MSc International Business

You realise that business is increasingly conducted in a global marketplace and wish to gain the essential skills necessary to understand and manage business challenges and opportunities in such a setting. You want a career in organisations such as multinational corporations, international non-governmental organisations, multilateral international organisations, and consultancies, many of which have offices in Ireland. You want to be taught and supervised by leading, research-active international business and management academics who provide an engaging learning environment.

International Business is focused on organisations that do not limit their operations to a single nation-state, such as Citigroup and Google. The MSc programme in International Business considers why these organisations exist, how they are successful in the ever-changing global environment, and what their activities mean for the different countries in which they do business.

This programme provides students with the knowledge and skills required to survive and thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. Students will gain an understanding of the tools, techniques and practical skills associated with operating an organisation across borders, and an appreciation of the interactions between firms, governments and society in an international context.

International Business Highlights

World-Class Facilities

• Teaching methods employed across this programme typically include lectures, workshops, tutorials, case studies, meetings with practitioners and experts in international business, use of decision-making tools (e.g. Excel solvers and tools typically used in companies, interactive web or computer applications) and software demonstrations. Lectures are also often interspersed with discussion, group exercises and case studies which allow students to engage with theories and concepts and reflect on their application in practice. In collaboration with the QUB Science Shop and links with the William J. Clinton Leadership Institute, as well as guest lecturers from multinational companies, non-governmental organisations and local companies, our students are provided with regular insights into the reality of business practices. Students may expect a variety of assessment types (reports, presentations, essays, exams) aimed to enhance skills development, critical analysis and capacity building.

Internationally Renowned Experts

• This programme offers business students an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge with regard to global business. The modules undertaken in this programme reflect such a perspective with students best placed to take up employment within global organisations. Further, the good academic foundation provided in this programme may serve as a starting point for progression towards PhD studies at high-quality universities. The MSc International Business programme is run in a multicultural teaching environment with local and international students working and engaging together. The multinational environment coupled with the relatively small class sizes allows for a very strong learning experience where key intercultural competencies can be gained through various interactions.

Student Experience

• This programme is taught at the Riddel Hall campus in South Belfast, which has dedicated facilities and resources for postgraduate students, including a state-of-the-art lecture theatre, a postgraduate common room, computer suites, catering and parking on site. The excellent Queen’s University Student Guidance Centre provides a learning development service for all students who want to improve their study techniques, enhance critical writing, or refresh knowledge on numerical skills. In addition, the INTO Study Centre provides language support for international students, as well as guidance on careers and employability.

Queen's University Belfast is one of the leading universities in the UK and Ireland with a distinguished heritage and history.

Founded in 1845 as Queen's College Belfast, we became an independent university in 1908. The University is a member of the Russell Group of UK research-intensive universities, combining excellence in research and education with a student-centred ethos.

Queen’s campus is at the heart of Belfast in Northern Ireland which has the lowest cost of living in the UK (Mercer Cost of Living City Ranking 2021) making it a more affordable option for students.

A World-Class Education and Student Experience

Queen’s offers a world-class education that prepares our students for leadership and citizenship in a global society.

Our inspiring alumni comprises outstanding scholars, Nobel Prize winners - such as Seamus Heaney and David Trimble - and influential leaders who are making an impact in Northern Ireland and across the globe.

Programmes are focused on preparing students for future employment. Students not only learn the core academic material from the staff at the forefront of their discipline but also learn how to put it into practice through practical workshops and hands-on sessions, ensuring that upon graduation, students are ready to step up as the next generation of industry leaders.

A Global and Inclusive University Community

Queen’s is attracting global talent to Belfast.

We currently have staff and students from over 80 countries, helping to create a multicultural and vibrant campus. They are joining a university that is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing the best global talent within an environment that enables them to realise their full potential.

An innovative, welcoming, and inclusive place to work and study, Queen’s is a leader in gender equality and diversity and currently holds a prestigious Athena Swan Silver Award. The University also holds 14 School Awards comprising 3 Gold, 6 Silver and 5 Bronze.

Research That Shapes Worlds

Queen’s University Belfast is globally connected and networked with leading universities across the world.

We continue to drive forward research to shape worlds, focusing on five key areas. Ensuring a healthy living for all through developing solutions and treatments for diseases; helping to deliver a transformative and sustainable economy for future generations; leading to securely connected intelligence and AI and the data revolution. We are at the forefront of delivering future-focused human-environment relations; and will continue our strong history of expertise in conflict resolution and building inclusive and cohesive communities.

Ranked 24 in the UK for Research Power

We are forward thinkers and will continue to direct and shape research to help support a workable environment and society.

88% of our research has been assessed as world-leading and internationally excellent, 99% of our research environment was assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent and we are ranked 24th in the UK for Research Power (REF 2021/ Times Higher Education).

Northern Ireland's Legendary Beauty

Queen’s University is situated in Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland.

In a city with innovation at its heart, technological advances infiltrate every sector helping to build our competitiveness on the global stage. Belfast is in the world’s top 10 Digital Economies of the Future - the only UK city outside London to be listed (Financial Times’ fDi Intelligence, 2018) and was voted one of the top 15 friendliest cities in Europe (Condé Nast Traveller, Readers' Choice Awards 2021).

It is one of Europe's most hip, vibrant and affordable cities, lauded for its energy, and rich in culture and history. Queen's stunning campus is within Belfast's Queen's Quarter, with cafés, bars, restaurants, superb shopping, and entertainment venues (Complete University Guide 2022).