MSc International Business

BEAM045: Accounting for International Managers

Summary:

Managers are constantly making decisions which have financial consequences:

• How much to charge for X?
• How much does Y cost to make?
• How much profit could be made if...?
• Should there be investment in this new venture, product, or market?

Questions are always being asked by a wide range of stakeholders:

• How successful is the business?
• Should I invest in it?
• Work for it?
• Buy from it?
• Sell to it?
• Lend to it?

Management and financial accounting information support internal and external business decision-making by all those with an interest and influence.

BEAM045 recognises that good managers need to be able to appreciate and use a variety of accounting information and techniques with professional scepticism in business decision-making.

This module also introduces and encourages skills in providing and professionally communicating content that is relevant and understandable to a range of non-financial clients.

Additional Information:

Internationalisation:

• The concepts and techniques explored in this module have global application; Learning is undertaken in an international context, and you are encouraged to share knowledge and experiences from your own and other countries.

Ethics and Corporate Responsibility:

• These are embedded within all topics studied: concepts and techniques are taught to reflect that it is the responsibility of all organisations to make ethical financial decisions and actions, and to provide financial information so that stakeholders can make their own informed decisions.

Employability:

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BEMM116: Principles of International Business

Business is international in scope as managers take advantage of the comparative advantages countries around the world offer through complex and geographic dispersed value chains, not only to sell products but also to access inputs, knowledge and skills. This module provides the theoretical foundations of international business and its practical applications in explaining the dynamics and constraints of firms' international strategies. It analyses changes in the international economic environment as a result of globalization as well as the increased interdependence between countries and firms in terms of flows of goods, services, finances and people. The module considers also political, economic and institutional differences around the world and the strategies companies adopt when conducting business across national boundaries. While many practical examples are provided, focus is given to developing an analytical approach to addressing these questions, drawing on several theoretical perspectives.

Internationalisation

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BEMM264: Current Issues in International Business

The focus of this module is to engage you with a variety of issues pertinent to International Business Managers. Drawing from cross-disciplinary scholars from different fields such as Marketing, Finance, Management, Leadership, and Economics, we will explore International Business Issues from a variety of stakeholder perspectives. This module enables you to learn from experts within their respective fields of study that use current research and thinking in International Business. The seminars are specifically designed to train students to look at business problems from a variety of different perspectives that ultimately inform organisational decision-making and strategy.

You will be guided by a single module coordinator/lecturer who will lead each session and invite guest speakers. The aim here is to help you make connections between your previous experiences, business practice and cross-cultural perspectives. You will learn how to take a cross-disciplinary perspective on international business issues and integrate them into your own worldview. Through a series of lectures/workshops and interactive discussions we will equip you with international practice-based knowledge that you can take into the workplace.

This module enables you to learn from a variety of examples of current research and thinking in International Business through attending and engaging in a programme of research seminars led by leading academic scholars. Because there is no 'one way' to approach International Business, we will draw from a range of different business disciplines, which include accounting, marketing, economics, leadership, and management to provide you with a cross-disciplinary perspective on International Business issues. This module simulates real issues in International Business, which are essential tools for understanding and applying International Business strategy and essential to knowledge production. The aims are to:

• explore current debates in International Business by actively experiencing research presentations, offering you opportunities to interact with researchers and build knowledge
• develop your understanding of International Business research via exposure to research seminars, which include both formal and informal interaction.

The assignment is designed to:

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BEMM384: International Business Plan

The International Business Plan Experience is designed as a cap-stone course that will help you to integrate the knowledge that you have gained over the course of terms one and two and apply that knowledge towards a Business Plan model. Building from the foundational and applied knowledge that you have developed over terms one and two from the disciplines of Marketing, Accounting , Management, Leadership , , Entrepreneurship, and International Business, you will be offered the opportunity to write an individual business plan. This project will use an applied, simulated, data-driven approach to understanding an international business issue. This practice-based approach will help to equip you with the skills research consultants and brand managers use in developing international business strategy.

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BEMM388: People Management

This module explores the dynamics of behaviour in an organisation. You will address how to identify and understand behavioural patterns and how to develop skills in managing this behaviour in ourselves and others. Understanding behaviour is fundamental to effective management and personal development. Organisational behaviour (OB) pervades all other activities in an organisation as long as people are involved in it. You will examine our everyday understanding of behaviour and explore new insights into OB in a theoretical and practical manner. No prior study of OB is required.

• Provide you with an understanding of behavioural theories in the context of organisations, at the individual, group and organisational level.
• Enable you to translate behaviour theory into practice, through applied work
• Develop your confidence in assessing and managing your behaviour and the behaviour of others that you can take into the workplace.

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BEMM800: Foundations to Business Communication

This module is designed to support your transition to postgraduate level study in the use and practice of communication skills around your programme assessments. This module will provide you with key foundational communication skills in reading and writing that you can take into your other courses on the programme as well as into future business employment. A core focus of this module is to help you develop foundational knowledge in critical reading and writing skills. As a critical reader, you will learn how to evaluate academic writing, and how researchers communicate a coherent and convincing argument. As a critical writer, you will learn techniques on how to develop and position your own arguments. As part of this experience, you will learn how to leverage academic scholarship within your work.

One challenge faced by all new postgraduate students is acclimating to a new programme of study. Students are required to quickly calibrate their existing communication knowledge base with programme expectations in order address any potential skills gap. The problem is that students often do not realise how significant their communication skills gap is until after they have completed a full-term of study. This post-reflective form of student practice means that students often complete a full-term of study before understanding areas that they need to address.

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ENSM021: AI and Emerging Technologies

This module examines artificial intelligence (AI) as a general-purpose and discovery-enabling technology and explores how it is accelerating the emergence of new materials, systems, and forms of innovation across science, engineering, and industry.

In addition to understanding AI enabled applications, the module focuses on how AI is reshaping the nature of innovation itself, from traditional market-pull approaches toward increasingly powerful forms of technology-push innovation, where advances in computation, data, and learning systems generate novel possibilities ahead of explicit market demand.

Designed for non-technical innovators, the module develops AI literacy, strategic insight, and ethical judgement. Participants learn how AI and converging technologies - from advanced materials and autonomous systems to digital platforms and intelligent infrastructure - can be governed, translated, and deployed to create sustainable organisational and societal value.

The aim of this module is to develop innovators who can:

• Understand AI not only as an application technology, but as a driver of discovery and system-level change

• Critically evaluate how AI reshapes innovation processes, from R&D to commercialisation

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LAWM165: Automated and Autonomous Transport: Cars and Ships

Technology and automation are likely to change the way we move in society. Automated cars, for example, are likely to be common on roads across a number of jurisdictions in the coming decade, changing the driver into a passenger. Similarly, the current legal landscape in shipping is likely to be significantly altered by Autonomous Shipping.

In this module, you will learn about Automated and Autonomous Transport, identify the different areas of the law affected by this new technological development, and discuss the legal challenges that arise.

The aim of this module is to provide you with detailed knowledge and understanding of the legal challenges facing the introduction of Autonomous Vehicles and Ships with emphasis on both national and, where applicable, international, law. It will also aim to provide you with current knowledge as to reform proposals at both national and international levels.

This module will be of particular interest for students interested in the technology law fields. It will equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge that law firms specialising in this fast-growing area of the law look for.

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LAWM167: Blockchain, Policy, Property

This is your opportunity to explore distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) and blockchain critically and contextually, to consider the impact on our national and international legal, regulatory, and governance norms, institutions. During seminars, we will explore conceptual and practical aspects of these emergent technologies along with associated applications, including smart contracts, cryptocurrencies, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The aim is to build on your previous study of law and technology, and further enhance your interest and curiosity through critical analysis of the legal, political, economic, and social changes DLTs and blockchain are creating in the UK and beyond.

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LAWM172: EU Competition Law

Free markets can help provide low-priced, high-quality goods and new innovative products and services. However, companies (or 'undertakings') can try to undermine the market by restricting competition. Competition law is the body of rules that are created to protect competition. This module explains those rules as they exist in the EU and (to a great extent) the UK. This module will explain the rules on agreements between undertakings and the rules on what undertakings that are dominant on the market can do. It will also consider merger regulation and how some undertakings need permission to merge.

This module aims at providing a critical understanding of the development of EU competition law and policy as a key area of EU law. It engages with some of the contemporary challenges faced by the competition regime such as the rise of global digital markets and a shifting understanding of what competition law is intended to achieve. The module aims to enable students to understand, assess and critically address the legal issues at stake in this field of law.

This module can enhance transferrable skills in terms of self-directed learning about current legal/business events and presentation skills.

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LAWM173: Financial Markets Law and Regulation

This module introduces you to key aspects of the operation of the law and regulation of financial investments with a particular emphasis on project finance and sustainable finance. You will start by exploring the role of key stakeholders that shape the financial investments such as asset owners, asset managers, and hedge funds and move to examine the regulatory structure in which these stakeholders operate at an international, EU and UK level. You will learn about the key long-term and short-term tools that investors employ to maximise their returns. You will have an opportunity to understand complex project/construction finance and reflect on the increasing role environmental considerations play in this context. You will learn about, and engage with, the Sustainable Finance, the Law and Stakeholders (SFLS) Research Network, which is collaborating with global partners to improve and transform global financial culture. This is an exciting opportunity to enhance your knowledge with regard to the role of the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund, the Financial Stability Board, the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) in shaping and improving financial markets law and regulation. You will also explore the role of voluntary sustainable finance mechanisms (e.g. Principles for Responsible Investment, Equator Principles, Green Bond Principles and Global Principles for Sustainable Securities Lending in the context of increasing greenwashing regulatory/litigation risk).

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LAWM174: International Arbitration

International arbitration is one of the most important methods for resolving international disputes. Disputes relating to foreign investments are often resolved by arbitration.

The module is suitable if you are interested in international commercial law and international dispute resolution. The module aims to provide you with a practical understanding of the mechanisms governing the arbitration of investment disputes and is thus particularly valuable for students considering working or pursuing further research in this area. No previous experience in the area is required/necessary.

The main aims of the module are to provide you with a solid understanding of international arbitration, its practical applications, alongside its underpinning legal principles. The module aims to provide legal insight in respect of many aspects of an international commercial arbitration agreement/procedure. This ranges from the procedural aspects of interational arbitration. These topics are the basis for critique of the resolution of disputes in the context of trade and investment.

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LAWM177: International Trade and Society

International trade is at the heart of world economy. Yet, the World Trade Organisation rules came under scrutiny for the way they affected societies. In this module you will discuss how WTO laws have raised issues regarding domestic regulation, food security, environment, public health and human rights. You will have a close look at the Agreements and at fundamental principles of non-discrimination as well as at their application and their interpretation by the WTO dispute settlement bodies. Due to the importance of these issues for domestic and global economy and the increasing number of inter-State trade agreements, the legal job market is looking for graduates who have adequate knowledge in this field. Therefore this module is suitable for anyone interested in a career in international trade and policy. The module doesn't require any prior knowledge or skills.

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LAWM183: International Banking and Fintech Law and Regulation

This module introduces you to key aspects of the operation of the law of international banking (and shadow banking) in the context of FinTech. You will start by exploring the role of banks in the economy and examining the regulatory structure in which banks operate at an international, EU and UK level, looking for example at the role the Financial Stability Board, the Bank of International Settlements, the European Central Bank, EU European Banking Authority and, in the UK, the role of the Prudential Regulatory Authority and Financial Conduct Authority. You will learn about the causes of the Global Financial Crisis and critically discuss the current regulatory and developments aimed at avoiding and mitigating current and future crises. You will review how common law influences the international banking regulatory scene through the banker-customer relationship. Further, you will consider the control of money laundering and terrorist financing, as well as the duties imposed on banks to assist law enforcement agencies. Finally, you will have an opportunity to put this knowledge in the context of FinTech developments (e.g blockchain, crypto currencies, quantum computing) that the global regulators and all major central banks currently engage with.

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LAWM191: Law, Digital Markets and Competition

The module focuses on studying the key elements of EU Digital Markets Act (DMA) and UK Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA). These rules have introduced a new regime for regulating competition in digital markets. You will learn the foundations of these two systems, the economic and commercial interests of the main stakeholders and mechanics of the legal rules underpinning the DMA and the DMCCA. You will examine the ways how the designated gatekeepers (Big Tech companies) comply with the new obligations imposed upon them by the DMCCA & DMA.

No prior knowledge of Competition Law is required for this module.

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