Management of International Business and Trade (Business Administration)
The study programme
In the courses of the track Management of International Business and Trade you will investigate the challenges of international business and trade relations from a managerial and analytical perspective. Identifying global economic structures and analysing strategic issues that drive international trade and global business are part of the programme. You will be challenged to apply the material of this track through links to contemporary cases and developments.
The programme
Management of International Business and Trade is one of the tracks of the Master's Business Administration. During your Master's you will follow 5 general courses and 3 track-specific courses. You will finish with a thesis. If you have a fundamental drive to challenge the corporate environment, you can participate in one of our Honours programmes.
COURSES
SEMESTER 1
SEMESTER 2
EC
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Theories of International BusinessPeriod 16
Explore the basic concepts of international business. Learn about the international business environment, foreign direct investment, global governance, and home and host countries' influence on stakeholders at home and abroad. Become familiar with the increasingly multifaceted and interdependent nature of international business.
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Theory and Practice of International TradePeriod 16
Get a thorough analysis of the modern theory concerning international trade and movements towards regional trade integration. You will receive a quick refresher of the major classical and neoclassical trade theories, insights on trade policy and a survey of the present state of the world economy.
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Business Seminar and Managerial SkillsPeriod 1Period 2Period 32
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International Business ContextPeriod 26
Explore core topics in international business and corporate governance further. In their strategic choices, firms must consider cultural, institutional and regulatory factors. Some of the questions you will research and discuss are: what are the main contextual factors that influence strategic choices? How do nations differ in terms of their (in)formal institutions and national business systems? What are the international business cross-country cultural models? How is corporate governance practiced in different countries?
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International Business and FinancePeriod 26
Study advanced topics in international financial and monetary relations, such as: - modern exchange rate theories including target zone models and speculative attack models - recent currency crises and ways to prevent them - exchange rate policies - international capital mobility, capital flight, management of and capital controls - the international spill-overs of unconventional monetary policy and the induced portfolio rebalancing
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Research Foundations & Thesis Proposal Management of International Business and TradePeriod 36
This course is meant to support you in writing you research proposal for you Master's thesis. During the course, you will learn how to change a general topic into a specific research proposal.
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Taxation of Multinational FirmsPeriod 46
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Ethics and the Future of BusinessPeriod 44
The purpose of this course is to explore the trends, core concepts, theories, and approaches of business ethics and corporate sustainability. The course is divided into a general part and a track-specific part.
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International StrategyPeriod 56
Although MNEs like Toyota, IBM and Nestlé are extremely successful in their international operations, foreign ventures often flop, like Wal-Mart in Germany. In this course, you examine the challenges that managers face in identifying strategies and tools to help their companies be successful abroad. Examples of questions you will address include: why do firms become multinational? How do they select host countries? What strategies can they follow to manage foreign operations?
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Master's Thesis Management of International Business and TradePeriod 4Period 5Period 612
Compulsory course
Specialisation
Honours programmes
Highly motivated students can participate in the Master's Business Administration Honours programmes Sustainability or Data Driven Management. These challenging programmes are a great chance to stand out for future employers.
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Real-life case: Trade Wars and International Business
Discuss how current trade conflicts such as the those between the US, China, and Europe are impacting international trade. Understand how business leaders are coping and strategising in the face of this uncertainty. For example, one of the most popular cars imported to China is a BMW. This German car, built in the USA,now faces significant tariffs in a key market. How can we understand the impact of the US-China trade war on European companies and their strategies?
Frequently asked questions
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When do I need to select a specialisation track?
A specialisation track must be chosen when applying for the Master’s programme. However, track modifications are still possible until late October. The criteria for all tracks are identical and do not impact the likelihood of being accepted into the programme.
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How many students are in the programme?
Our Master’s programme is selective and admits between 60-120 students per specialisation track.
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What are the weekly contact hours?
Most courses have one 2-3 hour lecture and one 2-hour tutorial per week. Generally students take 3 courses at a time, so count on about 12-15 contact hours per week.
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Will all lectures be held in person, or will there be options for online attendance?
Our preference is for in-person lectures. Certain sessions may be pre-recorded or follow a hybrid format. This entails preparing for Question and Answer (Q&A) sessions through video clips and readings, with subsequent discussions during meetings.
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Is attendance compulsory for lectures, tutorials, and other sessions?
Attendance is usually not compulsory for lectures, but commonly for tutorials and other sessions. Students greatly benefit from being present and engaging in discussions with both the instructor and their classmates.
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What is the typical method of assessment for most courses?
The majority of courses have a written on-site exam, which counts for a large percentage of the final grade. Most courses have additional assessment methods, including oral presentations, developing research proposals, conducting experiments and writing up results. Finally, some courses grade attendance, which is reflected by presence and activity in tutorials and online assignments.