MSc International Management
ApplyKey facts
- Start date: September
- Accreditation: AACSB, EQUIS & AMBA
- Study mode and duration: 12 months full-time
International experience: optional class taught at Toulouse Business School, France
Study with us
- develop the knowledge and skills required by international managers and leaders to operate in a global environment
- benefit from a practical focus on managing and leading in various organisational settings
- complete a practically-oriented project
Prefer to start your course in January? We also offer this course with a January start.
If you're passionate about different cultures and, at the same time, willing to invest in your professional career, the MSc in International Management is the course for you.
Why this course?
Our MSc International Management will help you to develop the knowledge and skills required by international managers and leaders to operate globally. It focuses on the practical skills of working, managing and leading in various organisational settings.
The course will provide a broad knowledge of the practices and processes of international management. You’ll develop an understanding of the national and global contexts in which international managers operate and gain an appreciation of how those contexts have an impact on managerial expectations and preferences in different cultural environments.
Strathclyde Business School
Strathclyde Business School (SBS) was founded in 1948 and is a pioneering, internationally-renowned academic organisation with a reputation for research excellence. One of four faculties forming the University of Strathclyde, SBS has held triple accreditation from the three main business school accreditation bodies – AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA – since 2004. Our subject departments and specialist centres collaborate to provide a dynamic, fully-rounded and varied programme of specialist and cross-disciplinary courses.
What you'll study
You’ll begin with an introduction to the Professional Management Practice programme. This class runs throughout Semesters 1 & 2 and offers a combination of workshops and learning exercises. You’ll have the opportunity to identify and develop the soft skills needed as a future international manager or leader.
In Semester 1, you'll undertake two other core classes and attend an Integrated Skills workshop which focuses on your personal approach to learning and managing yourself.
In Semesters 2 & 3, in addition to the core classes, you’ll take part in group exercises (eg arranging a professional, cultural or careers-focused event) to address a managerial or leadership development need identified during the outward bound activity and complete a practically-oriented project which you can arrange to do in conjunction with an organisation. The project provides the opportunity to explore, at length, some aspects of theory or methods, knowledge or skills introduced on the taught element of the programme. It's supported by a class in project methodology.
In Semester 3, you'll also choose two elective classes to further develop your knowledge. If you're interested in studying abroad, the Managing in Europe elective class provides the opportunity to do this with classes taught at Toulouse Business School, France.
Learning & teaching
The course is designed to be a collaborative learning experience – a partnership between academic staff and students. It enables you to build on your collective understanding in interrogating the global issues impacting organisations. It's taught through a combination of lectures, workshops and group learning exercises.
On the programme, you'll gain:
- lifelong learning skills: to recognise developmental needs as international managers and leaders, and identifying opportunities to tackle these
- research, analysis and problem-solving skills: to develop skills in the use of library and internet-based resources; to identify, analyse and critically evaluate the strategic choices and options facing international managers
- application skills: to apply models, tools and techniques of international management to different company, country and sectoral contexts; to integrate the knowledge from a range of international management subjects
- communication skills: to develop report writing skills; to structure and present complex data and ideas; to make effective presentations and to acquire skills in argument and debate
- team-working skills: to appreciate the benefits and challenges of working within teams; to apply theory to practice in operating within multicultural teams; to experience problem-solving within multicultural teams; to improve time management and workload planning capacities
Assessment
The course is assessed through written assignments, group and individual projects, exams and presentations.
Professional Management Practice
This class develops your awareness and capabilities as a manager. It utilises a Personal Development Plan (PDP) process to help you critically evaluate how your skills and attributes are needed to be effective and, over the course of the year, provides workshops and exercises to help you identify and move towards fulfilling your potential.
Managing Across Cultures
This class will develop the awareness, skills and knowledge required by managers seeking to work abroad as international executives. It'll help you develop an awareness, knowledge and understanding of the importance of the often overlooked 'soft skills' of management, particularly as concerns cross-cultural variations and their impact on the practices and processes of management. It'll examine the main concepts currently employed to understand the complexity presented to managers in their process of managing people across national and cultural borders, addressing the issues of the impact of culture on management structures and processes. It will then provide understanding of the role which cross-cultural management can play in achieving competitive advantage in international business.
Managing People in Organisations
With organisations increasingly becoming global in scale and ever more interconnected, understanding the challenges this presents for managing those employed by firms is vitally important. This class provides insight into how organizations function and how this influences individual behaviour. It will also help you understand the key theories that will make you a more effective manager and leader.
Marketing Management
The nature of how we think about ‘markets’, and the activities involved in trying to understand and communicate with customers, is changing rapidly. This class examines contemporary international practice, exploring the major concepts and techniques involved in the marketing planning process. It will help you analyse what companies are offering, how customers behave, and ultimately identify what they need to do next to deliver on their objectives.
Global Business Environment
Business organisations and management decisions and actions exist in a complex, dynamic and often turbulent environment. This class will develop your understanding of the many dimensions and layers of the global business environment. It'll encourage you to recognise, understand and reflect upon the challenges and opportunities that various aspects of the business environment present to businesses, organisations and managers operating in an international context. The class will also introduce you to a range of useful theories, concepts and tools for analysing the business environment and give them an opportunity to apply these to ‘real world’ and hypothetical management scenarios.
Finance and Financial Management
This class will introduce you to the principles needed to understand the nature of financial markets and institutions, corporate financial theory and financial decision making. It examines the core concepts and valuation models involved in pricing securities, the choices firms make over how to fund themselves and the techniques used to evaluate internal investment proposals.
Project Methodology
This class introduces you to a range of different methodological approaches to conducting research and key issues researchers are commonly faced with (eg relevance of practitioner engagement, ethics). You'll be provided with a broad overview of research choices and issues from the perspective of Strathclyde staff representing each department in the Business Faculty who will present vignettes from their own research projects.
Business Strategy
This class provides opportunities to explore, understand and apply the language of strategy and strategic management. By examining real-life organizations, you'll develop your understanding of the forces within their contextual and transactional environments that influence their strategy, and by applying different strategic frameworks, develop the ability to critically analyse the strategic direction being adopted.
International Entrepreneurship
Designed to highlight the importance of entrepreneurship in the international arena, this class will enable you to use your learning from their other classes in a context relating to the practical application of the business-related theory covered.
The class also highlights the importance of the practical testing of business ideas to see if they are viable business opportunities within international contexts as well as the shaping of business ideas in relation to cross-cultural differences.
The importance of business idea generation, opportunity evaluation and the entrepreneurial mindset is addressed as is the importance of the market context.
Consultancy in Practice
This class is aimed at developing effective and reflective practitioners/managers. It'll provide you with the opportunity to deploy many aspects of your learning by engaging with a live issue provided by a client company.
It begins with a review of key theories and tools that you'll have studied as part of your degree, with consideration given on how to use these in this exercise. This is followed by analysis of material provided by the client which describes the issue to be addressed and the outcome expected by the client. This then leads into a group activity which applies particular techniques for addressing aspects of the client’s issue. More detailed client input is provided at certain points in the process often through direct interface with the client. This allows you to gain a more in-depth understanding of the issue and to try out various solutions. Further analysis is carried out by the groups and the class concludes with you presenting your thinking to their client. The client presentations are then followed by a reflective session where the tutor, client and students are encouraged to explore the process of the class and develop the learning gained.
The MIM Project
The MSc in International Management project gives you the opportunity to engage with a topic of interest in depth and over an extended period of time. Preparation for the project is provided via a course in project methodology training. At this stage of the programme, you may be interested in aligning career aspirations with project work.
Electives
In order to help you develop new skills and/or extend your knowledge in areas you see as relevant to your personal learning objectives, you're asked to undertake two elective classes.
These classes are chosen from a wide portfolio of elective subjects, which are revised annually to reflect the latest business thinking. In the past students have chosen from these classes:
New Venture Creation
In New Venture Creation, students will learn to develop and validate winning business models. Students will cover a broad range of topics that critically examine various approaches to establishing and operating a venture, supported by frequent guest lectures from successful entrepreneurs.
International Trade Theory & Policy
In this class you will gain an understanding of the essential economic issues in international trade, market structure, and the role of international institutions in promoting trade liberalisation and disciplining international commercial interaction. You will analyse the distribution of the gains from trade, identifying the circumstances where trade liberalisation is mutually beneficial and those where there are winners and losers at the international or national level. The class will also address current issues facing the world trading system – such as Brexit – and how these might be resolved.
Family Enterprise
In this class, participants explore aspects of governance, work ethics and succession as well as family dynamics, conflict on gender issues. The class gives students insights into effective and professional work with and within family firms.
Project Management
This module aims to provide students with skills and knowledge relating to the use of practices in Project Management with particular respect to the project triple constraint: time, cost and quality.
Brand Management & Strategy
The mission of this elective is to provide a solid understanding and application in the strategies of global brand management. Key skills and theories of brand management will be presented and discussed in order to equip the learner to operate effectively in a global brand management environment. Students will gain a clear appreciation of the role of brand strategy within the corporation’s operating plan. This will entail consideration of environmental factors causing changes to the structure and composition of the brand portfolio as well as discussion of conceptual issues surrounding the strategic roles of brand management.
Strategic Financial Management
The class will consider a number of financial decisions of strategic importance, ranging from capital expenditure decisions to those concerned with the evaluation of the terms of a merger. These decisions will be explored through lectures, exercises and most importantly, case studies. The preparation of the case studies and the discussion of the analysis will provide the focus of the class.
Service Operations Simulation
This class provides MSc students with insights into ‘Service’ Operations Management, an area of study that is increasingly relevant to our graduates as compared with traditional/manufacturing operations management. Emerging concepts such as ‘services science’ emphasize the need to understand operations management within the service sector as a whole, while providing specific examples from different service sectors to illustrate the wide range of challenges within service industries. Aiming to be as practically useful as possible, the class provides both conceptual and technical perspectives on services. The technical perspective utilises discrete event simulation (DES) as a powerful tool to analyse service operations and facilitate decision making for service operations managers.
Managing in Europe (Toulouse)
The aim of this module is to:
- sensitize students to the basic skills involved in managing people in Europe with a focus on cultural and knowledge issues as well as managing cross-cultural differences
- understand the European context in terms of HRM and employment relations and manage effectively in this context
- be able to adapt to different cultural environments and to manage effectively in an intercultural European context as well as a global context
Games of Strategy
Games of strategy are ubiquitous throughout the corporate world, political environments, and in everyday life. Game theory provides a framework within which such strategic situations can be modelled and analysed. Through studying game theory and learning how to think strategically you can better optimize your well-being by trying to outmanoeuvre your adversaries by recognizing the fact that they are trying to outmanoeuvre you. A world of strategic thinking awaits that will transform the way you think about making decisions!
Commercial Management in Projects
The module starts by looking at the main types of business vehicle that are used in the modern commercial environment. It goes on to explore how commercial contracts are formed and how the concept of agency can affect contracts. An exploration of common contractual problems follows.
The module then turns to examine practical skills: goal setting, time management and risk management (all of which are set in a theoretical context for participants). Finally, participants learn about the theory of negotiation and have the opportunity to bring all of their theoretical legal knowledge and practical skills to bear during a negotiation simulation.
Digital Transformation
The mega-trend of digital transformation is first examined to familiarise the student with the environmental drivers – social and technological – behind the rise of digital transformation.
Key technological advances powering digital transformation as a global phenomenon are introduced, including:
- elastic cloud computing
- big data & analytics
- the internet of things (IoT)
- artificial intelligence (AI)
- machine learning
Social implications for work and life are examined, and examples explored as to how digital transformation is already reshaping nations, sectors, organisations and individuals.
Strategic Thinking for Global Challenges & Opportunities
The principal aim of this course is to provide students with the ability to understand how changes in the global economic environment could impact upon future business models – and to gain experience in identifying the strategies that best respond to different situations. Learn about major ‘grand challenges’ and how they might impact upon your business model.
To provide students with a strong understanding of how an economy operates (and can impact upon individual businesses), and the role of policy in shaping economic outcomes, and in turn inform business strategy.
The Game Changer
This elective provides an understanding of how sports management practice can help any type of organisation. This is very different from other classes that we currently have for electives offerings. The key objective of MBA and MSc education to develop effective business leaders.
The aim of this class is to introduce the strategies, tools and techniques utilised by organisations in business and sport who not only improved performance over a sustained period of time – they changed the rules of the game in their industry or sector.
Triple-accredited business school
Chat to a student ambassador
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Our Unibuddy ambassadors can answer all the questions you may have about their course experiences and studying at Strathclyde, along with offering insight into life in Glasgow and Scotland.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements/experience | Minimum second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent (view the entry requirements for your country) in:
Applications from those who can demonstrate that their work experience merits direct entry to the programme will also be considered. |
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English language requirements | Students whose first language is not English must have a minimum of 6.5 IELTS score, with no individual score lower than 5.5. Get more information about the English language requirements for studying at Strathclyde. |
Pre-Masters preparation course
The Pre-Masters Programme is a preparation course held at the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre, for international students (non-UK/Ireland) who do not meet the academic entry requirements for a Masters degree at University of Strathclyde.
Upon successful completion, you'll be able to progress to this degree course at the University of Strathclyde.
Please note: Previous Maths & English qualifications and your undergraduate degree must meet GTCS minimum entry requirements as well as the pre-Masters course and an interview will be conducted before an offer can be made.
Fees & funding
All fees quoted are for full-time courses and per academic year unless stated otherwise.
Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.
All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.
Annual revision of fees
Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that the majority of fees will increase annually. The University will take a range of factors into account, including, but not limited to, UK inflation, changes in delivery costs and changes in Scottish and/or UK Government funding. Changes in fees will be published on the University website in October each year for the following year of study and any annual increase will be capped at a maximum of 10% per year.
Scotland | £16,800 |
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England, Wales & Northern Ireland | £16,800 |
Republic of Ireland |
If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status. For more information and advice on tuition fee status, you can visit the UKCISA - International student advice and guidance - Scotland: fee status webpage. Find out more about the University of Strathclyde's fee assessments process. |
International | £31,100 |
Available scholarships | Take a look at our scholarships search for funding opportunities. |
Visa & immigration | International students may have associated visa and immigration costs. Please see student visa guidance for more information. |
Please note: the fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year. Find out more about fees.
International students
We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 140 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.
How can I fund my course?
Scottish postgraduate students
Scottish postgraduate students may be able to apply for support from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). The support is in the form of a tuition fee loan and for eligible students, a living cost loan. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from England
Students ordinarily resident in England may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance England. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from Wales
Students ordinarily resident in Wales may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance Wales. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from Northern Ireland
Postgraduate students who are ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland may be able to apply for support from Student Finance Northern Ireland. The support is a tuition fee loan of up to £5,500. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
International students
We've a large range of scholarships available to help you fund your studies. Check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Our students
Rostyslav Sergiyenko
What I enjoyed the most during my studies here was that you can personalise your studies with the two electives and your topic of the final project (dissertation). I personally enjoyed studying the 'Managing People in Organisation' module and decided to take two electives which would enhance my knowledge in the HR field.
Sofia Boschetti
The professors motivate you to engage in as many activities as possible, and to explore your inner talents and skills. 'Professional Management Practice' was a key class which pushed me to spend most of my spare time doing job applications in the first few weeks of the course. This helped me get a full-time position with Goldman Sachs!
Vladyslav Dubas
The best thing about my course so far is the subject called Management Across Cultures. This subject explained me the importance of culture in the business environment and gave me a deeper understanding of international business processes.
Salman Masood
My advice to prospective students would be to take good time when choosing a course and always add some extracurricular experience beyond just studying. The University of Strathclyde is a great place, and I would highly recommend students to opt for the MSc International Management course for its diverse learning opportunities. Trust me, Glasgow becomes ‘home’ rather quickly.
Ayushraj Pandey
Strathclyde's reputation, the way they are positioned as a modern place for useful learning and the great list of alumni influenced my decision. Glasgow was also a major factor.
Apply
For information and guidance on the application process, take a look at our How to Apply web page.
Start date: Sep 2025
International Management
Contact us
SBS Postgraduate Admissions
Telephone: +44 (0)141 553 6105 / +44 (0)141 553 6116
Email: sbs.admissions@strath.ac.uk
Strathclyde Business School, University of Strathclyde
199 Cathedral Street
Glasgow
G4 0QU
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