Business - International Business

Overview

The MSc International Business is an exciting one-year full-time programme, furnishing students from all backgrounds with cutting-edge global leadership skills to develop a career in an increasingly interconnected and complex business world.



A unique aspect of the programme is the range of embedded opportunities it offers students to engage with global business leaders through international internships and international consultancy projects. This modernised programme provides students with a diverse toolkit for tackling a wide range of global business issues from Doing Business in Emerging Markets, Analytics with AI, Marketing in the Digital Age, Global Innovation Management and Making Ethical Business Decisions.



With a focus on building students’ employability skills, the programme provides students with exposure to real-world business problems, professional connections with employers and alumni, a vibrant culturally diverse learning environment, and access to world-class facilities.



The International Business Capstone module is a distinctive feature of the programme that fosters a dynamic and practical learning experience in the final semester. This module involves an interactive strategy simulation where students work in teams to develop the global strategy of a firm in a game-based scenario. Students also engage in a Capstone Project to generate innovative solutions for real-world business challenges.



Recent graduates have progressed to work in global firms such as Meta, Dropbox, Google, Kellogg (Dublin); Moet Hennessy (New York); Deloitte, Citi, PwC, EY (Belfast); Oracle, BMW (Germany); Roche (Switzerland); Nestle (Panama and China); JP Morgan, HSBC (London); Cisco (Sao Paulo); SAP (Toronto); Acosta Group (Florida); Upaya (Nepal); InfoCentric (Melbourne).



Typical careers include Strategy Consultants, Global Portfolio Traders, Global Mobility Analysts, Head of Innovation, Global Marketing Managers, Business Analysts, Project Managers, Acquisition Executives, and Financial Managers.



Course Structure

The MSc International Business is a one-year programme structured across 3 semesters.

Students who successfully complete eight taught modules (120 CATS) and an International Business Capstone module in semester 3 are awarded an MSc in International Business.



Exit qualifications are also available: students may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma by successfully completing 120 CATS from taught modules or a Postgraduate Certificate by successfully completing 60 CATS from taught modules.



Introduction

This programme enables students to gain in-depth knowledge and develop critical skills for successful careers in business. The programme tackles a range of contemporary issues relevant for today’s complex global business environment. Such as sustainability, AI, ethics, analytics, resilience, leadership, and strategy.



A central focus of the programme involves enhancing students’ employability, skills, and career development. Through a module on Developing Career and Employability Skills and a dedicated Careers team, students will develop and enhance key skills and learn what employers want in International Business graduates.



Students will study a combination of cutting-edge modules that explore the increasingly integrated yet fragile nature of global business. Modules are focused on core theories and practical problems related to Global Innovation Management, Doing Business in Emerging Markets, Analytics with AI, Marketing in the Digital Age and Making Ethical Business Decisions.



The International Business Capstone is a unique feature of the programme in semester 3 that takes an applied, practical, and dynamic learning approach. This involves a strategy simulation where students guide the strategic growth of an organisation through an interactive game-based scenario. Students also choose between different capstone pathways in completing their final project on the programme.

Semester 1

The Global Business Environment

This module looks at how organisations understand and navigate a range of grand challenges in the global business environment such as geopolitical instability, economic turmoil, cultural intelligence, AI and technological disruption and the United Nation’s sustainable development goals.



Global Innovation Management

The main aim of this module is to explore how different forms of innovation contribute to tackling global problems. It focuses on understanding how firms leverage advanced technologies to improve societal and ethical challenges.



Marketing in the Digital Age

This module considers how firms leverage a variety of digital tools and AI-enabled solutions to enhance marketing channels by engaging customers, shaping brand conversations, building brand awareness, experiences, and community.



Global Human Resource Management (HRM)

This module explores the rapidly evolving nature of the future of global work and how managers and firms make sense of global jobs, work, and careers in the face of significant technological, societal and ethical changes.



Semester 2

Doing Business in Emerging Markets

This module explores the unique ways that business is conducted in developing and emerging markets. It explores innovative approaches to issues like digital commerce and social innovation in the context of complex challenges like a lack of infrastructure, limited affordability, volatile economies, political risk, and poverty alleviation



Analytics with Artificial Intelligence (AI)

This module focuses on the way in which data and analytics are inherently interlinked with rapidly evolving artificial intelligence solutions. Students will enhance their research skills by using cutting-edge analytics software to synthesise, analyse and present different data types in visual formats



Making Ethical Business Decisions

This module evaluates the ethical responsibilities of managers and organisations. It considers a range of topics such as ethical issues regarding employees (whistleblowing, codes of ethics, corporate governance), ethics and consumers, social responsibility, and ethical dilemmas from artificial intelligence.



Developing Career and Employability Skills

This module engages students in their own employability journey to help develop the skills to compete confidently. It will develop students’ understanding of their personal skills, strengths, identity, and motivations to improve their employability skills and career prospects.



Semester 3

International Business (IB) Capstone

This is a final semester module that fosters capstone thinking and combines learnings from across the degree. This involves a dynamic online simulation where students work in teams to develop the global strategy of a firm in a game-based scenario.



Capstone Projects – applied practical projects where students work with real-world organisations to generate solutions to complex challenges.



There are 3 pathways to choose from:



a) Global Applied Project – proposing strategic solutions to a current grand challenge for an organisation of your choosing.



b) International Consultancy – working alongside a real-world global organisation and mentor to address a specific problem. Example consultancies include developing business model innovation for digital start-ups in Portugal, AI-enabled solutions for Fintech firms in Brazil, digitalisation block-chain initiatives for a US crypto finance firm, and a competitor analysis for a firm focused on digital sustainability entering eastern Europe.



c) International Internship – working in a global organisation for 9-12 weeks while carrying out an internship project on a problem the organisation faces. Students may work in a variety of roles and functions for firms locally or globally and these range from start-ups, multinationals, or non-profits. A dedicated placement office helps with sourcing and securing internships, with a strong network of industry connections.



This module integrates learnings from across the programmes through practical and applied based learning. It involves an online simulation where students work in teams to develop the strategy of a global firm in an interactive game-based scenario. Students complete the module through capstone projects where they choose between a Global Applied Project, an International Consultancy, or an International Internship. A dedicated placement office helps with sourcing and securing internships, with a strong network of industry connections.

Graduate

Normally a strong 2.2 honours degree (with minimum 55%) or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in any discipline.



We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds so may consider previous managerial work experience alongside lower academic qualifications.



The University's Recognition of Prior Learning Policy provides guidance on the assessment of experiential learning (RPEL). Please visit the link below for more information.

http://go.qub.ac.uk/RPLpolicyQUB

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 15th August 2025 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal prior to the deadline stated on course finder. Notifications to this effect will appear on the application portal against the programme application page.



Please note: international applicants will be required to pay a deposit to secure a place on this course.

Students may expect a variety of assessment types (reports, presentations, essays, exams) aimed to enhance skills development, critical analysis and capacity building. Students are also required to complete a dissertation of 15,000-17,000 words.

1 year full-time.

Entry Year: 2026/26

Career Prospects

The programme provides a wide range of opportunities for graduates to work across various kinds of organisations, industries, roles, and careers. Most of the opportunities will carry a degree of international exposure in the work that graduates engage in.



Previous graduates have gone on to work for start-ups, SMEs, multinational enterprises, trade or business solutions, manufacturing companies, international institutions, NGOs, and government agencies responsible for trade and investment.



Graduates have secured successful careers in a diverse range of roles related to consultancy, strategy, HRM, technology, finance, sales, and analytics. Typical roles include Strategy Consultants, Global Portfolio Traders, Global Mobility Analysts, Group Head of Innovation, Global Marketing Managers, Business Analysts, Project Managers, Account Executives, Senior Consultants, Sales Directors, HR Managers, Market Analysts for FDI, M&A Executives, and Financial Managers.



For further opportunities to enhance your studies and career prospects please see the school website. https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/queens-business-school/student-opportunities/