- UCAS course code
- N201
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
BSc Management
- Typical A-level offer: AAA
- Typical contextual A-level offer: ABB
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: BBB
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 36 points overall with 6,6,6 at HL
Fees and funding
Fees
Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £31,500 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.
Additional expenses
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
The Manchester Bursary is available to UK students registered on an undergraduate degree course at Alliance MBS who have had a full financial assessment carried out by Student Finance England.
In addition, Alliance MBS will award a range of Social Responsibility Scholarships to UK and international/EU students.
These awards are worth £2,000 per year across three years of study. You must achieve AAA at A-level (or equivalent qualification) and be able to demonstrate a significant contribution and commitment to social responsibility.
The School will also award a number of International Stellar Scholarships to international students achieving AAA at A-level (or equivalent qualification). Applicants who exceed AAA and/or have supplementary qualifications (such as EPQ) will receive additional consideration.
Additional eligibility criteria apply - please see our scholarship pages for full details.
Course unit details:
International Business
Unit code | BMAN24312 |
---|---|
Credit rating | 20 |
Unit level | Level 2 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
This course unit introduces students to the background to and the key issues of International Business (IB). The first part introduces and explains the concept of international, the phenomenon of the multinational enterprise (MNE), and the two leading analytical perspectives in international business, the institution-based view and the resource-based view. The second part introduces students to relevant issues in the international economic and political context, ranging from international trade to foreign direct investment and regional economic and political integration. The third part discusses the processes of starting and developing an international business, while the fourth part of the course looks at the functioning of MNEs, introduction of Corporate Social Responsibility, and investigating the issues related to CSR and international people management.
Pre/co-requisites
None
Aims
This course aims to provide students with the analytical techniques, conceptual approaches and empirical evidence relevant to understanding the role of international business in the global economy. The module will introduce students to environmental forces and actors that help to shape the macro and micro environment for international businesses. It will examine how these forces and actors may shape business strategy and operations in the modern global economy.
Syllabus
Syllabus (indicative curriculum content):
• Introduction to the course, key concepts in international business
• Industry and resource-based view
• Formal Institutions and Informal Institutions
• European Integration and Global Integration
• International Trade and Foreign Direct Investment
• Modes of International Operations
• Strategic Alliances and Networks
• CSR and International Business
• Globalisation, Outsourcing and Value Chain Dynamics
• Building Global Strategies, Organizing Multinational Enterprises
Teaching and learning methods
The course is structured as a blend of in-person lectures and seminars, delivered synchronously over ten weeks during Semester One.
Lectures:
The course comprises eleven two-hour lectures that include interactive activities such as discussions on real-world business cases and online quizzes via a digital platform. These activities help students solidify their understanding of core concepts and theories while providing formative feedback for improvement.
Seminars:
Students participate in five one-hour seminars, which center on presenting organizational case studies focused on business models. These presentations are followed by peer-led discussions, enabling students to receive feedback from both peers and seminar leaders. This approach supports students in refining their group reports.
Group Report and Exam:
The group report tasks students with applying theoretical frameworks and concepts to analyze the business models of selected case companies.
The exam evaluates students’ grasp of key theories, their ability to critically engage with relevant literature, and their skill in articulating and defending their perspectives at a conceptual level.
Knowledge and understanding
• Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental principles and concepts that drive international business, including global trade, investment, and international marketing.
• Understand the role of institutions (e.g., government policies, trade organizations) and culture in shaping international business strategies and operations.
• Identify the significance of organizational resources (human, financial, technological) and capabilities in managing international operations effectively.
Intellectual skills
• Apply critical thinking methods to analyze complex issues in international business, considering various perspectives and alternative solutions.
• Evaluate and analyze real-world business cases, making informed, critical judgments about the strategies and decisions made.
• Critically assess conventional management theories and tools, and develop customized, context-specific strategies for international business management.
Practical skills
• Evaluate and assess different policy options and strategic decisions that impact international business operations, considering both opportunities and risks.
• Effectively analyze case studies, identifying key issues, developing solutions, and providing recommendations based on evidence and sound reasoning.
• Demonstrate the ability to make informed, strategic decisions in international business contexts by applying analytical tools, market data, and cultural insights to drive organizational success.
Transferable skills and personal qualities
• Communicate complex international business concepts clearly and persuasively, in writing, to diverse audiences.
• Work effectively within diverse, multicultural teams to solve international business problems, demonstrating leadership, cooperation, and adaptability.
• Demonstrate strong time management and organizational skills, prioritizing tasks and responsibilities efficiently in a fast-paced international business environment.
Employability skills
- Other
- Students who successfully complete this course unit will enhance employability by gaining intellectual and practical skills, namely through lectures by experts in the field, case study analysis, organizational skills, skills in independent research, and critical thinking. These will enable students to understand and compete in a competitive, fast-moving global economy. Overall, these skills and knowledge make them more employable.
Assessment methods
Formative:
Group Case Analysis
Summative:
Group coursework (20%)
Examination (80%)
Feedback methods
In addition to receiving formative feedback during lectures and seminars, students are provided with summative feedback on their group reports and exams.
Recommended reading
Core text:
Peng Mike and Klaus Meyer (2016), International Business (2nd ed.). Cengage Learning. (ISBN: 978-1-4737-2264-4)
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
---|---|
Assessment written exam | 2 |
eAssessment | 1 |
Lectures | 22 |
Seminars | 5 |
Independent study hours | |
---|---|
Independent study | 170 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
---|---|
Zibang Chen | Unit coordinator |
Yusuf Kurt | Unit coordinator |
Additional notes
Pre-requisites: None
Co-requisites: None
Dependent courses: None
Programme Restrictions: This course is available to students on the following programmes:
Core course for:
• BSc International Management
• BSc Management (International Business Economics)
• BSc Management (International Studies)
Optional for:
• BSc International Business Finance and Economics
• All other BSc Management / Management (specialism)
For Academic Year 2025/26
Updated: March 2025
Approved by: March UG Committee