International Business (Taught)

Enhance your international prospects as you learn the skills to conduct business on the global stage.

With cultural differences, regulatory compliance and complex logistics to negotiate, international business can represent significant challenges.

However, conducting business across borders can allow companies to expand markets, scale growth, and boost revenue. And individuals who can master this discipline can tap into a range of rewarding careers that can take them around the world.

With this course, you’ll gain a broad international perspective and the skills to identify why and how firms operate in foreign markets, as you learn how to conduct business in a rapidly transforming global landscape.

You'll explore the latest developments and global challenges in areas like digital transformation, sustainability and emerging markets. You'll also learn how to develop your own strategic business plans.

Optional modules allow you to immerse yourself in a particular region or country. You could explore the growing importance of China on the world business stage, enhancing your employability with organisations with Asia-Pacific interests.

By studying this course, you’ll open the door to a rewarding international career, preparing you to become the type of global manager and leader the future world needs.

Why study at Leeds

• Expert tutors: Learn from academics from the Centre for International Business at the University of Leeds (CIBUL), the world's leading centre for international business.

• Mentoring with real experience: Connect with industry professionals through our Global Connections Mentoring Scheme, providing you with insights, guidance and real-world perspectives to build career-ready knowledge.

• Expert speakers: Gain the latest real-world insights thanks to our connections with global experts, major private companies and public sector organisations. Recent guest speakers have included executives from global firms including Vodafone, JT, Phillip Morris, and O2.

• Boost your international prospects: Apply for our Masters Beyond Borders scheme, where you could spend an additional semester studying at a partner university in Europe or Asia, boosting your employability with international exposure.

• Immerse yourself globally: Gain international business exposure by applying for the optional Global Business Immersion module. Successful applicants have previously spent a week in Switzerland and visited organisations like Laderach, IWC, Buhler Group and Schindler Group.

• International study tours: On all Masters courses at Leeds University Business School, you can apply for a place on a week-long international study tour, which includes company visits, guest lectures and networking events. Previous study tours have included visits to Berlin, Frankfurt, Milan and Zurich.

• Global partnerships: Our MSc International Business is in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade and is currently in the process of reaccreditation.

Rankings and awards

• Top 15 in the UK for Business and Management, The Guardian University Guide 2026

• Top 10 in the UK for Business, Management and Marketing, The Times and the Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026

Where this degree could take you

Previous graduates have gone on to diverse careers in top firms worldwide, including:

• Sky

• Bank of England

• HSBC

• BiliBili

• Amazon

• Accenture

• Tencent

• PwC

• L’Oréal

Careers support

Top 10 most targeted for 10+ years by the UK's leading employers, The Graduate Market 2026, High Fliers Research

At Leeds, we help you to prepare for your future from day one.

Our Careers Service has the global expertise and sector-spanning industry partnerships that, combined, go way beyond simply helping you get a job. They provide you with the resources you need to upskill and achieve the future you aspire towards – even in the face of lightning-paced change.

Assessment methods emphasise not just knowledge, but essential skills development too. This may include formal exams, group projects, reports, computer simulation exercises, essays and written assignments, group and individual presentations and reflective logs.

This diversity enables you to develop a broad range of skills as preparation for professional life.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• Export, Institute of