Postgraduate Course

MSc International Marketing and Business Intelligence

How to apply

Overview

The details

Course: International Marketing and Business Intelligence

Start date: October 2026

Study mode: Full-time

Duration: 1 year

Location: Colchester Campus

Based in: Essex Business School

Marketing in an international business environment requires a dual set of skills in strategic marketing and agile business management. In order to do business across borders you must first learn to appreciate cross-cultural challenges in your marketing approach.

Our MSc International Marketing and Business Intelligence explores the theoretical and practical approaches to marketing planning, strategy, communications and customer-centred business. You do not need to have previously studied marketing to undertake this course.

You examine how these topics apply to public and private organisations in varying stages of formation, growth or change management, in different international and cultural environments. We expose you to cutting-edge marketing techniques, encourage your creativity and develop your critical thinking, analytical, strategic and leadership skills.

Topics include:

the marketing communications mix, including: advertising; public relations; personal selling; sales promotion and direct marketing
marketing strategies, including product, pricing, promotion and distribution strategies
new product development
supply chain management and operations
theories and practices of entrepreneurship

This course is delivered by Essex Business School. Students and staff come to us from all over the world, creating a classroom experience rich in diversity and working together to build a global understanding. Essex is also a place with entrepreneurial spirit; we have more start-up businesses than any other county in the UK. Together this entrepreneurial spirit and global community make for the perfect place to study business and international marketing.

Your course benefits from current research by the Strategy, Operations and Entrepreneurship group focuses on answering the question: “How can organisations and entrepreneurs increase their benefits to society and minimise their environmental impact?” A Masters from Essex Business School can give you a solid foundation on which to build your international marketing and business career.

You can study this course starting in either October or January. The January entry point is only offered on a full-time basis and cannot be studied part-time.

Professional accreditation

Accredited by The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) for the purpose of gaining CIM qualifications through the Graduate Gateway.

Why we're great.

This course is accredited by The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) meaning you can earn exemptions towards your professional graduate qualifications.
You can choose to complete an international marketing plan instead of a dissertation.
This course is perfect if you do not have a first degree in business or marketing but want to start your own business.

Our expert staff

Members of the Strategy, Operations and Entrepreneurship Group have well-established reputations for research in:

entrepreneurship and innovation, with a special focus on under-represented groups
global sustainable supply chains
international business, particularly with reference to emerging markets
research and development management
data analytics
corporate social responsibility activities

Academic members of staff from our Strategy, Operations and Entrepreneurship Group are supported in their research activities by our flourishing Centre for Research on Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Management and Internationalisation (REIMI).

The Centre is well known for international business research on emerging-market multinational enterprises (MNEs); technology management; novel research in migrant entrepreneurship and firm internationalisation.

Specialist facilities

You'll be studying at Essex Business School, home to the first zero carbon business school in the UK – demonstrating our sustainable approach to business first-hand. Set around a lush winter garden, with shared spaces to encourage collaborative working, you'll find a wealth of inspiring teaching and study zones:

a virtual trading floor with Bloomberg Financial Market Labs, where you'll gain hands-on experience and learn how to model financial data in a practical setting
learn in modern lecture theatres with ‘listen again' recording to aid your study
utilise study booths in our winter garden and versatile break out areas for group working throughout the building
study skills support provided by the Essex Business School Learning Team
networking opportunities with visiting businesses and careers events
Bonds café and adjacent foyer to enjoy on-site fresh food and drink

You'll also benefit from fantastic University facilities located close by, including our state-of-the-art Silberrad Student Centre, complete with an open-access 24-hour Learning Hub and a cutting-edge media centre. You benefit from access to a wide range of specialised banking and finance databases, textbooks and e-books and can book appointments with our subject librarian.

Essex Business School students also have access to quantitative analysis software, such as MatLab, Stata and Eviews which can be accessed remotely and from all university computer labs.

Our building is located on the Knowledge Gateway, home to some of the region's most exciting enterprises in the science, technology and creative sectors. The Knowledge Gateway provides potential networking and career opportunities for students directly on campus.

Your future

A Master's degree in International Marketing and Business Intelligence will provide you with a solid foundation on which to build your international marketing career or start your own entrepreneurial venture. You will gain a clear grasp of international marketing strategy and how innovative approaches to new business creation can be applied across international borders - opening the door to global opportunities.

Modern marketers must be creative and ethical. They must innovate and consider the impact of marketing on wider society. Our curriculum aims to develop your creativity and critical thinking. Core modules such as International Marketing Strategy and Planning and Theories and Practice of Entrepreneurship will equip you with an understanding of the strategic and functional aspects of international marketing, the challenges international marketers face and the range of economic, sociological, psychological and managerial theories of enterprise creation and development.

Many of our graduates go on to set up their own businesses or manage marketing activities in organisations of all sizes. Recent graduate destinations include high profile organisations and SMEs such as:

KPMG
HP
Groupon
Wefarm, the world's largest platform for small-scale farmers
fast-growing digital agency, Footprint Digital
award-winning marketing agency, Coast Digital

Read our graduate profiles to find out the types of organisations our Masters students go on to work for.

Our Student Support team work closely with the University's Employability and Careers service to help you with careers information and advice and CV support. They will help you find work experience, internships, placements and voluntary opportunities and provide access to employer talks on campus. We also work closely with the Essex Startups team to support our budding entrepreneurs get their business ideas off the ground.

"My Masters ended up being very relevant to the field I now work in. After completing my degree at Essex I moved back to Pakistan, my home country. Here I joined a digital marketing agency as a Business Development Manager and got promoted to Operations Manager and Social Media Lead. I have been able to use my degree to search for new strategies and the quality of my work has enhanced my position in the company."

Momina Malik

Entry requirements

UK entry requirements

A 2:2 degree or international equivalent, in any discipline.

We will also consider applicants who hold a professional qualification such as a CIM, CIPD or CMI and two years' relevant Professional or Managerial experience.

You may also be considered with a lower class degree, where you have at least three year’s relevant work experience (please provide your CV in your application).

International & EU entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.

Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please contact our Graduate Admissions team at pgquery@essex.ac.uk to request the entry requirements for this country.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, we require IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum score of 5.5 in all components.

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Additional Notes

The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.

Structure

Course structure

We offer a flexible course structure with a mixture of core/compulsory modules, and optional modules chosen from lists. Please be aware that we are planning changes to our first year to make it more relevant to your chosen course.

Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The following modules are based on the current course structure and may change in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, such as COVID-19, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Components and modules explained

Components

Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.

Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.

Status	What this means
Core	You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory	You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.

The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.

Modules

Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.

In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.

Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:

100

The department or school the module will be taught by.

In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.

The module number.

The UK academic level of the module.

A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course.

A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules.

A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification.

The term the module will be taught in.

AU: Autumn term
SP: Spring term
SU: Summer term
FY: Full year
AP: Autumn and Spring terms
PS: Spring and Summer terms
AS: Autumn and Summer terms

COMPONENT 01: CORE WITH OPTIONS

(60 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 02: COMPULSORY

Business Analytics for Managers and Entrepreneurs

(15 CREDITS)

Data analytics presents a massive opportunity for business leaders, managers and entrepreneurs alike in modern globalised economies. You explore how crucial data analytics is in today's business world, and consider real-world examples where businesses have harnessed this power to solve critical problems. You learn a wide variety of data mining, visual and analytical techniques which can be applied to data generated from different markets and businesses.

View Business Analytics for Managers and Entrepreneurs on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: COMPULSORY

Strategic Management

(15 CREDITS)

This module explores how to develop profitable business strategies. You learn how to analyse a firm’s external environment, including examining the economy and its competitors, assess its internal resources and set objectives. You examine the differences between corporate, competitive and functional business strategies and develop your decision making and analytical skills. By the end of the module, you understand how a manger can shape a firm’s direction to meet its goals and stakeholder expectations.

View Strategic Management on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY

Data-Driven Decision Making

(15 CREDITS)

In this module, you develop the quantitative skills required to model and solve managerial challenges. You learn how to use mathematical programming methods and specialised software to represent and solve decision making problems. We equip you with a deep understanding of key optimisation methods so you can identify the most relevant approach to solve particular issues.

View Data-Driven Decision Making on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 05: COMPULSORY

Research Methods

(15 CREDITS)

Gain the key skills and competencies to carry out management research or prepare a comprehensive business plan, suitable for the completion of a Masters level programme. You address the philosophical issues underlying management research, and discover how to select methods and judge the quality and value of research outcomes.

View Research Methods on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 06: COMPULSORY

International Marketing Strategy and Planning

(15 CREDITS)

Develop your critical understanding of the strategic and functional aspects of international marketing activities of firms of varying sizes and industries. You explore the roles of external and internal environments against key international marketing decisions such as modes of foreign market entry and market selection, or the design and implementation of marketing mix approaches at the international level.

View International Marketing Strategy and Planning on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 07: COMPULSORY

Digital Marketing and Social Media

(15 CREDITS)

This module focuses on the impact of 'digital' on the world of Marketing. You explore the changing nature of business and consumer behaviour, communication, and market research. You will investigate current practical and theoretical issues within Digital Marketing and Social Media. You will study the academic field concerned with marketing and digital media and the challenges and opportunities it affords to marketers, consumers, organisations and society at large. Marketing practices have dramatically changed with the rise of social media, mobile apps and new technological developments in devices, platforms, and applications. We will explore together the rapid evolution of the digital environment presents new opportunities and challenges for marketers.

View Digital Marketing and Social Media on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 08: OPTIONAL

(30 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 09: COMPULSORY

Professional and Academic Development (PAD)

(0 CREDITS)

Develop the academic, research and professional skills essential for success at postgraduate level and in graduate employment. This module supports your transition to master’s study by strengthening independent learning, critical thinking and research capabilities, including the ethical and effective use of AI as a learning tool. You’ll also build key employability skills to enhance professional practice, support projects and dissertations, and improve graduate career outcomes.

View Professional and Academic Development (PAD) on our Module Directory

Teaching

We combine theory with practical exercises to hone your transferable employability skills:

shape your own degree by choosing from a selection of optional modules, including the chance to create your own international marketing plan
benefit from a learning experience centred on problem-solving
take part in the Essex Business School open seminar series and hear from world-respected lecturers
research is at the heart of our curriculum; you explore real-world marketing and entrepreneurial challenges

Assessment

Regular assessment is by coursework, presentations, case studies, group work, tests, simulation game assignments and examinations

Dissertation

You submit a 15,000 word dissertation or an international marketing plan

Fees and funding

Home/UK fee

£15,750

International fee

£24,675

Scholarships and financial support

There may be scholarships, bursaries or discounts available to help with the cost of this course.

Fees and funding guide

Masters fees and funding information

Research (e.g. PhD) fees and funding information

What's next

We hold Open Days for all our applicants throughout the year. Our Colchester Campus events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex, and give you the chance to:

tour our campus and accommodation
find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
meet our students and staff

If the dates of our organised events aren’t suitable for you, feel free to get in touch by emailing tours@essex.ac.uk and we’ll arrange an individual campus tour for you.

2026 Open Days (Colchester Campus)

Saturday 11 April 2026 - April Open Day

Saturday 20 June 2026 - June Open Day

Find out more

You can apply for this postgraduate course online. Before you apply, please check our information about necessary documents that we'll ask you to provide as part of your application.

We aim to respond to applications within two weeks. If we are able to offer you a place, you will be contacted via email.

For information on our deadline to apply for this course, please see our ‘how to apply' information.

A sunny day with banners flying on Colchester Campus Square 4.

Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland - Wivenhoe Park and located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.

Find out more

View from Square 2 outside the Rab Butler Building looking towards Square 3

If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360-degree virtual tour allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.

At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.

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