Empower global business growth through strategic leadership
University of Gloucestershire’s 100% online MBA International Business provides the business and strategic expertise needed to thrive as a leader in a global organisation. You’ll explore global financial markets, international operations, and the challenges facing businesses in a competitive global environment.
Throughout your studies, you’ll conduct global strategic assessments, develop marketing and execution strategies, and examine the key elements of financial regulation within the international marketplace. By the end of the degree, you will have a comprehensive toolkit of strategies ready to be implemented across any global market.
Designed to fit around your professional and personal commitments, this course empowers you with the global perspective and strategic acumen needed to lead across borders. You’ll gain the skills to navigate international markets, manage cross-cultural teams, and drive growth in today’s interconnected and competitive global economy.
Course overview
This course focuses on the strategic challenges and opportunities of operating in global markets. You’ll investigate how businesses expand internationally, navigate regulation, and adapt to diverse cultural and economic contexts.
In modules like Global Strategic Management and International Financial Regulation, you’ll analyse global competition, risk, and investment from a cross-border perspective. The Global Marketing module further deepens your understanding of how to reach and engage international audiences. You’ll graduate with the global perspective and analytical skills needed to lead across borders and sectors.
Skills and knowledge
Graduates of this course will be able to:
Lead and inspire culturally diverse teams using leadership theory
Evaluate global markets and develop strategic entry plans
Create marketing strategies using intelligence and cultural insight
Apply tools like PESTLE, TOWS, and MARCOM to assess global positioning
Analyse the impact of geopolitical events on global financial systems
Entry requirements
To study Gloucestershire’s 100% online MBA International Business, you will need to have completed:
A 2:2 undergraduate honours degree (or international equivalent)
OR
A minimum of three years of relevant work experience (CV required, including one reference).
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, or if your most recent education or work experience was not conducted in English, you must demonstrate proficiency through an approved English language test. This includes IELTS (minimum overall score of 6.0, with no individual component below 5.5) or an equivalent qualification.
Modules
Global Strategic Management
Analyse the global competitive landscape and learn how to develop strategies for successful international expansion. You’ll explore how organisations can leverage their resources, capabilities, and market entry choices to gain competitive advantages in foreign markets. Applying theory to practice, you’ll assess global strategies in real-world cultural contexts, developing the skills to navigate the complexities of cross-border operations and drive strategic decision-making in an international business environment.
International Financial Regulation
Investigate how international financial regulation has evolved in response to major economic crises, including the 2007–2008 global financial crash. You’ll study the liberalisation of financial markets, regulatory frameworks, and the role of institutions such as the IMF and World Bank. Exploring historical turning points—from Bretton Woods to Herstatt—you’ll gain insight into the balance between financial innovation and risk control. You’ll also examine how regulatory developments impact global investment, savings, and risk management practices.
Global Marketing
Explore how to develop and implement marketing strategies on a global scale, understanding the key differences from domestic approaches. This module examines market convergence trends, international entry challenges, and global marketing design. You’ll consider how organisational structure, management style, culture, and people influence implementation, while also evaluating the strategic importance of emerging markets. Whether you’re entering new territories or competing with global players at home, you’ll build the insight and tools to compete effectively in an international marketplace.
Leadership and Organisation behaviour
Explore what it means to be an effective leader and learn how to navigate change and lead ethically within multicultural and diverse settings. You’ll focus on emotional intelligence, reflective leadership, and responsible decision-making. Drawing links between classical leadership theories and modern-day challenges, you’ll build a toolkit to lead with integrity and purpose in complex organisational environments.
Economics for Managers
Explore key economic concepts, models, and analytical tools to support sound managerial decision-making. You’ll study supply and demand dynamics, market structures—from perfect competition to monopoly—and the theory of the firm at a micro level. At the macro level, you’ll examine fiscal and monetary policy, along with broader topics such as international trade, financial markets, economic growth, and externalities. By applying economic reasoning, you’ll learn to evaluate trade-offs and make choices that align with organisational objectives.
Finance for Managers
Develop the essential financial knowledge to support day-to-day operations and long-term strategic planning. You’ll explore the time value of money, investment options, capital expenditure decisions, and financial structuring. With a focus on cash flow management and asset allocation, you’ll gain the skills to guide your organisation’s financial sustainability and growth.
Strategic Decision Making for Managers
Develop your capacity to make informed strategic decisions by examining how organisations build capabilities to compete effectively. You’ll study decision-making frameworks drawn from global business practices and apply them across a range of firm sizes and industries. You’ll strengthen your ability to align strategy with the external environment while fulfilling long-term objectives.
Business Strategy
You’ll gain a clear understanding of strategic thinking and how it supports long-term organisational success. This module introduces key theories, models, and analytical tools that help general managers make sound, value-adding decisions. Whether in the public, private, or non-profit sectors, you’ll learn to assess competitive positioning, build strategic capabilities, and lead your organisation with a forward-thinking mindset.
Operations Management
Explore the core elements of operations management and their critical role in business success. You’ll analyse areas such as process and capacity planning, quality management, materials and facilities planning, and operations strategy. Whether you work in consulting, start-ups, or corporate leadership, you’ll build the skills to optimise resources and drive operational efficiency.
Research Methods for Business and Management
Develop a solid foundation in both academic and consultancy-based business research. This module guides you in identifying research problems, conducting literature reviews, and designing effective methodologies. You’ll learn about philosophical underpinnings, research ethics, and practical methods for gathering and analysing data. By the end, you’ll be ready to produce a rigorous, well-designed research proposal.
Applied Research for Business and Management (30 credits)
Develop and apply your knowledge of research methods to tackle a real-world business issue. You’ll define a research problem, design your study, gather and analyse data, and deliver practical recommendations. Whether you pursue a thesis or project, you’ll demonstrate your ability to conduct independent, applied research that adds value to your field.
Begin your online learning journey with Gloucestershire today
The information below is required for social login
Login to your account
JOIN FOR FREE
Let’s begin with setting up your account to keep track of your progress