International MBA - MBA
- Level: Postgraduate Taught
- Starting: September 2020, January 2021
- Study mode: Full Time
- Location: City Centre
Want to study an MBA in Birmingham? Our International MBA will give you a global view of international management.
The international business environment is rapidly changing, and a different market reality is emerging. As a student of today and manager of the future, you need to adapt and adopt flexible patterns of thinking and behaviour to succeed as global manager of tomorrow.
The International Masters in Business Administration (IMBA) has been designed with this in mind, as it explores in detail the nature and implications of the changes in the business environment and provides you with the skills and mindset that will allow you to operate effectively within such an unstable and unpredictable environment. You’ll also be taught to successfully lead the organisations of the future, regardless of sector or country.
Tailor your degree
For our International MBA degree, you will have the opportunity to take the Professional Placement version of the course, which is offered as an alternative to the standard version of the course.
This will allow you to complete a credit bearing, 20 week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability and transferable skills. The placement experience will allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market.
You will be responsible for finding and securing your own placement. The University, however, will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study, with support from our Careers+ team as well as advice and guidance from your School.
Please note that placements will only be confirmed following a competitive, employer-led selection process, therefore the University will not be able to guarantee placements for students who have registered for the ‘with Professional Placement’ course.
For full details, please click here.
What's covered in the course?
The course is designed to meet the needs of contemporary international businesses and blends academic excellence and professional skills, equipping you with marketable skills to operate and excel at strategic level across different sectors and in different countries. The course has a strong emphasis on employability and enhancing employability skills and will help you develop general communication and inter-personal skills.
You will emerge from our International MBA with well-developed powers of analysis, clear perspectives on strategy and strategic thinking, creative problem solving, an entrepreneurial mindset and highly effective communication and research skills - all of which are demanded by employers around the world.
Should you wish to start your own business, you will have the opportunity to explore and test your ideas in a supportive environment. The course has been designed to provide graduates with expertise in strategy, marketing, leadership, finance, global human resource management, international business, entrepreneurship, operations and project management, and research skills.
You become part of the international community while on the course, as you will study with students from different parts of the globe. Through our links with industry, the learning experience takes you from the classroom to the factory floor, through sponsored study/field trips to companies in the region, and with our organised internship course, you have the opportunity to gain valuable work experience while you study.
Entry Options
The following entry options are available for this course:
- 12 Months - This is the standard entry option for September, for both home and international students.
- 15 Months - This is the standard entry option for January, for both home and international students.
- 18 Months (Pre-Masters Only) – This entry option is available for students holding third class and ordinary degrees or equivalent qualifications. You are also required to undertake a Pre-Masters which is taken either through Birmingham City University International College or as part of the MBA course. If you choose to do the Pre-Masters as part of the MBA course, this will take place during Semester 1 (September - January) before you join the January intake.
- 21 Months (Professional Practice) – This entry option combines the standard January intake course with a 5 month professional placement for an additional fee.
Why Choose Us?
- You could have the chance to gain invaluable practical work experience through an ‘In-company’ internship project, an up to 12-week project based in a company anywhere in the world.
- You have opportunities to go on field trips to world renowned companies as part of your learning experience.
- You will learn from highly experienced lecturers who have industry experience and are specialists in their fields.
- We will help you with your future employability by offering essential training in key areas such as CV writing, presentation skills, interview technique and other essential skills demanded by employers.
- You will develop a global perspective of management as you study and share experiences with students from different parts of the world.
Find out more
Visit us to find out more
Come along to one of our upcoming events where our staff will be on hand to answer all your questions.
This course is open to International students
Discover Birmingham City Business School
Visit our School site for more student work and extra information.
*Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2016
Campus Tours - Postgraduate
Didn't make it to an Open Day? You still have the opportunity to come and see what our postgraduate courses have to offer. If you would like to enquire about campus tour availability, just drop us an email.
New £10,906 postgraduate loans
You may be able to take advantage of the government’s plans to make loans of up to £10,906 available for postgraduate study.
Entry Requirements
Essential Requirements
While work experience would be an added advantage, no prior work experience is required to be eligible for entry into the MBA International programme.
You will need to satisfy the general admissions requirements of the programme, which are as follows:
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A minimum 2.2 Honours degree from a British university or equivalent overseas institution in any subject. Third Class Honours or Ordinary degrees may be considered on a case-by-case basis. |
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A professional qualification at graduate level in an appropriate field of study. |
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A pre-masters programme approved by Birmingham City University. |
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In recognition that you may already have a relevant professional qualification, Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) may be accepted for entry on to the course. Exemptions to individual modules and / or stages may also be given on a case by case basis. In some cases, students may be admitted into the next level such as Postgraduate Diploma. |
Other qualifications will be considered on a case by case basis.
If you are a mature student but do not fulfil the standard entry requirements outlined above, your application will also be considered.
Additional information for EU/International students
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Applications from international applicants with equivalent qualifications are welcome. Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept. In additional to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require the qualifications detailed in this table. |
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| English language requirements 2020/21 | ||
| IELTS |
6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum in all bands If you do not meet the required IELTS score, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English courses. Please note that you must have a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to study on the pre-sessional English course. More information. |
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| Other accepted qualifications | Visit our English language page | |
References
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Applicants should provide one academic reference in support of their application to the Master of Business Administration International course and may be subject to interview. |
International Students
Don't meet our entry requirements? You could apply for courses at our International College.
- UK/EU students
- International students
Award: MBA
Starting: Sep 2020
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £10,600 per year
- Full Time
- 18 Months (Pre-Masters only)
- £10,600 per year
- Full Time
- 18 Months (Professional Placement)
- £11,700 per year
Award: MBA
Starting: Jan 2021
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 15 Months
- £10,600 per year
- Full Time
- 21 Months (Professional Placement)
- £11,700 per year
Award: MBA
Starting: Sep 2020
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £15,400 per year
- Full Time
- 18 Months (Pre-Masters only)
- £15,400 per year
- Full Time
- 18 Months (Professional Placement)
- £17,000 per year
Award: MBA
Starting: Jan 2021
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 15 Months
- £15,400 per year
- Full Time
- 21 Months (Professional Placement)
- £17,000 per year
If you're unable to use the online form for any reason, you can complete our PDF application form and equal opportunities PDF form instead. The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.
Entry Options
The following entry options are available for this course:
- 12 Months (16 months with internship) - This is the standard entry option for September, for both home and international students.
- 15 Months - This is the standard entry option for January, for both home and international students.
- 18 Months (Pre-Masters Only) – This entry option is available for students holding third class and ordinary degrees or equivalent qualifications. You are also required to undertake a Pre-Masters which is taken either through Birmingham City University International College or as part of the MBA course. If you choose to do the Pre-Masters as part of the MBA course, this will take place during Semester 1 (September - January) before you join the January intake.
- 21 Months (Professional Practice) – This entry option combines the standard January intake course with a 5 month professional placement for an additional fee.
Personal statement
Students are required to submit a personal statement as part of their application for this course.
Your postgraduate personal statement is going to shine a light on your personal experience, academic success, personal skills and any other factors that will support your application for further study.
Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:
Your passion and motivations
Studying a postgraduate course usually means you want to specialise in something. So what’s driving you?
Why this course?
Show that you’ve researched the course offering. What is it about this particular course that appeals to you? Is it the lecturers? The modules? Etc.
What makes you a good postgraduate candidate?
Tutors want to know that you can handle postgraduate study, so show them how your undergraduate experiences or work life has equipped you for a more advanced level of study. Key areas to address are research and group work but this can vary depending on your chosen course.
Relevant academic or work experience
Add anything relevant that relates back to your chosen course and shows how your skills will contribute towards your learning. What extra-curricular activities have you taken part in? What awards have you won? What employment or voluntary experience do you have that has helped you develop transferable skills? How do these specifically relate to the course you are applying for?
You should also mention your future plans and how a postgraduate qualification fits in. Try to look beyond your postgraduate study – do you plan to jump straight into a specific career or follow your studies with a research degree? Lastly, use plain, professional English and, where possible, utilise the language of your chosen industry.
Get more information on writing personal statements.
Additional costs
While there are no additional costs associated with purchasing text books, there may be other costs to you. If you are joining the course which has a professional body accreditation you may be required to pay membership or examination costs. For details of these costs, please click on the link below.
Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £50 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials. All our students are provided with 100 free pages of printing each year to a maximum total value of £15.
Find additional costs for your course
Accommodation and living costs
The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.
Financial Support
We offer further information on possible postgraduate financial support. This includes the type of loans, grants and scholarships available both from the government and from Birmingham City University.
Did you know that you will soon be able to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £10,906 for some courses and options?
Modules
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 140 credits): |
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Integrated Pre-Masters (18 months course only)
0 credits
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In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules: |
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All core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
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You will be assigned a personal tutor, who will be able to review and discuss your progress and offer advice throughout your studies.
We use audio visual materials in a range of ways to bring the curriculum to life. Learning and assessment reflect an action learning approach focused on team work, case studies, simulated real-business projects, all of which are underpinned by analysis, evaluation and synthesis. With our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), you are able to access lecture notes and other resources from anywhere and anytime via Moodle.
Each learning outcome is only assessed once and a variety of assessment methods are used throughout the MBA. These include coursework, portfolios, group work, presentations, projects and exams. In addition to summative assessments, we use a variety of ways throughout each semester to provide formative assessments, all meant to support your development and prepare you for formal assessment.
Student stories
Tina Swani
Even while she was studying a Diploma in Management Studies and an MBA at Birmingham City Business School, Tina Swani knew that she wanted to work in an environment where people matter and where she could apply the principles of business. She is now the CEO of Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice which, since its launch in 1979, has cared for tens of thousands of people with conditions such as cancer, motor neurone disease, heart disease and multiple sclerosis.
Caitlyn Manley
The International Master of Business Administration course at Birmingham City University gave me a far-reaching view of how the business world works in a variety of settings. The comprehensive modules give students wide-ranging breadth across numerous functions.
Our on-site visits to several companies gave students hands-on experience in real-world situations. Working in teams with students from a variety of international backgrounds gave me an extremely valuable understanding about the benefits of working on teams comprised of members with varying circumstances and experiences. The International MBA course at BCU gave me a new perspective on the business world that I have been able to successfully utilize in my professional endeavours since completing the course.
Further Study
There are opportunities for you to further your studies through our research degrees, such as a PhD or the DBA professional doctorate.
Student stories Ibiboba Oyibo
Started in 2014
Before coming to Birmingham from Nigeria, Ibiboba had no notion of what to expect. All she knew was that it was a famous place, maybe because of Aston Villa Football Club.
*DLHE Survey 2015/16
Enhance your managerial career
Unlike undergraduate degrees, which are designed to get students into industry, our International MBA is aimed at both existing industry professionals looking to climb further up the career ladder and aspiring managers with little or no experience.
Companies around the world are now looking for a different kind of manager. They need people with different skillsets that can look at situations and opportunities in unique ways. Our International MBA will give you the tools to stand out from the rest.
Upon completion, you will be able to effect positive change, both in your own professional practice, and within your organisation. On a personal level, you’ll be able to utilise new skills and methods to improve your efficiency, your critical engagement, and your ability to instigate change.
Successful improvements in your personal professional practice will then benefit your organisation. The MBA degree alone can open doors, but the possibilities opened to you by utilising your skills to improve your organisation are even more impressive.
Already a managing director, in charge of your own company? The MBA degree can still benefit you internally and externally. The knowledge and skills you will pick up over the course of your degree can allow you to become an industry leader, growing your company’s reputation through innovation. The accompanying benefits of this could help cement your company’s industry position for years to come.
If you want to learn more about how the International MBA degree from Birmingham City Business School could help improve your career prospects, contact Tom Domboka.
OpportUNIty
OpportUNIty: Student Jobs on Campus ensures that our students are given a first opportunity to fill many part-time temporary positions within the University. This allows you to work while you study with us, fitting the job around your course commitments. By taking part in the scheme, you will gain valuable experiences and employability skills, enhancing your prospects in the job market.
It will also allow you to become more involved in University life by delivering, leading and supporting many aspects of the learning experience, from administration to research and mentoring roles.
Job Roles
Our alumni have gone on to hold such role as:
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Marketing Manager
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Operations Manager
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Business Analyst
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Financial Manager
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Product Manager
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here.
- Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies.
- Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country.
- Learn where to find financial support for your studies.
Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC)
International students who have a serious interest in studying with us but who perhaps cannot meet the direct entry requirements, academic or English, or who have been out of education for some time, can enter Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC) and begin their degree studies.
BCUIC is part of the global Navitas Group, an internationally recognised education provider, and the partnership allows students to access the University’s facilities and services and move seamlessly through to achieving a Bachelor’s degree from Birmingham City University.
Our Facilities
We are constantly investing in our estate and are currently in the process of spending £340 million on new learning facilities.
The Curzon Building
This course is based at our City Centre Campus – and specifically The Curzon Building, alongside other Social Sciences, Law, Business and English students.
The £63m building offers students a unique social learning space, including a dedicated student hub incorporating student support services, in the heart of Birmingham’s Eastside development.
The Business floors house an extensive number of IT facilities, breakout areas, and specialised rooms. The Marketing Link Agency is designed to replicate a modern marketing firm, allowing students to get real-life experience of working in the marketing sector. There is also the City Trading Room, which features state of the art stock market tracking equipment, keeping you up to date with all the financial comings and goings of the London Stock Exchange and Wall Street.
The Curzon building is also conveniently close to Birmingham’s business and financial centre, allowing for strong links between your studies and the real world.
The Curzon Building also features:
- An impressive new library with access to over 65 million full text items and stunning views of Eastside City Park
- Your Students’ Union which is located in a beautifully restored 19th century pub, The Eagle and Ball
- A modern 300-seat food court with space to study and socialise
- Brand new, accessible IT facilities with full Office365 for all students for free
- Shared facilities with the wider campus including the recently opened Parkside Building and Millennium Point
"The global business environment is rapidly changing and a different business and market reality is emerging. As a student of today and manager or entrepreneur of tomorrow, you need to adapt and adopt flexible patterns of thinking and behaviour to succeed as global manager and entrepreneur regardless of the country, industry or environment.
Our international MBA has been designed with this in mind - to help you develop expertise in strategy, marketing, leadership and managing people, finance, global business management, operations and project management, enterprise and entrepreneurial skills to start and manage your own business to mention a few."
Dr Tom Domboka, Course Leader
Dr Thomas Domboka
Programme Director, International MBA
Tom comes from a strong entrepreneurial and management background with experience in starting new businesses, having worked with a variety of organisations in the UK and overseas. He is now the Director for the International MBA programme.
Professor Hatem El-Gohary
Professor of Marketing
Professor of Marketing Hatem El-Gohary has over 20 years of experience in academia, and was recently one of the winners at the Institute for Small Business Enterprise Awards 2014, taking home the Gold award in the Creative Industries Entrepreneurship category.