Accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), our Management and Finance course teaches you the fundamental skills and attributes you need to become a successful international manager in the finance sector. You’ll become adept at strategic and tactical business decisions, developing core skills in managerial finance and managing and motivating staff in businesses on an international scale.
What's covered in the course?
Initially in the first stage, you will examine the key challenges faced by global businesses to fully appreciate the complexity and dynamics of leadership and management practice. This will see you broaden your skills in organisation, communication and working with others, particularly within an increasingly diverse cultural context.
During the second stage of your course, you will explore international financial management, including international investment strategies, Capital Asset Pricing and the financial aspects of national and international merger and acquisitions. You’ll learn how to navigate the risks of foreign exchange rates and the intricacies of dividend policy theory and practice for international firms.
You’ll be taught international business strategy while also developing your research skills in preparation for your major project. In addition to the Major project, you will also study both personal and institutional portfolio management, covering key areas such as shares, bonds, property chattels and commodities, and fund management principles and issues.
The final core Major Project module is tailored to your career aspirations. The module provides three project options:
-A work-based study route enabling you to relate the project to a current employer;
-A consultancy project option, where you find a client who has an international business problem that you feel you can solve;
-A traditional dissertation involving an in-depth exploration of both the theory and practice of international business using primary research.
Whatever route you choose, it will give you the opportunity to identify a topic and industry of your choice related to your specialist area of finance, tailoring your degree to enhance your employability for your final chosen career destination.
You will work in internationally diverse student teams, collaborating to deliver effective and professional reports, reflecting the professional practice of international management. Throughout the course, the programme team will give you the support you need to realise your potential, and we look forward to working with you to develop your knowledge, understanding and skills for the career of your choice.
Why Choose Us?
-You will develop fundamental skills in business management while having the opportunity to gain enhanced and specialist expertise to help you enter the complex and challenging field of finance.
-On graduating you will receive an industry-recognised professional qualification from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).
-You will work alongside a diverse range of international students giving a real experience of what it is like to work and collaborate with your peers from a range of diverse cultures from Europe, Nigeria, India, China, Vietnam and North America.
-You will have the opportunity to visit a leading financial services organisation such as the London Stock Exchange to gain insight into the complexity of real world global financial operations.
-You will be supported with Business English language diagnostics and tutor support to help improve you in the international language of business.
Course Structure
The course runs for 12 months (full-time, September start) and is split into three stages, each lasting at least 10 weeks. Assessment is of a practical nature, including assignments, reports, presentations and examinations.
Each module consists a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops, online interactive activities and assessments. Typically each module is taught on a weekly basis during term time, consisting of three hours per module per week split into one, two or three-hour sessions. A total of 9 contact hours per week is typical over a 10 week period for Stage 1 and Stage 2. Stage 3 will consist of three hours of contact time per week, supplemented with project supervision meetings as and when required for the Major Project.
Each 20-credit module is designed to require 200 hours of study, of which 30 hours or more will be via direct contact with module tutors. The remaining time will consist of independent learning, which will be structured with guidance from the module tutor to incorporate activities such as online learning, reading and group or team based work.
Emphasis will be placed on the group as a resource for learning. There will be group discussion of practical management situations and problems, making use of case studies, problem situations and scenarios and, where relevant, the participants' own experiences.
Assessment on the programme is designed to be an integral part of your learning process, enhancing and demonstrating your knowledge and practice. Formative feedback will be provided to you through a combination of self-reflection, peer group and tutor feedback. Summative assessments will provide a measure of the extent to you have achieved the learning outcomes of the modules.
Assessment within the modules will take various forms, including coursework assignments, reports, controlled assessment, examinations and the dissertation or project. You may be required to defend the dissertation or project through a viva, drawing on the skills developed in the programme.
All of our Management pathways have professional accreditation from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), as well as ensuring the courses are relevant and cutting edge, it means you will receive a CMI QCF Level 7 Certificate in addition to the Master’s degree upon graduating.
You will be provided with CMI membership for the duration of the course, benefitting from full access to Management Direct, CMI’s market-leading online support tool for managers and leaders. You’ll also be eligible for the CMI’s mentoring scheme and have the opportunity to attend events, helping you network and create industry links.
Employability
You’ll have the opportunity to:
-Take part in a funded company visit to a leading company, such as Jaguar Land Rover, one of the most successful and lucrative businesses in the world.
-Choose to deliver a work-based study project or consultancy project in the final stage of the course using a current employer or a client you find yourself.
-Seek support and engage with events and activities provided by Birmingham City University’s careers service.
-Take part in Birmingham City University’s Graduate Plus scheme.
-Receive employment advice and support via your Personal Tutor.
Our graduates have obtained employment in management positions, or have set up their own successful businesses. Former students are employed in managerial positions across the globe, including land management (Kenya), manufacturing (China), HR (Germany), finance (Canada), insurance (France) and teaching (India, UK and Sri Lanka). You’ll learn new perspectives on a changing business world, enabling you to provide employers with relevant and cutting-edge information. The research skills you develop doing your Major Project will also look good on your CV.
A postgraduate qualification can really help you stand out from the crowd in today’s competitive job market. By becoming a specialist in your field, you’ll have the chance to advance thinking in that subject and lead, rather than follow, the latest developments.
Other admission requirements
Entry to Stage Two
-A Postgraduate Certificate (Level 7 or equivalent, minimum value of 60 credits) in a business subject aligned with the chosen pathway (international business, finance, marketing or entrepreneurship).
-Candidates will be required to submit an extended application to evidence how their Postgraduate Certificate meets the programme learning outcomes at the equivalent stage.
Entry to Stage Three
-A Postgraduate Diploma (Level 7 or equivalent, minimum value of 120 credits) in a business subject aligned with the chosen pathway (international business, finance, marketing or entrepreneurship)
-Candidates will be required to submit an extended application to evidence how their Postgraduate Diploma meets the programme learning outcomes at the equivalent stage.
-Candidates will be required to have passed a research methods module (Level 7 or equivalent, minimum value of 20 credits) and will be required to submit an original Dissertation Proposal that has been passed by the Programme Team prior to admission approval.
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