International MBA - MBA

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.

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.

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

• Our Facilities
• Our Graduates
• Our Placements
• Our Students
• Our Trips

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:

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

References

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. 

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. 

Internships

As part of this course, you have the option to do an internship and in the end write an internship management project instead of a dissertation. The internship which you can do in the UK or any other country of your choice (including your home country) will last between 3-4 months.  An internship placement gives you the opportunity to apply theory to practice whilst gaining invaluable practical experience working on a live company project. Such an experience will provide you with a competitive advantage in the labour market by allowing you to gain critical management experience.

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.

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.

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