University of Surrey MSc International Business Management | OnlineUniversity of Surrey MSc International Business Management | OnlineUniversity of Surrey MSc International Business Management | Online

The online MSc consists of 180 credits and is divided into 10 fully autonomous credit-bearing modules. Each module is worth 15 credits, except the final business project, which is worth 30 credits.

This online MSc International Business Management covers the following modules:

• Global Strategy (15 credits)

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  In an increasingly globalised business and business environment, it is necessary for management students to learn how to strategies internationally viable global strategies. This module covers a variety of topics such as global strategic analysis, global strategy formulation, and global strategy execution. Strategy-related subjects shape at least half of the contents in this course.

• Global Strategy Implementation (15 credits)

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  It is an unfortunate fact that the majority of global strategies fail in the stage of implementation. Many inner organisational and outer organisational factors affect the implementation of the global strategy. Thus, it is vital for management students to learn how to implement global strategies effectively. The module focuses on a range of topics such as the process of strategy implementation, and influential factors on implementing the global strategy. Strategy-related subjects shape at least half of the contents in this course.

• International Business Management (15 credits)

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  The worldwide political and economic liberalization and continuous technological improvement in the last three decades have brought unprecedented flows of goods, services, labour and capital across national boundaries. International business today comprises a larger and ever-growing portion of the world’s business and global events and competition affects almost all companies. A company operating internationally will engage in modes of business that are different from those it is accustomed to domestically. International business management is the process of applying management concepts, theories, and techniques in a multinational environment so that firms can become and remain international in scope. Moreover, a comparative view of management and organization in internationally operating firms is provided to understand these processes in detail.

• Digital Innovation (15 credits)

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  In this module, students develop an in-depth understanding of current trends for digital innovation and how they affect businesses in the digital economy today. This will involve reviewing a range of key digital innovation topics and evaluating their business context including technology, business models, stakeholders and ecosystem. In conjunction, students will develop understanding for a methodology to evaluate digital innovation which they can apply to the different key topics for decision-making purposes.

• Marketing (15 credits)

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  This module is designed to provide MSc students with a rigorous theoretical framework for analysing and understanding marketing in national and international contexts. Integrating theoretical concepts and models with practical application, students explore the contribution that marketing can make to successful businesses and multi-national enterprises (MNEs). Theory and case studies from the UK and across the globe are used to analyse environmental conditions, marketing competition, consumer behaviour, marketing strategy, marketing planning, tactics and operations, and the growing influence of technology.

• Perspectives on Consumer Behaviour (15 credits)

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  Consumer behaviour is evident in everyday life, therefore knowledge and understanding of this subject can be beneficial to personal decision-making as well as to marketing and strategy formulation, both in offline and online environments. The module Perspectives on Consumer Behaviour deals with a range of theoretical, practical techniques in understanding and researching consumer consumption behaviour and how such an understanding can be used to create successful and viable marketing strategies. This module gives students the opportunity to explore theories and leading-edge research findings and apply knowledge by conducting small group discussion and/or activities. Thus, reflective, and critical applications of relevant behavioural, cognitive and socio-cultural approaches to consumption are discussed.

• Social Media Marketing (15 credits)

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  Social media marketing is an emerging and rapidly developing discipline with substantive changes periodically occurring in industry and academic research. While much of social media marketing is focused on the promotional mix, it also is used for customer care, research and more. The field has shifted from one focused on the influence of individual consumers in social channels to one including bots, AI, and influencers. This module provides students with both academic (theories and concepts) and practical grounding underlying strategic decisions for the use of social media for marketing and the implications of the emerging developments in the area. Discussions, study cases and examples will bring these theories to life.

• Accounting & Finance for Business (15 credits)

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  This module introduces students to the main principles of accounting and finance and demonstrates the importance of these to management decision-making.

• International Trade (15 credits)

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  This module provides students with both a theoretical and practical understanding of International Trade, considered from an international political economy (IPE) as well as management perspectives. This is done through the assessment of International Trade from different angles, predominantly from the international trade management view, the international trade operations dimension, the state’s perspective, from the international trade regime perspective (the GATT and WTO) but also from the perspective of the international society, regional cooperation and the perspective of business and industry.

• Management of Human Resources (15 credits)

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  This is an introductory module and available to students undertaking a range of MSc courses. It is intended to provide a firm understanding of the theory and practice of Human Resource management and its strategic role in contemporary organisations. This module covers core functions of HRM and their integration within business strategy as well as contemporary topics concerning management of people. By the end of this module, the students will have gained a foundation knowledge base of HR as a function in organisations and its strategic role in achieving business objectives through people management.

Final business project 

The final business project requires you to conduct independent research on a real international business problem and reflect on it. You will identify an area of interest within international business that you wish to develop, and you will create a business report that includes your research findings and recommendations. 

The business-project module leader will conduct support sessions to assist you in understanding and completing the project. 

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The online MSc International Business Management can help prepare you for roles across industries and sectors. Graduates have gone on to assume roles as:

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