International Business MSc

Course overview

Gain the skills and confidence to conduct business in a rapidly transforming global landscape. This course will open the door to a rewarding and internationally transferable career, preparing you to become the type of global manager and leader the future world needs.

The industry-accredited MSc International Business gives you a broad international perspective and the skills to identify why and how firms operate in foreign markets.

As a graduate of this course, you’ll understand the factors that drive performance in the global business landscape and how the rise of emerging economies affects international strategies.

You’ll explore the latest developments in topics such as digital transformation, sustainability and emerging markets. You’ll also understand the challenges to global innovation management and the trade-offs encountered in nurturing commercially sustainable international businesses, alongside developing your own strategic business plans.

Optional modules give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in a particular region or country; you could choose to explore the growing importance of China on the world business stage, enhancing your employability with organisations with Asia-Pacific interests.

As a student on this course, you’ll join a community of staff and students from across the world, expanding your networks and perspectives as a global citizen.

We also help you to develop essential academic skills and professional skills for your future. This includes managing teams and individuals in different cultural contexts, analytical skills, and becoming comfortable with the research techniques and methodologies used in international firms.

The course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade, giving you access to the latest thinking in a fast-changing global landscape.

Course Highlights

• Gain the latest real-world insights thanks to our connections with global experts, major private companies and public sector organisations. Recent guest speakers have included executives from global firms including Vodafone, JT, Phillip Morris, River Island and O2.
• On all Masters courses at Leeds University Business School, you can apply for a place on a week-long international study tour, which includes company visits, guest lectures and networking events. Previous study tours have included visits to Berlin, Frankfurt, Milan and Zurich.
• Apply for our Masters Beyond Borders scheme, where successful students can spend an additional semester studying at a partner university in Europe or Asia, boosting your employability with international exposure. 
• Conduct hands-on research into a real business challenge as part of your research dissertation project in the final semester.
• Connect with industry professionals through our Global Connections Mentoring Scheme, providing you with insights, guidance and real-world perspectives to build career-ready knowledge. 
• Learn from academics from the Centre for International Business at the University of Leeds (CIBUL), the world's leading centre for international business. 

Accreditation

AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS

Course details and modules

The course begins with an intensive two-week induction which will introduce you to the methods of teaching, course content and academic best-practices.

The induction will also showcase the relationship between the course and your career aspirations and provide an opportunity to familiarise yourself with your peers.

You’ll then build upon your knowledge and perspectives of international business and improve your confidence in using analytical skills. This will include qualitative and quantitative methods.

You'll also develop in-depth understanding across issues related to global economic coordination and governance and reflect upon some of the central debates in international business. These include intellectual property, labour issues and sustainability.

You'll also explore topics such as strategic management and entering foreign markets. Alongside this, you’ll build research skills and learn about the different methodologies used in international business research.

Compulsory modules will develop your professional skills for the workplace and prepare you for the challenges of managing organisations and individuals across diverse cultural contexts. You'll also select optional modules on topics that suit your interests or career plans. These include Global Business Immersion, Foreign Market Entry Strategy and Chinese Business.

At the end of the course, you'll submit an independent research project, where you will research a topic in-depth and submit a dissertation. You may have the opportunity to gain practical experience through a consultancy-style project working with an external organisation.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read International Business MSc in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

Students must choose 30 credits (15 credits in Semester 1 and 15 credits in Semester 2).

Learning and teaching

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Assessment methods emphasise not just knowledge, but essential skills development too. This may include formal exams, group projects, reports, computer simulation exercises, essays and written assignments, group and individual presentations and reflective logs.

This diversity enables you to develop a broad range of skills as preparation for professional life.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in any subject. You should have an interest in the subject, although you don’t need any prior experience or qualifications in this area.

International qualifications

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Business (6 weeks) and Language for Business (10 weeks).

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional and our 10 week online pre-sessional. 

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

Documents and information you need

• a copy of your degree certificate and transcript, or a partial transcript if you’re still studying
• contact details for two academic references
• a personal statement
• an up-to-date CV
• your approved English Language test* (if applicable)
• a letter of sponsorship, if you need one.

* Applicants who have not yet completed an approved English language test may apply for a Masters course prior to taking a test.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2026

This course is taught by

Leeds University Business School

Contact us

Postgraduate Admissions Office

Email: masters@lubs.leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £17,500 (Total)

International: £32,500 (Total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Additional cost information

Optional Institute of Export (IOE) student membership. See IOE website for details.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

We’re offering over 100 Business School Excellence Scholarships to UK and International students starting one of our Masters courses in 2025. These scholarships offer up to a 50% fee reduction and will be awarded to particularly deserving applicants who demonstrate excellent academic, professional and personal achievements.

Find out more about scholarships at Leeds University Business School:

International Excellence Scholarships (International applicants)

Masters Excellence Scholarships (UK applicants)

Read more about Masters Funding and Scholarships at the University of Leeds

Career opportunities

A postgraduate degree from Leeds University Business School has a high value in the wider world. Multinational organisations particularly favour employees who can work confidently across a range of different markets, and the internationally transferable skills acquired on this course will help you to secure and progress in your chosen career.

Previous graduates have gone on to diverse careers in top firms worldwide, including Sky, Bank of England, HSBC, EY, BiliBili, Amazon, Accenture, Tecent, PwC and L’Oréal.

They have worked as business analysts, country managers, product managers and trading executives; and some have sought to internationalise their own family business.

The MSc International Business also offers an excellent grounding for a research degree.

Skills for your future

Through professional development workshops, you’ll collaborate with peers from around the world to build essential professional skills – an activity that’s complemented by a series of reflections, deepening your understanding of your personal and professional growth.  Key skills include:

• strong critical thinking
• quantitative and qualitative analysis
• clear written and oral communication and digital literacy
• time and project management
• teamwork and leadership
• adaptability and commercial awareness
• ethical judgment, cultural competence and sustainability-conscious decision making
• a broad international outlook
• personal resilience

Links with industry

As a course accredited by the country’s leading international trade association, the MSc International Business programme gives you access to industry leaders, networking opportunities and careers.

Regular guest speakers from global firms share trends and insights, and our mentoring scheme gives you invaluable personalised guidance.

In addition, our corporate membership of the Yorkshire Asian Business Association (YABA) creates opportunities for students of the MSc International Business, which have previously included company-based dissertations and summer internships.

Guaranteed industry experience 

The Global Industry Programme gives Masters students a great opportunity to gain real-world experience through live industry projects. You’ll connect with leading companies across the globe to work on impactful, hands-on consultancy projects, enhancing your employability skills and enabling you to apply your theoretical knowledge to practical business challenges. 

Careers support

Professional development activities are built into your course from the start.

You can access advice and guidance on your career choices, help in identifying and applying for jobs, support to boost your employability, and opportunities to develop the professional skills you'll need to start a successful career – and how to evidence these to prospective employers. 

Employability workshops provide practical guidance and support to help you prepare for the job market with confidence. These workshops cover essential skills such as CV writing, interview techniques, networking and personal branding, all of which are crucial for standing out to employers. They also offer insights into recruitment processes and industry expectations, helping you make informed career choices and improve your chances of securing internships or graduate roles.  

You’ll also benefit from the University’s award-winning Careers Service, where you can access a range of support to help secure the career you want, even after you graduate. 

Study abroad and work placements

Students who have formally started their study on the course may have the exclusive opportunity to apply for our extended programme, MSc International Business (Study Abroad).

You’ll have the chance to study for an extra semester outside of the UK as part of our Masters Beyond Borders scheme. If you’re accepted on to the scheme, you'll study at one of our highly-rated partner business schools, located across the world. More information about the scheme will be provided after the course induction. Application criteria and briefings are released towards the end of the first semester.

Places are limited and highly sought after. Students accepted onto the scheme will graduate with the degree title MSc International Business (Study Abroad).