The aim of this course is to put something very big under the microscope.
By expanding the scale at which historians would normally operate, our Global History MA will present you with an opportunity to think with growing confidence and imagination about your world, its origins, its complexities and continuous transformations across a uniquely broad geographical and chronological scope.
You will be taught the latest skills, concepts and approaches to the subject, and you will share in the imaginative challenges and intellectual vistas that this exciting new field of history is opening up. It is from this largest of historical perspectives that you will be invited to choose your own specialist research topic, culminating in a supervised 15,000-word dissertation.
Times Higher Education ranked the Department of History first in the country for its performance in the latest Research Excellence Framework exercise.
You will study two course-specific core modules:
Both of these modules are team-taught, drawing on the diverse regional and chronological expertise available in the Department of History. Tutors include: Dr Arezou Azad; Dr Jakub Benes; Dr Courtney Campbell; Dr Michelle Chresfield; Dr Simon Jackson; Dr Christopher Markiewicz; Dr Sadiah Qureshi; Dr Daniel Reynolds; Dr Lucie Ryzova; [email protected]; Dr Margaret Small; Dr Kate Smith; Prof. Naomi Standen; Dr Frank Uekotter; Dr Simon Yarrow; and Dr Shirley Ye.
You will also study two core modules focused on developing your research skills:
Full descriptions of these four modules are available below.
You will also choose two optional modules, or a double special-subject module, from a wide range available across the Department of History.
Assessment
Modules are typically assessed by written assignment. You will also complete a 15,000-word dissertation on a topic of your choice.
Learning and teaching takes on this course place via seminars, tutorials, reading texts on theory and methods and your own research on primary sources and secondary material.
Support with academic writing
As a postgraduate student in the College of Arts and Law, you have access to the Academic Writing Advisory Service (AWAS) which aims to help your transition from undergraduate to taught Masters level, or back into academia after time away. The service offers guidance on writing assignments and dissertations for your MA/MSc programme with individual support from an academic writing advisor via tutorials, email and the provision of online materials.
International students can access support for English Language development and skills through the Birmingham International Academy (BIA).
Your degree will provide excellent preparation for employment and this will be further enhanced by a range of employability support services offered by the University.
The University's Careers Network provides advice and information specifically for postgraduates that will help you to develop an effective career and skills development strategy, and to make the most of your time with us at the University. The College of Arts and Law also has a dedicated careers and employability team to deliver tailored programmes of careers events and local support.
You will have opportunities to: meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs; attend employer presentations and skills workshops; receive individual guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique; and access to comprehensive listings of hundreds of graduate jobs and work experience opportunities.
You will also be able to access our full range of careers support for up to two years after graduation.
Postgraduate employability: History
Birmingham’s History graduates develop a broad range of transferable skills that are highly valued by a range of employers. These skills include: familiarity with research methods; the ability to manage large quantities of information from diverse sources; the ability to organise information in a logical and coherent manner; the expertise to write clearly and concisely and to tight deadlines; critical and analytical ability; the capacity for argument, debate and speculation; and the ability to base conclusions on statistical research.
Some of our History postgraduates go on to use their studies directly, for example in heritage, museums or the armed forces; others use their transferable skills in a range of occupations from finance, to publishing, to fundraising. Employers that graduates have gone on to work for include: Royal Air Force; Ministry of Defence; University of Birmingham; Big Lottery Fund; Royal Air Force Museum; and University of Oxford.
Like a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) the Post-Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education (PGDipEd) is a teacher training programme leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) however it has the advantage of offering the equivalent of 120 credits which may be used towards our MA in Teaching Studies. Rated outstanding by Ofsted in 2013, this is a unique course which offers high quality training and support as well as excellent employment prospects.
Once you have completed your PGDipEd, you may return to study with us on a part-time basis to complete your Masters in Teaching Studies. Additionally, the School also offers a number of specialised Professional Development programmes which will enable you to further develop your career.
Subject Areas
The Secondary PGDipEd is available in the following subjects:
Additionally, we offer a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course in mathematics for those who do not meet subject entrance requirements.
The School of Education, also offers secondary programmes through the School Direct route. To help you decide which route to take, we have put together a list of Frequently Asked Questions
The School of Education at the University of Birmingham has a long tradition of delivering teacher training courses. Its teaching has been graded as 'outstanding' for the third consecutive time by Ofsted inspectors which reaffirms the University’s status as one of the UK’s leading institutions for excellence in teacher training.
The Initial Teacher Education course
The PGDipEd course lasts 36 weeks, of which 24 are spent in our partnership schools.
Teaching practice will take several forms: school placements and also team teaching while at the University. You will also get involved in small scale research projects for your assignments so that you can evaluate the theory in practice and integrate this learning into your own teaching.
Equal Opportunities
The School of Education is committed to equal opportunities in the access to and provision of education. For more information please see the following documents:
A variety of teaching styles and approaches to learning are used in the presentation of the themes. These include University-based lectures, small group seminars and workshops, school-based work with pupils and teachers, and work undertaken individually or with other groups of students.
The PGDipEd is divided into five phases:
The course includes the following areas of study:
Subject-based teaching methods
You follow one main method programme, each of which occupies at least three half-days a week for five weeks in each of the autumn and spring terms and two weeks in the summer term. In some subjects a field course, involving work with children, may replace a number of single days in the year. Assessment is based on coursework undertaken during the year.
School-based work
School-based work is an important part of the programme, with students normally spending 24 weeks in schools. The combination of block practice and other periods of work in schools enables you to benefit from both carefully supported introductory work in different schools and the experience of spending a significant length of time in one school.
The final assessment of teaching is based on the spring/summer term school placement. Assessment is shared between University tutors, staff responsible for students in schools, and external examiners. All aspects of your contribution to the life of the school are taken into account, in particular the teaching of your main subject.
Prior to the start of the autumn term you are expected to undertake a preliminary period of observation in a primary/middle school near your home or lodgings. During the course supervised experience and practice are arranged in schools of various kinds across the 11–18 age range. We are fortunate in being able to work with a wide range of partnership schools, including mixed comprehensives, single-sex schools and sixth-form colleges. Many of the schools offer opportunities to work with pupils from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds.
Whole-school issues
This area of study is concerned with aspects of education that are of importance to all intending teachers, irrespective of their particular teaching subjects. It is designed to provide you with a breadth of awareness, depth of insight and development of skills through a range of themes studied by all students. Themes currently include Managing Inclusion, Monitoring and Assessment, and Pastoral Care and Citizenship.
Tutoring and support
You will personally be allocated a university tutor who will guide and support you throughout your PGDipEd (QTS), along with a dedicated school mentor when on placement.
Progression
Once you have completed your PGDipEd (QTS) and successfully passed your induction year you may return to study with us on a part-time basis to complete a 60 credit dissertation and obtain an MA in Teaching Studies.
As a student teacher you will want to learn about and practise the teaching of your own subject. This programme offers you plenty of opportunity for this and also addresses other important issues such as classroom management, equal opportunities, special educational needs and pastoral care. We will help you acquire the knowledge and skills needed to meet the other varied demands that are part of life in school. You will also receive guidance on how to gain a teaching post - our student teachers employment rates are consistently excellent and well above the national average.
We live in an age where there is an urgent need for cooperative responses to address major global security challenges, as well as to transform intractable inter-state and intrastate conflicts. This programme responds to that need by providing students with an advanced interdisciplinary training in the theory and practice of global cooperation and conflict resolution. We offer research-led teaching at the intersection of International Relations, Political Psychology and Security Studies, combined with a 5-day training programme in 'Trust, Diplomacy and Conflict Transformation'.
Our students can follow a flexible programme with a wide choice of modules (part-time students are also welcome). In addition to our three core modules, we encourage students to take our new optional module in the Political Psychology of Conflict and Cooperation. Overall, our programme offers interdisciplinary training focused on the role of values, emotions, and beliefs in shaping the possibilities of conflict, cooperation and security at the international level.
In the School of Government and Society we offer much more than a degree. As a student here, whether undergraduate or postgraduate, you have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of events, with some or all of the costs paid for by the School.
Our MSc degree explores the theory and practice of how individuals, states, and political institutions manage conflict, and develop cooperation in international relations. The programme considers how political communities with different values, cultures, histories, and security conceptions can build trust in a global system.
You will gain a multidisciplinary understanding of key global security challenges (e.g. climate change, nuclear proliferation, transnational terrorism, and intractable conflicts inside and across state borders) and cover debates in International Relations, Political Psychology and Security Studies.
Topics and issues examined include:
Our students explore cutting edge scholarship through three core modules: Fear, Cooperation and Trust in World Politics, Global Cooperation in Practice, and our exclusive training programme on Trust, Diplomacy and Conflict Transformation. In addition, our Political Psychology of Conflict and Cooperation examines the psychological determinants of political choices and behaviours. Our programme allows for a truly interdisciplinary training in understanding and tackling the challenges of complex international tensions.
Our MSc degree has one more distinctive feature: it is offered by the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS), a world-leading interdisciplinary research centre, in partnership with the Department of Political Science and International Studies. The ICCS has strong connections to high level practitioner networks, which offer summer internship opportunities. Our MSc students can also become members of the four ICCS Research Working Groups: Trust; Political Settlements; International Political Psychology; Unmanned and Remote-Piloted Systems.
Who is the programme for?
Our MSc degree is designed for students interested in international relations, political psychology and security studies. Our students share a common goal: to advance their academic training, establish a policy-related career, work in government, international organizations and NGOs, or serve as mediators, negotiators and diplomats to address intractable conflicts at all levels of world politics.
You might also be interested in one of our other MSc programmes: Political Psychology of International Relations
We advocate an enquiry-based approach to learning, which means that we encourage you to become an independent and self-motivated learner. Through the programme of study we offer, we will develop the qualities that employers value in today's university graduates - qualities that will set you apart in your future career.
To help you develop these skills, we adopt a range of teaching methods. They may include:
More about teaching and learning at the University of Birmingham.
Our MSc students can pursue exciting and stimulating career opportunities with a range of organisations including government agencies, international organisations, the armed forces, NGOs, think-tanks, the media, the political world, and multinational corporations. Our excellent academic training is complemented by networking opportunities and voluntary work placements either at the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS)itself, or at one of our partner organisations. All our placements are offered on a competitive basis, over the summer term for a maximum of 20 days in order to allow sufficient time for the completion of your dissertation. These include:
Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS)
Our four research-focused working groups invite applications for summer placements in the following areas:
Political decision-making and action at the international level are shaped by complex psychological mechanisms that are often under-explored or overlooked by mainstream approaches to International Relations. This programme focuses on the individual, group, and mass-level phsychological dynamics and processes that determine political outcomes. Our students gain an in-depth understanding of the psychological underpinnings of International Relations and the empirical tools to engage with timely issues and puzzles in international politics.
In the School of Government and Society we offer much more than a degree. As a student here, whether undergraduate or postgraduate, you have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of events, with some or all of the costs paid for by the School.
Our MSc degree aims to equip students with the tools to address the complex psychological mechanisms which influence political decision and action. It examines processes at the individual, group, mass, and state levels, and engages with theoretical and empirical analyses. It uses timely issues and puzzles in international politics and highlights the role of political psychology in explaining, describing, and predicting their origins and outcomes.
You will gain a multidisciplinary understanding of the psychological underpinning of International Relations, alongside structured training in Research Methods.
Topics and issues examined include:
Our MSc degree has one more distinctive feature: it is offered by the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS), a world-leading interdisciplinary research centre, in partnership with the Department of Political Science and International Studies. Our MSc students can also become members of the four ICCS Research Working Groups: Trust; Political Settlements; International Political Psychology; Unmanned and Remote-Piloted Systems.
Who is the programme for?
Our MSc degree is designed for individuals interested in pursuing studies and careers in this innovative new field at the intersection of political psychology and international relations. Undergraduate-level qualification in IR and/or Security or experience in a cognate discipline (politics, psychology, sociology, history, geography) is desirable but not essential. We welcome all students who share our strong motivation to engage in the multidisciplinary study and practice of global political psychology.
You might also be interested in one of our other MSc programmes Global Cooperation and Security
We advocate an enquiry-based approach to learning, which means that we encourage you to become an independent and self-motivated learner. Through the programme of study we offer, we will develop the qualities that employers value in today's university graduates - qualities that will set you apart in your future career.
To help you develop the above-mentioned skills, we adopt a range of teaching methods. They may include:
Our MSc students pursue exciting and stimulating career opportunities with a range of organisations including government agencies, international organisations, the armed forces, NGOs, think-tanks, the media, the political world, and multinational corporations. Our excellent academic training is complemented by networking opportunities and voluntary work placements. Our four research-focused working groups invite applications throughout the year in the following areas:
In addition, the Careers Network provides a valuable source of information on employment opportunities, internships, and funding.
The School offers a number of opportunities for learning enhancement throughout the year, including Model NATO, which sends a student delegation each February to participate in a role play exercise of decision making in NATO. Students are also encouraged to attend the regular seminars offered by Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS), Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) and International Development Department (IDD) to complement and broaden their studies.
Student Enhancement Fund
The Student Enhancement Fund allows students to take greater control of their own personal development, encouraging creative thinking about enhancement opportunities and providing tailored experiences for individuals or groups of students with specific interests and career ambitions. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for up to £100 (individuals) or £300 (groups).
The Modern Languages teacher training course is held in very high esteem by all those who work with us: partnership schools, languages teachers, and our students who year after year say that they find the challenge exciting and our support outstanding. We aim to help student teachers develop into well informed, critical and adaptable teachers so that their own teaching personality can blossom. We welcome applications from excellent and committed linguists who wish to train to teach French, German or Spanish and make a positive difference to language learning and children’s lives.
Like a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDipEd) is a teacher training programme leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) however it has the advantage of offering the equivalent of 120 credits which may be used towards our MA in Teaching Studies. Graded as outstanding by consecutive Ofsted inspections, the Secondary PGDipEd is a unique programme which offers high quality training and support as well as excellent employment prospects.
The course attracts a scholarship of £28,000 and bursaries of £26,000 (for 2018 applicants).
If you are serious about a career in Modern Languages teaching then the University of Birmingham is the place to train.
The PGDipEd course lasts 36 weeks, of which 24 are spent in our partnership schools.
Teaching practice will take several forms: school placements and also team teaching while at the University. You will also get involved in small scale research projects for your assignments so that you can evaluate the theory in practice and integrate this learning into your own teaching.
If you are interested in our other secondary subject courses please view the general Secondary PGDipEd course page
Two-year Master FLE
The Université Paris Nanterre offers a two-year Master FLE route where the second year is spent undertaking a PGCE or PGDipEd in Britain. The credits acquired as part of the PGDipEd are taken into consideration when awarding the Master FLE (rather than count toward the MA in Teaching Studies). The Master FLE is a popular route and every year we welcome a number of Nanterre students on the PGDipEd course.
Living and Studying in Birmingham
Vibrant and diverse, Birmingham is a European centre for retail, commerce and culture. Appropriately, its civic motto is ‘Forward’, and it is its driving ambition and attitude which makes Birmingham a great place to study, work and live.
Find out more about:
Equal Opportunities
The School of Education is committed to equal opportunities in the access to and provision of education. For more information please see the following documents:
The course aims to lay the foundations necessary for students to develop their expertise not only as a teacher, but also as a Modern Languages specialist, and as a postgraduate student.
Success is dependent upon the combination of practical performance in terms of the Teachers’ Standards and academic performance in terms of knowledge, understanding, reflection and evaluation.
A variety of topic areas are explored, from lesson planning and classroom management to differentiation and developing pupils’ independence. Themes also include teaching in the target language, grammar teaching, integrating literature and cultural awareness in Modern Languages lessons for example. Current developments in teaching and learning are discussed as well as the National Curriculum and exam specifications.
The knowledge, understanding and practice of student teachers are developed through extensive teaching practice, research assignments team work and discussions, seminars and workshops.
Tutoring and support
Each student teacher will personally be allocated a Modern Languages university tutor as well as a school mentor whilst on placement, who will guide and support them throughout their training.
Preparation
Spending at least a few days in an English secondary school before the start of the PGDipEd course is advisable and candidates can either organise their own placement for this or contact the Department for Education about its school experience programmes. We also encourage candidates to develop a second foreign language in order to increase their employability. We will also provide you with a list of optional activities to undertake during the summer.
The Elaine Hurman Prize
Established by John Hurman in memory of his wife, a former student and teacher of Modern Languages, a prize of £200 is awarded annually to a student teacher in Modern Languages for demonstrating particular expertise in eliciting oral responses in the target language in class. Eligible students are nominated by mentors and the successful candidate will be recommended for the prize as a result of their classroom proficiency in the above areas.
Our PGDipEd in Modern Languages is highly regarded locally and nationally. We have an excellent record of student teachers gaining jobs at the end of the course and many of them chose to stay in the region.
Our employment rate is very high, and a number of our student teachers go on to become heads of department, lead practitioners or mentors working in partnership with us.
Once students have completed the PGDipEd and their induction year they may return to study with us on a part-time basis to complete a 60 credit dissertation and obtain an MA in Teaching Studies.
This programme is for those students who wish to gain an advanced knowledge of the theory and practice of international relations, but who do not wish to restrict themselves in advance to a particular area. It gives you the freedom to choose from a full range of options and to design your own course of study.
This core pathway is designed for flexibility, allowing you to choose over half of the MA content from a wide range of optional modules.
In the School of Government and Society we offer much more than a degree. As a student here, whether undergraduate or postgraduate, you have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of events, with some or all of the costs paid for by the School.
This degree offers a broad-based multidisciplinary approach to the study of international relations, with opportunities to specialise in one of several fields including international economic relations, security studies, European studies or Pacific Asian studies.
International Relations can be studied as a general masters programme, or you can choose a specialist pathway.
Issues examined may include
Programme content
This core pathway is designed for flexibility, allowing you to choose over half of the MA content from a wide range of optional modules. View the Course Structure.
Specialist pathways
It gives you the freedom to choose from a full range of options and to design your own course of study. It offers a broad-based multidisciplinary approach to the study of international affairs, with opportunities to specialise, if required, in one of several fields including:
We advocate an enquiry-based approach to learning, which means that we encourage you to become an independent and self-motivated learner. Through the programme of study we offer, we will develop the qualities that employers value in today's university graduates - qualities that will set you apart in your future career.
To help you develop the above-mentioned skills, we adopt a range of teaching methods. They may include:
Our lecturers and tutors will ensure you have all the resources you need to make the transition from A levels to the more rigorous demands of a degree.
More about teaching and learning at the University of Birmingham.
Enhancing your student experience
In the School of Government and Society we offer much more than a degree. As a student here, whether undergraduate or postgraduate, you have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of events, with some or all of the costs paid for by the School.
Some of these are targeted to help you build skills and experience for your CV, others are more open events designed to expose you to high-level speakers on current debates relevant to all Government and Society students.
Read more of our students' experiences and profiles on the school website.
Graduates from the School have gone on to work in a range of careers, with recent graduates working with organisations such as the United Nations, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, local authorities in the UK and overseas and the Department for International Development.
The School takes employability very seriously and as well as linking students to the central careers services, also incorporates opportunities to enhance their employment prospects, including highlighting work experience opportunities, encouraging volunteering in extra-curricular projects (such as student seminars and events) and by inviting backgrounds for students to meet.
More information about careers and employability
Careers Network
The Careers Network provides a dedicated service to help you find work experience or internship opportunities outside of your studies, either part-time during term-time, or over the summer vacation. Right from the start of your degree you will have access to our interactive careers service, through which many regional, national and international employers advertise their vacancies, and your college internship officers will go out and about to find vacancies that will be a useful addition to your CV.
Find out more about support for work experience and internships, bursaries, or mentoring.
This programme offers a unique approach to the study of Shakespeare’s life and work, fusing traditional scholarly approaches with the thrill of being involved in new creative work. It is delivered by and taught at the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon.
It makes the most of the unrivalled resources of Shakespeare’s Stratford and involves expert tuition from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and the Library of Birmingham. The programme is particularly enhanced by the Institute's collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), offering unique and extensive opportunities to work on its premises with RSC artists.
This programme will attract aspiring academics, actors, writers, directors, arts administrators, as well as anyone with a lively interest in Shakespeare.
This programme brings together academic, theatrical and civic interests in Shakespeare and creativity, generating a comprehensive and forward-looking conversation about what Shakespeare is and can be in today's world.
You will produce traditional academic essays as well as creative work, all of which will explore Shakespeare’s potential in the modern world. You will make new creative work with and at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and benefit from unique and exciting access to the RSC's studio theatre, The Other Place.
You will study four core modules: [full descriptions available below]
You will choose two optional modules from a range of Shakespeare Institute modules.
You will also attend weekly Thursday Seminars at the Shakespeare Institute (term-time only), which feature papers presented by a range of established visiting scholars as well as Institute and University of Birmingham staff.
Assessment
Shakespearience and optional modules are each assessed by written assignment; Shakespeare and Theatre Practice is assessed by either two performance assignments and a 2,000-word research paper, or a 4,000-word research paper; Shakespeare Ensemble and Shakespeare and Society both combine shorter written assignments with creative work.
You will complete the MA with a 15,000-word dissertation. For your dissertation, you will have the chance to work intensively on an RSC project at The Other Place theatre.
Explore the Shakespeare Institute
This programme will make use of the unrivalled resources of Shakespeare’s Stratford, involving expert sessions from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and the Library of Birmingham.
It also particularly benefits from the Institute's collaboration collaboration with the RSC, offering unique and extensive opportunities to work with the Company and at The Other Place. Students will also have access to the Shakespeare Institute Library, the Library of the Shakespeare Centre that curates the archives of the RSC, and the Shakespeare Collection held at the Library of Birmingham.
The programmes will also draw upon the expertise of key members of the Shakespeare Institute team: co-convenors Professor Ewan Fernie and Dr Abigail Rokison-Woodall; and Director of the Shakespeare Institute, Professor Michael Dobson.
Support with academic writing
As a postgraduate student in the College of Arts and Law, you have access to the Academic Writing Advisory Service (AWAS) which aims to help your transition from undergraduate to taught Masters level, or back into academia after time away. The service offers guidance on writing assignments and dissertations for your MA/MSc programme with individual support from an academic writing advisor via tutorials, email and the provision of online materials.
International students can access support for English Language development and skills through the Birmingham International Academy (BIA).
Your degree will provide excellent preparation for employment and this will be further enhanced by a range of employability support services offered by the University.
The University's Careers Network provides advice and information specifically for postgraduates that will help you to develop an effective career and skills development strategy, and to make the most of your time with us at the University. The College of Arts and Law also has a dedicated careers and employability team to deliver tailored programmes of careers events and local support.
You will have opportunities to: meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs; attend employer presentations and skills workshops; receive individual guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique; and access to comprehensive listings of hundreds of graduate jobs and work experience opportunities.
You will also be able to access our full range of careers support for up to two years after graduation.
Postgraduate employability: Shakespeare Studies
Postgraduates at the Shakespeare Institute are able to develop a broad range of creative, research and theatre skills, as well as in-depth subject knowledge.
Over the past two years, over 93% of our postgraduates were in work and/or further study six months after graduation.
In recent years, our postgraduates have successfully entered a variety of sectors from teaching in secondary and higher education to performing arts, publishing, museums and library and archive work. Employers that graduates have gone on to work for include: National Trust; Royal Shakespeare Company; Shakespeare Birthplace Trust; Shakespeare's Globe, University of Birmingham and University of Oxford.
We are proud to have been running this programme continuously in Singapore since 1993. We use fundamentally the same syllabus as the corresponding Birmingham programme and the same team of University of Birmingham academic staff. We are also aware of the need for some customisation and use more Asian cases and institutional material than in the home programme.
Read all out about Birmingham Business School in 中文简体.
Each module is designed to ensure that you will become familiar with both the operational and the strategic aspects of management disciplines through the use of innovative and creative teaching methods. These include action learning/research, formal and live case studies and computer assisted learning to complement conventional lectures and classes.
You will have access to the School intranet which provides a continuing source of support and access to module teachers. Infrastructure support is provided by our local partners who are in constant communication with the Business School here in Birmingham.
Our in-house Careers in Business team and experienced consultants provide specialist careers support services for the exclusive use of Birmingham Business School postgraduate students. Their role is to support your professional development in a variety of ways including:
We aim to enable and inspire students to maximise their potential, grow intellectually, and gain the skills, understanding and attributes that are highly sought after by employers, giving students excellent future prospects in a competitive employment market.
We support all of our students as they strive to meet and exceed their career goals. Students can access our careers service any time after they enrol to study at Birmingham Business School and on completion of the MBA.
Advance your career with the world’s first and only AMBA-accredited 100% Online MBA.
Designed for enterprising business professionals with at least three years of management experience, this course enables students to enhance their strategic and managerial business skills to take the next step in their careers.
By pairing informed, contemporary content with an interactive online learning platform, this course provides postgraduate students with both flexibility and critical business skills.
“This is not a campus-based course that we’ve just put online; we’ve built this from the ground up, taking on board the current online environment and latest technology that we have available.” Ian Myatt, Director of Educational Enterprise, the University of Birmingham.
Studying for an MBA online provides postgraduate students with the flexibility to learn alongside work, empowering them to apply the latest business knowledge and theory to their roles immediately:
Find out more about our Online MBA.
If you are fairly new to the principles of business, or are looking to enhance the early stages of your career you may be interested in our Online MSc International Business.
Studying Birmingham Business School’s Online MBA takes approximately 2.5 years to complete. It is a 180-credit course (which includes a 60-credit dissertation). For full pricing information, please fill out our form or call +44 (0)800 032 7101.
The Online MBA is specifically designed for those who are already working in business and want to strengthen their understanding in a world-class environment. The online format meets the needs of busy professionals who are balancing work and personal commitments alongside their studies.
If you are fairly new to the principles of business, or are looking to enhance the early stages of your career you may be interested in our Online MSc International Business.
Find out more about our Online MBA.
Online MBA students have access to a cutting-edge digital platform throughout their online studies. We have moved beyond the traditional classroom structure, taking full advantage of digital media with modules that draw on interactivity, active student participation and social connectivity to provide a more dynamic learning experience.
Rather than simply reading lecture transcripts and sending in assignments, the University of Birmingham’s online students engage with the curriculum directly using:
“Our Online MBA students are not lonely long-distance learners. They are actively working with faculty and collaborating with classmates.”
Dr Michael Shulver, Director of Online Content for the Online MBA and Online MSc International Business.
In every module, there are four live lecture sessions, (known as connect sessions). These lectures are interactive sessions that run on Saturdays for 2 hours and 15 minutes (with a break halfway through). In each session, students have the opportunity to present their work and discuss case study exercises.
Online MBA students benefit from the same expert teaching as campus students:
Find out more about our Online MBA.
If you are fairly new to the principles of business, or are looking to enhance the early stages of your career you may be interested in our Online MSc International Business.
Accelerate your career into management (without relocating to campus) by studying our 100% Online MSc International Business.
Designed to prepare graduates, career changers and working professionals for the challenges of management in today’s competitive global business environment, this programme equips students with the practical skills to stand out to employers. Students learn the core principles of global business which can be applied in real-time, enabling them to become more versatile and successful in their work.
With content delivered by triple-accredited, Birmingham Business School, the programme pairs the latest research and theory with an innovative online learning platform. The Online MSc International Business provides students with both specialist knowledge and the flexibility to suit a career-driven lifestyle.
“This is not a campus-based course that we’ve just put online; we’ve built this from the ground up, taking on board the current online environment and latest technology that we have available.” Ian Myatt, Director of Educational Enterprise, the University of Birmingham.
Studying the Online MSc International Business provides students with the ability to apply the latest business knowledge and theory to their roles immediately:
Find out more about our Online MSc International Business.
Studying Birmingham Business School’s Online MSc International Business takes 2.5 years to complete. It is a 180-credit course (which includes a 60-credit dissertation). For full pricing information, please fill out our form or call +44 (0)800 032 7101.
The Online MSc International Business has been specifically designed for those who are relatively new to the principles of business. The online format meets the needs of early career professionals who are balancing advancing careers and personal commitments alongside their studies.
Find out more about our Online MSc International Business.
Online MSc International Business students have access to a cutting-edge digital platform throughout their studies. We have moved beyond the traditional classroom structure, taking full advantage of digital media with modules that draw on interactivity, active student participation and social connectivity to provide a more dynamic learning experience.
Rather than simply reading lecture transcripts and sending in assignments, the University of Birmingham’s online students engage with the curriculum directly using:
“The world is getting busier and our students are getting busier. Business Higher Education needs to respect people’s real lives. Some people have difficulty assimilating information in a standardized way. Online, a student can pause content and learn at their own pace. Business education is — and should be — much more personalized.” (Dr Michael Shulver, Director of Online Content, Online MSc International Business and Online MBA, University of Birmingham)
In every module, there are four live lecture sessions, (known as connect sessions). These lectures are interactive sessions that run on Saturdays for 2 hours and 15 minutes (with a break halfway through). In each session, students have the opportunity to dissect the week’s learnings, present their work and discuss case study exercises.
Online MSc International Business students benefit from the same expert teaching as campus students:
Find out more about the Online MSc International Business.
The aim of this programme is to provide students with an enhanced preparation for continuing academic study or Part A of the Membership of the Faculty of Public Health (UK) examination.
A wider range of skills and expertise than can be covered in the standard MPH is often requested by employers and individuals who want to be knowledgeable about a wider range of topic areas.
This programme provides a broader version of the current MPHprogramme. To acquire and MPH (SEAL), students need to complete 170 credits of taught modules and complete a 60 credit dissertation, as opposed to the usual 120 credits of taught modules. By being formally assessed and accredited in more modules, the MPH (SEAL) allows students to demonstrate their wider competency range.
We also offer the following Public Health programmes:
As well as practising clinicians, the course may be of considerable value for you if you are involved (or thinking about becoming involved) in senior management in health services, as it covers most aspects of population health including epidemiology, statistics, health economics and health service management.
Its modular nature allows the flexibility for you to shape the programme to fit your needs in a way that ensures maximum utility with minimum disruption. Moreover, the course is delivered in an environment that combines the pragmatism and ‘can do’ spirit of a modern dynamic health service with the rigour, discipline, and high standards of a premier Russell Group University. The course covers many of the areas necessary for sitting the Part A examination of the Faculty of Public Health.
You can study the MPH (Seal) programme either full-time, part-time or up to five years by flexible learning. Overseas students may only study the MPH (Seal) full-time. Teaching takes place in one-week blocks.
The course curriculum has been amended to enable you to take 230 credits rather than the usual 180 (as far as is practical) without compromising your choice of modules.
As a Birmingham student, you will be joining the academic elite and will have the privilege of learning from world-leading experts, as well as your peers. From the outset you will be encouraged to become an independent and self-motivated learner. We want you to be challenged and will encourage you to think for yourself.
Teaching takes place in one-week blocks, and you will participate in a range of teaching styles such as lectures, small group tutorials, presentations, peer group learning, self-study etc.
You will have access to a comprehensive support system that will assist and encourage you, including personal tutors and welfare tutors who can help with both academic and welfare issues.
So you can get an idea of what some of our students have to say about the programmes we have been in touch with them and compiled some of their comments into student profiles for you to have a look at:
Find out more about where our postgraduate students go
Careers Support for Postgraduate Students
Careers Network – We can help you get ahead in the job market and develop your career
We recognise that as a postgraduate student you are likely to have specific requirements when it comes to planning for your next career step. Employers expect postgraduates to have a range of skills that exceed their subject knowledge. Careers Network offers a range of events and support services that are designed for all students, including postgraduates looking to find their niche in the job market. The Careers Network also have subject specific careers consultants and advisers for each College so you can be assured the information you receive will be relevant to your subject area. For more information visit the Careers Network website.
Earn your Online Masters of Public Administration (MPA) and make a lasting impact on society with a practical understanding of public leadership and a global perspective. Further your career with theory and applicable strategies gained through the University of Birmingham’s advanced online platform. It is a modern solution for today's globally minded postgraduate, offering informed insights and flexibility to meet the demands of your schedule.
Our online MPA course is taught through the Institute of Local Government Studies (INLOGOV) and led by course director Catherine Staite. INLOGOV sets the standard for progressive thinking in the public sector, and helps give students access to an international network of industry leaders and experts.
Advance your public service career and drive meaningful change globally with an Online MPA. Add to your current skill sets with knowledge and practical tools rooted in proven strategies and the experience of our international body of module leaders. To offer proactive support during your studies, this course also provides a personal tutor who will help you to further your understanding and your professional goals.
Conclude your MPA with a dissertation that connects you with other members of our diverse student body to bring the theories and understanding you've cultivated to life with the functional application of proven strategies in private and non-profit sectors.
Organised and delivered by the Institute of Local Government Studies (INLOGOV), our leading academic centre for research and teaching on local governance and strategic public management, an MPA from the University of Birmingham also brings with it research excellence recognised by our membership in the Russell Group, an organisation of 24 universities dedicated to the best in research, teaching and learning, and an invaluable resource for professional networking.
Master public administration with our leading-edge postgraduate online learning course, strengthen your foundation in governance and managerial discipline and learn to effectively bring about societal change on a local, regional, national and global level.
The University of Birmingham's virtual learning platform presents Online MPA students with a superior environment for their online studies. We have moved beyond the traditional classroom structure, taking full advantage of digital media with modules that draw on interactivity, active student participation and social connectivity with faculty and peers around the world to provide a more dynamic, global learning experience.
Rather than simply reading lecture transcripts and sending in assignments, the University of Birmingham's online students engage with the curriculum directly using:
For more information on studying online, click here.
Our Online Masters of Public Administration is ideal for candidates wishing to pursue careers in public policy or strategic management in government organisations or public agencies at local, regional, national or international levels. It also enables public managers to broaden their careers, facilitating a move to a different department within the public or voluntary sector or a move into consultancy.
This programme offers you the chance to develop an advanced theoretical and research-based training, especially interesting for students wishing to pursue further postgraduate studies.
We offer a flexible programmes and a wide choice of modules (part-time students also welcome).
In the Department of Political Science and International Studies we offer much more than a degree. As a student here, you have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of events, with some or all of the costs paid for by the School.
This programme offers rigorous specialist training for students wishing to prepare for advanced research in international relations, particularly at the doctoral level. It offers the introduction to methods and approaches in international relations that will equip students to plan and execute their own extended research projects. It also offers you the chance to develop an advanced theoretical and research-based training, especially interesting for students wishing to pursue further postgraduate studies.
Issues and topics examined can include
The MA in International Relations (Research Methods) is a specialist programme designed for those students wishing to prepare for advanced research in international studies. It allows you to select core modules from a list including Advanced Political Analysis and Principles of Social Science Research Methods in addition to options and your dissertation.
More information on: International Relations MA (with specialist pathways)
We advocate an enquiry-based approach to learning, which means that we encourage you to become an independent and self-motivated learner. Through the programme of study we offer, we will develop the qualities that employers value in today's university graduates - qualities that will set you apart in your future career.
To help you develop the above-mentioned skills, we adopt a range of teaching methods. They may include:
Our lecturers and tutors will ensure you have all the resources you need to make the transition from A levels to the more rigorous demands of a degree.
More about teaching and learning at the University of Birmingham.
Enhancing your student experience
In the School of Government and Society we offer much more than a degree. As a student here, whether undergraduate or postgraduate, you have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of events, with some or all of the costs paid for by the School.
Some of these are targeted to help you build skills and experience for your CV, others are more open events designed to expose you to high-level speakers on current debates relevant to all Government and Society students.
Read more of our students' experiences and profiles on the school website.
Graduates from the School have gone on to work in a range of careers, with recent graduates working with organisations such as the United Nations, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, local authorities in the UK and overseas and the Department for International Development.
The School takes employability very seriously and as well as linking students to the central careers services, also incorporates opportunities to enhance their employment prospects, including highlighting work experience opportunities, encouraging volunteering in extra-curricular projects (such as student seminars and events) and by inviting backgrounds for students to meet.
More information about careers and employability
Careers Support for Work Experience and Internships
The Careers and Employability Centre provides a dedicated service to help you find work experience or internship opportunities outside of your studies, either part-time during term-time, or over the summer vacation. Right from the start of your degree you will have access to our interactive careers service, through which many regional, national and international employers advertise their vacancies, and your college internship officers will go out and about to find vacancies that will be a useful addition to your CV.
Ever wondered what it would be like to work in a New York Theatre? Interested in working in the city? Fancy travelling to India to take part in a project to promote urban cycling? Interested in public diplomacy, economics, media relations or PR, journalism or international affairs? The University of Birmingham offers a range of work experience bursaries, where you can apply for up to £9,000 to help fund work experience or an internship, a research placement, or volunteering, anywhere in the world during the summer vacation. The funding can help you pay for accommodation costs, travel expenses, or living costs, and will help you rise above the competition.
Through our mentoring scheme, we also provide students in any year of undergraduate study with the opportunity to be mentored by successful Birmingham graduates from a diverse range of career backgrounds, such as marketing, finance, politics, and international affairs. In your final year of study you can also apply to be part of our Alumni Leadership Mentoring programme, and receive one-to-one mentoring from high-profile Birmingham alumni. This year’s mentors include Martin Devenish, Partner and Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, and Mike Coupe, a director at J Sainsbury’s.
Find out more about support for work experience and internships, bursaries, or mentoring.
Funding for work placements, research placements and internships
The Careers and Employability Centre offer a range of award schemes for students from a range of backgrounds that are looking to undertake a variety of work experience placements and internships .
Entrepreneurship is at the heart of successful business, driving forward innovation and constantly pursuing new achievements and ambitions. In this role, you will be responsible for some of the most exciting, dynamic and inspiring developments across a range of industries. Open to business, management or economics graduates, this MSc will build on your existing skills and knowledge and develop them to Masters level.
The programme introduces students to advanced management concepts through a combination of core foundation subjects before selecting one of four specialist pathways. Students also have the opportunity to choose a mixed pathway route, tailoring the course to their requirements.
Find out more about the core Management MSc and other specialist pathways:
The programme is structured into three components; six core foundation subjects (60 credits), one of four specialist pathways (60 credits), and a dissertation (60 credits). The MSc Management programme is assessed by individual coursework, group coursework, and examinations.
Coursework can take the form of short essays, extended essays, reports and presentations, through which students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding.
Taught modules contribute two thirds of the overall degree (120 credits). The final assessment is the 60 credit dissertation (10,000 – 12,000 words), where students conduct their own research aligned to their pathway under the guidance of a supervisor.
Students undertaking the Entrepreneurship & Innovation pathway will also have the opportunity to explore starting-up their own business.
For those without a business, management or economics background please also see our MSc International Business programme.
Specialist pathways
To apply and start studying the core Management MSc or other specialist pathway, please visit the programme pages;
Qualifications
Qualification titles reflect the chosen specialist pathway:
Students will also have the option to study a mixed pathway, graduating with an 'MSc Management'.
The home of Birmingham Business School is University House, conveniently situated on the edge of the main campus opposite the main gate of the University. To the elegant old house of 1908, that houses staff rooms and social space, a new multi-million pound state of-the-art teaching and learning complex has been added giving a unique combination of historic elegance and cutting-edge facilities.
Our students benefit from advanced teaching technology. All fifteen lecture theatres and seminar rooms contain comprehensive audio-visual equipment and sound systems, as well as wireless connectivity and data projection. Three large PC clusters add to computing facilities already available to students across the campus. The main lecture theatre, seating 200, is often utilised outside term-time as a conference facility for local industry.
Birmingham Business School’s brand new Postgraduate Teaching Centre opened its doors to students in autumn 2016. The building is called the Alan Walters Building after the noted economist of the same name. The high quality facilities provide a dedicated space for the Business School’s postgraduate students, and includes communal areas for studying and group work, which will look out over the Green Heart when completed in 2019.
Careers in Business
Careers in Business is a dedicated service for postgraduate Business School students. We’ll help you in all aspects of your career management, from planning your job-seeking strategies, applying for jobs, preparing for interviews and assessment centres and developing your essential employability skills. At the start of your programme you will receive an email from our team, giving details of how you can access Careers in Business Online. Please get in touch to find out how our Careers in Business team can support you.
Strategic management and leadership are what drive successful companies forward, shaping their decision making and helping them achieve their ambitions. Without a strong strategic plan, organisations cannot function at a competitive level, so you will be a key player in your company’s success. Open to business, management or economics graduates, this MSc is a specialist programme that will build on your existing skills and knowledge and develop them to Masters level.
The programme introduces students to advanced management concepts through a combination of core foundation subjects alongside the Strategy pathway. Students also have the opportunity to choose a mixed pathway route, tailoring the programme to their exact requirements.
Find out more about the core Management MSc and other specialist pathway:
The programme is structured into three components; six core foundation subjects (60 credits), one of four specialist pathways (60 credits), and a dissertation (60 credits). The MSc Management programme is assessed by individual coursework, group coursework, and examinations.
Coursework can take the form of short essays, extended essays, reports and presentations, through which students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding.
Taught modules contribute two thirds of the overall degree (120 credits). The final assessment is the 60 credit dissertation (10,000 – 12,000 words), where students conduct their own research aligned to their pathway under the guidance of a supervisor.
Students undertaking the Entrepreneurship & Innovation pathway will also have the opportunity to explore starting-up their own business.
For those without a business, management or economics background please also see our MSc International Business programme.
Specialist pathways
To apply and start studying the core Management MSc or other specialist pathway, please visit the programme pages;
Qualifications
Qualification titles reflect the chosen specialist pathway:
Students will also have the option to study a mixed pathway, graduating with an 'MSc Management'.
The home of Birmingham Business School is University House, conveniently situated on the edge of the main campus opposite the main gate of the University. To the elegant old house of 1908, that houses staff rooms and social space, a new multi-million pound state of-the-art teaching and learning complex has been added giving a unique combination of historic elegance and cutting-edge facilities.
Our students benefit from advanced teaching technology. All fifteen lecture theatres and seminar rooms contain comprehensive audio-visual equipment and sound systems, as well as wireless connectivity and data projection. Three large PC clusters add to computing facilities already available to students across the campus. The main lecture theatre, seating 200, is often utilised outside term-time as a conference facility for local industry.
Birmingham Business School’s brand new Postgraduate Teaching Centre opened its doors to students in autumn 2016. The building is called the Alan Walters Building after the noted economist of the same name. The high quality facilities provide a dedicated space for the Business School’s postgraduate students, and includes communal areas for studying and group work, which will look out over the Green Heart when completed in 2019.
Careers in Business
Careers in Business is a dedicated service for postgraduate Business School students. We’ll help you in all aspects of your career management, from planning your job-seeking strategies, applying for jobs, preparing for interviews and assessment centres and developing your essential employability skills. At the start of your programme you will receive an email from our team, giving details of how you can access Careers in Business Online. Please get in touch to find out how our Careers in Business team can support you.
