Overview and entry requirements

MSc International Business programme is open to graduates from any discipline. Work experience is welcome but not necessary. This programme not just emphasises the development of a comprehensive knowledge set of key areas in international business, but also their applications.

Through interactive teaching and learning students are expected to develop their critical perspectives on the changing dynamics of multinational firms and small businesses and their relationships with the external environment.

See School of Finance and Management

Why study MSc International Business at SOAS

We are 5th in UK for graduate employability (Guardian League Tables 2021). 

the debate in grand challenges of international business to the formulation of global corporate strategy to attain the Sustainable Development Goals, students will learn and analyse how firms need to address the most prominent challenges that global businesses face and take actions.

This programme also aims to help students understand the importance of cultural intelligence in delivering effective communications, negotiations and work in the global business environment.

Graduates from this programme are expected to start their careers in global firms with a wide range of function roles, or even start up their own businesses, work for policy makers in international trade and investment.

Explore

• Finance and Management Seminar Series
• The missing women of Finance and Economics

Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings

Start of programme: September

Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time

Structure

Students must take 180 credits. These are composed of 120 taught credits comprising core and optional modules and a 60 credit dissertation.

Not all option modules are offered every year; please check your preferences with the Programme Convenor. Also note that where 15 credit modules are selected, these should be balanced between term 1 and term 2.

Core Modules

Optional Elective Modules

Students should choose one 15 credit module from List A and one 15 credit module from List B. Alternatively, students should choose one 30 credit module from List C. 

Please note that some modules below have pre-requisite modules. For example, in order to take Chinese 1 B (PG), students must have also taken and passed Chinese 1 A (PG). Please see the individual module pages below for details of any pre-requisite requirements. 

List A

List B

List C

Programme Specification

• MSc International Business Programme Specification (pdf; 220kb)

Important notice

Teaching & Learning

Masters programmes (with the exception of two-year full-time MAs) consist of 180 credits, made up of taught modules of 30 or 15 credits, taught over 10 or 20 weeks, and a dissertation of 60 credits. The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which optional.

Contact hours

As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study such as reading and research, preparing coursework, revising for examinations and so on. Also included is class time, for example lectures, seminars and other classes. 

At SOAS, most postgraduate modules have a one-hour lecture and a one-hour seminar every week, but this does vary. More information can be found on individual module pages.

Find out more on our approaches to teaching and learning

Learning resources

SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.

Tuition Fees

Full details of postgraduate tuition fees can be found on the Registry's Postgraduate Tuition Fees page.

This is a Band 6 tuition fee.

Fees for 2021/22 entrants. The fees below are per academic year. Fees go up each year, therefore, your tuition fee in your second & subsequent years of study will be higher. Our continuing students, on the same degree programme, are protected from annual increases higher than 5%.

Scholarships

For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section

Employment

Studying the MSc International Business programme will provide students with a firm grasp of management disciplines.

Skills gained

• coherent and solid knowledge of global business, with direct reference to the Asian, Middle East and North African (MENA) regions
• broad knowledge and understanding of the regional culture
• statistical and computing skills
• the ability to think laterally and employ critical reasoning
• analytical skills
• communication and presentation skills

Graduates from the Department have pursued successful careers in business, banking, consulting, media and other industries, especially in companies or organisations that operate in, or do business with Asian, Middle East and North African regions.

Find out more at Careers Service

Careers

SOAS graduates have gone on to work for a range of organisations including:

• Deloitte
• Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ
• KPMG
• Euro Monitor International
• Santander
• Investec
• HM Treasury
• Western Securities Co. Ltd
• Nomura
• UBS

Roles 

Types of positions postgraduates gain include:

• Trainee Chartered Accountant
• Business Relationship Manager
• Financial Analyst
• Market Research Executive
• Management Consultant
• Vice-President
• Foreign Exchange Trading
• Business Manager
• Deputy Chief Executive Officer
• Events Manager

• How to Apply
• Online Application
• Request a prospectus
• Got a question - use our enquiry form (opens a new window)
• Funding options
• English language requirements
• Tuition Fees
• Admissions Contacts