Practical skills for a future in international business
The Master of Global Business gives you practical skills so you can navigate the changing international business environment with confidence.
The degree is designed to bring an international dimension to your business career—whether you’re moving into global business for the first time or you’re a professional who wants to advance within the field.
The MGBus focuses on global strategy, leadership, and innovation to prepare you for the complexities of cross-border business. It’s ideal if you want to move into roles in international trade, business development, consulting, or global operations.
What you’ll learn
The MGBus builds on your undergraduate degree with practical skills in global business strategy and analysis that you can apply in your career.
You’ll gain a foundation in modern business and explore how global connectivity changes the way companies operate. You’ll examine how companies compete successfully in the global business environment, and study business theory, practice, and strategy.
When you graduate, you’ll be ready to handle complex situations in uncertain environments and resolve strategic problems at a global level.
How you’ll study
This degree combines core courses and electives. Use your electives to broaden your qualification or specialise in a field like marketing, international business, or management.
Studying full time, you can complete the 180-point MGBus in 12 months.
- There is one intake each year, in November (Trimester 3).
- You’ll study three consecutive trimesters, taking three or four courses in each.
- Classes are taught in person on campus. You can’t study this degree online or by distance.
- Courses are based on two- or three-hour lectures, held on weekdays.
Assessment that mirrors real business challenges
The degree is designed so that the lessons you learn in the classroom today, you can use in the boardroom tomorrow. Courses are interactive and taught through lectures, case studies, and in-class presentations. Some courses include client companies.
We use assessment methods like reflections, group presentations, and industry projects to replicate real working environments and build practical skills.
Part-time study options
If you’re a domestic student you can study for the MGBus part time, taking one or two courses per trimester.
If you’re studying part time, you can complete your MGBus in up to 4 years.
A three-part degree
Part 1
In Part 1, you’ll study:
- the global business environment—global institutions and cross-country differences in political, legal, and economic systems
- management theory and practice in the business, public and voluntary sectors, including key issues managers will face in the future
- strategic marketing—frameworks and tools to achieve and sustain a competitive advantage.
Part 2
In Part 2, you’ll take:
- one core course in Accounting for Managers/Global Accounting and Finance, which covers key concepts like financial and management accounting, and basic finance topics in international trade
- three elective courses—in Management, Marketing, and in another approved subject from across the University.
Part 3
In the final part of your degree, you’ll complete courses in global strategy and cross-cultural management, and an approved course from across the University.
You’ll also choose between a consultancy project course or a research project.
- For the consultancy course, you’ll complete internal and external research with a client, place the work in a global context, produce a report, and present it.
- For the research project, you'll partner with an organisation and use theory and business skills to resolve organisational issues.
Why Wellington
Wellington—New Zealand’s capital city—is a great place to study global business. It’s a globally connected city that hosts government, business, and international organisations. You’ll benefit from networking opportunities and gain international business insights in a supportive, multicultural environment.
Wellington is also a safe, accessible, and welcoming city. Crime rates are low. Public transport is excellent and the city centre is walkable and compact—so your travel times between home and lectures are short. And Wellington is a multicultural environment that welcomes many different cultures, languages, and traditions.
Qualification support and advice
We can help you match your interests and career goals with the right course of study.
Get in touch and a copy of our prospectus, or get in touch directly with our Recruitment Manager, Jade Chiam.
Email: jade.chiam@vuw.ac.nz
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for domestic students
- Requirements for students who completed university in:
If you live in New Zealand and are a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand or Australia, you're considered a domestic student.
Some citizens of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau may automatically hold New Zealand citizenship.
Diplomatic residents living in New Zealand are also regarded as domestic students.
To be accepted into this qualification, you need:
1. (a) Before enrolment, a candidate for the MGBus degree shall have:
(i) completed a Bachelor’s degree with at least a B average; and
(ii) been accepted by the programme director as capable of proceeding with the proposed course of study.
(b) Requirement (a)(i) may be waived by the Associate Dean (Students) of the Wellington School of Business and Government for a candidate who has had extensive practical, professional, or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind.
Qualification requirements
Excerpt from the regulations for the MGBus
2. (a) Except as provided in (b) or section 4, the course of study for the MGBus shall consist of courses worth at least 180 points, comprising:
Part 1: Global Business Environment (GBUS 511), Management Theory and Practice (GBUS 512), Strategic Marketing (GBUS 513), Global Accounting and Finance (GBUS 514)
Part 2: 60 further points from the Schedule to the MGBus regulations, or a coherent 60-point programme of study consisting of 400- and/or 500-level courses, taught at this university, approved by the associate dean in consultation with the relevant head of school.
Part 3: Global Strategy (GBUS 541), Managing Across Cultures (GBUS 542), and (580 or 581).
(b) The programme director may exempt from any Part 1 course a candidate who has mastered the material covered in that course through previous study and/or practical experience. Credit may be awarded where the previous study involved postgraduate courses not credited to a completed qualification; otherwise, the candidate shall replace exempted courses with approved electives of an equivalent points value.
(c) To enrol in Part 3, a candidate shall normally have completed Parts 1 and 2.
(d) A candidate who has completed the PGCertGBus may be exempted the requirement to complete Part 1, but shall abandon the PGCertGBus upon being awarded the MGBus.
3. (a) A candidate shall normally be enrolled for at least three trimesters and shall complete the degree within four years of first enrolling in the programme. The programme director may extend that maximum period in special cases.
(b) A candidate who has failed two or more courses, or any course twice, may continue in the programme only with the permission of the associate dean.
International recognition
Wellington School of Business and Government is among the top 1% of business schools worldwide that hold the ‘Triple Crown’ of international business education accreditations. By studying here, you can be confident your qualification will be recognised globally for its quality.
Future careers
The MGBus gives you plenty of career pathways in New Zealand and abroad. New Zealand’s growing connections to Asia Pacific markets, in particular, give you opportunities in international and cross-cultural business environments like:
- business leadership
- entrepreneurship
- global logistics
- import or export management
- international business development.
More career information
Find out more about careers in global business.
The government careers website, Tahatū, offers more information about jobs, salaries, and current opportunities.
Scholarships
You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies.
We have postgraduate and doctoral scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It’s a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships related to business
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This scholarship is open to Pasifika students intending to enrol in a Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma or Master’s degree in Business at the Wellington School of Business and Government. Applicants are expected to have met the admissions requirements for the qualification of interest. Applicants will be assessed on merit however preference may be given to applicants experiencing financial hardship.
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This scholarship is for students undertaking or intending to undertake an Honours or Masters degree at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in areas related to Peace Building or Peace Studies, Trust Building, Conflict Resolution, addressing Historical Injustice, Restorative Justice, Social Cohesion, Community building and promoting cross-cultural understanding, Change Making or Ethical Leadership.
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Applicants must be of Māori descent, identify as female, enrolled or intending to enrol full-time or part-time in an undergraduate or postgraduate programme at Wellington School of Business and Government. Grade point average (GPA) or grade point equivalent (GPE) of at least 6.00 is required.
Scholarships for international students
We are currently offering a NZ$10,000 VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Master’s degree or Postgraduate Diploma programme.
Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.
Other scholarships
We also have postgraduate and doctoral scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It’s a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships related to business
-
This scholarship is open to Pasifika students intending to enrol in a Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma or Master’s degree in Business at the Wellington School of Business and Government. Applicants are expected to have met the admissions requirements for the qualification of interest. Applicants will be assessed on merit however preference may be given to applicants experiencing financial hardship.
-
This scholarship is for students undertaking or intending to undertake an Honours or Masters degree at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in areas related to Peace Building or Peace Studies, Trust Building, Conflict Resolution, addressing Historical Injustice, Restorative Justice, Social Cohesion, Community building and promoting cross-cultural understanding, Change Making or Ethical Leadership.
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Applicants must be of Māori descent, identify as female, enrolled or intending to enrol full-time or part-time in an undergraduate or postgraduate programme at Wellington School of Business and Government. Grade point average (GPA) or grade point equivalent (GPE) of at least 6.00 is required.
Join our postgraduate community
The Postgraduate Students’ Association provides a voice for you on campus and information on studying at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Postgraduate Students’ Association
MAI ki Pōneke
MAI ki Pōneke are part of an international network of Māori and Indigenous postgraduate students. They provide advice, support, and information to Indigenous postgraduate students of all levels, as well as those thinking about enrolling.
Academic programme leader
Martyn Gosling
Senior Lecturer (Teaching) in Marketing
Academic staff
Marlini Bakri
Senior Lecturer
Hongzhi Gao
Associate Professor
Richa Chugh
Senior Lecturer
Djavlonbek Kadirov
Senior Lecturer
Martien Lubberink
Associate Professor
Mohammad Saud Khan
Senior Lecturer
Revti Raman
Head of School
Ina Reichenberger
Associate Dean, Students
Fandy Tjiptono
Associate Professor
Christian Yao
Senior Lecturer
Programme contacts
Explore your options for postgraduate study—talk to someone from the Professional Programmes Office.
Jade ChiamRecruitment Manager, Professional Programmes
Get help to manage your finances
We can help you:
- budget your money
- manage your student loan or allowance
- work out your accommodation payment schedule.
If you’re facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for the Hardship Fund.
You may be eligible for government or community support, too.
Apply for a New Zealand study visa
You’ll need to apply for a study visa if you plan to study with us as an international student.
You should apply for your visa after you’ve received your Offer of Place, and before you come to New Zealand.