MSc International Business

Discover how organisations respond to the challenges of operating on a global scale

Year of entry: 2025 (September)

Start date

September 2025
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Length

1 year full-time

School/department

School for Business and Society

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In order to operate across borders, organisations need a good understanding of the international business environment.

This MSc looks in depth at issues which affect businesses operating internationally, from challenges of environmental sustainability and social responsibility to ethical management across cultures.

You'll develop your skills in critical analysis, information processing, and data presentation. You'll prepare for a range of careers in international business and management, with the skills and outlook to thrive in an increasingly interconnected global workplace.

This course is one of three interrelated Masters programmes covering business and management in global contexts:

MSc International Strategic Management

focuses on ways in which enterprises identify and achieve their strategic goals.

MSc International Business

emphasises quantitative analysis in examining the global business environment.

MSc International Business and Strategic Management

unites both perspectives, analysing strategies for success worldwide.

Course content

You'll study some of the core issues in international business. You'll develop a theoretical toolkit with which to investigate and discuss the strategies used in the international business environment.

Later you'll specialise your studies while continuing to develop crucial skills for independent learning and research. You'll choose an option module to develop a deeper understanding of an area of international business and management. You'll also focus your efforts on an 8,000-word (Applied) or 10,000-word (Academic) dissertation.

Modules
Dissertation

Modules

Core modules:

You will take core modules which may include:

Option modules:

You will also study one option module. In previous years, options have covered topics such as:

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.

Dissertation

You can choose to undertake either:

To complete the Dissertation Management Studies (Academic), students will need to have studied Research Methods as their option module.

The dissertation requires you to initiate, design, and implement a substantial research project. You'll have three to four months to complete an 8,000-word (Applied) or 10,000-word (Academic) dissertation based on your original research.

You can choose to focus your research on any topic related to international business that interests you. It could be a chance to explore a previous topic in greater depth, or investigate an organisational challenge in an industry close to your heart. Recent titles include:

Investigation of Cultural Management and Successful Factors for International Mergers and Acquisitions: The Case study of Foxconn’s acquisition of Sharp
The Influence of Haidilao's Organizational Culture on Employees' Emotions

You'll work under the guidance of a personal supervisor with expertise in the subject you're studying. They'll help you develop your research project, including identifying theories and methods to investigate and analyse your topic.

Learning outcomes

Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.

Learning outcomes for this course

Devise socially and ethically responsible, creative and strategic solutions to real-life business problems in the international business environment.
Interpret and apply complex numerical and non-numerical data by utilising their knowledge of relevant quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
Design, execute, and present significant and extended pieces of independent research in a field of their choice related to international strategy management, deploying appropriate research methods.
Critically evaluate organisational decision-making in a range of international business settings.
Develop professionally by reflecting on personal strengths and weaknesses in order to identify areas for growth and plan self-directed learning.
Communicate complex information and well-evidenced arguments effectively and persuasively to professional and business audiences.
Interpret and influence complex international business situations by applying an advanced understanding of economic, political, and social factors that shape the international business environment.

The School is extremely international in its outlook. Academic staff are experts in their fields and come from all over the world. Our professors make topics immediately relevant by using current business cases from different areas, and though my course took strategic management as its focus, it always referred to the broader aspects of international business and the global environment.

MSc in International Business and Strategic Management student

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees for 2025/26

Study mode	UK (home)	International and EU
Full-time (1 year)	£14,540	£31,080

Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.

Fees information

UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.

Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.

Postgraduate taught fees and expenses

Funding information

Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.

If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.

Funding opportunities

Chevening Scholarships

We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

Teaching and assessment

You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.

Teaching format

We use a wide range of teaching methods to suit different learning styles, including:

Lectures
Seminars
Practical workshops

You'll also put your skills of analysis, decision-making and creative thinking to the test in business simulation games, working in teams to accomplish your goals.

We'll help you develop skills of research and investigation to support your independent learning.

Teaching location

You will be based in the School for Business and Society on Campus West. Most of your teaching will take place in the Church Lane Building, with additional contact hours elsewhere on Campus East and Campus West.

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.

Assessment and feedback

Your modules are assessed with a mixture of exams, essays and presentations. You'll also complete formative assignments including presentations and literature reviews. You'll receive feedback on all the work you submit, helping you to understand your strengths and identify areas for improvement.

Your final assessment is an 8,000-word (Applied) or 10,000-word (Academic) dissertation, which makes up a third of your overall grade.

Academic Support

Alongside regular meetings with your academic supervisor, our Departmental Academic and Communications Skills (DACS) team offer academic lectures and workshops throughout the year to help students adjust into our academic culture and community.

Careers and skills

This MSc has been designed to help you thrive in a global workplace. The course will give you the knowledge and skills needed for management roles in private and public sector organisations around the world.

Our graduates go on to careers in all aspects of business and management. Each year, some continue their studies, joining the School for Business and Society doctoral programme.

Career opportunities

Finance manager
Management consultant
Analyst
Project manager
Managing director
Marketing consultant

Transferable skills

Communication skills
Team working
Presentation
Critical analysis
Creative thinking
Project management

Entry requirements

Qualification	Typical offer
Undergraduate degree	2:2 or equivalent in any subject. We may give preference to students with knowledge of relevant areas, including Management or Business Studies, Economics, Finance, Accounting, or any social science.
Other international qualifications	Equivalent qualifications from your country

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

Qualification	Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic and Indicator)	6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component
Cambridge CEFR	B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component
Oxford ELLT	7, minimum of 6 in each component
Oxford Test of English Advanced	136, minimum 126 in each component
Duolingo	120, minimum 105 in all other components
LanguageCert SELT	B2 with 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic	70 with a minimum of 65 in each component
Kaplan Test of English Language	478-509, with 444-477 in all other components
Skills for English	B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
PTE Academic	61, minimum 55 in each component
TOEFL	87, minimum of 21 in each component
Trinity ISE III	Merit in all requirements

For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.

If you haven't met our English language requirements

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.

The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.

After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.

Applying

You can apply and send all your documentation online. You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start it, save it and finish it later.