sector.
This follows your first year’s study when you will have the opportunity to explore international business in a number of areas, including economics, finance, strategy, marketing, management, human resource, and supply chain management. There will also be the opportunity to conduct an independent major research project in your area of interest.
Throughout the programme, you will gain a unique combination of skills sought after by employers all over the world. These include communication, numeracy, team-working, cross-cultural awareness, reflective learning and the ability to critically analyse complex business challenges to reach considered creative solutions.
You will also build a strong network with your peers and colleagues at the workplace – some will become your close friends, and a few may even become your future business partners.
In short, the placement is an excellent way to apply the knowledge and skills you learn in your programme as well as increase your employment prospects following graduation.
There are no required fees for the sandwich route. Instead, you are expected to be paid by your placement/internship employer.
Why choose this course?
Research shows that over 70% of employers prefer students with work experience. The two-year ‘sandwich’ programme is an excellent choice for you to enhance your qualification and experience by spending two semesters on an internship. It also offers you the opportunity to:
- Strive for sound academic performance, while proactively exploring career possibilities and making valuable contacts alongside your studies
- Apply your knowledge and skills to manage complex business challenges at your workplace and in a real business world setting
- Gain valuable experience and place yourself in a favourable position to pursue your chosen career path upon graduation
- Obtain a two-year study visa and enjoy a wider experience of study and work in the UK (for international students)
Student experience
At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible. We offer a range of support services including; student wellbeing, academic support, accommodation, and childcare to ensure that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying and having fun.
Additional information
- Sandwich placement or study abroad year: Mandatory
- Applications open to international and EU students: Yes
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Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Curriculum
What will I study?
In the first two semesters, you will study 8 subjects led by experts in the field which include economics, finance, strategy, marketing, human resource and supply chain management. You will be taught through a varied programme of teaching and learning that includes small group discussions, practical workshops, web-based learning, case study analysis and lectures. Sessions will be delivered by subject specialists as well as practitioners and consultants to provide a diverse perspective on the topics covered.
You will be assessed individually or in teams through a variety of assessment methods including written reports of various lengths, presentations, in-class tests and practical assignments. You will also be required to complete a longer research project for the research component of your programme.
In addition to this, you will also be enrolled on the module ‘Preparation for the Workplace’ and be expected to attend the workshops and pass the associated assignments which are designed to prepare you for securing your placement.
Once you have secured a work placement/ internship you will normally work for 40 weeks from the beginning of the third semester through to the end of the second semester of the next academic year.
While you are on placement, you will be visited by a member of the employability team and you will also be required to complete the placement related assessment as specified in the ‘Professional Work Placement’ module. This will enable you to graduate with the award title M.Sc. International Business (Sandwich).
You will be expected to return to your academic studies in the last semester of your second year (Semester C) in order to complete your independent major research project, the research component of your programme, supported by a supervisor.
Level 7
- The Global Economy II 15 Credits II Compulsory
- International Business Strategy II 15 Credits II Compulsory
- International Supply Chain Management II 15 Credits II Compulsory
- Finance for International Business II 15 Credits II Compulsory
- Marketing Across Cultures II 15 Credits II Compulsory
- International and Comparative HRM II 15 Credits II Compulsory
- Preparation for the Workplace II 0 Credits II Compulsory
- Work Placement Portfolio II 0 Credits II Compulsory
- Professional Work Placement II 0 Credits II Compulsory
- M.Sc. IB Major Research Project II 60 Credits II Compulsory
- Business Research Methods II 15 Credits II Compulsory
- Global e-Business II 15 Credits II Optional
- Leadership and Management in International Business II 15 Credits II Optional
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Every aspect of this Master’s is designed to give you an international experience. You’ll benefit from our academic team’s international expertise and connections, as well as the School’s excellent global business links. You’ll also study alongside postgraduate students from all over the world, gaining direct experience of other cultures and creating a worldwide network of friends and contacts.
The University of Hertfordshire also regularly hosts visiting professors from international universities and speakers from leading companies, who each bring their own perspectives on the challenges facing the business world today.
What job can I get?
Our M.Sc. International Business graduates find jobs all over the globe. They gain employment in multinational corporations, SMEs, non-profitable organisations, family businesses and as entrepreneurs. They work in a variety of sectors such as marketing, HR, operations and supply chain, finance, and in diverse industries, including fashion, education, hospitality, pharmaceutical and engineering.
Most importantly, through this programme, you will have developed your skills, understanding and confidence. You will graduate as a more mature professional, better able to see opportunities, more sensitive to cultural differences, more resilient to cope with stress and change, and capable of operating in a fast-moving global environment.
Work placement
The two-year M.Sc. International Business (Sandwich) offers you the opportunity to work on a placement/internship relevant to your programme of study as part of the ‘sandwich’ degree.
Please note you must pass all of your first semester modules at the first attempt in order to be eligible for the placement. If you fail to meet the academic requirement, you may still continue onto your second-year studies by transferring onto our two-year M.Sc. International Business with Advanced Research.
Securing a placement
You are responsible for finding your placement/internship, and support is provided to you by the School and the University to help. The ‘Preparation for the Workplace’ module is designed to prepare you for securing your placement. Our dedicated Placements Team and the University’s Careers and Employment Service are available to support you in your search, and the University has links with several organisations from various sectors that are able to offer suitable opportunities. You may also source a placement through your personal contacts or from the networking sites such as LinkedIn, in which case you must make sure that the University approves it.
You will normally need to secure a placement by the end of the second semester of the first academic year in order to meet the timelines associated with the placement process.
Financing your placement
There are no fees to pay during your placement year, so the cost of your placement depends on the location and type of placement role. Therefore, please give careful thought to your travel and living costs and how you will support yourself financially during this time. The average salary for a paid placement is £21,000, but your salary can range between the National Minimum Wage or may be substantially higher depending on the role and sector. There is funding available if you are a home student for your placement year through Student Finance England dependant on the type of placement you choose.
During your placement
With your placement, you are required to do a minimum number of hours, which is recorded and assessed as part of your overall progress via the ‘Professional Work Placement’ module. The University also have a member of the employability team who will come to visit you on placement and ensure you are safe and secure in your role.
After your placement
When your placement is complete you will return to your course to complete your final research project or dissertation. This is undertaken with the guidance of a dedicated supervisor to support you and involves research and writing during Semester C in the second year.