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International Business Management

MSc

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Key information

Key information for 2026-27

Start date:
October 2026 | January 2027
Study route:

  • One year full-time, on campus

  • Two years part-time, on campus

Status:
Fully approved
Location:
Birkbeck Campus, Central London
Awarding body:
University of London
Study options:
Full-time | Part-time | On campus

Course overview

Our MSc International Business Management is designed to offer you the knowledge, skills and attitudes you need to enhance your employability in a global business environment that is fast-paced, constantly changing and technology driven.

  • Why choose this course?
    • You will be taught by world-leading academics drawing on their original research to provide you with a cutting-edge appreciation of managers, organisations and what it takes to build a career in a dynamic and changing global environment.
    • You can adapt the course to your interests and it has a particular focus on supporting you to develop your career.
    • This innovative MSc emphasises time spent in the classroom over self-managed learning time usual for an MSc course in this subject.
    • It is ideal for graduates from a range of disciplines: if your degree is business-related you will have the opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills further; if you have a degree in another subject it will allow you to upskill and widen your opportunities in the graduate job market.

  • What will I learn?

    You will be introduced to a range of contemporary management subjects and practices. This course also promotes an interdisciplinary connection within the international business field, so you will have the opportunity to choose from specialist international modules in business, human resource management, business ethics and marketing.

    The course is also designed to increase your employability through a core employment module which will equip you to carry out effective job searches in competitive job markets, understand how you can best present your experience, qualifications and skills to potential employers, and learn how to excel in the recruitment and selection process.

  • How will I learn?

    This course is available for you to study full- or part-time. Classes, consisting of lectures and seminars, take place in the evening.

  • How often will I attend classes?

    Full-time October start: Three to four evenings a week, plus workshops over summer, October to July.

    Full-time January start: Three to four evenings a week, plus workshops over summer, January to December.

    Part-time October start: One to two evenings a week, plus workshops over summer, October to July.

    Part-time January start: One to two evenings a week, plus workshops over summer, January to December.

  • Course disclaimer

    Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.

    Most of our courses are taught in the evenings, however some of our courses offer a daytime timetable. Where there is an option to attend daytime teaching sessions, this is stated in the How will I learn? section.

More highlights

  • Our campus is in the heart of London, giving you access to a vibrant business community and extensive professional networks.
  • Birkbeck is an internationally recognised centre of excellence in teaching, research and consultancy in the broad field of management.
  • Our academic staff are active researchers as well as enthusiastic teachers, and regularly publish cutting-edge articles in the world's leading journals. We have particular research strengths in international business and strategy, the management of innovation and entrepreneurship, human resource management, corporate governance, sports management, and marketing, as well as financial management and accounting.
  • Birkbeck students are drawn from a diverse range in terms of age and academic, social and cultural backgrounds. This creates a stimulating and supportive learning environment.

Modules and Teaching

Birkbeck Business School

The school is research-driven across a wide range of disciplinary themes with academic staff who create new knowledge, push boundaries and publish in leading academic journals.

Visit the school

Entry requirements

Our standard entry requirements for postgraduate courses are a second-class honours degree (2:2), or equivalent, in any area of study.

We also accept a professional or other qualification obtained by written examinations approved by Birkbeck.

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.

On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

Apply now to secure your place. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application can be considered, and you can enrol. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

  • What are the English language requirements?

    If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

    If you don't meet the minimum English language requirements, please contact us or see our international study skills page for more details about how we can help.

    Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.

  • What are the visa and funding requirements?

    If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

    The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

    • Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
    • Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

    International students who require a Student visa should apply to study on our courses full-time as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol to study part-time courses at Birkbeck (with the exception of some modules).

    As a Student visa student, you should also apply to study on campus only, as online and flexible options of study (if they are available for your course) may affect the conditions of your visa.

    For full information, read our visa information for international students page.

    Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country.

    Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

  • Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

    If you have studied at university (or have an HND or Foundation Degree), you may have accumulated credits. It may be possible to transfer these from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

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Fees

MSc: One year full-time or two years part-time, on campus, starting in October 2026

Academic year 2026-27

Part-time home students: £6,555 per year
Full-time home students: £13,110 per year
Part-time international students: £11,490 per year
Full-time international students: £22,980 per year

MSc: One year full-time or two years part-time, on campus, starting in January 2027

Academic year 2026-27

To be confirmed

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing their course may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see the Fees Policy.

Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at Birkbeck.

Birkbeck's campus is located in the historic and vibrant Bloomsbury area of central London - named one of the best places to live in London 2025 by The Times.

Careers and employability

On successfully graduating from this MSc International Business Management you will have gained a range of valuable transferable skills, including:

  • relationship building and being able to work effectively in a team
  • critical-thinking skills and decision making
  • the ability to critically evaluate the behaviours and actions of managers in a variety of business contexts
  • the ability to approach problems in a systematic way drawing on theory, practice and evidence.

This course offers a gateway to a wide variety of careers and we support students in making informed decisions about their next steps. Graduates from this course can follow career paths in a wide range of roles in organisations which operate in many different fields from finance to retail, technology to manufacturing. They may work in organisations in the process of internationalising and also those that are already international in scope.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

Student support

Birkbeck offers study, learning and wellbeing support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed.

Our Learning Development Service provides a lively programme of free weekly workshops building essential academic skills - from writing and critical thinking to maths and referencing - offering flexible sessions, practical tips, and online resources to boost your skills and confidence.

Our Disability and Mental Health Service can support you if you have disabilities, specific learning differences, mental health conditions or neurodivergence, by providing practical support to help you achieve your academic potential.

Our Counselling Service aims to support you with any emotional and psychological difficulties that are affecting your experience and engagement with your studies at university. It is a free, non-judgemental and confidential service which consists of a consultation process followed by time limited counselling contact.

Find out more about the full range of student services we offer at Birkbeck.

How to apply

You apply directly to Birkbeck for this course, using the online application link.

You will need to prove your identity when you apply. Find out more about how to apply.

  • When should I apply?

    You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure there are still places left, and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol.

    You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - Birkbeck can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.

Related courses

Study routes for International Business Management (MSc)

Please select a study route below to continue your application.

Please note that international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK can only apply for full-time, on campus routes.

Starting in October 2026

Full-time

Part-time

Starting in January 2027

Full-time

Part-time