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Are you looking for a clear understanding of global business, from both a theoretical and practical perspective? This two-year course with advanced practice will give you the edge with transnational organisations, in recruitment and opportunities for promotion.

There is a focus on the global business environment, an emphasis on managing international organisations, and special attention to the cultural challenges of extending operations across multiple countries. The course culminates in either a master’s dissertation or if you prefer, a consultancy project where you will tackle an issue faced by a real client.

The course attracts students from around the world, creating a global perspective within the classroom. You will be developed as a leader and manager while expanding upon your research skills. You may also wish to consider our MSc Business with International Management with Study Abroad.

As a student on this course you will benefit from the prestigious AACSB accreditation for Newcastle Business School, which was ‘Business School of the Year’ at The Times Higher Education Awards 2015.

If you decide to start up your own business, it’s good to know that the combined turnover of our graduates’ start-up companies is higher than that of any other UK university.

*Be aware that all Advanced Practice with investigative consultancy project routes are similar to many of our 1-Year MSc with consultancy project routes, while 2-year Advanced Practice course spends more dedicated time in the Business Clinic, reflected on the total assessment input for the two 60 credit modules.

Course Information

Level of Study
Postgraduate

Mode of Study
2 years full-time (with advanced practice in second year)
3 other options available

Department
Newcastle Business School

Location
City Campus, Northumbria University

City
Newcastle

Start
September 2024

Fee Information

Module Information

Discover / International Business Management

Programme Leader, Emily Buchnea, talks about the Masters in a minute (or so) and student James Jackson discusses why he decided to study the course.

Videos

Funding and Scholarships

Discover the funding options available to you.

Discover NU World / A virtual journey through everything Northumbria has to offer.

Explore our immersive 360 tours, informative subject videos, inspirational student profiles, ground-breaking research, and a range of life at university blogs videos and articles.

Entry Requirements 2024/25

Standard Entry

Applicants should normally have:

A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in any subject, or substantial experience of working in a business organisation.

International qualifications:

If you have studied a non UK qualification, you can see how your qualifications compare to the standard entry criteria, by selecting the country that you received the qualification in, from our country pages. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry

English language requirements:

International applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).

 *The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS.  You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications

Fees and Funding 2024/25 Entry

Full UK Fee: £13,460

Full EU Fee: £22,750

Full International Fee: £22,750



Scholarships and Discounts

Click here for UK, EU and International scholarship, fees, and funding information.

ADDITIONAL COSTS

Students will have access to online reading lists that link to many e-books and journal articles provided through University-funded subscriptions, however, if a student so wishes, they may purchase texts. The optional text costs would amount to approximately £500. On this course, students have the option to find and undertake an internship or study abroad. The travel costs for this undertaking are not included in the tuition fees and therefore, are incurred by the student. Estimated costs can vary between £250 and £2500.

If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

How to Apply

Please use the Apply Now button at the top of this page to submit your application.

Certain applications may need to be submitted via an external application system, such as UCAS, Lawcabs or DfE Apply.

The Apply Now button will redirect you to the relevant website if this is the case.

You can find further application advice, such as what to include in your application and what happens after you apply, on our Admissions Hub Admissions | Northumbria University



Modules

We are currently reviewing modules which provide opportunities to work with industry to gain real experience. Modules will be updated in due course.

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

BM9718 -

Research Methods and Analytics for Business Practice (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will learn about a comprehensive range of research methods and business analytics techniques. This will equip you with the knowledge and practical skills necessary for you to conduct research at Masters’ level and prepare you to complete a Master’s Dissertation, Consultancy Project or Management Enquiry. By the end of the module you will know how to apply both quantitative and qualitative data collection and business analysis techniques. In quantitative techniques you will learn about sampling, questionnaire design, statistical inference, and hypothesis testing while qualitative techniques covered will include methods such as interviewing and focus groups. Analysis methods such as content analysis and thematic analysis will also be covered. In addition, you will gain some understanding of research philosophy (positivism and interpretivism) and research ethics and you will be able to write a research proposal to bring these ideas together.
Furthermore, this module will provide clear, critical, and analysis of data, you will also be able to consider the use of analytics implementation skills, where you will be introduced to analytics software such as SPSS. SPSS statistics analysis is one of the powerful solutions that is designed to help businesses and researchers to solve problems by various methods (geospatial analysis, predictive analytics and hypothesis testing).

More information

GA7000 -

Academic Language Skills for Postgraduate Business Students (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This

module is designed to support your transition to postgraduate level study in the use and practice of subject specific skills around assessments

and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to further develop your abilities to read and study effectively

for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your

use and application of language and communications skills suitable for a postgraduate level of study.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding postgraduate assignment briefs.

• Developing advanced academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.

• Practising advanced ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’

• Planning and structuring postgraduate level academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).

• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.

• Speaking in postgraduate seminar presentations.

• Presenting your ideas

• Giving discipline-related postgraduate level academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.

• Postgraduate level speed reading techniques.

• Developing self-reflection skills.

More information

MK9709 -

Global Consumers and Marketplaces (Optional,20 Credits)

Owing to changing migration patterns and digital media, we live in an increasingly global society. Whilst posing many opportunities for business, the decision to internationalise a company’s offering involves as range of complex business decisions. In this module, you will explore how marketing practices can be applied to global business, and in doing so develop a thorough commercial appreciation of the complexities of marketing across nations.

The module is broadly composed of three themes:

• The Global Consumer: Consumers across the globe differ on a wide range of factors, including education levels, cultural norms, religious beliefs and wider lifestyle preferences. You will be introduced to some of these core differences, explore how cultural values differ across regions and the emergence of a global consumer culture. You will also explore how consumers tend to favour products from certain countries based on principles of country-of-origin and national identity.

• International Marketing Strategy: This theme will introduce you to the various market entry strategies utilised by organisations, including export, intermediate and hierarchical modes. Here you will explore the complexities of the global marketing environment (encapsulating political and economic differences) and developing international buyer-seller relationships.

• Global Marketing Decisions: Once an organisation chooses to internationalise, you will explore the range of marketing decisions that need to be made, including queries over product, pricing, marketing communications and branding. As part of this, you will be introduced to the ‘standardisation versus adaptation’ debate, which considers whether organisations should offer identical offerings across markets or implement a more tailored approach.

More information

MO9700 -

Global Supply Chain and Operations Improvement (Optional,20 Credits)

This module addresses global contemporary operations and supply chain issues, challenges, strategies and tools and will develop you as an active learner. The mission of this module is three-folded:

1. This module aims to provide you with an underpinning knowledge about supply chain and operations improvement, whilst investigating the ongoing developments in theory and practice within the global context. You will learn strategic theories and gain knowledge associated with performance improvement inside, outside and beyond the organisations that enable value chain strategies to be put in place. The key themes include:
• Global Operations and Supply Chain Strategy
• Quality Management Models, Strategies and Systems
• Industry 4.0
• Robotic Process Automation
• Service Operations Improvement
• Performance Measurement and Benchmarking
• Process Improvement strategies
• Lean Management
• Location Management
• Supplier Development
• Global Supply Chain issues
• Process and product Design
• Postponement
• Global Logistics and Transport

2. This module aims at developing your practical problem solving skills in the global operations and supply chain context by analysing contemporary issues through interactive case study analysis in each of the weekly seminars. You will have opportunity to analyse cases relevant to the various theoretical themes and discuss with your tutor, fellow students and team members to answer the relevant questions with the facilitation of your seminar tutor. Your development in linking theory into practice is supported by regular seminar-based analysis of contemporary case studies that align to the different theoretical themes presented in the modules through the lectures. This practical seminar work further supports your development in team-based research and underpins the module’s assessment activities.

3. This research-informed module also aims at developing your research skills. You will have opportunity to learn more about critical reading and writing of peer reviewed academic journal articles individually and with your seminar group. You will develop your team-based research skills including collaboration, research framework development and oral presentation.

On completing this module, you will be able to demonstrate your developed capability to analyse global operations and supply chain issues, underpinned by relevant knowledge and be able to implement suitable improvement strategies and tools.

More information

SM4008 -

International Business: Contexts and Challenges (Core,20 Credits)

This module examines worldwide integration of economic, political, and socio-cultural aspects of business in order to explore and understand the impact of globalisation on countries, organizations, and individuals. You will develop a world-view of the global marketplace. You will learn how knowledge and understanding of the global environment affect business functions. Special consideration is given to key issues in ethics, global social responsibility and technology. You will also gain essential knowledge of international business management and will learn how to evaluate challenges of organisational functioning in the global economy. You will be engaged in the analysis of the wider impact of individual and organisational decision making with respect to the business environments in major world markets. The aim of the module is to introduce you to the main International Business (IB) theories relating to external environment analysis and demonstrate how they can be used to inform strategic decisions.
You will also engage with key issues pertinent to the global business environment today, particularly as it pertains to recognising global shifts in political and culture as well as developments in emerging economies and least developed countries.

More information

SM4022 -

Globalisation, Innovation and Sustainability (Core,20 Credits)

This 20-credit core module is delivered during the first semester of the MSc International Business Management and is aimed at you if you have prior business and management academic experience.

The aim of the module is to build on your prior academic knowledge of business management and explores the new post-recession economic and business environment. It aims to develop your academic knowledge and professional skills in evaluating sustainable strategic options for international organisations seeking competitive advantage through innovation. Contemporary but also traditional strategy formulation theoretical frameworks are presented within the module to develop you as critical thinkers and future practitioners.

The module is designed around five pillars: (i) developments in the new (post-global recession) economic and business environment; (ii) strategic options for international growth; (iii) innovation; (iv) leadership and change within an international/global business model; and (v) sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR).

More information

SM4023 -

Contemporary Issues in Entrepreneurship (Optional,20 Credits)

This is a 20-credit module running in the second semester of the MSc Business with programme and is developed for those of you who have prior awareness of entrepreneurship and seek a deeper understanding of contemporary issues of entrepreneurship and small business subjects. The aim of the module is to introduce you to the main theoretical concepts of entrepreneurship and small business – Entrepreneurship Characteristics; Creativity; Risk and Strategic Options; Technology Innovation; Networks; Sustainability; Orientation – and show how each can contribute to the activities, success or otherwise of entrepreneurship. On completion of the module you will be able to demonstrate critical thinking skills suitable for strategic leadership roles adept at organisational change and innovation and utilise oral, written and communication skills. The content of the module comprises of a range of components which are listed below.

Entrepreneurship
Introduction to the module; Entrepreneurship; context; entrepreneurial revolution; influences; Differences between entrepreneurs & owner-managers’; characteristics and traits, skills; stakeholders; models of entrepreneurship and critical thinking & summative assessment guidance.

Strategies & Models of Entrepreneurship
The Entrepreneurial Environment, Entrepreneurial Strategies; Objectives and Competitive Advantage; Entrepreneurial Productivity & Performance.

Characteristics and Activities of Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship Traits and Behaviour; Motivations and Values; Growth & Skills; Entrepreneurial Leadership Skills; Corporate Entrepreneurship; Culture; Structure & Control; Types of Entrepreneurs including Social and Civic Entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurship Technology & Innovation
Role of technology innovation & Change; Technology Industries Leadership; High Tech; HEI-SME knowledge interactions; Entrepreneurial State; Benefits & Limitations of Open Innovation and Business Clusters, Creativity and Knowledge; Diffusion and Adoption.

Entrepreneurial Networks and Open Innovation
Understanding Social Networks and their contribution to Entrepreneurship. Weak and Strong Ties; Enterprise Partnerships & Policy; Public Entrepreneurship; Business Ventures; Motivation & Engagement.

Public Sector Entrepreneurship
Social Innovation; Public Sector Entrepreneurs; Regional Policy.

International Entrepreneurship
Globalisation & International Entrepreneurship; International Start-up; Models of Internationalisation; Influence of Networks and Learning Theories.

Entrepreneurial Orientation
Entrepreneurial Synergies ; Psychological Orientation ; Gender in Entrepreneurship.

Critical Thinking Skills
The module seeks to foster your critical thinking, analytical, synthesis and reflection skills through developing your awareness of contemporary issues of entrepreneurship and small business to ensure a critical appreciation of the entrepreneurship and small business field of study.

More information

SM9714 -

International Trade and Finance (Optional,20 Credits)

In this module, you will gain a detailed understanding of international trade and the economic environment within which international businesses operate. The module will provide you with the opportunity to review both traditional and modern theories of international trade, discuss sources of international finance and analyse the impacts of international trade and finance in diverse contexts. In addition, this module aims to provide you with the skills necessary to discuss and critically appraise policy issues related to these issues. The module will cover relevant theories of trade and you will be supported in investigating their application to real world contexts. This will be combined with analyses of international and domestic trade flows, institutions governing trade, exchange rates and finance flows. By the end of the module, you will be able to apply the acquired skills to discuss and critically appraise policy issues related to the international trade of goods and services.

More information

SM9728 -

Strategic Frameworks for International Business (Optional,20 Credits)

The module provides students with an understanding of concepts, theories, and frameworks that are relevant to strategic decision making, the dynamics of global strategy, and enhanced performance in international business. The module combines theoretical and managerial insights on international business strategy to provide knowledge and understanding of what happens in complex international business settings. The module content will cover core international business concepts, and strategic options available to managers. It will also cover strategic decision making in relation to functional areas and how to improve business performance across borders. Students will develop knowledge and ability to critically analyses and apply models of international business strategy to cross-border operations.

More information

SM9729 -

International Business and Development Impacts (Optional,20 Credits)

In this module, students will analyse the organisation of international business activities across countries and consider how these global connections shape development in host / home markets. The module focuses on key business actors, including multinational enterprises (MNEs), governments, SMEs and multilateral institutions operating across borders. In the module, students will critically examine the processes and impacts of foreign direct investment and trade; explore the theoretical foundations of international businesses as policy and development actors; evaluate how MNEs and other international business actors can profitably harness opportunities in host economies and contribute towards addressing vital development challenges.

More information

SM9730 -

The Rise of the Global Economy (Optional,20 Credits)

The module overviews the past three hundred years of global economic and business history and in providing students with the context necessary to acquire an in-depth understanding of the global business environment, is related to some of the key themes explored within the rest of the International Business Management course. In particular, we will examine various political economic systems – capitalism, socialism, colonialism and imperialism – and their divergent experiences of economic development. We will also examine the evolution of the governing institutions of the global economy such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organisation – understanding the origins of these institutions is key to understanding how they function today – and how business has interacted with national and supra-national entities.
Through the course’s Learning and Teaching activities, students will become familiar with interpreting a varied range of quantitative and qualitative evidence, and to synthesise them into coherent analysis. A research-rich module is underpinned by the faculty’s world-leading research in business and economic history.

More information

SM9731 -

Placemaking and Cultural Consumption (Optional,20 Credits)

In this module, you will study the concept of place, culture and creativity in cities worldwide.
Our contention is that people make places, and to an extent, places make people. In the module, students explore how spaces become meaningful places for leisure and consumption around the world as a result of what people (tourists, entrepreneurs, residents, policymakers, captains of industry) do. Students will be introduced to concepts on place-making, including the creation of contemporary bohemia / neo-bohemian cultural quarters aimed at the and day to night-time economy alongside creative and heritage industries, and cultural performances. Some of the themes to be studied include the significance of placemaking as cultural production and consumption, from the glossy, large-scale mega-development of event spaces, concert halls and sports grounds to more grass-roots community engaged bohemian entrepreneurs and sole operators.

More information

SM9742 -

Developing Leadership Capability in an Intercultural Context (Core,20 Credits)

This module engages you in personal and professional development in order that you develop and hone your teamworking, management and leadership skills, capabilities and attributes, and in so doing, enhance your employability. On this module, you will not only prepare for your first job after you graduate but also kickstart your commitment to life-long personal and professional learning. In the first part of the module, you will be supported in a self-analysis by a range of activities, including the completion of self-administered tool-kits to demonstrate an increased self-awareness and self-understanding. This will also involve applying theoretical frameworks and researching contemporary literature for a more in-depth understanding of self. A key outcome of this process is how you will be able to exploit this development in order to lead, and manage, more effectively in your future careers. The second part of the module contains activities which enable you to build on your self-analysis and explore further your strengths, weaknesses and areas for development in the context of your career development plans. . Furthermore, you will use your understanding of self to help you to understand the key issues and specific challenges that you face, with your skills profile, in relation to your employability prospects in your target profession/industry/sector. This will also include the development of knowledge into the global graduate market, (including routes such as self-employment and developing your career with an existing employer) drawing upon local, national and international examples.

More information

NX0470 -

Applied Management Work Investigation (Optional,60 Credits)

You will undertake a group consultancy project within the Business Clinic during the first semester of your second year of Masters’ study (NX0479). Through your work-based experience, you will develop ability as a problem solver with valued investigative, theoretical and practical business skills. This will last the length of the semester and involve the examination of a complex organisational problem or commercial opportunity. This second semester module will involve the development of the client oriented management report and presentation alongside an individual literature review and personal reflection.

The content of the management report will be unique. The nature and scope of the area of your investigation will be defined and agreed in collaboration with the organisation and the University supervisor. The syllabus will include:

• Conducting research in organisations.
• Identifying researchable questions.
• Consultancy and project management skills.
• Research methods and doing a literature review
• Presentation, communication and report writing skills.
• Analysing findings.
• Writing recommendations and action plans.
• Reflecting on work based experiential learning.

In undertaking this project based module, you will critically reflect and evaluate upon organisational practices and their relation with academic theory, and in doing so, provide practical and actionable recommendations through an investigative management report.

The assessment for your module consists of a Group Consultancy Report (7,000 words) and Final Client Presentation, weighted at 60%, alongside an Individual Assignment comprising a Literature Review (4000 words) and a Reflective Learning Statement (2,000 words), weighted at 40%.

More information

NX0478 -

Masters' Study Abroad (Optional,60 Credits)

Within this module, you will record your learning experience gained by undertaking a semester outside of the UK as part of your Masters’ programme by means of academic study at a partner institution and it will enable you to recognise the differences between a business and management academic experience between Northumbria and your chosen overseas academic institution.

Your programme of study will vary according to the country and institution in which you study, but each programme offered will meet the following general requirements:
• The study programme will be last one at least one semester in duration.

• You will attend all mandatory classes.

• You will undertake normal module assessments required by the host institution.

• You will study subjects approved by the NBS Study Abroad Programme Leader. Subject areas may be in any business discipline, foreign language, culture or politics.

More information

NX0479 -

Business Clinic PG Group Consultancy Project (Optional,60 Credits)

As a student enrolled on one of the 2-year Advanced Practice Programmes you may undertake a group consultancy project within the first semester of your second years of Masters’ study. Through your work-based experience, you will develop abilities as a problem solver with valued investigative, theoretical and practical business skills. This work-based experience will last the length of the semester and involve the examination of a complex organisational problem or commercial opportunity. By undertaking this module, you will have enhanced your individual skills, knowledge, effectiveness and employability by locating learning and development within a work-based context and will have critically reflected and evaluated upon organisational practices and the relation with academic theory.

The content of the work-based experience will be unique to you as a group of participants. The nature and scope of the area of student investigation will be defined and agreed in collaboration with the organisation and the University supervisor. The syllabus will include:

• Conducting research in organisations.
• Identifying researchable questions.
• Consultancy and project management skills.
• Research methods and doing a literature review
• Presentation, communication and report writing skills.
• Analysing findings.
• Writing recommendations and action plans.
• Reflecting on work based experiential learning.

Assessment will be both formative and summative and incorporate self, peer, and tutor evaluation. You will present your work-based findings to academic mentors (oral presentation) and an interim report written on behalf of the host organisation or sponsoring project client. In the follow-up module (NX0470), you will provide a substantial management investigation report on the business related issue emerging from this consultancy, alongside a personal reflective statement.

*Those students who do not achieve a mark 80% or more will not progress to NX0470 but will progress to the Masters Dissertation or Management Enquiry Module.

More information

NX0480 -

The Newcastle Business School Masters Dissertation (Optional,60 Credits)

In this module you will gain an understanding of the academic skills that are required to produce a Masters Dissertation. By the end of the module you will have written a 15000 word Masters dissertation. The areas included are:

• Justification for the choice of topic
• Appropriate understanding, awareness and critical analysis of existing and up to date literature evidenced by a comprehensive and well-referenced literature review with an extensive reference list
• Selection, justification and application of an appropriately rigorous methodology - including limitations of the approach selected
• Clear statement of the findings of the research
• Critical analysis of the findings
• Explicit links between the analysis and the conclusions supported by critical argument
• Evidence of original work or thought for example in the form or context of the data collected, analytical process or application of findings

More information

NX9734 -

Masters' Management Enquiry (Optional,60 Credits)

The Masters’ Management Enquiry module is a student-led individual project that enables you to undertake a significant piece of assessed

work commensurate with a capstone module and is offered as an alternative to the Masters’ Dissertation and Masters’ Consultancy Project.

The module aims to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate an authentic engagement with managers and/or professionals in your

discipline (this enquiry has to be discipline specific), and to integrate the knowledge you have developed during your programme to explore

the theory in practice. The learning on this module is experiential and problem based, where the focus is upon you discovering, probing and

questioning key practice-based issues. Through the module you will be offered the opportunity to develop and enhance key transferable

employability skills including; time management, project management, communication (written, aural and verbal), negotiation, persuasion and

influence, discovery, initiative, problem-solving and analysis.


The module has five thematic areas; explore, review, engage, reflect and connect. These form the key elements of the assessed submission

which is a single 15,000 word report.


Part A (35%, 5,000-5,500 words)

Explore: Interviewing a manager and/or professional in your discipline. In this interview you will either explore a key issue which you feel the

discipline is facing or, alternatively, explore with the manager or professional the key issues that they feel they are facing in practice. It is

expected that you will apply non-verbatim documented conversation and provide evidence of the key ideas emerging within the submitted

enquiry report (e.g. within the appendices).

Review: Critically examining the academic and practitioner literature to support the exploration, displaying an ability to critically assess and

appraise the knowledge of your discipline related to a specific key issue arising from your exploration.


Part B (65%, 9,500-10,000 words)

Engage: Displaying an authentic engagement with the discipline problem/issue identified in Part A, by collecting/generating and analysing

further live data (beyond the initial interview) regarding the discipline problem/issue. This live data may be primary data (e.g. further interviews

with, or questionnaire to, managers and/or professionals in practice) or secondary data (e.g. industry data). Application of appropriate,

ethically-considered, research methods and appropriate qualitative or quantitative data analysis.

Reflect and Connect: Demonstrating an ability to critically evaluate and reflect on the issues arising from the Management Enquiry.

Demonstrating how you have connected and fed-back to the participants of the Enquiry (usually the manager and/or participants) your key

findings to provide clear prioritised, well-justified, practical and actionable recommendations for change/enhancement/improvement to existing

practice to show how the recommendations would potentially affect workplace professional decision making.

More information

Modules

We are currently reviewing modules which provide opportunities to work with industry to gain real experience. Modules will be updated in due course.

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

BM9718 -

Research Methods and Analytics for Business Practice (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will learn about a comprehensive range of research methods and business analytics techniques. This will equip you with the knowledge and practical skills necessary for you to conduct research at Masters’ level and prepare you to complete a Master’s Dissertation, Consultancy Project or Management Enquiry. By the end of the module you will know how to apply both quantitative and qualitative data collection and business analysis techniques. In quantitative techniques you will learn about sampling, questionnaire design, statistical inference, and hypothesis testing while qualitative techniques covered will include methods such as interviewing and focus groups. Analysis methods such as content analysis and thematic analysis will also be covered. In addition, you will gain some understanding of research philosophy (positivism and interpretivism) and research ethics and you will be able to write a research proposal to bring these ideas together.
Furthermore, this module will provide clear, critical, and analysis of data, you will also be able to consider the use of analytics implementation skills, where you will be introduced to analytics software such as SPSS. SPSS statistics analysis is one of the powerful solutions that is designed to help businesses and researchers to solve problems by various methods (geospatial analysis, predictive analytics and hypothesis testing).

More information

GA7000 -

Academic Language Skills for Postgraduate Business Students (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This

module is designed to support your transition to postgraduate level study in the use and practice of subject specific skills around assessments

and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to further develop your abilities to read and study effectively

for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your

use and application of language and communications skills suitable for a postgraduate level of study.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding postgraduate assignment briefs.

• Developing advanced academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.

• Practising advanced ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’

• Planning and structuring postgraduate level academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).

• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.

• Speaking in postgraduate seminar presentations.

• Presenting your ideas

• Giving discipline-related postgraduate level academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.

• Postgraduate level speed reading techniques.

• Developing self-reflection skills.

More information

MK9709 -

Global Consumers and Marketplaces (Optional,20 Credits)

Owing to changing migration patterns and digital media, we live in an increasingly global society. Whilst posing many opportunities for business, the decision to internationalise a company’s offering involves as range of complex business decisions. In this module, you will explore how marketing practices can be applied to global business, and in doing so develop a thorough commercial appreciation of the complexities of marketing across nations.

The module is broadly composed of three themes:

• The Global Consumer: Consumers across the globe differ on a wide range of factors, including education levels, cultural norms, religious beliefs and wider lifestyle preferences. You will be introduced to some of these core differences, explore how cultural values differ across regions and the emergence of a global consumer culture. You will also explore how consumers tend to favour products from certain countries based on principles of country-of-origin and national identity.

• International Marketing Strategy: This theme will introduce you to the various market entry strategies utilised by organisations, including export, intermediate and hierarchical modes. Here you will explore the complexities of the global marketing environment (encapsulating political and economic differences) and developing international buyer-seller relationships.

• Global Marketing Decisions: Once an organisation chooses to internationalise, you will explore the range of marketing decisions that need to be made, including queries over product, pricing, marketing communications and branding. As part of this, you will be introduced to the ‘standardisation versus adaptation’ debate, which considers whether organisations should offer identical offerings across markets or implement a more tailored approach.

More information

MO9700 -

Global Supply Chain and Operations Improvement (Optional,20 Credits)

This module addresses global contemporary operations and supply chain issues, challenges, strategies and tools and will develop you as an active learner. The mission of this module is three-folded:

1. This module aims to provide you with an underpinning knowledge about supply chain and operations improvement, whilst investigating the ongoing developments in theory and practice within the global context. You will learn strategic theories and gain knowledge associated with performance improvement inside, outside and beyond the organisations that enable value chain strategies to be put in place. The key themes include:
• Global Operations and Supply Chain Strategy
• Quality Management Models, Strategies and Systems
• Industry 4.0
• Robotic Process Automation
• Service Operations Improvement
• Performance Measurement and Benchmarking
• Process Improvement strategies
• Lean Management
• Location Management
• Supplier Development
• Global Supply Chain issues
• Process and product Design
• Postponement
• Global Logistics and Transport

2. This module aims at developing your practical problem solving skills in the global operations and supply chain context by analysing contemporary issues through interactive case study analysis in each of the weekly seminars. You will have opportunity to analyse cases relevant to the various theoretical themes and discuss with your tutor, fellow students and team members to answer the relevant questions with the facilitation of your seminar tutor. Your development in linking theory into practice is supported by regular seminar-based analysis of contemporary case studies that align to the different theoretical themes presented in the modules through the lectures. This practical seminar work further supports your development in team-based research and underpins the module’s assessment activities.

3. This research-informed module also aims at developing your research skills. You will have opportunity to learn more about critical reading and writing of peer reviewed academic journal articles individually and with your seminar group. You will develop your team-based research skills including collaboration, research framework development and oral presentation.

On completing this module, you will be able to demonstrate your developed capability to analyse global operations and supply chain issues, underpinned by relevant knowledge and be able to implement suitable improvement strategies and tools.

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SM4008 -

International Business: Contexts and Challenges (Core,20 Credits)

This module examines worldwide integration of economic, political, and socio-cultural aspects of business in order to explore and understand the impact of globalisation on countries, organizations, and individuals. You will develop a world-view of the global marketplace. You will learn how knowledge and understanding of the global environment affect business functions. Special consideration is given to key issues in ethics, global social responsibility and technology. You will also gain essential knowledge of international business management and will learn how to evaluate challenges of organisational functioning in the global economy. You will be engaged in the analysis of the wider impact of individual and organisational decision making with respect to the business environments in major world markets. The aim of the module is to introduce you to the main International Business (IB) theories relating to external environment analysis and demonstrate how they can be used to inform strategic decisions.
You will also engage with key issues pertinent to the global business environment today, particularly as it pertains to recognising global shifts in political and culture as well as developments in emerging economies and least developed countries.

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SM4022 -

Globalisation, Innovation and Sustainability (Core,20 Credits)

This 20-credit core module is delivered during the first semester of the MSc International Business Management and is aimed at you if you have prior business and management academic experience.

The aim of the module is to build on your prior academic knowledge of business management and explores the new post-recession economic and business environment. It aims to develop your academic knowledge and professional skills in evaluating sustainable strategic options for international organisations seeking competitive advantage through innovation. Contemporary but also traditional strategy formulation theoretical frameworks are presented within the module to develop you as critical thinkers and future practitioners.

The module is designed around five pillars: (i) developments in the new (post-global recession) economic and business environment; (ii) strategic options for international growth; (iii) innovation; (iv) leadership and change within an international/global business model; and (v) sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR).

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SM4023 -

Contemporary Issues in Entrepreneurship (Optional,20 Credits)

This is a 20-credit module running in the second semester of the MSc Business with programme and is developed for those of you who have prior awareness of entrepreneurship and seek a deeper understanding of contemporary issues of entrepreneurship and small business subjects. The aim of the module is to introduce you to the main theoretical concepts of entrepreneurship and small business – Entrepreneurship Characteristics; Creativity; Risk and Strategic Options; Technology Innovation; Networks; Sustainability; Orientation – and show how each can contribute to the activities, success or otherwise of entrepreneurship. On completion of the module you will be able to demonstrate critical thinking skills suitable for strategic leadership roles adept at organisational change and innovation and utilise oral, written and communication skills. The content of the module comprises of a range of components which are listed below.

Entrepreneurship
Introduction to the module; Entrepreneurship; context; entrepreneurial revolution; influences; Differences between entrepreneurs & owner-managers’; characteristics and traits, skills; stakeholders; models of entrepreneurship and critical thinking & summative assessment guidance.

Strategies & Models of Entrepreneurship
The Entrepreneurial Environment, Entrepreneurial Strategies; Objectives and Competitive Advantage; Entrepreneurial Productivity & Performance.

Characteristics and Activities of Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship Traits and Behaviour; Motivations and Values; Growth & Skills; Entrepreneurial Leadership Skills; Corporate Entrepreneurship; Culture; Structure & Control; Types of Entrepreneurs including Social and Civic Entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurship Technology & Innovation
Role of technology innovation & Change; Technology Industries Leadership; High Tech; HEI-SME knowledge interactions; Entrepreneurial State; Benefits & Limitations of Open Innovation and Business Clusters, Creativity and Knowledge; Diffusion and Adoption.

Entrepreneurial Networks and Open Innovation
Understanding Social Networks and their contribution to Entrepreneurship. Weak and Strong Ties; Enterprise Partnerships & Policy; Public Entrepreneurship; Business Ventures; Motivation & Engagement.

Public Sector Entrepreneurship
Social Innovation; Public Sector Entrepreneurs; Regional Policy.

International Entrepreneurship
Globalisation & International Entrepreneurship; International Start-up; Models of Internationalisation; Influence of Networks and Learning Theories.

Entrepreneurial Orientation
Entrepreneurial Synergies ; Psychological Orientation ; Gender in Entrepreneurship.

Critical Thinking Skills
The module seeks to foster your critical thinking, analytical, synthesis and reflection skills through developing your awareness of contemporary issues of entrepreneurship and small business to ensure a critical appreciation of the entrepreneurship and small business field of study.

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SM9714 -

International Trade and Finance (Optional,20 Credits)

In this module, you will gain a detailed understanding of international trade and the economic environment within which international businesses operate. The module will provide you with the opportunity to review both traditional and modern theories of international trade, discuss sources of international finance and analyse the impacts of international trade and finance in diverse contexts. In addition, this module aims to provide you with the skills necessary to discuss and critically appraise policy issues related to these issues. The module will cover relevant theories of trade and you will be supported in investigating their application to real world contexts. This will be combined with analyses of international and domestic trade flows, institutions governing trade, exchange rates and finance flows. By the end of the module, you will be able to apply the acquired skills to discuss and critically appraise policy issues related to the international trade of goods and services.

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SM9728 -

Strategic Frameworks for International Business (Optional,20 Credits)

The module provides students with an understanding of concepts, theories, and frameworks that are relevant to strategic decision making, the dynamics of global strategy, and enhanced performance in international business. The module combines theoretical and managerial insights on international business strategy to provide knowledge and understanding of what happens in complex international business settings. The module content will cover core international business concepts, and strategic options available to managers. It will also cover strategic decision making in relation to functional areas and how to improve business performance across borders. Students will develop knowledge and ability to critically analyses and apply models of international business strategy to cross-border operations.

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SM9729 -

International Business and Development Impacts (Optional,20 Credits)

In this module, students will analyse the organisation of international business activities across countries and consider how these global connections shape development in host / home markets. The module focuses on key business actors, including multinational enterprises (MNEs), governments, SMEs and multilateral institutions operating across borders. In the module, students will critically examine the processes and impacts of foreign direct investment and trade; explore the theoretical foundations of international businesses as policy and development actors; evaluate how MNEs and other international business actors can profitably harness opportunities in host economies and contribute towards addressing vital development challenges.

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SM9730 -

The Rise of the Global Economy (Optional,20 Credits)

The module overviews the past three hundred years of global economic and business history and in providing students with the context necessary to acquire an in-depth understanding of the global business environment, is related to some of the key themes explored within the rest of the International Business Management course. In particular, we will examine various political economic systems – capitalism, socialism, colonialism and imperialism – and their divergent experiences of economic development. We will also examine the evolution of the governing institutions of the global economy such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organisation – understanding the origins of these institutions is key to understanding how they function today – and how business has interacted with national and supra-national entities.
Through the course’s Learning and Teaching activities, students will become familiar with interpreting a varied range of quantitative and qualitative evidence, and to synthesise them into coherent analysis. A research-rich module is underpinned by the faculty’s world-leading research in business and economic history.

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SM9731 -

Placemaking and Cultural Consumption (Optional,20 Credits)

In this module, you will study the concept of place, culture and creativity in cities worldwide.
Our contention is that people make places, and to an extent, places make people. In the module, students explore how spaces become meaningful places for leisure and consumption around the world as a result of what people (tourists, entrepreneurs, residents, policymakers, captains of industry) do. Students will be introduced to concepts on place-making, including the creation of contemporary bohemia / neo-bohemian cultural quarters aimed at the and day to night-time economy alongside creative and heritage industries, and cultural performances. Some of the themes to be studied include the significance of placemaking as cultural production and consumption, from the glossy, large-scale mega-development of event spaces, concert halls and sports grounds to more grass-roots community engaged bohemian entrepreneurs and sole operators.

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SM9742 -

Developing Leadership Capability in an Intercultural Context (Core,20 Credits)

This module engages you in personal and professional development in order that you develop and hone your teamworking, management and leadership skills, capabilities and attributes, and in so doing, enhance your employability. On this module, you will not only prepare for your first job after you graduate but also kickstart your commitment to life-long personal and professional learning. In the first part of the module, you will be supported in a self-analysis by a range of activities, including the completion of self-administered tool-kits to demonstrate an increased self-awareness and self-understanding. This will also involve applying theoretical frameworks and researching contemporary literature for a more in-depth understanding of self. A key outcome of this process is how you will be able to exploit this development in order to lead, and manage, more effectively in your future careers. The second part of the module contains activities which enable you to build on your self-analysis and explore further your strengths, weaknesses and areas for development in the context of your career development plans. . Furthermore, you will use your understanding of self to help you to understand the key issues and specific challenges that you face, with your skills profile, in relation to your employability prospects in your target profession/industry/sector. This will also include the development of knowledge into the global graduate market, (including routes such as self-employment and developing your career with an existing employer) drawing upon local, national and international examples.

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NX0470 -

Applied Management Work Investigation (Optional,60 Credits)

You will undertake a group consultancy project within the Business Clinic during the first semester of your second year of Masters’ study (NX0479). Through your work-based experience, you will develop ability as a problem solver with valued investigative, theoretical and practical business skills. This will last the length of the semester and involve the examination of a complex organisational problem or commercial opportunity. This second semester module will involve the development of the client oriented management report and presentation alongside an individual literature review and personal reflection.

The content of the management report will be unique. The nature and scope of the area of your investigation will be defined and agreed in collaboration with the organisation and the University supervisor. The syllabus will include:

• Conducting research in organisations.
• Identifying researchable questions.
• Consultancy and project management skills.
• Research methods and doing a literature review
• Presentation, communication and report writing skills.
• Analysing findings.
• Writing recommendations and action plans.
• Reflecting on work based experiential learning.

In undertaking this project based module, you will critically reflect and evaluate upon organisational practices and their relation with academic theory, and in doing so, provide practical and actionable recommendations through an investigative management report.

The assessment for your module consists of a Group Consultancy Report (7,000 words) and Final Client Presentation, weighted at 60%, alongside an Individual Assignment comprising a Literature Review (4000 words) and a Reflective Learning Statement (2,000 words), weighted at 40%.

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NX0478 -

Masters' Study Abroad (Optional,60 Credits)

Within this module, you will record your learning experience gained by undertaking a semester outside of the UK as part of your Masters’ programme by means of academic study at a partner institution and it will enable you to recognise the differences between a business and management academic experience between Northumbria and your chosen overseas academic institution.

Your programme of study will vary according to the country and institution in which you study, but each programme offered will meet the following general requirements:
• The study programme will be last one at least one semester in duration.

• You will attend all mandatory classes.

• You will undertake normal module assessments required by the host institution.

• You will study subjects approved by the NBS Study Abroad Programme Leader. Subject areas may be in any business discipline, foreign language, culture or politics.

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NX0479 -

Business Clinic PG Group Consultancy Project (Optional,60 Credits)

As a student enrolled on one of the 2-year Advanced Practice Programmes you may undertake a group consultancy project within the first semester of your second years of Masters’ study. Through your work-based experience, you will develop abilities as a problem solver with valued investigative, theoretical and practical business skills. This work-based experience will last the length of the semester and involve the examination of a complex organisational problem or commercial opportunity. By undertaking this module, you will have enhanced your individual skills, knowledge, effectiveness and employability by locating learning and development within a work-based context and will have critically reflected and evaluated upon organisational practices and the relation with academic theory.

The content of the work-based experience will be unique to you as a group of participants. The nature and scope of the area of student investigation will be defined and agreed in collaboration with the organisation and the University supervisor. The syllabus will include:

• Conducting research in organisations.
• Identifying researchable questions.
• Consultancy and project management skills.
• Research methods and doing a literature review
• Presentation, communication and report writing skills.
• Analysing findings.
• Writing recommendations and action plans.
• Reflecting on work based experiential learning.

Assessment will be both formative and summative and incorporate self, peer, and tutor evaluation. You will present your work-based findings to academic mentors (oral presentation) and an interim report written on behalf of the host organisation or sponsoring project client. In the follow-up module (NX0470), you will provide a substantial management investigation report on the business related issue emerging from this consultancy, alongside a personal reflective statement.

*Those students who do not achieve a mark 80% or more will not progress to NX0470 but will progress to the Masters Dissertation or Management Enquiry Module.

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NX0480 -

The Newcastle Business School Masters Dissertation (Optional,60 Credits)

In this module you will gain an understanding of the academic skills that are required to produce a Masters Dissertation. By the end of the module you will have written a 15000 word Masters dissertation. The areas included are:

• Justification for the choice of topic
• Appropriate understanding, awareness and critical analysis of existing and up to date literature evidenced by a comprehensive and well-referenced literature review with an extensive reference list
• Selection, justification and application of an appropriately rigorous methodology - including limitations of the approach selected
• Clear statement of the findings of the research
• Critical analysis of the findings
• Explicit links between the analysis and the conclusions supported by critical argument
• Evidence of original work or thought for example in the form or context of the data collected, analytical process or application of findings

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NX9734 -

Masters' Management Enquiry (Optional,60 Credits)

The Masters’ Management Enquiry module is a student-led individual project that enables you to undertake a significant piece of assessed

work commensurate with a capstone module and is offered as an alternative to the Masters’ Dissertation and Masters’ Consultancy Project.

The module aims to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate an authentic engagement with managers and/or professionals in your

discipline (this enquiry has to be discipline specific), and to integrate the knowledge you have developed during your programme to explore

the theory in practice. The learning on this module is experiential and problem based, where the focus is upon you discovering, probing and

questioning key practice-based issues. Through the module you will be offered the opportunity to develop and enhance key transferable

employability skills including; time management, project management, communication (written, aural and verbal), negotiation, persuasion and

influence, discovery, initiative, problem-solving and analysis.


The module has five thematic areas; explore, review, engage, reflect and connect. These form the key elements of the assessed submission

which is a single 15,000 word report.


Part A (35%, 5,000-5,500 words)

Explore: Interviewing a manager and/or professional in your discipline. In this interview you will either explore a key issue which you feel the

discipline is facing or, alternatively, explore with the manager or professional the key issues that they feel they are facing in practice. It is

expected that you will apply non-verbatim documented conversation and provide evidence of the key ideas emerging within the submitted

enquiry report (e.g. within the appendices).

Review: Critically examining the academic and practitioner literature to support the exploration, displaying an ability to critically assess and

appraise the knowledge of your discipline related to a specific key issue arising from your exploration.


Part B (65%, 9,500-10,000 words)

Engage: Displaying an authentic engagement with the discipline problem/issue identified in Part A, by collecting/generating and analysing

further live data (beyond the initial interview) regarding the discipline problem/issue. This live data may be primary data (e.g. further interviews

with, or questionnaire to, managers and/or professionals in practice) or secondary data (e.g. industry data). Application of appropriate,

ethically-considered, research methods and appropriate qualitative or quantitative data analysis.

Reflect and Connect: Demonstrating an ability to critically evaluate and reflect on the issues arising from the Management Enquiry.

Demonstrating how you have connected and fed-back to the participants of the Enquiry (usually the manager and/or participants) your key

findings to provide clear prioritised, well-justified, practical and actionable recommendations for change/enhancement/improvement to existing

practice to show how the recommendations would potentially affect workplace professional decision making.

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Study Options

The following alternative study options are available for this course:

Any Questions?

Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help.  They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.



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Northumbria University is committed to developing an inclusive, diverse and accessible campus and wider University community and are determined to ensure that opportunities we provide are open to all.

We are proud to work in partnership with AccessAble to provide Detailed Access Guides to our buildings and facilities across our City, Coach Lane and London Campuses. A Detailed Access Guide lets you know what access will be like when you visit somewhere. It looks at the route you will use getting in and what is available inside. All guides have Accessibility Symbols that give you a quick overview of what is available, and photographs to show you what to expect. The guides are produced by trained surveyors who visit our campuses annually to ensure you have trusted and accurate information.

You can use Northumbria’s AccessAble Guides anytime to check the accessibility of a building or facility and to plan your routes and journeys. Search by location, building or accessibility feature to find the information you need. 

We are dedicated to helping students who may require additional support during their student journey and offer 1-1 advice and guidance appropriate to individual requirements. If you feel you may need additional support you can find out more about what we offer here where you can also contact us with any questions you may have:

Accessibility support

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All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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