Find a course

Expand

International Business and Intercultural Communication

MA or PGDip or PGCert

Key facts

Start dates

September 2020

Location

Headington

Course length

Full time: MA: 12 months, PGDip: 9 months

Part time: Option to be discussed

Department

Department of English and Modern Languages

Come to an open day

Ask a question

Order a prospectus

Overview

Gain an intensive introduction to business studies and develop your intercultural communication skills through the MA / PGDip / PGCert International Business and Intercultural Communication.

You will combine campus-based study with a work placement in the UK or abroad.

Develop your career through a work placement and carrying out your own research alongside the supporting academic programme.

You will enhance your career prospects by acquiring vital transferable skills. These include:

research skills
report writing
presentations
team work capabilities
time management.

This course provides an intensive introduction to business studies together with the development of your intercultural communication skills. It combines campus-based study with a work placement in the UK or abroad.

Male and female student sitting on a bench talking

How to apply

Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

A good first degree

Applicants for the MA may be asked to include a recent piece of academic work (approx. 1000 words in English).

A final decision about a candidate's suitability is normally based on interview, or by alternative arrangement.

Applicants are welcomed from a variety of academic disciplines, as well as those in work and seeking continuing professional development. Admission is normally open to those with a good undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent) or other professional qualification relevant to one of the key areas of study, or an appropriate linguistic background.

Applications will also be considered from those who seek to formalise their prior experiential learning or qualifications and who have appropriate language competence.

Applications should be received no later than 1 August, though it is advisable to apply much earlier than this, in particular if you are intending to apply for a scholarship award, or are an international student.

Please also see the University's general entry requirements.

English language requirements

Students with a first language other than English are required to give evidence of a good degree as well as minimum IELTS score 6.5, with 6.0 in reading and writing and 5.5 in listening and speaking, or equivalent.

Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.

International qualifications and equivalences

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.

International applications

International students who are offered a place on the MA course will be asked to provide a deposit of £1,000 to secure their place. Full terms and conditions will be provided to applicants with their offer letter.

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

Apply now

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note

Home/EU full time

£7,130 (Masters); £6,420 (Diploma); £3,565 (Certificate)

Home/EU part time

£3,750

International full time

£13,730

Home/EU full time

£7,500 (Masters); £6,500 (Diploma); £3,750 (Certificate)

Home/EU part time

£3,750

International full time

£14,200

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 483088

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2019/20

Home/EU full time

£7,130 (Masters); £6,420 (Diploma); £3,565 (Certificate)

Home/EU part time

£3,750

International full time

£13,730

2020/21

Home/EU full time

£7,500 (Masters); £6,500 (Diploma); £3,750 (Certificate)

Home/EU part time

£3,750

International full time

£14,200

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 483088

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year your fees will increase each year.

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.

Financial support and scholarships

There are International Student Scholarships available for 2020 and other scholarships and funding options for postgraduate international students.

For general sources of financial support, see our Fees and funding pages.

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.

You will be responsible for your own travel, accommodation, and other related costs whilst on work placement.

Learning and assessment

You will spend the first semester studying on campus in Oxford. For the second semester, you will complete a work placement in a multinational company or business. You will also complete a business research project or dissertation via distance learning.

Study modules

The modules listed below are for the master's award. For the PGDip and PGCert awards your module choices may be different. Please contact us for more details.

Semester 1 (on campus)

Compulsory modules

Intercultural Communication

An exploration of the diversity and complexity of culture, and how they affect communication (verbal and non-verbal) between cultures
An appreciation of the relationship between national and corporate culture
An exploration of ways of analysing cultural differences from various perspectives
A familiarisation with theories of intercultural communications.

Principles of International Business

An introduction to the principles and concepts of business and management, including the inter-relatedness of the functional areas of organisations, and strategic decision making in national and international contexts.

International Management

An introduction to the theory and concepts of international management
An introduction to the conceptual approaches employed by organisations in the decision making processes associated with undertaking business in international competitive environments.

Optional modules

EU Institutions and Policies

A study of the structure of the European Union - its objectives, policies and constraints
An exploration of the economic environment in Europe and its impact on member states.

Globalisation in the 21st Century

The aim of this module is to explore the various forces currently driving globalization, including global, international, regional and national actors and ideologies. It encourages students to conduct independent research relating to one of the topics covered and analyse it adopting the form of an academic research essay. To maximise the opportunity for learning, students have to present the outcomes of their research.

Semester 2 (by distance learning while completing your work placement and/or research)

Compulsory modules

The Content of Business Research

A study of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies with the opportunity to practise a range of techniques, enabling students to become critical users of research findings as well as competent researchers
An exploration of the research methods required for extended self-managed projects of a cross-national nature.

Optional modules

Work placement and business research project

A 12-week period of work-shadowing experience in a company where the target language is the key to communication
Students currently in employment may apply to have this employment recognised as equivalent to the work placement
A study (10-12,000 words) related to the work placement.

Dissertation

An extended study (12 -15,000 words) of a topic related to business studies, European issues or cultural understanding.

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

You'll be taught through the following methods:

lectures
directed reading
workshops
seminars
practical and project work.

You can opt to register for one undergraduate module credit as part of your tuition fees. The course is taught in English.

You'll be required to study for approximately 200 hours per module. Each module is usually delivered over a 12 week period.

Assessment

Assessment methods used on this course

You'll be assessed through the following methods:

essays
seminar papers
formal written examinations
case study reports
individual or group presentations.

Modules are assessed on the quality of a combination of written and oral presentation work.

Research

Research areas and clusters

european integration
european politics
globalisation
consultancy projects
ethics and fair trade
business strategy.

After you graduate

Career prospects

The course opens up a wide range of opportunities for careers in the media, publishing, public relations, marketing, intergovernmental organisations and non-governmental organisations. It is also a good base for further postgraduate study.

To find out about the experiences of our students on work placements, browse our MA in International Business and Intercultural Communication student profiles.

Student profiles

Ambra Garofolo

"I found all the teaching staff on the MA course very knowledgeable and helpful, which certainly contributed to my interest in the subject. The course leader in particular was extremely supportive, and I really believe that it is important to have such a helpful person coordinate the course!"

Our Staff

Mark Hull

Teach economics, finance, business strategy, digital literacy, consultancy

Mark Hull

Teach economics, finance, business strategy, digital literacy, consultancy