International Business Degrees Online

Skills, knowledge, abilities, interests
We are looking for evidence of your interest in this subject, and your commitment to studying it.
Deferrals
Applications for deferred places are considered.
Policy for applicants who take their examinations in more than one sitting
Resits/A levels taken over more than one sitting are accepted.
Re-applications
If you have applied to us before, any subsequent application should provide updated information on your suitability for the course. We reserve the right to draw on any information from previous applications.
Study details

Teaching and learning
Tuition takes a number of different forms including lectures, seminars and tutorials. You are expected to contribute actively to your learning experience through preparation for, and participation in, classes. You will spend a total of around 12 hours a week in lectures and a further 6 hours in seminars or tutorials. Your third year is spent studying management abroad (in English, though you are encouraged to learn the local language) in one of our partner universities.
Coursework and assessment

The interdisciplinary nature of the International Management degree is reflected in the modes of assessment. Essays, multiple choice tests, project reports and presentations, in class tests and weekly assignments constitute the coursework component of assessment, although the nature and proportion of coursework varies from course to course. The remainder of assessment is by unseen examination. Assessment methods during the year abroad vary between partner institiutions; you must pass the year abroad in order to progress to the final year . In the final year you can choose to do a research-based dissertation. We aim to strike a balance between examinations and assessed coursework as well as providing opportunities for feedback on progress through non-assessed work.
Facilities

PERSONAL TUTORS

Every student at Manchester Business School is allocated a Personal Tutor. This member of the lecturing staff is your first point of contact when you have personal worries or problems of any kind. Where possible you will keep the same tutor throughout your studies.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS

PDPs are aimed at helping you develop awareness of generic transferable and subject-specific skills, improve independent learning and provide a record of your academic learning and achievement.

STUDENT MENTORING

Manchester Business School operates a peer mentoring scheme which aims to provide first year students with a second or final year “mentor” who will be able to provide practical assistance with orientation and induction as well as providing advice and information on aspects of student university life.

LIBRARY AND IT FACILITIES

There are also outstanding Library and IT facilities at Manchester. John Rylands University Library is renowned as one of the most extensive libraries in the world. For students of Manchester Business School this is complemented by the specialist Precinct Library, located on the site of the Business School. There is also increasing provision of information via various web based services. Much of the reading material is available through e-journals. These e-journals, and other standard computing services – e.g. access to the worldwide web, word processing – are available through the clusters of computers that will be found in departmental buildings, libraries and some halls of residence. Increasing numbers of buildings in and around the campus are being set up for wireless computer connection. In addition some of the library information services are accessible off-site through your own dialup or broadband service.

In addition, International Management students have access to the study and recreational facilities of the host institution during the year abroad.

Teaching and learning
Tuition takes a number of different forms including lectures, seminars and workshops. You are expected to contribute actively to your learning experience through preparation for, and participation in, classes. You will spend a total of around 12 hours a week in lectures and a further 6 hours in seminars or tutorials. In the final year you can choose to do a research-based dissertation.
Coursework and assessment

The interdisciplinary nature of the Management and Management (Specialism) degrees is reflected in the modes of assessment. Essays, multiple choice tests, project reports and presentations, in class tests and weekly assignments constitute the coursework component of assessment, although the nature and proportion of coursework varies from course to course. the remainder of assessment is by unseen examination. In the final year you can choose to do a research-based dissertation. We aim to strike a balance between examinations and assessed coursework as well as providing opportunities for feedback on progress through non-assessed work.
Facilities

PERSONAL TUTORS

Every student at Manchester Business School is allocated a Personal Tutor. This member of the lecturing staff is your first point of contact when you have personal worries or problems of any kind. Where possible you will keep the same tutor throughout your studies.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS

PDPs are aimed at helping you develop awareness of generic transferable and subject-specific skills, improve independent learning and provide a record of your academic learning and achievement.

STUDENT MENTORING

Manchester Business School operates a peer mentoring scheme which aims to provide first year students with a second or final year “mentor” who will be able to provide practical assistance with orientation and induction as well as providing advice and information on aspects of student university life.

LIBRARY AND IT FACILITIES

There are also outstanding Library and IT facilities at Manchester. John Rylands University Library is renowned as one of the most extensive libraries in the world. For students of Manchester Business School this is complemented by the specialist Precinct Library, located on the site of the Business School. There is also increasing provision of information via various web based services. Much of the reading material is available through e-journals. These e-journals, and other standard computing services – e.g. access to the worldwide web, word processing – are available through the clusters of computers that will be found in departmental buildings, libraries and some halls of residence. Increasing numbers of buildings in and around the campus are being set up for wireless computer connection. In addition some of the library information services are accessible off-site through your own dialup or broadband service.

About the course
The course offers students the opportunity to follow a course of study which leads both to successful professional development in the practice of international relations (with an emphasis on international institutions, work in non-governmental organisations and global political economy/global business) and to research at a higher level. The course includes core modules in contemporary issues in International Relations (IR) theory and practice, and specialisms in contemporary theory in IR, Asia Pacific studies, negotiation, international institutions, global political economy and the politics and culture of globalisation.

The course is taught by an enthusiastic team with a strong commitment to teaching and to individual attention to graduate students from a wide variety of backgrounds. The course is flexible enough to allow students to pursue their own particular interests, but structured enough to enable students to achieve the highest standards in their work.

In the past, students from our MA courses have gone on to work in the diplomatic and trade ministries of a number of countries, in security and intelligence work, in non-governmental organisations, in business and the voluntary sector, and in international banking, as well as moving on to further academic study. Four of our former graduates who went on to take PhDs now teach in ’5′ rated departments in the UK, but we also have former students who teach in universities from Hong Kong to Santiago de Chile, including universities in Ireland, the US and Trinidad.

Assessment
Assessment on the course involves course work, report writing, presentations and group work. There are also class tests and critical reviews and critical bibliographies to prepare. The course is structured with no formal examinations. All candidates for the MA write a 15,000 word dissertation, and prepare work on research methods including an assessed dissertation proposal as part of the research training element of the degree. The option modules include assessment of ‘professional elements’ such as the drafting of negotiation briefs and preparatory documentation for negotiations. This varied pattern of assessment reflects the main aim of the course in preparing students for work either in academic, research, analysis or practical policy management fields.

Resources and facilities
The department has a well resourced library with a good journal stock and excellent on-line facilities. Students will have access to training for the use of library and computing resources, and where appropriate to other kinds of training to enable them to complete the course successfully. Nottingham Trent University has a strong reputation in the teaching of IR, which has been a major subject in the university for about 30 years. As a result, we have built up a considerable stock of resources and expertise in the subject. Students will have access to a sophisticated and innovative data bank of questions for self-assessment on-line. All students will have a personal tutor and regular personal contact with key members of staff.

Study routes
MA full-time: 12 months
MA part-time: 24 months
PgDip full-time: 12 months
PgDip part-time: 24 months
PgCert full-time: nine months

Special benefits
The particular strengths of this course include:
the high standard of teaching and learning, and the strong experienced team of committed staff working on the teaching of the course;
the opportunity for academic development within the course and afterwards;
the excellence of the teaching as recognised by external bodies (Nottingham Trent IR staff were graded “excellent” in a recent quality assessment);
the opportunity for professional development within the option modules on the course;
the opportunity to live and work in a strong research culture in the school and university as a whole, in a well resourced and intellectually challenging context, and in a thriving and lively city.

Research opportunities
The course helps to develop students understanding and skills towards research work, and in the past many of our MA students have gone on to undertake research for PhD and comparable awards successfully.

The methods and methodology elements of the course provide specific training in research which facilitates students who wish to go on to higher study.

The course builds on the research and publishing strengths of the staff teaching on it, and the main areas of the MA degree are also the main areas in which we supervise PhD students (contemporary theory; political economy; Asia-Pacific; institutions; development and development policies; IR in the EU; IR in South Asia; contemporary theories of conflict and war). About 40 PhD students have successfully completed their theses with us in the last 8 years, and we have a strong record of success in research learning and teaching.

Professional recognition
The course has been designed to conform to ESRC requirements for taught courses in international relations, and does so in all respects. We are currently waiting to apply for ESRC recognition for 2005.

Professional development
We encourage our MA students to work on their course with the minimum of distraction. However all students have the opportunity to take part in research seminars, day schools and to hear and meet visiting specialists. MA students do not contribute to teaching.