The published course and module descriptions were accurate when first published and remain the basis of the course, but the University has had to modify some course and module content in response to government restrictions and social distancing requirements. In the event of changes made to the government advice and social distancing rules by national or local government, the University may need to make further alterations to the published course content. Detailed information on the changes will be sent to every student on confirmation in August to ensure you have all the information before you come to Oxford Brookes.
International Business Management and Digital Strategy
MSc
Key facts
Start dates
September 2021 / September 2022
Location
Course length
Full time: 1 year or 2 years in sandwich mode which includes one year's full-time paid supervised work experience (a work placement). Sandwich mode is only available for September entry.
Part time: MSc: 24 months for UK and EU students
Department
Accreditation(s)
Chartered Management Institute; Association of MBAs
Overview
Develop your career with our MSc International Business Management and Digital Strategy. This course is accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). The course will prepare you for a successful international career with either a commercial or not-for-profit organisation.
You will learn to:
- identify, analyse and evaluate a range of business related issues
- develop suitable responses to these problems
- select the most appropriate course of action
You will develop an understanding of the core theoretical principles of digital strategy. You will also:
- examine how businesses manage their digital operations in line with their corporate strategy
- understand how business decisions are made from a digital perspective, such as the use of management of information systems and digital innovations
- explore how different organisations manage digital transformations and innovations in a globalised world.
After graduating you will be prepared for jobs such as:
- digital analyst
- digital product manager
- management consultant.

How to apply
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
A minimum of a second class honours degree (2:2) in any academic discipline, or equivalent overseas degree from a recognised institution or equivalent professional or other qualification.
Applicants who possess a diploma rather than a degree may be eligible for entry provided they have compensatory work experience and can demonstrate career development.
This course attracts students from a wide range of backgrounds and nationalities. Applications are welcome from those in work and seeking continuing professional development.
Entry will also be subject to two satisfactory references (one of these must be an academic reference).
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you will need to satisfy the university's English language requirements:
- IELTS minimum level 6.0, (with a minimum of 6.0 in reading and writing, and 5.5 in listening and speaking).
- If you have completed your undergraduate degree in the UK (at least one full year of study) you will automatically meet our English language requirements
Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.
Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.
If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Application process
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
The full-time fees quoted are for the taught Year 1. Fees will be charged for the placement year in Year 2 and are available on request from finance-fees@brookes.ac.uk.
Financial support and scholarships
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course, if any, are detailed below.
We offer an International Business in Practice Study Trip module. This study trip is voluntary and all costs associated with the trip will need to be funded by you.
The International Study Trip modules allow you to experience ideas and practices of global business. During the trip you will have direct interaction with management executives and practices. You will attend presentations from local management executives and experts and go on site visits to major corporations and agencies. These study trips are voluntary and you will need to fund most of the costs associated with the trip. We have run study trips to Boston, Chengdu, Kuala Lumpur and Budapest.
As an example of costs, the fees in 2020 varied between £350 - £1500 and included: accommodation for seven nights, insurance, company visits and group transportation for all activities. This fee did not include international airfare, visa application fee (if relevant), dinners and activities during your free time.
Learning and assessment
We have designed a highly flexible course for a wide range of interests in a variety of different subject areas/roles/sectors. This course is suitable for individuals:
- from a variety of educational backgrounds
- who may have no previous work experience
- who want to further their knowledge and understanding of business and management to support their career aspirations.
You will study a combination of compulsory and elective modules, and choose to complete either a dissertation, a client based research project, or a synoptic research project.
Our teaching staff come from a variety of academic and non-academic backgrounds. This gives you a comprehensive and diverse learning experience.
Our student cohorts are international. So you will benefit from working with staff and peers with varied experiences and perspectives.
Our assessment strategy offers a variety of assessment formats including individual assignments, group reports and presentations, reflections, oral and written examinations.

Study modules
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from that shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Learning and teaching
This programme focuses on experiential learning. We offer a placement module, a client project as a capstone, study trips to various locations, a group consultancy project and invited guest speakers. In addition our teaching and learning strategy focuses on bringing theory closer to practice, to that end we use a number of international case studies, a business simulation game, in a diverse and inclusive environment.
The outstanding quality of our learning and teaching has been recognised by the accreditations we have received from the Association of MBAs and the Chartered Management Institute. These are hallmarks of high quality, robustness and good employability potential for our graduates.
Our teaching staff are academic researchers and/or from an industry background. They have an in-depth practical experience of business and management issues. Our teaching methods include interactive workshops, simulations and lectures from staff and visiting speakers.
Field trips
The International Business in Practice Study Trip module allows you to experience ideas and practices of global business. During the trip you will have direct interaction with management executives and practices. You will: attend presentations from local management executives and experts go on site visits to major corporations and agencies. This study trip is voluntary and you will need to fund all costs associated with the trip. We have also run study trips to Chengdu, Kuala Lumpur and Budapest.
Assessment
Assessment methods used on this course
The programme’s assessment strategy has been designed to expose our students to various forms of assessment, in order to develop transferable skills and create a positive student experience. As such students will be assessed by individual essays and business reports, group presentations, oral exams, written exams and online discussion forums. We have embedded inclusivity and diversity into assessments throughout the programme, allowing students to select the focus of their assignment where appropriate.
The majority of assessments are based on individual contribution, but there is some assessed group work.
Research
Business School academics explore core issues facing contemporary societies, ranging from refugee entrepreneurship and internationalisation to sustainable tourism, security and the changing world of work and organisations including the impact of artificial intelligence. We address questions such as:
- What characterises the interconnections of trade, transportation and technologies?
- How do we organise for security?
- How can social media address well-being and social isolation?
- How can individuals be happier and navigate the increasingly complex world of work?
We also have an expertise in Coaching and Mentoring as well as in Diversity (such as examining pay gaps and gender and spin-outs) and we are always keen to include students into our projects where possible.
Please visit our research pages to learn more about the three research centres @ /business/research/. Being a masters student at OBBS offers plenty of opportunities to be a part of our research culture.

After you graduate
Career prospects
The MSc Business Management and Digital Strategy will prepare you for a broad range of roles that centre around digital innovations and transformations.
Typical roles include:
- digital product manager
- digital analyst
- head of digital content
- digital strategy consultant
- general manager.
This may be in commercial, non-profit or public organisations.
Recent graduates from the MSc Business Management courses have gone on to work at organisations such as:
- Deutsche Telekom
- Deloitte
- Oxfam
- BASF Group
- Kautex Unipart
- Raiffeisen Bank
- Revolution Insurance
- American Business Conferences
- Consilio Global.
This degree may also help prepare you for research in academia.
Our Staff
Dr Gabor Lukacs
Gabor works as liaison manager with some of our esteemed international partners and professional and accrediting bodies, and teaches on several business and management modules.
Read more about GaborJohn Bancroft
John is currently a module leader across a number of undergraduate and postgraduate modules. He is also a subject coordinator for the postgraduate Business and Management MSc programmes.
Read more about JohnProgramme Changes: On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website.
For more information, please visit our Changes to programmes page.