Employers today are looking for graduates who combine academic knowledge with real world experience, cultural awareness and professional confidence. At the University of Salford, you will be prepared to succeed in an increasingly interconnected and competitive global economy.
Located just minutes away from Manchester city centre, the University of Salford places you at the heart of one of the UK’s most dynamic business ecosystems. Manchester is a leading digital city, with many fast-growing digital startups, creative studios, fintech firms and global business giants. Just beyond the city centre lies Salford’s own powerhouse: MediaCity, a waterfront innovation district that hosts the BBC, ITV, Ericsson, Kellogg’s, and more than 250 creative and tech companies pushing the boundaries of media and digital production.
For students, that means access. Access to experience, experts, mentors, real-world projects, and the kind of networking that textbooks can’t replicate. That rich industry connection was exactly what drew Saif Rahman to pursue his master’s at the University of Salford.
“Throughout my [programme], I really felt that everything we did had some connection to industry, whether that was the projects we completed or the lecturers’ lessons which came from their experiences in the sector,” he says.
At Salford Business School, Rahman pursued the MSc International Business programme, which empowers graduates to manage organisations in a global, hyper-digital economy. Likewise for all other programmes, the approach taken by the school is wholly career-focused. Curriculum reads like a checklist of features that recruiters today look for: hands‑on projects, real‑world casework, and modules shaped with industry input. It’s a model designed for impact, whether your ambition is driving green economic growth, steering digital transformation, or building systems that make the economy more inclusive.
Enter a multicultural community at Salford and gain rich industry connections to drive your career forward. Source: University of Salford
Learning by doing: real projects, real outcomes
The MSc International Business programme spans one year, is accredited by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and rounds up with an international consultancy project or work-based internship or placement.
These are features that prepare graduates well. Now working as a senior executive at DHL Global Forwarding in New Zealand, Rahman uses a variety of skills developed through his Salford degree in his role daily.
In one of his projects, Rahman and his team had to launch the popular UK snack brand – Soreen Malt Loaf – in Spain, a country where they had little to no presence. “We decided to rebrand the packaging which was mindful of the different traditions and cultures in Spain,” he says. The team eventually had to present their concepts and reasoning to their lecturer for assessment.
“I developed the ability to think outside the box, particularly when working in different countries where you need to adapt your mindset to consider cultures and traditions,” Rahman adds.
There are more MSc programmes to discover, depending on your career goals.
If you’re aiming to deepen your expertise in finance, the MSc Accounting and Finance delivers the full toolkit: advanced financial reporting, corporate finance strategy, the inner workings of banks’ financial instruments, and the accounting frameworks that shape real‑world decision‑making. If your focus is people rather than portfolios, CIPD-accredited MSc Human Resource Management programme explores leadership styles and equality, diversity, and inclusion practices for managing employees in a global context. For those wired into the intersection of money and machines, opt for the MSc Financial Technology to master technology, economics, regulation, and change management.
And the options don’t stop there. From the MSc Digital Marketing to the MSc Procurement, Logistics and Supply Management programme, Salford Business School’s postgraduate degrees will enhance your future and empower you to shape the future.
Dedicated career support for international students
The best part about Salford’s MSc programmes is that they are focused on helping build your career, regardless of whether you are just starting out or are advancing in your field. The programmes in Accounting and Finance, Human Resource Management, and Financial Technology all come with internship or placement opportunities that span three to six months. As an international student, you can seek more dedicated support from the University’s Careers and Enterprise Team or Salford Business School’s dedicated employability team with everything from understanding UK business etiquette to attending careers fairs.
MSc Financial Technology graduate Ejaz Abbas landed an internship at The Car Co in Bury, Greater Manchester, after working with the Careers and Enterprise Team one-on-one to refine his CV and build interview confidence. Abbas would attend career fairs and networking events, including those hosted by Salford Business School’s employability team, such as Employability Week.
Improve your decision-making abilities, team working skills and build your international networks with Salford’s Global Business Challenge hosted by Salford Business School’s Employability Team.
“My contribution [to The Car Co] was so well-received that the company offered me a full-time position even before I finished my degree,” Abbas says. “The company went one step further — they offered me visa sponsorship while I was still on a student visa.”
Through the support of the Careers and Enterprise team, Nigerian graduate Nneka Onyeukwu also managed to secure a game-changing internship. “After impressing the company during the internship, they offered me a part-time role that lasted for the remaining half of my studies,” the MSc Human Resource Management student says. “This experience was invaluable to me as it enhanced my professional competencies, expanded my network and bolstered my employability upon graduation.”
The role provided Onyeukwu insight into organisational dynamics and customer relations, which complemented the theoretical content from her courses. It opened the door to new possibilities, helping her refine her career goals. Today, Onyeukwu works at the global organisation, Tech Mahindra, as an HR generalist, often collaborating with regional HR teams.
A multi-cultural and supportive community
As an international student, you’ll be thousands of miles away from home, but Salford ensures you never have to brave the journey alone. Over 3,500 international students at the university are pursuing their dreams just like you, forming a multicultural community where every person is celebrated. Salford Business School even holds an International Cultural Day, where various identities come together for music, food, crafts, traditions and stories, with people adorned in their national clothing.
“I loved being part of the Pakistani Society and the Networking Society, both of which helped me make lifelong friends and explore different cultures,” says Abbas. “The Faith Centre offered a peaceful space to connect spiritually, and the library, open 24 hours, became my second home — a place where I learned, reflected, and grew.”
Learn more about Salford Business School’s postgraduate programmes here.
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