Online pre-study modules
Before the programme begins you will be expected to complete some online pre-study modules which are delivered through The Hub, Imperial College Business School’s virtual learning environment.
These modules will be available to students who have accepted an offer of admission from July onwards and are designed to give you a basic knowledge of areas that will be covered by the programme throughout the academic year.
Core modules
MSc Economics & Strategy for Business will teach you to combine the rigour of analytical thinking with a strategic focus.
The ESB core modules cover essential knowledge in finance, strategy and economics in the Autumn term, building up to more applied modules in the Spring term.
Business planning requires a proper understanding of macroeconomic forces. These forces include not only domestic developments and government policies but also the impact of international forces in an increasingly interconnected world. The aim of this module is to develop the framework and tools of analysis needed to explain how the level of macroeconomic activity is determined and why macroeconomic conditions change over time.
This module discusses key empirical issues and methods used for data analysis in applied economics and business. The module will not only discuss the use of these methods and their applications in business, but ensure that you properly understand the interpretation of the results and their implications for business decisions. You will also have the opportunity to obtain basic programming skills in widely used statistical software.
This module explores the way in which businesses respond to market incentives and the consequences for market behaviour, the nature and role of competition, and the role of innovation. It shows how firms can create and overcome barriers to entry, how advertising can expand the size of their market and how firms at different stages of the value chain interact. Techniques for increasing revenues are also discussed.
This module develops the theory of finance and the theory of regulation, and further explores how managers can utilise both financial markets and financial instruments to mitigate the risks that they face and the management of the regulatory regimes in which they may find themselves operating.
Corporate strategy is concerned with a firm’s scope, determining which businesses and activities to include within the boundaries of the firm. Our focus is on the challenge of managing and co-ordinating these different businesses and activities to achieve the overall goals of the firm.
The digital revolution, including the internet, is transforming business and consumer behaviour. This module will consider the economics of digitisation including industry dynamics, the impact on market structure, and network effects. From a strategic perspective, the module will focus on how digital technologies can be harnessed for competitive advantage.
In this module we use the tools of economic analysis to understand the role of state in economic activity. We will explore market failures and other reasons for public policy interventions, common forms of intervention, the effects of public policy on economic outcomes, and the political economy of policy formation. We will analyse topics relevant to today’s public, policy debates, including but not limited to taxation, health, public safety, social welfare policy, education, energy and the environment, and income inequality.
Careful strategic planning is needed in order to ensure that firms successfully negotiate the shifting technological landscapes in which they operate. At the same time, they must drive change themselves through the effective management of innovation. In this module, the strategic management of technological change and of innovation will be considered. A range of strategic and economic tools and frameworks for managing these critical issues will be presented.
This module explores strategy within a global context. It explores the differences between international strategy and global strategy with an examination of the macro and micro drivers of globalisation. Our focus is on the impact of globalisation, taking account of the strategic implications for organisations as well as the economic consequences at national level for governments.
This module explores how organisations are run and how their financing decisions affect their governance and profitability. When managers are not the owners of a business, they may have incentives to act in ways which are unhelpful for shareholders. Corporate governance describes the systems used to limit these kinds of behaviours. The module also examines the ways in which companies are financed, and show how this can not only affect profitability but also create incentives to engage in activities such as mergers and acquisitions.
Imperial College Business School reserves the right to alter modules whenever they need to be amended or improved. Faculty may also change as and when required.
"So far, my favourite module has been Corporate Strategy taught by Dr Dmitry Sharapov. The case studies and lectures in this module have been engaging and practical. Although there are a lot of readings, I found myself immersed in many of them. As I read and discussed the business case studies in class, I found myself thinking outside the box, thinking strategically (as the name implies), thinking more deeply about business ideas and finding more efficient ways of doing things in the corporate world."
