Study information

Programme Specification for the 2022/3 academic year

MSc International Business

1. Programme Details

Programme nameMSc International Business Programme codePTS1SBESBE38
Study mode(s)Full Time
Academic year2022/3
Campus(es)Streatham (Exeter)
NQF Level of the Final Award7 (Masters)

2. Description of the Programme

The MSc in International Business prepares you to discover your career in international business. The aim of the programme is to equip you with the key skill sets required to solve and implement international business strategy.  As part of your learning journey you will attend specialist workshops taught by leading international academics on issues pertinent to international business, globalization and sustainability. You will draw from cross-disciplinary scholars in the fields of Marketing, Finance, Accounting, Management, Leadership, and Economics, where you will explore International Business Issues from a variety of stakeholder perspectives.

The programme is student focused, which means that you will be personally mentored during your time at the University of Exeter. In addition to core skill-based modules, you will have the opportunity to tailor your programme through a series of elective choices that enable you to customise your learning and programme experience. The culmination of the programme will offer a business plan experience where you will apply cross-disciplinary insights into a business plan project. This capstone business plan course will allow you to incorporate the learning you have gained throughout the year and incorporate it into a business plan analysis. The business plan experience will help you to build your own personal portfolio that you can showcase to potential employers. The University of Exeter provides an ideal setting for you to understand cross-cultural issues that will uniquely equip you to compete in today’s global marketplace.

3. Educational Aims of the Programme

  1. To develop student competence in areas pertinent to globalisation, sustainability and international business.
  2. To train students as evidence-based problem solvers that analyse relevant data, opinions and market context, when making strategic decisions in international contexts.
  3. To provide insights into the inter-relationship that exists between political, legal, technological, socio-cultural, and economic factors with businesses competing in international environments.
  4. To stimulate and encourage in students to question strategic trade-offs in relation to developing a successful global business portfolio.
  5. To act as inclusive learners that can work effectively in cross-cultural environments.
  6. To develop leadership skills and a student’s awareness of their own inner strengths and values through a process of self-reflection.
  7. To provide opportunities for learning that is enriched by exposure to people of diverse cultural backgrounds and fields of study.

4. Programme Structure

The MSc International Business programme is a twelve-month programme of study at National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 7 (as confirmed against the FHEQ). The programme is divided into units of study called modules which are assigned a number of credits. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with 1 credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work.

 

Interim Awards

A Postgraduate Diploma is awarded when a student gains at least 120 credits, including at least 90 at Level M on a

designated programme.

 

A Postgraduate Certificate is awarded when a student gains at least 60 credits including at least 45 at Level M on a

designated programme.

5. Programme Modules

The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.

http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/study/masters/modules/

This programme is available for study 12 months full-time over three terms and is University-based throughout this time. The taught components of the programme are delivered in the first two terms, leaving the third term and most of the summer to research, write and submit your International Business Plan assessment.

During the programme you will study modules (including the dissertation) totalling 180 credits. Please note that all options are available timetable permitting and may change.

Stage 1


Compulsory Modules

CodeModule Credits Non-condonable?
BEMM383 Current Issues in International Business 30No
BEMM384 International Business Plan 30Yes
BEMM116 Principles of International Business 15No
BEMM388 People Management 15No
BEAM045 Accounting for International Managers 15No
BEMM059 International Human Resource Management 15No
BEMM118 Strategic Innovation Management 15No

Optional Modules

Law modules not available for January starters.

BEMM148 is a term one elective only. Students are not eligible to take this course in their term 2.

CodeModule Credits Non-condonable?
BEAM053 Mergers, Management Buyouts and Other Corporate Reorganisations 15No
BEMM071 Leadership and Global Challenges 15No
BEAM052 Corporate Governance and Finance 15No
BEMM069 Marketing and New Product Innovation 15No
BEMM786 Service Design and Innovation 15No
BEMM114 Managing Operations 15No
BEMM128 Brand Design 15No
BEMM129 Digital Business Models 15No
BEMM148 Marketing Strategy 15No
BEMM374 Tourism and Marketing 15No
BEMM375 Sustainable Tourism Management 15No
BEMM394 Entrepreneurship: New Venture Creation 15No
LAWM075 Copyright Law 30No
LAWM089 Consumer Protection 30No
LAWM100 Mergers and Acquisitions 30No
LAWM130 International Commercial Law 30No
LAWM131 Artificial Intelligence and the Law 30No
BEEM154 Economics of Public Finance 15No

6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods

Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
On successfully completing this programme you will be able to:
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be...
...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class):...and evidenced by the following assessment methods:

1. Gain a comprehension of theories and practices relevant to international business strategy.
2. Understand international business problems from multi-stakeholder perspectives.
3. Apply conceptual frameworks relevant to international business to cross-cultural environments.

BEMM383 Current Issues in International Business: The seminars are specifically designed to train students to look at global business problems from a variety of different perspectives that ultimately inform organisational decision-making and global strategy (ILOs 1-3).

BEMM384 International Business Plan: This module will take a case study approach to understanding the challenges organisations face when competing in global environments and from multi-stakeholder perspectives (ILOs 1-3).

BEMM388 People Management: Provides students with an understanding of behavioural theories in the context of global organisations and multi-stakeholder perspectives.

BEMM116 International Business: This module focuses on how companies conduct business across borders and explores various economic systems, cultural differences in different economies, and discusses issues from around the world to give students a global awareness (ILOs 1-3).

BEAM045 Accounting for Managers: Provides students with an appreciation of the impact of an international context on accounting information and decisions (ILOs 1-3).

BEMM118: Helps students understand the significance of innovation and how it links to wider strategic issues within the organization. It also provides a foundation in helping students gain insights into contingency factors of firm size, technological complexity and environmental uncertainty which impact business decision-making and strategy.

Subject-specific skills (ILOs 1-3) will be assessed through assignments, written examinations and a business plan project.

BEM383 Current Issues in International Business: Self-Reflexive learning log and individual essay (ILOs 1-3).

BEMM384 International Business Plan: Individually written business plan (ILOs 1-3).

BEMM388: People Management: Individually assessed, written group project (ILOs 1-3).

BEMM116 International Business: Presentation; Online Test; Case Study Assignment (ILOs 1-3).

BEAM045 Accounting for Managers: Examination and MCQ test (ILOs 1-3).

BEMM118: Synthesis of an academic paper and individual organizational analysis of innovation (ILOs 1-3).

 

Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
On successfully completing this programme you will be able to:
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be...
...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class):...and evidenced by the following assessment methods:

4. Develop insights into the types of approaches International Business practitioners use when solving issues surrounding economic, social, political, cultural and legal environments.
5. Understand the relationship between globalisation, international business and cross-cultural contexts.
6. Reflect on practical case experiences from the international business arena.
7. Develop an ethically minded business orientation that pays a heightened sensitivity to sustainable business practice.

BEM383 Current Issues in International Business: Highlights speakers and topics in international business from cross disciplinary areas of research and business practice. A core objective of the model is a heightened sensitivity to ethical business practice (ILOs 4-7).

BEMM384 International Business Plan: The Business Plan draws from practical case study data and requires environmental scanning and situational analysis in cross-cultural contexts with an aim to develop sustainable business practice (ILOs 4-7).

BEMM388: People Management: The approach of this module is a practice-based approach to understanding the relationship between organisational behaviour and international business. This course highlights multi-stakeholder perspectives and sustainable organisational practice (ILOs 4-7).

BEMM116 International Business: This module focuses on how companies conduct business across borders and explores various economic systems, cultural differences in different economies, and discusses issues from around the world to give students a global awareness and an understanding of sustainability (ILOs 4-7).

BEAM045 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 (ILOs 4-7).

BEMM383 Current Issues in International Business: Self-Reflexive learning log and individual essay (ILOs 4-7).

BEMM384 International Business Plan: Individually written business plan (ILOs 4-7).

BEMM388: People Management: Individually assessed, written group project (ILOs 4-7).

BEMM116 International Business: Presentation; Online Test; Case Study Assignment (ILOs 4-7).

BEAM045 Accounting for Managers: Examination and MCQ test (ILOs 4-7).

Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
On successfully completing this programme you will be able to:
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be...
...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class):...and evidenced by the following assessment methods:

8. Confident Communicator: Able to adapt and adjust both written and verbal communication styles, to meet the needs of diverse audiences
9. Innovative Problem-Solver: Able to confidently explore challenges from different perspectives, to creatively offer practical and timely solutions.
10. Proactive Collaborator: Able to effectively build strong working relationships with others to have positive outcomes.
11. Digitally Fluent: Able to embrace a variety of digital technologies to critically source, process and communicate information.
12. Resilient Self-Advocate: Able to develop self-awareness through a commitment to learning from experiences and taking responsibility for personal growth.
13. Able to proactively analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources to draw independent and well-founded conclusions.
14. Able to recognise diverse individual and cultural perspectives, in order to communicate on interconnected world issues and sustainable decisions.

  1. 8.      Confident Communicator

BEMM383 Current Issues in International Business: Students provide critical self-reflections on topics relevant to international business

BEMM388 People Management: Through group collaboration, students engage in a group dialogue that requires them to distil their findings into a singular group report.

BEMM116 Principles of International Business: Students develop skills in critical analysis and evaluation that enable them to make business decisions in an international setting and identify some of the key challenges faced by managers of multinational firms.

BEMM059 International Human Resource Management: Students must clearly explain of the importance of the competitive environment and how changes in the external social and economic environments influence international HRM decisions.

 

  1. 9.      Innovative Problem Solver

BEM383 Current Issues in International Business: Students take a cross-disciplinary perspective on international business issues and develop situate their voice within those debates.

BEMM384 International Business Plan:

Students critically analyse, discuss and apply data relevant to international business. Students are challenged with a market simulation that requires students to make data-driven strategic decisions.

BEMM388: People Management: This module challenges students to question basic assumptions associated with our understanding of organisational behaviour and explore new insights into OB in a theoretical and practical manner.

BEMM116 International Business: This module presents a range of international business problems where students are challenged to develop strategic recommendations through international business frameworks.

BEAM045 Accounting for Managers: Students must be able to understand and interpret financial results, but also know the limitations of the methods used, and incorporate other considerations.

BEMM118- Strategic Innovation Management: Students must explain how firms are able to develop new products and services, how they are differentiated from their competitors, and critically engage with a range of tools to diagnose barriers to innovation in a company setting.

 

  1. 10.      Proactive Collaborator

BEM383 Current Issues in International Business: This module challenges students to show the inter-relationship between the different functional areas of business in creating cross-cultural solutions.

BEMM384: People Management: Students work with application of the theories in groups and in a collaborative integrative simulation case study.

BEAM045 Accounting for Managers: Students are encouraged to share their knowledge of contexts, applications, and variations from their own and other countries.

BEMM388 People Management: Requires students to work collaborative in the creation of a group portfolio submission that challenges teams to critically evaluate organisational behaviour.

BEMM059 International Human Resource Management: Students must engage in debates on cultural and contextual environments and their effects  with multicultural and multilingual groups of peers.

 

 

  1. 11.      Digitally Fluent

BEMM384 International Business Plan: This module requires students to run a computerized market simulation, access data and digital research materials.

BEMM118  Strategic Innovation Management: Critically evaluate the significance of innovation and how it links to broader strategic and operational issues in the digital era.

BEMM059 International Human Resource Management- critically assess credibility of (electronic) data obtained from various sources

 

  1. 12.      Resilient Self-Advocate

BEMM383 Current Issues in International Business- Students develop self-awareness through self-reflective learning and requires students to use literature to help them substantiate their opinions, which helps to situate them within broader debates within the field of international business.

BEMM384 International Business Plan: Students take responsibility for their own learning through a series of simulated business decisions. These decisions impact sales, growth and profitability and are anonymously compared to other students on the cohort.

 

  1. 13.      Critical Thinker

BEM383 Current Issues in International Business: Students take a cross-disciplinary perspective on international business issues and integrate them into their own worldview.

BEMM384 International Business Plan:

Students critically analyse, discuss and apply theories relevant to international business and present managerial recommendations.

BEMM388: People Management: This module challenges students to question basic assumptions associated with our understanding of organisational behaviour and explore new insights into OB in a theoretical and practical manner.

BEMM116 International Business: This module develops student knowledge of where, why and how to conduct international business in order to gain an understanding of what determines the success and failure of firms conducting international business.

BEAM045 Accounting for Managers: Highlights how good managers need to be able to understand and interpret accounting results, but also know the limitations of the methods used, and incorporate other considerations.

BEMM118- Strategic Innovation Management: A key aim is for students to understand the strategic as well as operational issues that affect the innovation process and to equip both aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs to deal with them.

BEMM059 International Human Resource Management: Places a  particular focus on HRM issues in an international context as well as working abroad.

 

 

 

  1. 14.      Globally Engaged

BEM383 Current Issues in International Business:

This course is specifically designed to train students to look at global business problems from a variety of different perspectives that ultimately inform organisational decision-making and global strategy. 

BEMM384 International Business Plan: This module will take a case study approach to understanding the challenges organisations face when competing in global environments.

BEMM388: People Management: Provides students with an understanding of behavioural theories in the context of global organisations.

BEMM116 International Business: This module focuses on how companies conduct business across borders and explores various economic systems, cultural differences in different economies, and discusses issues from around the world to give students a global awareness.

BEAM045 Accounting for Managers: Provides students with an appreciation of the impact of an international context on accounting information and decisions.

BEMM059 International Human Resource Management: Places a  particular focus on HRM issues in an international context as well as working abroad. 

  1. 8.     Confident Communicator

BEMM383 Current Issues in International Business: Self-Reflexive learning log and individual essay.

BEMM388: People Management: written group project.

BEMM116: International Business: Online Test; Written Exam.

BEMM059 International Human Resource Management: Two individually written essays.

 

 

  1. 9.     Innovative Problem Solver

BEMM383 Current Issues in International Business: Self-Reflexive learning log and individual essay.

BEMM384 International Business Plan: Individually written business plan.

BEMM388: People Management: Individually assessed, written group project.

BEMM116 International Business: Online Test; Written Exam.

BEAM045 Accounting for Managers: Group Evaluation Report and Examination.

BEMM118 Strategic Innovation Management: Individually written innovation report and a fitness test report.

 

 

  1. 10.  Proactive Collaborator

BEMM383 Current Issues in International Business: Self-Reflexive learning log and individual essay

BEMM384 International Business Plan: Individually written business plan.

BEMM388: People Management: Written group project.

BEAM045 Accounting for Managers: Group Evaluation Report and Examination.

BEMM059 International Human Resource Management: Two individually written essays.

 

 

 

  1. 11.  Digitally Fluent

BEMM118 Strategic Innovation Management: Individually written innovation report and a fitness test report (ILOs 1-9).

BEMM384 International Business Plan: Individually written business plan (ILOs 1-10).

BEMM059 International Human Resource Management.

 

 

  1. 12.  Resilient Self-Advocate

BEMM383 Current Issues in International Business: Self-Reflexive learning log and individual essay.

BEMM384 International Business Plan: Individually written business plan.

BEMM059 International Human Resource Management: Two individually written essays.

 

  1. 13.   Critical Thinker

BEMM383 Current Issues in International Business: Self-Reflexive learning log and individual essay.

BEMM384 International Business Plan: Individually written business plan.

BEMM388: People Management: Individually assessed, written group project.

BEMM116 International Business: Online Test; Written Exam.

BEAM045 Accounting for Managers: Group Evaluation Report and Examination.

BEMM118 Strategic Innovation Management: Individually written innovation report and a fitness test report.

BEMM059 International Human Resource Management: Two individually written essays.

 

 

  1. 14.  Globally Engaged

BEMM383 Current Issues in International Business: Self-Reflexive learning log and individual essay.

BEMM384 International Business Plan: Individually written business plan.

BEMM388: People Management: Individually assessed, written group project.

BEMM116 International Business: Online Test; Written Exam.

BEAM045 Accounting for Managers: Group Evaluation Report and Examination.

BEMM059 International Human Resource Management: Two individually written essays.

 

 

 

 

7. Programme Regulations

Classification

Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.

8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning

9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning

Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.

10. Admissions Criteria

Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.

Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.

Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.

11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards

Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.

The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.

(http://as.exeter.ac.uk/support/admin/staff/qualityassuranceandmonitoring/tqamanual/fullcontents/)

12. Indicators of Quality and Standards

The programme is not subject to accreditation and/ or review by professional and statutory regulatory bodies (PSRBs).

13. Methods for Evaluating and Improving Quality and Standards

The University and its constituent Colleges review the quality and standard of teaching and learning in all taught programmes against a range of criteria through the procedures outlined in the Teaching Quality Assurance (TQA) Manual Quality Review Framework.

14. Awarding Institution

University of Exeter

15. Lead College / Teaching Institution

Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy (ESE)

16. Partner College / Institution

Partner College(s)

Not applicable to this programme

Partner Institution

Not applicable to this programme.

17. Programme Accredited / Validated by

0

18. Final Award

MSc International Business

19. UCAS Code

Not applicable to this programme.

20. NQF Level of Final Award

7 (Masters)

21. Credit

CATS credits ECTS credits

22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group

23. Dates

Origin Date

15/04/2019

Date of last revision

22/06/2022