General provisions

Master's Programme in Business and Management - specialisation International Business.

Entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university. Also required is 90 credits in business studies. Proficiency in English.

For incoming exchange students, exceptions can be made from the requirement of 90 credits in business studies, provided that special reasons are considered to exist. Proficiency in English.

Learning outcomes

Due to the fact that many companies face the issue of expanding into foreign markets during their development, this course aims to provide a comprehensive basis for analysing and understanding the internationalisation of firms and their businesses. The purpose of this course is to provide students with knowledge and understanding of the international expansion and internationalisation processes of firms and the different opportunities and challenges companies face during these processes.

After participating in the course, the student will be able to:

• define, explain and compare relevant concepts, perspectives and theories within the field of foreign market entry and firms’ continuous internationalisation processes
• make use of an in-depth understanding of research within the field of internationalisation and foreign market entry to be able to critically analyse complex problems associated with firm internationalisation and international expansion
• discuss, critically reflect upon, and evaluate theories and perspectives within the field of internationalisation
• define and explain trends and contemporary challenges regarding the internationalisation of firms and businesses
• apply dominating theories on contemporary firm’s actions with regard to their international expansion
• develop knowledge, competencies and skills about how to analyse and handle practical and relevant problems that managers may face when establishing business operations in other countries
• present solutions to problems both orally and in written form.

Content

Due to the fact that many companies face the issue of expanding into foreign markets, a critical reflection on the challenges, possibilities and trends facing companies that are about to expand their business abroad is of great importance.

In this course, various aspects of firms’ foreign market entry and internationalisation processes will be studied. The course presents different theories and perspectives on internationalisation processes of firms and their foreign market entry. It also elaborates on how firms encounter and chose to solve different problems related to the foreign market entry process. A special focus will be given to:

• theories and perspectives about the internationalisation of firms
• contemporary trends within the field of firm internationalisation and foreign market entry
• decision-making aspects such as when, where and how firms enter foreign markets
• the role of business networks during firms’ internationalisation processes
• the role of knowledge and experience of managers in internationalisation processes
• firm internationalisation into emerging markets

Students will be given the opportunity to collect specialised insights into certain themes via focused assignments.

Instruction

The course uses a combination of lectures, seminars with student-based activities as well as case studies. Lectures will provide principal knowledge about central topics within the field of foreign market entry and internationalisation of firms. Attendance at the seminars is compulsory. Case studies and seminars are group based. The course is taught in English.

Assessment

The student will get one single grade, equivalent to 7,5 credits.

Course examination includes written and oral group assignments, active seminar participation, as well as an individual written exam. The grade for the entire course is based on an assessment of all parts of the examination.

Grading criteria are presented in the study guide that applies to the course section. The following grades will be used: pass with distinction (VG), pass (G), and fail (U). Examinations handed in late will not be assessed except under special circumstances. Any remaining supplemental work must be completed and handed in by the deadline specified in the study guide. Otherwise the entire course (all examinations included) must be retaken during subsequent course sections, pending availability of a place in the course.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Uppsala University does not accept cheating or plagiarism. Suspected incidents of cheating or plagiarism are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, which may issue a formal warning to the student or suspend the student from studies for a certain period.

NOTE: Only completed courses can count toward a degree.

Other directives

The course substitutes for/overlaps the course 2FE808, 8FE808 Internationalisation Strategy.