Key information
See full entry requirementsStudy mode and duration
- 14 months full-time (January start)
- 1 year full-time (September start)
- 2 years part-time (September start)
Showing content for section Overview
Overview
If you're keen to develop your business and management skills with a focus on international business, our MSc International Business and Management degree course is for you.
On this course you'll get a deeper understanding of business and management topics in an international context. You'll learn about key themes including corporate strategy, financial management, international business and global sustainability.
You'll graduate with a comprehensive understanding of international business and management issues, and be qualified for a career in organisations in any corner of the world.
Eligibility
This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.
Course highlights
- Learn from experienced lecturers, guest speakers and experts from the international business world
- Compare business and management practices from around the globe and explore global case studies
- Practically apply your new skills in our specialist facilities including Bloomberg Suite and IT labs
- Access our Library's vast selection of electronic resources, from anywhere, 24/7
- Build and develop your prior knowledge and experience, critical thinking and research skills
Go on to get a Master of Business Administration International
When you complete this MSc International Business and Management course you'll be able to earn a further Master's degree from Edith Cowan University in Australia in just 1 year instead of 2. This further qualification can be done in-person in Australia, or online.
Gaining this second, international award from another prestigious university will give you a real edge in international business.
Business and management studies at the University of Portsmouth is ranked 2nd of the modern universities by research power
Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
The course expanded my insights into global markets and the fundamentals of business management.
The curriculum was meticulously crafted to position graduates for successful careers in the global job market.
Accreditation
This course is accredited by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD). This accreditation shows that your learning will have an international outlook, that you’ll engage with employers and that you’ll learn about ethics, sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Applicable from September 2024 onwards.
Contact information
Contact AdmissionsEntry requirements
Eligibility
This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.
January 2025 start
- A second-class honours degree or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications.
Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.
Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, view the equivalent entry requirements we accept for your country.
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.0.
You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
- you have a UK degree
- you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
- you are a national of a majority English speaking country
Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.
If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
September 2025 / January 2026 start
- A second-class honours degree or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications.
Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.
Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, view the equivalent entry requirements we accept for your country.
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.0.
You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
- you have a UK degree
- you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
- you are a national of a majority English speaking country
Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.
If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees (January 2025 start)
- Full time: £12,000
- Part time: £6,000 per year
(including Transition Scholarship)
- Full-time: £12,000
- Part time: £6,000 per year
- Full time: £17,900
- Part time: £8,950 per year
Tuition fees (September 2025 / January 2026 start)
- Full time: £12,600
- Part time: £6,300 per year
(including Transition Scholarship)
- Full-time: £12,600
- Part time: £6,300 per year
- Full time: £17,900
- Part time: £8,950 per year
Scholarships for international students
If you're joining us as an international student, you might be eligible to apply for a scholarship depending on which course you're studying, where you're from and your academic achievement to date.
University of Portsmouth graduates may receive a 20% alumni tuition fee discount.
Fees are subject to annual increase. Read our tuition fees terms and conditions.
You'll be able to pay your fees in instalments. Find out how to pay your tuition fees.
Funding your studies
Explore how to fund your studies, including available scholarships and bursaries.
If you're a UK student, you may be eligible for a Government Postgraduate Master's Loan, which you can use to help with course fees and living costs.
International student scholarships are available across the University.
International students can apply for our January 2024 Faculty scholarship.
Loans, scholarships and bursaries
Browse funding such as the Government Postgraduate Loan, our scholarships for new and returning students, and subject specific loans.
Funding for international students
Learn more about sponsorships, scholarships and loans for students applying from outside of the UK.
Fees and funding for Master's courses
Explore Master's funding options, including loans, scholarships, bursaries and more.
Additional costs
These course-related costs aren't included in the tuition fees, so you'll need to budget for them when you plan your spending. Additional costs could include:
- Accommodation: Accommodation options and costs can be found on our accommodation pages.
- Recommended reading: You can borrow key texts from the library and if you choose to purchase these texts they may cost up to £60 each.
- General costs: Such as photocopying, memory sticks, printing charges, binding and specialist printing. We suggest budgeting £75 per year.
- Final project transport or accommodation: where necessary, which related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
Read more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
Modules
What you'll study
This module allows students to apply research skills within the framework of a business and management project. Students will be supported in small tutor groups. The module builds on research skills developed in the previously taught research methods module.
This module allows students to apply research skills within the framework of a business and management project. Students will be supported in small tutor groups. The module builds on research skills developed in the previously taught research methods module.
This module allows students to apply research skills within the framework of a business and management project. Students will be supported in small tutor groups. The module builds on research skills developed in the previously taught research methods module.
The module also explores the human resource management practices that managers undertake within an organisation.
The module uses lectures to explore the theories with seminars adopting a more practical aspect to apply the theories.
It enables organisations from different industries and sectors to develop sustainable competitive advantage through the development of new products, services or processes.
Innovation requires both intra-organisational and inter-organisational practices. In this module you will take a critical look at key aspects and theories of innovation such as new product development, new service development, process innovation, intellectual property and strategic alliances.
In this module, you’ll advance international marketing knowledge - from drivers of borderless consumer behaviour to tailoring integrated strategies across priority regions.
With critical thinking, you’ll recommend localised adaptations or standardised platforms informed by economic, technological and social forces that shape demand.
Evaluating real-world cases, you’ll develop sharp analytical abilities to unlock opportunities worldwide, avoid disconnects and maintain brand essence amidst complexity, preparing you to lead in our interconnected marketplace.
You’ll apply academic concepts to analyse modern workplace dynamics, cross-cultural teams and ethical dilemmas – tailoring management approaches with emotional intelligence.
Via faculty coaching and access to campus career services, you’ll strengthen essential soft skills that demonstrate excellence across written communication, visual presentations and people leadership.
This module provides a supportive framework to integrate theoretical and experiential learning for professional and life success.
Working in a multi-cultural learning environment, students are encouraged to develop effective communication skills and become team players through well-designed learning activities. Teaching and assessment will develop students to be self-motivated and adaptable to work in a range of environments for their future careers. The assessments develop students¿ critical evaluation skills and application of theory to real business problems.
Focusing on the international context, this module aims to provide for the development of a theoretical and practical understanding of the main concepts, approaches, tools, and mechanisms of strategic decision making, at a corporate and business level.
While taking this module, students will develop a critical understanding of the value of strategic management, of the effect of organisational challenges and competition dynamics, of sustainable advantage achievement, of change management, improvement and turnaround, in the framework of internationalised enterprises at all levels of strategy.
Explore accounting and financial management fundamentals.
By analysing statements, budgets and sources of funding, you’ll boost your skills in numeracy, interpretation and analysis.
You'll use real company cases to cement your knowledge as you learn to monitor performance, control costs and enable sustainable growth.
Become an informed advisor ready to contribute to strategic and operational leadership. You'll finish this module equipped to evaluate options and optimise the financial health of organisations.
You'll use real-world business cases and evaluate current and emerging academic literature, separating virtue signalling from true progress.
This module builds strategic skills to direct cross-functional change and contribute to an ethical, resilient future.
Blending these specialisms to allow a surface understanding of each while developing a deeper knowledge of how they are interlinked by using business practice based approaches such as presentation, briefing, memo and report requirements will encourage both a deeper learning of the material but also experience in the tools of business in this area.
The students will learn about different approaches to management research including an awareness of the ethical principles surrounding research. Students will produce an ordered research proposal.
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Modules such as financial management and corporate strategy have been instrumental in establishing a solid foundation in financial principles and utilising diverse strategies essential for effective project reviews.
Facilities
Bloomberg suite
Access data from the world's global financial markets and gain experience using industry standard software.
Business Simulation Suite
Experience the boardroom in our replica business suite.
Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) room
Our technology enhanced active learning space promotes social learning.
How you'll spend your time
We recognise that you'll probably be juggling more demands when you do your Master's degree, as you may be working or you may have family responsibilities.
We'll give you as much indication here as we can of how much time you'll need to be on campus and how many hours you can expect to spend in self-directed study, but please note that these indications are always subject to change. You should receive your full timetable several weeks before you start with us.
Course structure
This Master's degree will take:
- 14 months full-time (January start)
- 1 year full-time (September start)
- 3 years part-time (September or January start)
If you study full-time starting in January, you can expect:
- to complete 30 hours of independent study per week, over 48 weeks
- to focus on your research project in the last 3 months of the course
Master's study is deeper and more specialised than an undergraduate degree. This means you'll focus on something that really matters to you and your career as you work closely with academics committed to the subject.
You'll spend more time in independent study and research than you did for your undergraduate degree, but the majority of your teaching time will be in-person and face-to-face.
Teaching methods on this course include:
- lectures
- seminars
Assessment
You'll be assessed through:
- coursework
- reports
- portfolios
- written exams
Term dates
September start
The Master's academic year runs from September to the following September. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter. Over the summer you'll be writing your project / dissertation.
January start
Courses that start in January have the same amount of teaching as September-start courses, but they normally run over a longer time period.
January-start courses normally run between 14–18 months, beginning in January and ending in the spring / summer of the following year. There are breaks at Christmas, Easter and in the summer. In the last few months you’ll be writing your project / dissertation.
Career development
Careers this Master’s prepares you for
When you complete this Master's in international business and management you'll have an internationally recognised qualification and be equipped with the skills and knowledge to operate successfully in business, either overseas or in the UK.
Graduates of this course have gone onto roles internationally and in the UK, such as:
- Financial Analyst
- Project and Commercialisation Manager
- Restaurateur
- Quality Assurance Manager
- Business Development Executive
- Business Analyst
Career outcomes shown are sourced from the latest available graduate outcome surveys. The data shows career outcomes at 15 months after graduation.
Career planning
During your course you'll have expert careers advice from our Careers and Employability Centre, your tutors and our Student Placements and Employability Centre. You can access support from our Careers and Employability Centre for up to 5 years after you graduate.
Career support
You'll benefit from:
- Networking events
- Regular emails from the Career Ready Programme sharing job opportunities, application tips and events
- Applied projects with companies such as IBM, Boeing and Hampshire County Council
- Workshops to enhance your employability skills
- Recruitment events including the Student and Graduate Opportunities Fair
- 1-to-1 appointments
- CV and cover letter advice
- Interview preparation and practice
- Support starting your own business
Supporting you
Master's study is more focused on independent learning than undergraduate study, but you'll get lots of support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:
Types of support
Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.
As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.
In addition to the support you get from your personal tutor, you'll also have access to our student engagement officers. They can give you confidential, impartial advice on anything to do with your studies and personal wellbeing, and refer you to specialist support services if you need extra help or support.
The Maths Cafe offers free advice and help with maths skills in a friendly, informal environment. You can come to our daily drop-in sessions, develop your maths skills at a workshop, or use our online resources.
You'll have help from a team of study support tutors. Based within the Faculty of Business and Law, these tutors are familiar with the specific requirements your assignments and work closely with faculty academics. This means they can give you focused support with the specific study skills you need to be successful on your course. They're available face-to-face, by phone, email, and by video call.
They can help with:
- academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations, projects and literature reviews)
- reflective writing skills
- critical thinking skills
- delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
- understanding and using assignment feedback
- managing your time and workload
- revision and exam techniques
If you're a mature student, specialist support to help you return to learning is available.
During term time, Faculty Academic Skills Tutors (AST) are available for bookable 1-to-1 sessions, small group sessions and online sessions. These sessions are tailored to your needs.
Support is available for skills including:
- University study
- Getting into the right study mindset
- Note-taking and note-making skills
- Referencing
- Presentation skills
- Time management, planning, and goal setting
- Critical thinking
- Avoiding plagiarism
If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.
Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.
The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.
Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.
You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.
If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.
They'll help you to
- discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
- liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
- access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
- liaise with external services
If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.
Joining us as an international student
You'll feel at home in our international community and our diverse city. You'll be joining over 5,000 international students from more than 150 countries who are studying with us.
Learn more about international student life and how we can help you with visas, applications, arrival and settling in.
How to apply
Unlike undergraduate applications, which go through UCAS, applications for this Master's course are made directly to us.
There's no deadline for applications to this course. We accept applications right up until the start dates in September and January, as long as there are places available. If you wait until your start month to apply, you may find that the course is full.
If you're applying as an international student, remember that you'll need to leave plenty of time to get your visa organised.
You can find more advice about applying in our Master's application checklist. International students and current students and recent graduates of the University of Portsmouth also have some different application options, which are detailed below.
Extra information for international students
If you're an international student, you can apply directly to us using the same application form as UK students.
You could also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.
If you don’t meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Ready to apply?
Start this course in January 2025
Start this course in September 2025
Start this course in January 2026
I'm a current Portsmouth student, or a recent Portsmouth graduate
If you're currently in your final year of study at Portsmouth, or you graduated since July 2024, you're eligible to make a fast track application. You'll have:
- a shorter application form to complete
- access to the 20% Alumni fee discount
- a guaranteed conditional offer, for most Master's courses
After you apply
Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.
You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.
Learn more about how we assess your application.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.