International Business and English – (M.A.)

Contents

The curriculum has been designed to cover two related and important aspects relevant to employment in international business. Firstly, you will obtain a generalist postgraduate education in selected areas of business - finance, business economics, marketing and strategic management - which will provide you with a good understanding of how these are relevant to the modern-day commercial and public-sector environment. At the same time, you will be able to improve your knowledge of English as an international language of communication. In this way, the course aims to prepare you for careers in business where you will encounter other non-native English speakers and where communication in English is frequently expected.

The course is arranged in three consecutive stages consisting of various study units. These operate through a credit accumulation scheme, with each unit attracting a specific number of course credits, offering you flexibility. The programme consists of three sequential stages, each of one semester's duration. In stages 1 and 2, four units are studied.

Stage 1

From October to January (leading to PgC):

International Business Communication 1
This unit will acquaint you with models of national culture and with how culture might influence approaches to language and communication skills in an international business environment. At the end of the unit you will be able to demonstrate awareness of the importance of relationship building across cultures, of non-verbal communication, of motivating international teams and the effects of national and corporate culture in the international business context. You will be expected to apply this knowledge to produce effective examples of spoken and written communication using appropriate language.

Accounting and Financial Analysis
Enabling you to gain a basic understanding of how accounting information is obtained, processed and reported, this unit also aims to provide skills and understanding in the use of financial information derived from financial statements and other sources.

Business Economics
This unit will enable you to understand, apply and evaluate the relevance of neoclassical and modern theories of the firm to different types of business. You will also be able to understand and explain those factors that determine business competitiveness and analyse the importance of technological innovation in affecting business competitiveness.

Research Methods
This unit introduces the concepts, methodologies and basic methods of undertaking and implementing research in economics and the social sciences.

Stage 2

From February to June (leading to PgD):

International Business Communication 2
This unit builds on International Business Communication 1 by enabling you to put theory further into practice by working on spoken and written language for specific contexts. You will be expected to fully participate in role plays and simulations and problem solving activities in groups. At the end of the unit, you will be able to understand and effectively use a range of styles, registers and practices appropriate to working and communicating in the context of international business.

International Strategic Management
Exploring strategic management and change management issues in organisations operating in international markets, this unit takes a critical view of extant theory and its application through case study analysis to ask how decisions are really made in the board room.

Global Marketing
This unit explores issues concerning the development and management of global marketing strategies and how they impact on an organisation?s overall marketing activities.

Optional unit
There are a range of postgraduate units available, from which you select one. The choices may vary, subject to demand and lecturer availability.

Stage 3

Dissertation
You will undertake an investigation of an appropriate, closely specified topic, using the skills you have learnt. You will have the opportunity to initiate, design and conduct a piece of research using original thought and independent judgement. You will have a supervisor from a member of the academic staff who will be able to advise you at regular meetings. Although preliminary work is undertaken earlier in the year, the dissertation is normally completed over the summer months, allowing a 12-month phase for the MA from start to finish.