MA Intercultural Communication with International Business
This programme combines the internationally recognised research and teaching strengths of the Department of English with the expertise of the University’s internationally renowned School of Management, accredited by AACSB International – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
We will prepare you for a wide range of careers in the areas of communication and intercultural consultancy in multinational and international business, particularly in the fields of intercultural training, human resource management and communication. We will also provide you with valuable preparation for a career in government overseas agencies and international diplomatic organisations, the voluntary sector, local government community initiatives and business consultancies, as well as in the communication industries.
The programme combines linguistic, cultural studies and international business components. You will take six compulsory modules and two optional modules which range across the three components, giving you the opportunity to specialise according to your personal interests. If you are continuing to Masters stage, you will also take a module in Research Methods to prepare for the dissertation element.
Entry standards
Entry is open to applicants with a UK First or Upper Second class honours degree or equivalent.
English language requirements
Non-native speakers of English without a first degree in English will normally be required to have IELTS 6.5 or above, with 7.0 or more in writing (or equivalent) and a minimum of 6.0 in all other components (or equivalent).
Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.
MA Intercultural Communication with International Business - structure and modules
Module Titles
Compulsory Modules
Compulsory modules will normally include:
- Introduction to Research Methods: Answering Questions With Evidence
- Organisational Behaviour
- International Business Management
- Interpersonal Communication
- Intercultural Communication for Business Purposes
- Multiculturalism and Multiligualism
Optional Modules *
- Global Diversity in Language and Communication
- Globalisation, Communication and Postmodernity
- Communication in Professional Settings
- The Language of Advertising
*May be subject to change.
Assessment and Module Summary
Most modules are assessed by written assignment and some by a combination of assignment and examination. Some programmes also include projects and group work. For the Masters stage, you will complete a 10,000 to 12,000-word dissertation on an approved subject of particular interest to you.
Compulsory Modules
Compulsory modules will normally include:
Organisational Behaviour
This module explores individual, group and organisational behaviour. It integrates the study of forms, structures and processes of organisations with the human aspects of psychology at work. It provides an insight into the fundamentals on which organisations are built and provides a set of analytical systems for understanding behaviour at work and managerial processes.
International Business Management
This module includes integrating and applying the concepts of marketing, strategy, staff and financial management to the international workplace. It pays special attention to issues such as globalisation, foreign direct investment (FDI) theory and patterns, the role and importance of the multinational company (MNC), managing human resources within the MNC and comparative studies of cultural and institutional influences on the management of MNCs.
Interpersonal Communication
This module considers conversational implicature, speech act theory, frames and footing, politeness, conversation analysis and conversational style.
Intercultural Communication for Business Purposes
This module aims to develop insights into the relationship between linguistic, cultural and psychological signals, and an increased awareness of communication as both a linear and circular mode of information transfer.
Introduction to Research Methods: Answering Questions with Evidence
This module provides an accessible introduction to some of the principal tools of social research.
Multiculturalism and Multilingualism
This module will introduce the concepts of multiculturalism and multilingualism from an individual and societal perspective. It will explore the relationship between culture, language and identity and its relevance to intercultural communication.
Optional Modules *
Optional modules will normally include:
Global Diversity in Language and Communication
This module investigates the ideological, social and historical moorings of communication that shape today’s globalised world.
Globalisation, Communication and Postmodernity
This module deals with issues of postnationalism and the relationship between globalisation and bureaucratic change. It pays particular attention to the role of counter-cultural and sub-cultural forms associated with postmodernity and generated as part of the globalisation process, with particular reference to gendered discourses.
Communication in Professional Settings
This module will introduce students to concepts and issues with study of communication in professional settings, including topics such as computer-mediated communication and lingua franca communication. The module will also familiarize the students with some of the main theoretical and methodological approaches to conduct a small research study.
The Language of Advertising
This module will teach how to apply concepts from linguistics, in particular pragmatics, and semiotics to the analysis of advertisements. It will examine how advertisement designers exploit linguistic and visual means in order to communicate messages and to persuade their recipients. It will consider advertisements in various media, including newspapers/journals, radio, TV and the Internet and will examine the effect of culture on the production and perception of advertisements.
*May be subject to change
MA Intercultural Communication with International Business - entry standards
Entry standards
Entry is open to applicants with a UK First or Upper Second class honours degree or equivalent.
English language requirements
Non-native speakers of English without a first degree in English will normally be required to have IELTS 6.5 or above, with 7.0 or more in writing (or equivalent) and a minimum of 6.0 in all other components (or equivalent).
Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.
Planned intake
30
Start date
OctoberProgramme director
MA Intercultural Communication with International Business - fees and funding
Fees
Intercultural Communication with International Business (full time):
UK/EU - £5,740
Overseas - £12,705
Intercultural Communication with International Business (part time):
UK/EU - £2,870
Overseas - £6,355
MA Intercultural Communication with International Business - professional context
Accreditation
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
AACSB International offers a set of standards that are relevant and applicable to all business programmes globally and which support and encourage excellence in management education worldwide.
AACSB International accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide. Institutions that earn accreditation confirm their commitment to quality and continuous improvement through a rigorous and comprehensive peer review. AACSB International accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in management education worldwide.
AACSB International accreditation assures stakeholders that business schools:
- Manage resources to achieve a vibrant and relevant mission
- Advance business and management knowledge through faculty scholarship
- Provide high-calibre teaching of quality and current curricula
- Cultivate meaningful interaction between students and a qualified faculty
- Produce graduates who have achieved specified learning goals
The University of Surrey achieved its accreditation in November 2005 after a rigorous application and assessment process, culminating in a visit from an accreditation panel.
Less than 15 per cent of the world’s business schools are accredited by the AACSB; so the Surrey Business School was especially proud to join the elite group of less than 100 business schools in Europe holding AACSB accreditation. Further information on the AACSB can be found at: www.aacsb.edu
Careers
This degree will prepare you for a career in the areas of communication and intercultural consultancy, particularly, though not exclusively, where the use of English is required. More specifically, the programme will appeal if you are seeking to work in multinational and international business, in particular in the fields of intercultural training, human resource management, and communication and marketing. It will provide valuable preparation for careers in government overseas agencies and international diplomatic organisations, the voluntary sector, local government community initiatives and business consultancies, as well as in the communication industries.
Many of our graduates go on to find employment in a wide range of international organisations and businesses; others choose to take research degrees in their subject.
Recent graduates of the MA Intercultural Communication with International Business have undertaken the following careers:
- Intercultural consultant for a Polish subsidiary of a multinational business
- HR manager
- Capital investment consultant (Asia)
- International relations manager – Greek National Bank
- Programme assistant – United Nations
Research students have undertaken PhD research in the following areas:
- Political communication
- Communication theory
- Cross-cultural and intercultural communication
MA Intercultural Communication with International Business - teaching
Academic Support
Academic Support
As a student of the Department of English, you will benefit from the expertise of a vibrant, multidisciplinary group of academics. You will also have access to a number of conferences, seminars and workshops hosted throughout the year. These events cover a range of topics to broaden your thinking in the fields of literature, language and linguistics, cultural studies and creative writing.
The business component of the programme will also allow you to benefit from the close affiliation with the Surrey Business School, a leading provider in internationally recognised postgraduate vocational management degrees. The School has strong links with industry and has established a number of high-profile partnerships with multinational organisations. You will be supported by a team of international staff with a wealth of global experience and specialist expertise. Surrey Business School modules are fully accredited by AACSB International.
Contact hours
A total of eight contact hours per week each semester for a full-time student. Part-time students usually spread the programme evenly over two years. Each 15-credit module involves 150 hours of work (made up of two contact hours per week for 12 weeks, reading, completion of assessment tasks, and so on).
Staff perspective
Dr Rosina Marquez Reiter
Both programmes will provide you with the theoretical tools to help understand current communicative practices and to develop considerable expertise in intercultural communication and international marketing.
On both programmes you will receive training in research methods, which will enable you to complete an independent piece of research in an area of specific interest.
Our degrees will also help you into the world of work: you will gain a detailed knowledge and understanding of intercultural communication and international marketing, welcomed by many international organisations, as well as a broad range of transferable skills, valued by all employers.
You will also benefit from the wide variety of our student cohort – our classes normally include students from many different parts of the globe. Students from all over the world bring a wealth of knowledge into the classroom. This makes the programmes truly international and enabling the establishment of communication networks and firsthand experience of how to deal with contemporary communication issues at grass-root level.
MA Intercultural Communication with International Business - learning
MA Intercultural Communication with International Business - graduate profile
Student Profile: Katharina Koppert
MA Intercultural Communication with International Business
I chose the University of Surrey for my MA because it was the only university in the UK which offered a combination of intercultural communication with business.
The degree offers a comprehensive introduction to international business and organisational behaviour, which is directly relevant for successful intercultural communication in a business context. The communication modules offer a good summary of issues of interpersonal and intercultural communication. Combining theory and practice with applied linguistics and pragmatics they raise awareness of common factors which cause misunderstandings in communication across cultures and languages.
I found coming to the UK very easy, and I quickly settled into my new environment. The University offers a lot of services specifically for foreign students and provides a detailed handbook for international students which basically covers all important issues, from arranging a visa to arriving in the UK, moving into accommodation and similar things.
I like Guildford, with its sweet old houses, amazing architecture and the river! There are many great cafés in town, and I absolutely love the tea and scones I can get there. The main shopping streets are rather small, but again you get lovely alleys with hidden-away stores, once you know how to find your way around.
MA Intercultural Communication with International Business - more
English Language Support for All
Programmes available to all students include:
- Oral Skills
- Academic Listening
- Contemporary British Society
- Pronunciation
- Critical Thinking
- Legal English
- Academic Reading and Note Taking
- Grammar Revision
- Essay Writing
- Essay Writing for Native English Speakers
- Thesis/Dissertation Writing
Other postgraduate programmes which may interest you:
MA Communication and International Marketing
MA Intercultural Communication with International Business - apply
You can apply for this programme online using the link(s) below. We recommend making an application as soon as you can, even if you do not have all the necessary supporting information ready at that time.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to enter a username and password. If you've used our application system before, please enter your details or click the forgotten password link.
If you are a new user, you will need to create a username and password by clicking the New User button.
Start date
OctoberProgramme length
12 months full-time, 24 months part-time
Programme director
For general enquiries
T: 0800 980 3200 or
+44 (0)1483 681681
E: pg-enquiries@surrey.ac.uk
For admissions enquiries
T: 01483 686243
E: cmc-pg@surrey.ac.uk