Course overview

This course is designed for those who wish to develop international business careers, but do not have English as their first language.

Our programme will build your critical awareness of current issues in business research and practice. It provides a solid understanding of a range of key international business and organisational contexts such as economics, marketing, and management alongside opportunities to develop your use of English as an international business language and appreciation of cultural influences underpinning business communication.

The programme combines formal tuition with independent research, which includes a detailed introduction to business research methods and expert supervision. This will establish your capacity to design and deliver high-quality analyses based on the best of current business thinking. 

Please note that native English speaking applicants are not eligible to apply for this degree.

For further information, please contact our Admissions Team (details above). We also hold regular postgraduate and part-time open evenings at which you can see our facilities, enjoy a guest lecture and meet the academics and current students over drinks and canapés. Applicants will be interested to know that each year Portsmouth Business School offers a number of scholarships for self-funding students.

Course content

We have designed the curriculum to enhance your employability upon graduation. It addresses two important and related needs:

• key skills expected from postgraduate business students in the areas of finance, economics, marketing and strategic management, including the tools to understand contemporary problems in commercial and public sector environments
• at the same time, we will help you become more skilful and nuanced in using English in a business environment

In combination, this degree means that you will gain an attractive collection of expertise and competences suitable to an international business career.

This course comprises four taught units that you will study between September and May. You will also receive instruction in research methods during this period. The curriculum is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops that emphasise the acquisition of skills and developing confidence in communicating your ideas. The programme concludes with a written research project on a topic of your choice.

The units you will study are:

Principles of Economic and Quantitative Analysis: this unit provides those new to studying economics with the principles of economic theory before progressing to cover key mathematic and statistical concepts. It concludes with an introduction to econometric modelling techniques. On completing this unit you will be able to develop solutions to business problems using conceptual and statistical techniques. Topics covered include:

• markets and theory of the firm
• macroeconomic policy
• statistical analysis
• introduction to econometric modelling techniques

Economics in Business: International trade and finance are central issues to business communities. This unit introduces key theories of trade and finance, and demonstrates their relevance to global economic issues. Upon completion, you will appreciate arguments relating to efficiency in international markets and the operation of various international institutional arrangements for government and business. Topics covered include:

• growth and development
• balance of payments and exchange rate determination
• economic integration
• the international monetary system

International Business Communication: this unit deals with communication issues in an international business setting. You will gain awareness of the how culture influences language skills and communicative appropriacy. It will also enhance effective skills in written and spoken business English. Topics covered include:

• models of national culture and models of communication
• national culture and corporate culture
• negotiating across cultures
• presenting across cultures

Strategic Management and Global Marketing: this unit gives you an opportunity to develop knowledge, skills and critical thinking in key areas of global marketing and strategic management. It explores the nature of strategic decision making and change management, as well as critically reviews approaches to strategic management, and addresses paradoxes in differing national and international contexts.  Topics covered include:

• researching international markets
• international product development and global markets
• the basis of competitive advantage
• managing strategic change processes
• organisation development and systems intervention

Research Methods: Students on all economics postgraduate programmes complete a scheme of independent research. We offer comprehensive training via lectures and workshops throughout the year to develop skills commensurate with standards of good research practice. On completing this programme you will be ideally placed to develop your own research projects and work within professional research teams.

Dissertation: Your dissertation engages you in economic research using the skills and judgement you have developed during your course. You will start your research training when you join us and we will help you right from the development of a working proposal through to concentrating on your project after completing your taught units. You will be guided by a member of the department through formal meetings and via our use of social media.

Teaching and assessment

We are committed to best practice in teaching and learning. Several of us are involved in major collaborative projects to integrate new teaching technologies into economics classrooms. We maintain an ongoing programme of continuing professional development (CPD) that brings us into contact with scholars from other institutions and disciplines. This is reflected in approaches to learning, assessment and feedback that are varied and constructive, and will help you to build the personal management and employability skills that are essential for fulfilling careers.

Career prospects

At Portsmouth Business School we have regular discussions with employers and professional bodies to help ensure that all our courses are relevant to their business and recruitment needs. Our Careers and Employment Service team will support you in developing the skills needed to pursue employment opportunities in your chosen career area.

Career opportunities include business professionals, commercial, industrial and public sector managers, as well as many other jobs with responsibility for decision making.

Facilities and features

You will attend lectures in the purpose-built Richmond Building, where an attractive Postgraduate Centre is located. It offers a computer drop-in and resource centre containing a wireless network access area, as well as printing and photocopying facilities. The University Library is only a short walk away. Open from 8am until midnight every day in term-time, it provides a variety of information to help with study and research. Besides the law collection with key primary sources, journals and texts, there is also a European Documentation Centre and collection of Parliamentary Papers. The library has also heavily invested in the purchase of electronic sources. There are thousands of electronic journals available, which can be accessed across campus, from home or wherever there is an internet connection.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for MA International Business and English are shown above, for more detailed information please contact:

Department: Portsmouth Business School
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 8200
Email: pbs.postgradadmissions@port.ac.uk