150 Point Master of International Business

This course aims to provide students with wide ranging skills that will enhance their effectiveness as managers working in international business. It provides a solid grounding in strategic thinking, relative to international and global market operations, and an understanding of how operating across borders impacts on functional areas (such as marketing, accounting, finance and HRM). This course should also develop an awareness of the policies governing the world trade and investment system, from the perspectives of a sovereign country, a regional trade bloc and a supra-national institutional (such as the IMF, World Bank and WTO). The course emphasises the Asia-Pacific region and pursues a cross disciplinary approach to analysing and solving complex problems.

1. Learning Goal

Graduates of this degree will be able to generate and analyse data relevant for strategic management decisions in the area of international business.

Learning objectives to achieve this goal

On successful completion of this degree students will be able to:

• Describe, explain and apply the body of knowledge, including recent developments guiding strategic management;
• Identify the various sources of sustained competitive advantage of firms engaged in international business; and
• Evaluate the impact of cultural, political and environmental factors on decision making in international business.

2. Learning Goal

Graduates of this degree will be cognisant of the fundamental differences between doing business across borders and operating in a home market environment.

Learning objectives to achieve this goal

On successful completion of this degree students will be able to:

• Identify and explain how foreign markets, institutions and cultures differ from one another;
• Identify and explain how policies related to trade, investment, intellectual property, and labour and environmental standards imposed by nation states and supra-national bodies impact on international business;
• Understand and moderate the impact of cultural differences in the operation of international business; and
• Understand and communicate the contested nature of globalization.

3. Learning Goal

Graduates of this degree will be effective decision makers in international business and the related public policy domain.

Learning objectives to achieve this goal

On successful completion of this degree students will be able to:

• Apply ethical principles and corporate governance strategies relevant to international business;
• Evaluate the applicability of various theories and techniques to international business issues;
• Employ a range of tools of analysis’ pertinent to the evaluation of evidence in international business sector;
• Use evidence based research techniques to support and communicate decisions;
• Demonstrate a capacity to successfully work independently with personal accountability; and
• Execute a project requiring research of real-world application.

4. Learning Goal

Graduates of this degree will be critical thinkers in the field of international business and adept in developing solutions to problems.

Learning objectives to achieve this goal

On successful completion of this degree students will be able to:

• Explain and critically analyse factors that influence decision making within international firms and in their home and host countries;
• Identify issues and solutions in relation to the internationalization strategies of firms; and
• Apply knowledge of theory to analyse case-based and hypothetical problems in a variety of domestic and international markets.

5. Learning Goal

Graduates of this degree will be knowledgeable in the core areas of international business/international management and possess the capabilities to manage a range of functions within those organisations effectively.

Learning objectives to achieve this goal

On successful completion of this degree students will be able to:

• Describe the core areas of international management and the related management principles, theories and models;
• Analyse and evaluate the key competencies needed to become a successful international manager including strategic management, human resource management, marketing and other functional disciplines;
• Critically analyse international organisation’s problems and apply relevant models and theories to generate effective and creative solutions; and
• Demonstrate creativity and initiative in the application of knowledge to problem solving and innovation.

Students enrolled in the Master of International Business who have been granted 50 points of advanced standing upon entry will need to successfully complete 12 x 12.5 point semester-long subjects comprising one foundation subject, six core subjects, two capstone subjects and three elective subjects.

Foundation Subjects

Students must take one of the following subjects in their first semester of study:

Core Subjects

Students must take the following subjects in their first semester of study:

Students must take three of the following subjects:

Capstone Subjects

* IBUS90001 Global Corporate Strategy must be taken in the final semester of stduy.

Elective Subjects

Students must choose three elective subjects from the graduate offering within the Faculty of Business and Economics. This will be subject to the student receiving approval from the Program Director and the relevant subject coordinator. The MIB elective list is available here.

Students are permitted to take as one of their electives (maximum 12.5 points) a foreign language subject ie. one in which they are a non-native speaker. Students do not require permission from the MIB program director to undertake a language subject, but must undertake Language Placement Testing. For details, please see: http://languages-linguistics.unimelb.edu.au/students/language-placement-testing.

Students enrolled in the Master of International Business are eligible to undertake a select range of elective subjects from the Master of International Relations (up to a maximum of 37.5 points) offered by the Melbourne School of Governmant.