MSc International Business

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How You Study

Students on this program are expected to read extensively and stay aware of current theoretical debates within the literature, including relevant journals.

Lectures are used primarily in discipline-bound areas. Lecture materials may be enhanced by audiovisual material in the early stages of the course to provide additional aid to overseas students facing an unfamiliar learning environment. Classes are supplemented with discussion and debate on the rapid and often spontaneous changes in international business. Seminars are also a feature of the course.

MSc International Business students are expected to study six core modules which are designed to develop an understanding of international business, communication skills, and other essential graduate attributes. Students can then select two optional modules based on their academic own individual interests and career aspirations.

The degree concludes with a dissertation that is designed to encourage innovation and diverse pathways to the final assessed product. In this respect, the dissertation is an extended project that can accommodate a range of independent work.

Comparative Human Resource Management (Core)

This module is designed to introduce students to the principal issues underlying international and comparative human resource management (IHRM) in a global context. Such issues have risen in prominence due to increasing trade liberalization, globalization, the spread of multinational corporations (MNCs), outsourcing to Asia, developmental focus on Africa, and economic integration within the European Union.

As firms increasingly internationalise, suitable strategies for managing human resources have become critical to competition between MNCs. Students can develop an insight into managing human resources in different national contexts and examine those global and national factors that impact approaches taken to international human resource management. More specifically, the module aims to discuss and analyze those factors which result in variations in HRM practices and policies across national business systems.

Dissertation (Core)

The dissertation provides an opportunity for students with a range of experience and interests to apply and develop their existing skills and knowledge to an independent study project, which affords an opportunity for both the expression of original thought and creativity; together with the application of analytical skills and critical reasoning. Our approach to the dissertation is to facilitate innovative approaches and diverse pathways to the final assessed piece of work; in effect, the dissertation is an extended research project. The dissertation topic should be aligned to the students' subject of study.

Finance and accounting (Core)

This module is designed to introduce concepts and techniques for costing and break-even analysis and brings in the notion of pricing from a larger viewpoint in the market as well as from a strategic management view. Later, the module aims to cover the topics of financial analysis, budgeting and planning, and the sources of finance.

Global Procurement and Supply Strategy (Core)

In order to ensure organizational success, we must seek to manage relationships with upstream and downstream suppliers and customers to deliver increased customer value at less cost to the supply chain overall. It is often argued that an organization is only as good as its supply chain and that the global supply chain can be a key source of competitive advantage. In the age of globalization, many organizations are only as good as their global supply chains. Global supply chains give the organization access to strategic resources and enable them to compete in global markets. Procurement and Supply Chain Management as a discipline has changed considerably in many companies and organizations in the recent past. Considering the amount of money generally involved in the preparation and execution of procurement and supply decisions, this is not a surprise and it has been argued that an effective and efficient operating purchasing and supply function can make an important contribution to company results and also add significant value. Traditionally, the procurement department has acted as the intermediary which negotiates the agreements and contracts with suppliers and subsequently monitors their compliance with those agreements. However, this traditional role is changing rapidly and procurement and supply chain managers are assuming more strategic roles within organizations, focused on achieving better performance from suppliers through approaches such as more active management of supplier relationships.

International Entrepreneurship (Core)

Entrepreneurship is an essential skill set in the development at the global level of new and existing businesses, social enterprises, and more broadly societies and their economies. Enterprise is defined as the application of creative ideas and innovations to practical situations, combining creativity, ideas development, and problem-solving with expression, communication, and practical action. Entrepreneurship is the application of enterprise skills to creating and growing organizations in an international context in order to identify and build on opportunities.

This module draws on the latest UK QAA Guidance on Enterprise and Entrepreneurship in Higher Education and aims to develop, at an international level, enterprise awareness, an entrepreneurial mindset, and entrepreneurial capability, which can lead to entrepreneurial effectiveness which can be applied in a range of contexts.

International Marketing and Customers (Core)

The aim of this module is to provide students with the opportunity to develop an understanding of marketing concepts applied in an international context. The module is designed to provide students with a clear comprehension of marketing tools available and their use within an international environment, understanding the cultural diversity of their customers.

People and Global Organisations (Core)

This module aims to introduce learners to the realities of organizations and the challenges of management practice in the global business arena. It aims to promote thinking critically about organizations as complex, process-based cultural systems and as constantly developing social structures operating on the basis of people relations and interactions.

An increasing number of firms have activities spread around the world and a critical reflection on the impact of culture on business activities and individuals in this context is of vital importance. Cross-border business activities are underpinned by cultural interaction and the module will develop knowledge about and understanding of the impact of (national) cultures on management practice.

Various levels of culture will be studied, with a special focus on national cultures and whether and how they affect the behaviors of firms and individuals. Students will be given the opportunity to collect specialized insights into certain themes, firms or cultures through focused assignments.

Strategy Making (Core)

Strategy is the heart of every organization. This module explores how strategy is conceived, how it affects the organization, and how the organization can be designed to realize its strategy efficiently and effectively. The module aims to support students in developing their strategic thinking skills through a review of diverse theories, models, and practical exercises.

Understanding International Business (Core)

Understanding International Business is a core module for MSc International Business students. Successful completion will assist you to understand the general environment of international business, setting up country selection criteria and country evaluation in the context of international business. It will also develop your skill to conduct basic research and professional report preparation.</p How You Are Assessed A variety of assessment methods are used during this course including essays, reports, presentations, and group work. These assessments are designed to develop the skills needed in the industry. The University of Lincoln's policy on assessment feedback aims to ensure that academics will return in-course assessments to students promptly - usually within 15 working days of the submission date.

How You Are Assessed

A variety of assessment methods are used during this course including essays, reports, presentations, and group work. These assessments are designed to develop the skills needed in the industry.

The University of Lincoln's policy on assessment feedback aims to ensure that academics will return in-course assessments to students promptly - usually within 15 working days of the submission date.

How You Study

Students on this Program are expected to read extensively and stay aware of current theoretical debates within the literature, including relevant journals.

Lectures are used primarily in discipline-bound areas. Lecture materials may be enhanced by audio-visual material in the early stages of the course to provide additional aid to overseas students facing an unfamiliar learning environment. Classes are supplemented with discussion and debate on the rapid and often spontaneous changes in international business. Seminars are also a feature of the course.

MSc International Business students are expected to study nine core modules which are designed to develop understanding of international business, communication skills, and other essential graduate attributes. The degree concludes with a dissertation which is designed to encourage innovation and diverse pathways to the final assessed product. In this respect, the dissertation is an extended project that can accommodate a range of independent work.

Each module typically consists of two weekly teaching hours over a teaching term. Students will normally study four modules per term and therefore eight per week. Part-time students will usually study two modules per term, equating to four hours per week. Hours of study may vary from term to term for both full and part-time students and can be spread throughout the week.

Postgraduate level study involves a significant proportion of independent study exploring the material covered in lectures and seminars. As a general guide, for every hour spent in class, students are expected to spend at least four to five hours in independent study. For more detailed information please contact the Program Leader.

A postgraduate degree can lead to a variety of career opportunities in areas such as consultancy, finance, HR and marketing. It also opens up the possibility for exciting global travel.

The University Careers and Employability Team offer qualified advisors who can work with you to provide tailored, individual support and careers advice during your time at the University. As a member of our alumni we also offer one-to-one support in the first year after completing your course, including access to events, vacancy information and website resources; with access to online vacancies and virtual and website resources for the following two years.

This service can include one-to-one coaching, CV advice and interview preparation to help you maximise your future opportunities.

The service works closely with local, national and international employers, acting as a gateway to the business world.