What is an MBA in International Business?
MBA in International Business is a two-year, semester based post graduate degree in management. Graduates from any stream can opt for the course. International Business is one of the most trending specializations in MBA these days in India as well as abroad.
The MBA in International Business syllabus mainly focuses on developing a capable workforce within the country who has a complete understanding of the changing international business scenarios so that they can weigh and analyze the impact of those changes in the domestic market.
Admission to the program is entrance based and graduation in any stream is the minimum requirement. Candidates with excellent communication skills, a keen aptitude towards business and having interest in economies of different countries, are most suitable for this course.
MBA in International Business is offered in both part time and full time mode. It is offered in executive mode also for the working professionals. You can also opt for correspondence mode by taking weekend classes.
MBA in International Business enables graduates as managers to understand the strategies and trends of the global economy and apply this to improve the country’s export management.
MBA in International Business Course Highlights
The objective of the course is to help professionalize the foreign trade management of the country and increase the exports and imports by generating, analyzing and conducting research.
Course Name | MBA in International Business |
Course Level | Post graduate |
Duration | 2 years (4 semesters or 6 trimesters) |
Eligibility | Graduation in discipline |
Admission Process | Entrance test + GD + PI |
Course Fee | INR 10 to 15 Lakhs |
Course features | Export and Import Management, International Marketing, Foreign Exchange Management, International Finance etc. |
Average Salary Offered | INR 5 to 12 LPA |
Top Recruiting Companies | McKinsey & Company, Citi Bank, Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs etc. |
What is the MBA in International Business Eligibility?
Candidates can apply for MBA in International Business course if they fulfill the following criteria:
- Recognized Bachelor's degree of minimum 3 years' duration in any discipline
- Candidates appearing for a qualifying examination can also apply only if they submit the proof of requisite qualification before the commencement of the session
- There is no Age limit for taking admission in this course.
MBA in International Business Admission Process
Mostly B schools offer admission in MBA in International Business through entrance exams. Although there are some institutes which provide direct admission to the students either on merit basis or on management quota basis.
Every institute follows the following steps to provide admission-
- First stage of selection process is qualifying the written test
- Candidates who qualify the entrance test are called for stage 2, which includes Written Ability Test, Group Discussion and Personal interview
- Final selection is done on the basis of scores of these two stages. Candidate’s past academic performance, and work experience is also considered for final selection.
MBA in International Business Entrance Exams
Entrance tests for MBA in International Business are necessary for admission in a good college. In 2019 a whopping 2,44,169 applicants registered for The Common Admission Test (CAT) for MBA admissions which makes the demand for MBA programs very evident.
Few well-accepted entrance exams for studying MBA in International Business in India are discussed below.
Entrance Exams | B Schools that accept the Score | Eligibility | Registration Dates (Tentative) |
---|---|---|---|
CAT | 20 IIMs, FMS Delhi, IITs and other top PGDM Colleges like SPJIMR, MDI and many more. | 50% in Graduation for General and 45% for Reserved. Final year students can also apply. | August 8, 2020 |
CMAT | B Schools approved by AICTE | Candidates with any bachelor's degree with 50% can apply. Final year students can also apply. For reserved candidates, 45% is required. | 1st week of November 2020 to 1st Week of December 2021 |
IIFT | IIFT Delhi and Kolkata Campus. | The minimum aggregate required in graduation is 50% | September 9, 2020 |
SNAP | Symbiosis University and its institutes | Graduation with 50%, Also final year students can apply. | August, 2020 |
GMAT | IIMs, XLRI, IMT, SPJIMR | A degree from a reputed university is needed. There is no age limit for this exam. | Throughout the Year |
Which are the MBA International Business Top Colleges?
NIRF Ranking | Institutes | Location | Average Fees |
---|---|---|---|
26 | Indian Institute of Foreign Trade | New Delhi | INR 15.2 lakhs |
34 | Jamia Millia Islamia University | New Delhi | INR 67,240 |
39 | Alliance University | Bangalore | INR 13.5 lakhs |
41 | Amity University | Noida | INR 12.4 lakhs |
45 | Aligarh Muslim University | Aligarh | INR 4.05 lakhs |
49 | Lovely Professional University | Jalandhar | INR 4.64 lakhs |
51 | Chandigarh University | Chandigarh | INR 3.6 lakhs |
56 | KJ Somaiya Institute of Management | Mumbai | INR 14.93 lakhs |
63 | Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship Development (IMED) | Pune | INR 4.5 lakhs |
66 | University Of Petroleum And Energy Studies (UPES) | Dehradun | INR 13.34 lakhs |
76 | Institute of Business Management & Research (IBMR) | Indore | INR 1.6 lakhs |
MBA International Business Distance Education
Experienced professionals usually opt for the distance education programs as the classes can be taken according to convenience of the students.
MBA in International Business Distance Education Colleges along with location and fees:
Name of the University | Location | Average Annual Fees |
---|---|---|
Bharathiar University, School Of Distance Education - [BU-SDE] | Coimbatore | INR 12,550 |
Annamalai University, Directorate Of Distance Education | Annamalai | INR 14,050 |
Alagappa University, Directorate Of Distance Education - [DDE] | Karaikudi | INR 36,300 |
Venkateshwara Open University | Naharlagun | INR 28,500 |
Pondicherry University | Pondicherry | INR 12,450 |
ICFAI University, Distance Education | Agartala | INR 35,500 |
UPES Centre for Continuing Education | Dehradun | INR 46,500 |

Source: College Websites
What is the MBA in International Business Syllabus?
MBA in International Business course structure is the same as other MBA courses. The first year consists of core subjects of management in the form of classroom lectures, workshops, and seminars. After completion of first year, students go for summer internship. From second year the specialized courses are taught and also the electives are chosen in the second year.
The academic curriculum is designed so as to incorporate a professional approach to the international business environment.
The year wise syllabus of MBA international Business is mentioned below:
First Year | |
---|---|
Economics & Management Decisions | Human Resource Management |
Quantitative Techniques | Financial Management |
Financial Accounting | IT for Managers |
Marketing Management | Research Methodology |
Application Statistics | |
Second Year | |
Domain Specific Courses | Indian Policies & Trade Policies |
Summer Internships | International Business Negotiation |
Domain Tailored Courses | E-business & E-commerce |
Industry Visits | Merges & Corporate Regulation |
Cross-Cultural Management | Dissertation 1 |
Dissertation 2 |
Above mentioned subjects are taken from the common curriculum of some of the top institutes offering MBA in International Business. These subjects may vary from college to college.
What is the MBA in International Business Career and Scope?
MBA in International Business graduates have an immense opportunity in the current market. Career options after this course are increasing rapidly. International business degree holders are often required due to increasing globalization and the growing number of businesses currently competing on the international stage.
Following are the functional areas for MBA in International Business graduates-
- Export-Import Management
- Brand Management
- International Marketing
- Logistics Management
- Compliance Management
- Foreign Exchange Management
What kind of jobs can you get with an MBA in International Business degree?
MBA in International Business can lead to careers like management analyst, administrative service manager, and chief executive officer.
Following are the MBA in International Business job profiles along with their average salary.
Job Profile | Job Description | Average Salary |
---|---|---|
Business Development Manager | They identify sales leads, pitch goods or services to new clients and maintain a good working relationship with new contacts. | INR 7.44 LPA |
International Marketing Manager | They develop and implement strategic international marketing plans for an organization through research and develop pricing policies and recommend appropriate sales channels. | INR 7.51 LPA |
Area Sales Manager | An area sales manager handles a number of departmental or organizational responsibilities and sets goals for a sales division by collaborating with other departments, and conducting meetings. | INR 7.70 LPA |
Senior Business Analyst | They are responsible for synthesizing and analyzing information from various sources to identify trends, opportunities, and dangers. | INR 9.32 LPA |
Project Manager, (Unspecified Type / General) | They manage and communicate ongoing changes in tasks, goals, or performance and facilitate resolution of all issues to reach project goals. | INR 12.53 LPA |
Global Business Manager | They are responsible for the actions of others within the company, monitoring work and measuring success. The goal of these managers is to operate an organization with global scale efficiency and competitiveness that is responsive and flexible to cultural differences. | INR 12 LPA |
Investment Banker | They undertake several activities for a client, but the key task of the investment banker is to raise capital through issuing securities, whether debt or equity. | INR 9.93 LPA |
Export Manager | They plan and coordinate the international shipment of goods by ensuring that shipments are in compliance with the laws and regulations governing the export industry. | INR 6.67 LPA |
International Business Consultant | They assist companies in finding answers to questions regarding the future activities in foreign markets. The commercial relationships between the international consultant and their clients in international markets are governed through an International Consulting Contract. | INR 9.78 LPA |
International Finance Manager | They analyze annual budget processes, associate financial reports and statements and evaluate financial results for the IT division. They manage a divisional dashboard and balanced scorecard to identify major financial metrics, business opportunities and risks for all finances. | INR 10 LPA |

Source: Payscale
The salary trend of MBA in International Business graduates depends on the job profile, company and work experience. Most account managers with this degree earn from INR 3.6 LPA to 6 LPA on average as a fresher, while international sales managers primarily earn between INR 4.80 and 12 LPA. The salary range is INR 4 to 8 LPA for most business development managers whereas marketing managers make from INR 3.6 to 10 LPA on an average.
MBA in International Business: Top Recruiters
International Marketing Departments of Companies having exports abroad have multiple opportunities for MBA in International Business graduates.
Following are some top recruiting companies
Citi Bank | Wipro |
ICICI Bank | Accenture |
Amazon | Axis Bank |
HSBC | |
IBM | Cognizant |
Apart from global companies that compete on international markets, such as airlines and chain restaurants, MBA in International Business graduates often find careers within government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and banking as well.
MBA International Business Course Comparison
The Comparison between MBA IB and MBA Marketing according to full form, overview, colleges, job roles, average fees and average salary are mentioned below:
Parameters | MBA International Business | MBA Marketing |
---|---|---|
Full Form | Master of Business Administration International Business | Master of Business Administration Marketing |
Overview | It helps to professionalize the foreign trade management of the country and increase the exports and imports by generating, analyzing and conducting research. | It teaches you the art of identifying the right consumer base and building a brand according to it. |
Colleges | IIFT, Aligarh Muslim University, Amity University, Symbiosis Business School, Jamia Millia Islamia University | IIT Madras, Symbiosis Business School, BITS, Vinod Gupta School of Management, GIBS Business School |
Job Roles | Business Development Manager, Export managers and executives, International Business Consultant, International Finance Manager, International Marketing Manager | Area Sales Manager, Brand Manager, Marketing Manager, Business Development Manager, Market Research Analyst, Media Planner |
Average Fees | INR 8 lakhs | INR 9.5 lakhs |
Average Salary | INR 13.5 LPA | INR 9 LPA |

Source: College Websites
MBA in International Business: FAQs
Ques: What is an MBA in International Business?
Ans: MBA in International Business programs prepare students for a management, trade or general business career that can be conducted on a global scale. These programs typically offer internship opportunities through established companies, which allow students to gain hands-on experience in international business.
Ques: Is MBA in International Business a good career option?
Ans: MBA in International Business equips students with knowledge of global business trends and strategies that work in the business world. It is a degree that can offer lucrative job opportunities as it has broad scope. One can pursue a career as an international trade specialist, economist and such high caliber jobs.
Ques: What are the subjects in MBA in International Business?
Ans: Management Concepts & Organizational Behaviour, Managerial Economics, Accounting for Managers, Business Environment & Law, Research Methodology are some of the subjects of MBA International Business.
Ques: Which country is best for MBA in International Business?
Ans: Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and Singapore are some of the best countries for MBA in International Business.
Ques: What is the benefit of an MBA in International Business?
Ans: The biggest advantage of pursuing MBA in International Business is that it provides you the opportunity to experiment with your interests. From the perspective of a business operations professional, you have the flexibility to learn everything about the business world, be it manufacturing, or consulting and even sales.