Lead globally with strategic insight, leadership strength, and business acumen.
What does it take to lead responsibly in a fast-changing global business world?
Our MSc International Business and Management equips you to navigate complexity, drive innovation and lead responsibly in global markets.
You’ll explore how global businesses manage cross-border operations, analyse international markets and develop inclusive strategies that respond to rapid economic, environmental and technological change.
Taught by research-active academics with international expertise, your learning is deeply rooted in real-world business practice. Modules are shaped by the UN Sustainable Development Goals and supported by industry partnerships, live consultancy work and authentic assessments.
You’ll have the chance to take on a summer internship, consultancy project, or gain international exposure through an NGO or partner university. A 12-month placement route is also available to build professional experience and confidence.
At Kent, you’ll graduate ready to create value and lead change - in global firms, international start-ups or your own cross-border ventures.
The following modules are what students will typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.
You take all compulsory modules and in your final term, you will choose one of our capstone modules, either 'Global Opportunities for Future Leaders', 'Professional Placement/Internship' or 'The International Business and Management Challenge'.
The Professional Placement/Internship module will give you the chance to work in a business as part of your degree, getting real world experience alongside your learning. Whereas the The International Business and Management Challenge is the perfect module for you to prepare for a career as a consultant. You'll pitch solutions to real organisational problems and create a consultancy report, demonstrating your skills and knowledge. The 'Global Opportunities for Future Leaders' module is designed with your global ambitions in mind, you can study abroad at a partner institution, or work at an NGO or charity to broaden your global outlook and develop your leadership skills.
Whichever option you choose, you will be engaging with real problems in real businesses, giving you crucial experience and expanding your network. So you can make rapid progress in your career.
Compulsory modules currently include the following
Why are some businesses multinationals when others are exporters only or remain solely in their home market? There are sound economic arguments for expanding into some markets and not others. International trade is a key issue on the world agenda and has considerable effects on countries’ businesses and consequently economies. The effects occur at the micro level of firms and households as well as at the macro level, where they are the subjects of government policy debates. This module advances your knowledge on a range of economic concepts such as comparative advantage and new trade theories enabling you to appreciate the benefits (and the costs) of international trade and investment. Skills you will develop as part of this module include critical thinking for decision making and data analysis.
Accounting is the language of business, which global leaders need to master. The module equips students with detailed knowledge of internationally recognised accounting techniques that managers and external stakeholders use to make decisions. You will be able to interpret at a glance the performance of a global corporation and use the tools that organisations draw on in their daily operations.
Get ready for captivating discussions on cutting-edge topics such as artificial intelligence, privacy, sustainability, cross-cultural communication and ethics. This module is an invitation to be at the forefront of challenges posed by operating in global markets. Join the module as we navigate the twists and turns of the international business landscape, where each challenge becomes an opportunity, and each question sparks innovation. Let the exploration begin.
How do multinational organisations make big-picture decisions about managing their global portfolios? How do they gain sustained advantage over their competitors? You will learn about how multinational enterprises design and manage their operations across borders, handling the tensions between their headquarters and their subsidiaries in order to get results on a global scale. Gain insight into strategic decision-making by looking at internationalisation strategies, managing strategic alliances and mergers and acquisitions, and also risk management, knowledge creation, divestment, and corporate social responsibility on a global scale. Round out your degree by understanding international business in a strategic way while mastering sought-after communication skills through the support provided for assessments on the module.
Global Value Chains have transformed the nature of trade and foreign direct investment and continue to bring opportunities and challenges for business enterprises and their operations around the world. Learn about how you as a manager can develop optimal relationships with your value chain partners, adapt to changing business and industry supply chain circumstances, and make responsible decisions in the context of an uncertain global economy. Evaluate the governance, policy, and power relationships that shape global value chains and learn how to manage risk and make your industry supply chains resilient to external shocks. Collaborate with other students on your course to analyse the value chains of real-world multinational companies and report on them, developing communication skills that you will be able to boast about!
Brands and products are crucial to the success of organisations. The module focuses on brand strategy, brand management, and measuring brand effectiveness, as well as shining a light on product management. You will be able to apply this knowledge to successfully manage brands and products in modern organisations.
In a world marked by perpetual transformation, how can emerging leaders adeptly navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities that shape their decision-making through global perspectives? Through engaging and interactive sessions you will unravel the complexities inherent in leadership principles and strategic decision-making. This module emphasizes hands-on applications, ensuring that students not only gain theoretical knowledge but also develop the practical skills essential for effective leadership based on EDI principles in the contemporary business environment. You will leave the module with a knowledge of organisational behaviour and human resource management practice and understand how indispensable resources are utilised by organizations to navigate the intricate landscape of global strategic decision-making.
Optional modules may include the following
Build your portfolio of invaluable cross-cultural skills further by taking part in the global opportunities we offer – such as a study period at a partner university or participation in a volunteering project with a charity or NGO. You will be able to participate in a physical or virtual activity with an organisation based outside the UK and enhance your global perspectives as part of your MSc studies. Get ready to exercise curiosity, resilience and agility and get involved in multi-cultural active learning!
Gain consultancy experience and pitch your solutions to existing organisational problems! You will work with problem-based case studies and address the posed challenges to offer sustainable and targeted solutions. Get ready to polish your consultancy, team-working, leadership, self-reflection skills but also show-case your best analytical and critical thinking and more!
Thinking about a career in the private sector? Or maybe you’re contemplating a career in the public or voluntary sector? Then this could be the module for you. This module builds on your previous subject-specific learning and enhances your understanding of how organisations operate in practice. You have the opportunity to gain experience whilst still on the postgraduate course and apply learning gained on the course. You will be able to reflect on the placement experience and how this relates to your academic knowledge. You will further enhance your critical thinking, communication, professional behaviours, and resilience. Placements/Internships are not guaranteed, and the University Careers and Employability team will be supporting you every step of the way.
Your placement consists of two modules: Industrial Placement Experience (BUSN9172) and Industrial Placement Report (BUSN9176). The Experience module is assessed as pass/fail only and the Report module is graded on a percentage scale. The chance to gain real industry experience as part of your MSc course gives you a real edge in the job market and boosts your career options.
Compulsory modules currently include the following
The Year in Industry Placement Exit Interview provides students with a structured opportunity to combine work experience or entrepreneurial activity with academic study. It allows students to develop and reflect on managerial and/or professional practice in real and often complex situations, and to integrate this with the study of the relevant subject(s) of your main degree programme. Students develop, reinforce and apply professional and/or technical expertise in an employment or entrepreneurial context. The Year in Industry Placement Exit Interview requires students to reflect on and evidence their experiences in relation to both their university studies as well as to a wide range of employability skills. Students will further enhance their critical thinking, communication, professional behaviours and resilience.
The Year in Industry Placement Experience provides students with a structured opportunity to combine work experience or entrepreneurial activity with academic study. The Year in Industry allows students to develop and reflect on managerial and/or professional practice in real and often complex situations, and to integrate this with the study of the relevant subject(s) of your main degree programme. Students develop, reinforce and apply professional and/or technical expertise in an employment or entrepreneurial context. The Industry Placement requires students to document their experiences in relation to both their university studies as well as to a wide range of employability skills. To be able to undertake this module it is necessary for the student to secure a placement. The placement should be appropriate to the student’s degree and experience. The length of the placement should normally be at least 39-44 weeks. Students will further enhance their critical thinking, communication, professional behaviours and resilience. Placements are not guaranteed and the University Careers and Employability team will be supporting placement students every step of the way.
Here’s a sample timetable from your first term at Kent. You'll learn through a mix of lectures, seminars and workshops - in both big and small groups with focused teaching blocks and time to work, rest or explore uni life.
Items in green are confirmed, whereas anything marked yellow could be scheduled at a different time or day depending on your group, but this gives a good sense of what to expect.
Plan your week better: at least one free weekday for catching up on course work or just taking a breather.
Focused days without burnout: No isolated 1-hour campus days.
Time to live the uni experience: Space for societies, part-time jobs and downtime.
2.2 or above
A minimum of a second-class UK degree, or an equivalent internationally recognised qualification in any subject area is needed for this course.
All applicants are considered on an individual basis and those without an honours degree may also be considered on the basis of work experience, professional qualifications and the relevance of the programme to their current professional role.
All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.
The 2026/27 annual tuition fees for this course are:
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy.
The 2026/27 annual tuition fees for UK postgraduate research courses have not yet been set by the Research Councils UK. This is ordinarily announced in March. As a guide only, the full-time tuition fee for new and returning UK postgraduate research courses for 2025/26 is £5,006.
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
You'll need regular access to a desktop computer/laptop with an internet connection to use the University of Kent’s online resources and systems. We've listed some guidelines for the technology and software you'll need for your studies.
Find out more about student accommodation and living costs, as well as general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:
Kent is a leading research university, meaning that you will be informed about new discussions and developments by the people making them. This means your work will have real potential to make a difference.
From the moment you start with us, our efforts are focused on helping you gain the knowledge, skills and experience you need to thrive in an increasingly competitive workplace. As part of the course, you may wish to undertake a Placement or you can increase your career prospects through an optional short-term 'Professional Placement/Internship' module as part of your degree, develop consultancy skills through our 'The International Business and Management Challenge' module or study abroad at a partner institution or work for an NGO or charity as part of the optional 'Global Opportunities for Leaders' module. You could even transform your idea into a business through the Business start-up Journey with Aspire. Our qualified careers practitioners provide support for up to three years after graduation.
Our careers and employability support at Kent Business School is designed to make sure you are ready to hit the ground running when you graduate, when you study with us you can expect:
Additionally, the Postgraduate Employability Edge programme, available to postgraduate students at Kent Business School takes place from Welcome Week until the end of your studies and is designed to enhance your career prospects further.
This specialist programme prepares students for a variety of competitive and exciting roles in multinational enterprises, international organisations, governmental bodies or consultancies.
Students who studied similar courses at Kent Business School have gone on to work in a variety of companies including:
Many of our students also stay local and find job opportunities regionally in small and medium firms or even set-up their own businesses as well-equipped entrepreneurs.
Global skills employers want
A degree can boost average lifetime earnings by over
Learn more about the application process or begin your application by clicking on a link below.
You will be able to choose your preferred year of entry once you have started your application. You can also save and return to your application at any time.
Apply now
