Program Overview

Business Management and International Relations, MA

Introduction

Business Management and International Relations at Aberdeen is a perfect pairing, setting your solid grounding in business, management and organisations in the wide context of world events. This programme will improve your understanding of how organisations, states and governments interact against a constantly changing global and economic scene. This programme will give you an added international dimension to your excellent career prospects.

Study Information

At a Glance

• Learning Mode: On Campus Learning
• Degree Qualification: MA
• Duration: 48 months
• Study Mode: Full Time
• Start Month: September
• UCAS Code: LNF2

What You'll Study

Year 1

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Academic Writing for Social Sciences (AW1006)
  • Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD1002)
  • The Economics of Business and Society (EC1006)
  • Managing Organisations (MS1009)
  • Politics & International Relations 1: Democracy and Governance (PI1018)
  • Accounting and Entrepreneurship (AC1517)
  • Politics & International Relations 2: Power and Conflict (PI1518)
• Optional Courses: Plus further credit points from courses of choice to gain a total of 120 credits.

Year 2

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Ideas and Ideologies in Politics and International Relations (PI2009)
  • Operations Management (MS2511)
  • Understanding Statistics (PO2508)
  • Global Politics: Equality and Inequality (PI2508)
  • Marketing (MS2006)
  • Building Skills and Experience for Career Success (PD2002)
• Optional Courses: Plus further credit points from courses of choice to gain a total of 120 credit.

Year 3

• Optional Courses: Select one second-half session level 3 Politics and International Relations course, plus 60 credit points from level 3 courses in Business and Management.

Year 4

• Optional Courses: Choose one of the following options:
  • Option 1: Dissertation (International Relations) (IR4031) AND Business Strategy (MS4536)
  • Option 2: Dissertation in Management Studies (MS4540)
  • Plus further credit points from Honours course(s) in Business Management and level 4 course(s) in Politics & International Relations to gain a total of 60 credits in each discipline.

How You'll Study

Learning Methods

• Individual Projects
• Lectures
• Research
• Tutorials

Assessment Methods

• Coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course.
• Practical assessments of the skills and competencies they learn on the course.
• Written examinations at the end of each course.

Why Study Business Management and International Relations?

Why Business Management

• Study at a top UK University for Business and Management (11th) in the most recent major league tables (The Complete University Guide 2021)
• Our research centres including ACREEF (the Aberdeen Centre for Research in Energy Economics and Finance) headed by leading international petroleum economist and author Professor Alex Kemp, adviser to the Scottish Government.
• Aberdeen is home to CELMR (the Centre for European Labour Market Research) which leads research in education, skills and labour markets, so topical today.
• Enterprise Campus, a new initiative to nurture entrepreneurial skills and support students wanting to progress their own business ideas.
• The spectacular, award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library, with excellent study facilities, state-of-the-art technology, and a first-class collection of reference works in business and management.
• A packed programme of events and the annual May Festival attracting internationally acclaimed public figures, business leaders, authors and broadcasters to discuss and debate critical issues and challenges in the world today.
• A Business Management programme which perfectly balances theory and practical work, with strong links with local and global businesses giving you cutting-edge insights in to the subject.
• Aberdeen is the main European centre for the oil and gas industry, and international accountancy firms, multinational companies and financial services all have offices in the city.
• Professional training facilities including the Bloomberg finance lab, used by major financial services companies across the world and integrating real activity in financial markets directly into our students’ courses.

Why Politics and International Relations

• A core curriculum with topical themes of conflict and security, representation and democracy, comparative politics and policy.
• Special focus on the Middle-East, Latin America, North and South Asia, the Nordic Countries, Central and Eastern Europe – as well as Scotland, the UK and the EU.
• Staff with specialist expertise in political parties and elections, democracy, energy politics, European integration and regionalism, human rights and development issues, interest groups, nationalism, conflict resolution and more.
• Opportunities to take advantage of spending your second year studying abroad, in Europe, Japan, Hong Kong or North America.
• The spectacular, award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library, combining a top-class study environment with state-of-the-art technology, and extensive reference collections for your studies.
• A packed campus programme of events, seminars, invited speakers and the annual May festival, engaging prominent influencers, interest groups and public in debating major political issues such as Scottish independence and EU membership.
• All the history and legacy of being part of a university developed over 500 years of national and international political turbulence, social change, and emerging democracy.

Entry Requirements

Qualifications

• SQA Highers: Standard - AABB, Minimum - BBB, Adjusted - BB
• A LEVELS: Standard - BBB, Minimum - BBC, Adjusted - CCC
• International Baccalaureate: 32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL.
• Irish Leaving Certificate: 5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3.

English Language Requirements

• IELTS Academic: OVERALL - 6.0 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
• TOEFL iBT: OVERALL - 78 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
• PTE Academic: OVERALL - 59 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
• Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: OVERALL - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

Fees and Funding

• England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland: £9,535
• EU / International students: £20,800
• Self-funded international students commencing eligible undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 will receive a £6,000 tuition waiver for every year of their programme.
• Home Students: £1,820

Careers

• The Careers and Employability Service can help you to plan your career and support your choices throughout your time with us, from first to final year – and beyond.
• More information on employability at the University of Aberdeen
• More information on the Careers and Employability Service

Our Experts

• You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors.
• Information About Staff Changes: You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.