International Business MSc
About This Programme
The MSc International Business at the University of Birmingham Dubai is a research-informed, practice-focused master's that prepares graduates to lead in international business amid the sector's digital transformation. It runs for 12 months full-time or 24 months part-time, taught by the triple-crown accredited Birmingham Business School, and gives a broad view of how business works. The course tackles the practical issues facing international firms, including responsible business, trade-offs in operations, cooperative strategies, trade and geopolitical tensions, disruptive innovation and new ways to compete, with responsible and ethical practice at its core. A pathway-to-practice approach develops skills in current business models, international competition, technology, innovation and data analytics through real-world case studies, with guest lecturers from industry and Dubai itself as a hub of international business.
Course Highlights
- Links with leading regional employers such as Grant Thornton and Arup, with industry experts as guest lecturers.
- Dubai and the wider UAE are a hub for international business, and the University describes Dubai's graduate job market as less crowded.
- A friendly, supportive community with close working relationships with lecturers and state-of-the-art facilities.
- Birmingham Business School holds triple-crown accreditation from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS.
- 1st in the UK for MSc International Business graduate outcomes (QS International Trade Rankings 2023), and one of the UK universities most targeted by leading graduate employers (top 2, High Fliers Research 2026), as stated on the course page.
What You'll Study
Teaching is through lectures, workshops, seminars and blended learning support. Assessment is varied: group and individual projects, group presentations, individual reports, essays, videos, digital artefacts and creative responses. For the dissertation, students complete either a traditional academic dissertation or a sector-based policy or strategy document. The Programme Director is Dr Saneesh Edacherian, whose research looks at how strategic leadership groups and entrepreneurial teams shape strategic outcomes.
Course modules
180 credits, all compulsory: six 20-credit modules and a 60-credit dissertation, over 12 months full-time or 24 months part-time.
- Practising and Managing International Business20 credits
- International Strategy20 credits
- Cooperative Strategy in International Business20 credits
- Global Operations and Supply Chain Management20 credits
- International Business: Trade and Geopolitical Tensions20 credits
- Disruptive Innovation and International Business20 credits
- Dissertation60 credits
Entry Requirements
Applicants must meet both the University's general entry requirements and the course's own criteria. Each application is reviewed by the course's Admissions Tutor, who decides whether to make an offer.
Careers
The broad-based programme gives transferable skills for business careers such as business analysis and development, banking, management and strategy consulting, corporate finance and investment, human resource management and marketing, and addresses the intellectual and policy challenges graduates will meet in real business. The Careers Network Dubai offers information, advice and guidance to identify options, build skills and reach opportunities.
Accreditation & Professional Recognition
Accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and listed as Active on the Commission for Academic Accreditation register as the Master of Science in International Business. Birmingham Business School holds triple-crown accreditation (AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS).
Programme Details
Award
Master of Science (MSc)
Start Date
September 2026 (applications closed; September 2027 details to follow)
Typical Offer
2:1 Honours degree or postgraduate diploma in any subject, or an overseas equivalent
Duration
1 year full-time (12 months); 2 years part-time (24 months)
Qualification
Masters
Subject Area
Business & Finance
Campus
Dubai
Study Pattern
Full time, Part time
Delivery Format
In person
Tuition Fee
AED 166,356/yr
AED 166,356 a year full-time or AED 83,178 a year part-time, for September 2026 entry. The fee covers tuition, examinations and graduation and is charged for each year of study, so part-time students pay it in both years; it can be paid in full or in instalments, and it does not include visa or living costs. Applications for September 2026 entry to this programme are closed, and details for September 2027 entry will be published later. Applications are made online through the University of Birmingham Dubai Admissions portal, with no application fee; postgraduate applicants upload transcripts for study completed so far, their degree certificate if available, and a CV. Decisions are usually made within 10 working days of all documents arriving. A non-returnable AED 5,000 deposit, deducted from tuition, is paid on accepting an offer. Scholarships of up to 30% are assessed from the application itself, with no separate form, and full-time students can apply for a student visa sponsored by the University.