International Business and Marketing

• Focus on applied analysis in international business sectors, markets and marketing as well as international policy and global strategy
• Network with business leaders who provide guest lectures, consultancy projects, case studies and professional mentoring
• Gain vital hands-on experience in our Financial Markets Lab, using real-world data for research into companies and markets across the globe
• Be inspired by a teaching team with industry experience, extensive contacts and a strong profile for influential research
• Learn alongside students from around the world, sharing experiences to deepen your understanding of global business and cultural diversity
• You could also study MSc International Business and Finance, MSc International Business or MSc International Business and HRM.

In tune with today’s business world

Leading employers worldwide increasingly expect their senior staff to have a specialist postgraduate degree like our MSc International Business and Marketing. Our MSc is designed to nurture the next generation of forward-thinking, energetic and ambitious business and marketing professionals with a truly global outlook.

This multidisciplinary course is an excellent choice if you want to develop a thorough understanding of the economic, marketing, strategic, legal and cultural factors facing international business. It brings together disciplines such as strategy, international economics, marketing, brand management and law.

Drawing on real-world case studies, you’ll hone your skills in applied research as you conduct wide-ranging business, marketing, international economic and market analysis. You’ll also focus on how to create and implement strategic marketing plans which address business challenges in original ways.

Learning at the cutting edge

Our impressive Financial Markets Lab is the ideal setting for you to gain hands-on experience, working with the same information and technology used by financial and business professionals all over the world. You’ll gain vital insights into extracting and analysing real-time market and international economic and financial data, undertaking applied analysis using appropriate statistical software. You will receive training from Bloomberg specialists and can work towards the Bloomberg Market Concepts Certificate alongside your degree to boost your professional profile.

Powerful partnerships to inspire you

The MSc International Business and Marketing is designed and delivered with input from business leaders operating at local, national and international levels. We collaborate directly with prestigious names such as Lloyds Bank, Smiths of Derby, Eversheds, Price Waterhouse Cooper, PKF Cooper Parry, Bloomberg and major marketing analytic firms including GI Solutions Group.

Many of our business partners contribute to the MSc with thought-provoking guest lectures and masterclasses. You’ll hear first-hand what happens at the sharp end of business and marketing across vastly different organisational cultures.

You can also extend your contacts through networking at Institute of Directors workshops, company taster days and events held by our Network of Entrepreneurs. Our annual Marketing 2020 programme – a rare opportunity to hear from some of the country’s leading marketers – sets the scene for the future of the profession.

Company visits will give you fresh insights too. Previous examples include behind-the-scenes tours of the Pride Park Stadium, Derby Arena, Crown Derby and high performance engineering company epm:technology.

Benefit from professional mentoring

We offer you the opportunity to receive mentoring from influential business figures who are happy to share their experiences and insights with you. Our mentors range from international trade experts and banking specialists to senior marketing managers from our partner companies.

Career development planning is an integral part of your studies and you’ll benefit from the support of a personal tutor. You’ll also have access to our first-class professional career service throughout your studies and even after you’ve graduated. 

Build an impressive portfolio of skills

You could also contribute to specialist research projects in the region or work in a team of marketing consultants with our partners. Recent examples include an economic impact study of the Buxton Festival, branding ideas for Haddon Hall, and customer research for the Derwent Rural Counselling Service.

In addition, we support you to take part in competitions such as the IBM University Business Challenge and the University Trading Challenge. You could even publish your research in our monthly Economic Bulletin and our academic journal, Critical Perspectives on Business Management.

Focus on areas that interest you most

The culmination of the MSc International Business and Marketing is your Independent Study where you investigate a topic that reflects your interests and ambitions. This is your chance to conduct in-depth research, developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills which will serve you well in future. You’ll ask searching questions, critically review literature, analyse data, draw conclusions and make recommendations.

The range of topics covered is vast. Among recent examples, our MSc students have investigated knowledge transfer in the South African hotel sector; international marketing of satellite TV packages in Africa; consumer complaint behaviour in Chinese online shopping; international leadership challenges in SMEs; international marketing in higher education; and how consumers become ‘fans’.

Add a new dimension to your CV

The Futures Award in Leadership in International Business recognises extra-curricular activities which strengthen your development as a business and marketing professional, including consultancy work, volunteering, fundraising activities and networking.

Activities contributing towards the award include attending networking meetings with organisations like the Institute of Directors and Marketing Derby, and events such as Price Waterhouse Cooper Insight Days and PKF Cooper Parry Student Experience Days. 

Your Futures Award work could also involve achieving the Bloomberg Market Concepts skills certificate, taking part in international business challenges or joining employability sessions including psychometric testing, interview experience and assessment centre training.

To complete the MSc International Business and Marketing, you will take modules such as:

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

The MSc International Business and Marketing entails a combination of campus teaching and online study support. You’ll be inspired by a mix of lectures, group work, discussions, practical workshops, computer lab classes, case study analysis, data analysis and personal networking.

For the Independent Study module, alongside the taught classes, you’ll be allocated an academic supervisor who will support you in developing and planning a relevant research study project.

The course benefits from significant input from external experts and employers, so you will have the opportunity to meet senior professionals working in organisations across international markets and to develop your networking skills.

You'll usually need:

• A second class or higher undergraduate degree in a relevant area including: business, economics, marketing, management, accounting or finance, or another degree with sufficient relevant business experience.
• If English is not your first language, you will also need IELTS 6.5 with 5.5 in each skills area.

2024/25 (August 2024 - July 2025)

Please note fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase after one year of study.

* UK full-time fees paid within one academic year are rounded down to the nearest £50 if applicable

Additional costs and optional extras

2025/26 (August 2025 - July 2026)

Please note fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase after one year of study.

* UK full-time fees paid within one academic year are rounded down to the nearest £50 if applicable

Additional costs and optional extras

About postgraduate awards

Please note at postgraduate level, you’ll need to gain the following number of credits in total to obtain the respective awards. If you have any questions please contact us.

This means you will gain 180 credits in total to complete the full MA or MSc. If you are studying part time you will normally complete your studies over two or three years, depending on the course structure.

Funding your studies

Find out more about fees, postgraduate loans and support you may be entitled to.

Find out about funding your studiesFind out about funding your studies

Alumni discount for Derby graduates

We offer a discount on postgraduate course fees for all Derby alumni.

Find out about the Alumni discountFind out about the Alumni discount

The MSc International Business and Marketing opens doors to careers in customer-focused roles in global markets and organisations, or could pave the way to promotion if you are already employed in a relevant position. Because it combines high-level marketing skills with in-depth knowledge of business from a global perspective, you will graduate with a respected qualification which helps you stand out in an increasingly competitive job market.

You will be well qualified to apply for graduate entry training in international management or marketing management, international business consultancies or marketing agencies.

Derby graduates have gone on to secure senior roles and advanced graduate training positions in high-profile organisations including HSBC Canada, Ernst & Young, Price Waterhouse Cooper, Unilever in Malawi and UBS Poland. Some have joined leading marketing agencies, have become consultants with specialist companies or have even set up their own businesses.

Inspired by the intellectual challenge of the MSc, you may also choose to develop an academic career – moving on to PhD research or teacher training.

Ongoing careers support

Throughout your studies, you will benefit from our Personal Tutor Scheme which enables you to reflect on your learning and refine your career ambitions.

Our support continues once you’ve completed your course too: you are entitled to further help and guidance from the Careers and Employment Service for up to three years after leaving the University.

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Other courses you might like

• International Business MSc
• International Business and HRM MSc
• Marketing Management MSc