International Business Economics MSc

Study level: Postgraduate
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Equip yourself with the practical experience, skills and knowledge necessary to apply advanced economics principles and quantitative methods to support decision making within government, private enterprise or the third sector.

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Part-time
Sandwich

Duration

1 year full-time
2 years part-time
Up to 2 years full-time (with professional experience)

Course code

FBLT044

Start date

September 2025

At Coventry University, we continuously review the courses we offer to ensure we reflect industry-relevant emerging best practice and technology. As a result, this course is undergoing continuous improvement assessment and will be launched with a renewed curriculum starting in September 2025. Module content and titles will be updated. Course title, learning outcomes and assessments may also change. We expect our new curriculum to be fully updated by January 2025. Please return to this page to see the final course details.


Course overview

This course will provide you with the chance to examine in depth critical issues in international business economics, together with the complexities and challenges of contemporary global markets.

You’ll have opportunities to:

  • Focus on practical economic analysis, policy formulation and market efficiency in a real-world context.
  • Get up-to-speed on the challenges modern businesses face through a range of learning environments.
  • Develop quantitative skills to evaluate outcomes of economic policies and interventions and make evidence-based decisions. 
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Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

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5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

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Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

  • In-demand skills: This course will give you the opportunity to understand and apply advanced economics theories and quantitative skills to global, national, and firm-level decision-making. These skills are highly in demand in various industries, including consulting, banking, multinational corporations and in government.
  • Career Opportunities: Completing this course opens you up to a range of opportunities. You could work as an economist, financial analyst, consultant, or manager in global firms, international organisations, and government agencies. In addition, you can apply for a ‘professional experience’ opportunity2, designed to develop your skills and knowledge further to maximise your employability prospects (see modules for more information).
  • Global Perspective: The course prepares you for a global perspective in an international business environment. You will study how economic, political, and cultural variables affect international trade and investment. You also learn cross-cultural communication skills for working with people from different backgrounds.
  • Specialisations: This course offers international trade, development economics, and global finance. You will face real-life scenarios that reflect modern economic changes, learn how to apply managerial economics techniques to solve real economic problems and investigate the linkages between economic theory, management practice, international business, and finance. These specialisations enable you to tailor your courses to your interests and job aspirations, making you more employable.
  • Accreditation: The Chartered Management Institute accredits1 this course, which includes a module that allows you to earn a Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Leadership and Management.

Accreditation and professional recognition

This course is accredited1 and recognised by the following bodies:

Chartered Management Institute

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

You will undertake a professional development module as part of this course, which is currently accredited by the Chartered Management Institute for the 2024-25 intake. Upon successful completion of this module, you will gain the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice at no additional cost.

Coventry University’s accreditation with CMI is currently ongoing for the relevant modules and is frequently reviewed and monitored by the CMI through their quality systems.


Logo of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)

Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)

You will undertake an Economics Module that has a close syllabus match to CII’s (530) Economics and business unit and the assessment is of an equivalent standard. Upon successful completion of this module, you will gain the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) Recognition of Prior Learning.

Coventry University’s accreditation with CII is currently valid until the date of 31 August 2025 and is frequently reviewed and monitored by the CII through their quality systems.


Memberships

European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD)

Coventry Business School is currently an active member of the European Foundation for Management Development, a global membership organisation dedicated to management development, covering over 900 members across 91 countries.

Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS)

Coventry Business School is currently an active member of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, which has a membership of over 120 business schools and higher education providers, and supports its members in maintaining world-class standards of teaching and research.


What you'll study

The course is built around the study of economics both micro and macro, because economics plays a critical role in business and strategic management within developed and emerging markets. It provides a framework for decision-marking, risk management, and identifying competitive advantages, which are essentials for long-term success.

Example topics to be explored are:

  • The effects of changes in the international economic environment on the growth and prosperity of specific nations.
  • The recommendation and justification for the price of a new product launch.
  • Corporate and international finance, which introduces pricing, investment and financing, together with relevant legislation and regulation.

 

Modules

Professional experience

The professional experience opportunity2 enables you the opportunity to apply for optional professional experience in semester 1, which, upon successfully securing an opportunity, will extend the duration of your master’s to either 16, 20 or 24 months. The professional experience provides an opportunity for you to develop expertise and experience in your chosen field with the aim of enhancing your employability. 

Please note that the optional professional experience modules incur an additional tuition fee, for which 1 semester of professional experience is £1,333.33, for 2 semesters of professional experience is £2666.67, and for 3 semesters of professional experience is £4,000.

Professional experience5 may also be subject to additional costs, visa requirements being met, subject to availability and/or competitive application. Professional experience opportunities are not guaranteed but you will benefit from the support of our Talent Team in trying to find and secure an opportunity. Find out more about the professional experience option.

Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our placement/study abroad offering here, it is often tailored for each course every year and depending on the length of placement or study abroad opportunities that are secured. Therefore, the placement and study abroad arrangements vary per course and per student. Request further information about going on a placement or study abroad year.

 

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.


How you'll learn

The MSc International Business Economics investigates real-world applications and is set within a truly global context due to the international nature of economic events, case studies, examples and research that illustrate emerging issues facing a range of firms, investors, financial markets and economies.

The course teaching and learning strategy seeks to adopt an active learning and inclusive framework. It promotes a variety of teaching methods to help ensure every student has the opportunity to participate in learning experiences that align with their strengths, but also stretch and challenge them in safe learning spaces.

A few examples of active learning strategies employed across the course include:  

  • Interactive lectures
  • Case-based seminars
  • Study groups and workshops
  • Simulations

Additionally, more traditional learning strategies are purposefully employed to complement the above approaches, which include peer learning, peer review, inquiry-led activities, group discussions, presentations, debate and research tasks, with opportunities provided for students to receive further feedback on your written assignments.

The MSc International Business course embodies transformative learning through the following: 

  • Research Inspired Teaching: Most of the course team are research active staff and are always keen to integrate research findings and active inquiries in both content and delivery, through pertinent journal articles, reviews, cases and modern methodologies and investigative techniques. 
  • Embedded Employability: The course modules enable students to develop transferable skills which are directly relevant to the workplace. Skills of communication, leadership, and consultancy are learned during group interactions and teamwork, as well as the various formats in which students are assessed on the course.
  • Creativity and Enterprise: Students are expected to demonstrate originality and self-direction in their application of relevant knowledge to unfamiliar and complex situations in their assignment tasks. Creativity can be further enhanced if students engage in individual research projects in the Project module as this is designed to facilitate enquiry-based learning, whilst the internship option within the Project module provides students with the ability to work directly on employer projects and develop skills as entrepreneurs.
  • Intercultural and International Engagement: This is embedded throughout the course as the content itself is of an inherently global nature. The economic landscape is inevitably driven by international, cultural and political shifts and these are reflected within the case-studies, controversial economic and financial events, authentic scenarios and scholarly research to name a few.
  • Innovation and Digital Literacy: This is infused throughout the course as students have exposure to specialist software such as Bloomberg, Datastream and FAME as part of their learning experiences. Students are taught econometric software including Microsoft Excel and Gretl, but are also encouraged to use numerous online resources for additional reading and research purposes.
  • Community Contribution and Responsibility: This is captured through links with professional bodies which introduce students to elements of professional standards and conduct. Corporate governance is a central and critical theme within contemporary economics and finance with implications for a range of stakeholders, which is studied in-depth in the Accountability, Governance and Ethics module. The role of ethical decision-making and its interaction with wider society is integrated into wider aspects of the course.

This course can be offered on a part-time basis. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Request further information about part-time study.


Teaching contact hours

The number of contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 14 contact hours per week in the taught semesters. Additionally, you will be expected to undertake at least 12 hours of self-directed study, depending on the demands of individual modules.

The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the University may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.


Assessment

Assessment methods include:

  • Formal examinations
  • Phase tests
  • Essays
  • Group work
  • Presentations
  • Reports
  • Projects
  • Coursework
  • Exams
  • Individual Assignments

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.


International experience opportunities

Coventry University provide the global opportunities students need to become truly global graduates, enhancing students’ employability on a global scale.

These global opportunities are often through international field trip, studying or working abroad, collaborative online international learning, global summer and winter school programmes and a choice of language classes from our world languages unit.

You may have the opportunity to study with international students which can provide an opportunity for cross-cultural interactions which supports the development of intercultural awareness.

The project module on this course provides a consultancy option, and the course also provides a professional experience option, and both can be completed oversees.


Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2024/25 entry.

Applicants should hold an honours degree 2:2 or above in a relevant academic discipline, such as business, finance, accounting or economics. Applications from candidates with relevant experience will be considered on an individual basis.

Each application will be considered on its merits and the final decision will be made by the course director. For information regarding specific requirements, please fill in our request information form.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country-specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page. For information regarding specific requirements, please fill in our request information form.

Visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

Applicants should hold an honours degree 2:2 or above in a relevant academic discipline, such as business, finance, accounting or economics. Applications from candidates with relevant experience will be considered on an individual basis. Each application will be considered on its merits and the final decision will be made by the course director.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5.
  • If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
  • For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £15,400 | £19,400 (with prof. experience)  
Request fee information
EU 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £15,400 | £19,400 (with prof. experience) per year with EU Support Bursary**
2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £20,050 | £24,050 (with prof. experience) per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £20,050 | £24,050 (with prof. experience)  
Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.


Facilities

We have a range of facilities4 available to support you in putting the theories you are taught, into practice such as:

A student using a computer at a desk wearing glasses next to a tutor pointing at the screen

The Trading Floor

The Trading Floor is an invaluable facility that allows you to get hands-on with industry-standard software. Featuring contemporary dual-screen Bloomberg terminals, the facility can add a dynamic practical element to your course.

 

People at the Talent team fair on the balcony and on the ground floor

Talent Team

Employability is at the forefront of all our finance courses. You will have access to our dedicated employability service, the Talent Team, from the first day of your course, to graduation and beyond.

 

 

A female student sat at a desk holding a pen and looking at a laptop.

sigma Centre

The sigma Centre is housed in our Lanchester Library, and offers maths and statistics support through drop-in sessions and bookable appointments, the ideal place to help you navigate any issues you might have while studying an accounting and finance degree.


Careers and opportunities

On successful completion of this course:

You will have knowledge of:

  • The concepts and theories in economics and international trade, and their application to real-world situations.
  • Financing arrangements, strategies and governance structures of business, voluntary and governmental organisations.
  • Mathematical and econometric techniques for economic analysis.
  • The complex operation and function of markets in different regulatory settings.
  • The contemporary and controversial issues in economics and business in emerging markets.

You should be able to:

  • Use diagnostic and decision-making skills in dealing with economic and international business problems.
  • Select and apply modelling and quantitative techniques in economic policy and international business contexts.
  • Search for relevant data and information sources, manage gathered data and use it to systematically and creatively comprehend, analyse and synthesise complex issues.
  • Demonstrate self-direction and originality in approaching, tackling and finding solutions to economic and analytical problems, and identifying relevant data and information patterns.
  • Critically assess and evaluate the conceptual and theoretical frameworks in economics and international business, as well as challenge their assumptions.
  • Exercise judgement in the selection of different theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches to analyse issues and problems in real-world economic contexts. 
  • Find, extract, manipulate, analyse and interpret economic data from various sources and develop reasoned conclusions.
  • Critically assess, compare and contrast the economic environment and policy outcomes in national and international contexts.

This course aims to produce highly employable graduates: through the specialist knowledge, technical, analytical and transferrable skills you should have been able to develop during the course, coupled with the opportunity to align your final semester project to match specific career aspirations, you should be well informed to face the challenges of managers working in international financial and business markets, in the 21st century.

Completion of this course opens you up to the possibility of working as an economist, analyst or consultant for non-governmental organisations (NGOs), such as the World Bank or International Monetary Fund (IMF), private companies or public sector organisations. Typical roles include becoming a financial analyst, bond trader, policy analyst, bank examiner, research analyst, actuary or market research consultant.

Alternatively, if you wish to pursue research at PhD level, it can provide an excellent stepping stone into a research career.

Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The University's Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career. 

Where our graduates work

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work at the Bank of Botswana, the Bank of China, and the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs of Bangladesh.  


How to apply