Autumn term

• Four core modules (15 CATS per module)
• One or two optional modules (10 CATS per module)

Spring term

• Two core modules (15 CATS per module)
• One or two optional modules (10 CATS per module)

Term 3 - choose one option

• Dissertation (60 CATS)

OR

• Experiential placement and Major project (60 CATS)

(PGT students will complete 180 credits in total - 90 CATS Core modules, 30 CATS Optional modules and 60 CATS Dissertation or Experiential placement & Major project )

Core modules

• Understanding Culture: This module will give you a better understanding of the idea of culture. In particular, you will be introduced to a range of conceptualisations of ‘culture’ that have been developed in different disciplinary areas. In this way, the module will enable you to gain a critical perspective on the views of culture so you can better understand your experience of communicating interculturally in everyday life and in the workplace.
• Exploring Professional Communication: Communication plays a central role in business and most, if not all, professions. This module will introduce you to some theoretical approaches, models and concepts that will help you understand the complexities of professional communication in different socio-cultural contexts.
• Culture, Identity and Adaptation: This module focuses on recent research in the area of cultural identity, adaptation and growth. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, it explores major theories of cultural adaptation, including stress, learning and identity. It examines key findings from classic and recent empirical studies.
• Leadership, Teamwork and Culture: What is leadership? What is teamwork? And what role, if any, does culture play in this context? This module will address these and other related questions by introducing you to some theoretical approaches, models and concepts that will help you understand the complexities of leadership, teamwork and culture.
• Research Methods (Taught over 2 Terms): This module is designed to familiarise you with current issues in researching culture and communication in business and professional contexts, introduce you to a range of data collection methods and analytical options relevant to this, and help you develop relevant skills in data collection and analysis. You will also be introduced to ethical issues in research and provided with guidance on how to design, plan and manage your dissertation.

PLUS

• Dissertation: The dissertation is intended to enable you to develop expert understanding of one or more specialisms within the academic field of intercultural professional communication, to develop basic skills of research and, for many, to put to use some of the knowledge they have gained during the course in applying it creatively to problems and issues in a professional situation familiar to them.

OR

• Experiential Placement and Major Project: You will undertake a 4-week summer placement (April – May) in a setting approved by the module leader. After completing the Summer Placement, you will carry out a Major Project, similar in principle but smaller in scope to the Dissertation. Students are responsible for finding their own placements, but module staff will facilitate this as much as we can.

Optional Modules

Previously, a selection of the following options have been offered:

• Globalisation and Diversity in the Workplace: This module critically explores different theoretical conceptualisations and debates about globalisation and diversity, and examines their implications in the workplace context. We cover a range of topics, including stereotyping, prejudice and racism, and multilingual workplaces. We also look at the 'dark side’ of globalisation and diversity.
• International Business: This module provides a strategic and global introduction to the main features of the international business environment and intercultural influences. You will gain an understanding of major trends in international business with a particular focus on globalisation and the factors influencing international investment, trade and marketing entry strategies.
• Language and Interaction in Context: This module will critically examine the crucial role of context in language and interaction.
• Public Relations across Cultures: This module critically examines the practices and theories of Public Relations across cultures. We cover a range of PR disciplines, including media relations, social media relations and internal communication.
• Marketing across Cultures: This module explores the challenges of intercultural communication in specific business functional areas, and develops a working knowledge of marketing practices in international enterprises. A particular focus is on exploring the influence of intercultural issues on marketing strategy, consumer behaviour and marketing communications.
• Management across Cultures: This module explores the challenges of intercultural communication in specific business functional areas and develops a working knowledge of management practices and responses in international enterprises.
• Intercultural Coaching and Development: This module will provide you with the opportunity to design and pilot intercultural training materials and to evaluate their effectiveness for coaching/development.
• Media and Intercultural Communication: This focuses on issues and challenges relating to emergent digital technologies in global communication incorporates a critical approach to cultural representation in the media. You will address notions of 'effective' media communication across cultures, and analyse social and professional media interaction in multi-modal cultural and intercultural contexts.
• Crisis Communication: Crisis communication is a rapidly expanding interdisciplinary field which has seen important new developments in theory and practice in the last decade, particularly relating to culture. Intercultural communication is crucial for managing international and global crises successfully, and the crisis responses of organisations ranging from multinational corporations to public authorities are subject to intense media scrutiny due to their real-world impact. Moreover, the role of social media in crisis communication has come increasingly under focus in all categories of present-day crises, which likewise calls for multiple perspectives on language and culture – including a multimodal approach.

The modules mentioned above may be subject to change. Please read our terms and conditions for more detailed information.

Our staff involved in this course are listed below; note that this may occasionally be subject to change. While you're writing your dissertation you might work with any relevant academic in our department.

• Dr Daniel DauberLink opens in a new window
• Andrew DavidsonLink opens in a new window
• Dr Kieran FileLink opens in a new window
• Tilly HarrisonLink opens in a new window
• Dr Duncan LeesLink opens in a new window
• Dr Altman PengLink opens in a new window
• Dr Sophie Reissner-RoubicekLink opens in a new window
• Lynnette RichardsLink opens in a new window
• Dr Stephanie SchnurrLink opens in a new window

• Experiential Placement - One of the unique features of the MSc ICBP is the possibility for you to identify and organise an experiential placement as part of your degree programme. A placement is a four-week work placement in an organisation of your choice. This addition to our programme offers a valuable opportunity to go beyond your classroom and on-campus experiences, enabling you to develop professionally and grow personally. In the past, students have found experiential placements all over the world, including countries like South Africa, Germany, Belgium, Australia and China. You can see some videos below.
• Teaching that makes sense in the ‘real world’ - As an MSc student, you will also have many opportunities to gain first-hand insights into challenges that organisations face, thanks to our guest speaker series that runs through all terms. These and similar opportunities provide space for any questions that you might have about working in international companies or multicultural workplaces.

Career destinations

Our graduates are working in over 20 different countries around the world in many different sectors, roles and job functions, such as:

• Public Relations
• Marketing communication
• General Management
• Internal Communications
• International Business Management
• Higher Education Management

Some of the job titles of our graduates include: Business Analyst; Marketing & Communication Executive; Junior Product Manager; Brand Promotion Specialist; Senior Finance Assistant; Trainee Research Executive; Senior Associate; Marketing Specialist; International Student Advisor; PR manager; Properties Assistance Coordinator; Account Coordinator; Business Reporter; Research and Data Officer.

Some of the companies our graduates have gone on to work for include: Henkel; MIPOW Ltd; Reuters PR; Millward Brown; Samsung Chemical; Braun; Confucius International School; Xiaomi Technology; TUI Travel Plc; 网易; Expedia, Inc; Made in China UK Ltd.

Watch our student testimonial videos:

Entry requirements

2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline

English Language Requirements

IELTS (Academic, UKVI or Online) overall score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.5 in Writing and minimum component scores not below 6.0.

Work experience

Work experience is not essential, but candidates will need to demonstrate that they have an evidence-based interest in and/or sensitivity to intercultural/multicultural issues

Course Fees and Funding

See postgraduate fees and fundingLink opens in a new window

Departmental bursaries

We are offering three competitive bursaries to outstanding students and professionals who wish to study on our full-time MSc in Intercultural Communication for Business and the Professions for entry in Autumn 2024:

1) Worldwide Bursary (2 available)

• worth 50% of the of the current tuition fee
• Available to overseas applicants only

Deadline for applications: Friday 31st May 2024

2) UK Support Bursary (1 available)

• worth £3,000 each
• Available to UK applicants only

Deadline for applications: Friday 12th July 2024

All of the above bursaries are available on a competitive basis to applicants who have successfully applied to the full-time MSc in Intercultural Communication for Business and the Professions (ICBP) and received and accepted an offer on the programme.

Application procedure

You must submit a personal statement of around 1000 words that demonstrates:

• Academic excellence in a prior undergraduate degree programme
• A genuine, evidence-based interest in and/or sensitivity to intercultural/multicultural issues
• A successful and evidenced track record of working in multicultural contexts
• Experience in training, coaching or consulting regarding intercultural communication (Desirable)

Please apply by sending this to PGTCAL@warwick.ac.uk marked ‘MSc ICBP Bursary’ by the relevant deadline (Friday 31st May 2024 for the worldwide bursary; Friday 12th July 2024 for the UK bursary).

Additional funding opportunities

Information can be found hereLink opens in a new window on a variety of international scholarship opportunities for international students.

Scholarship & Funding OpportunitiesLink opens in a new window

Warwick Taught Masters ScholarshipsLink opens in a new window

Chevening ScholarshipsLink opens in a new window

Ready to apply?

Please make sure you have seen our entry requirements and have prepared all the relevant documents.

The deadline for overseas applications is 31 July. We also recommend that UK and EU applicants apply by 31 July to guarantee a place in the coming academic year.

Our online prospectus talks you through the whole application process, but if you have any questions, please get in touch with us:

Apply online now