Program Overview

Business Management, MA

Introduction

Business Management at Aberdeen explores the theory and practice of how people and organisations are managed in a highly competitive global business environment, taught by leaders in this highly topical field. You will benefit from real-life scenarios and the input of national and local employers, giving you the skills, experience and attributes for a head start across a wide range of careers in the international business world.

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: N200
• Pathway Programme Available: Undergraduate Foundation Programme

What You'll Study

Business Management at Aberdeen is a wide-ranging programme and you will benefit from the University's holistic approach to the subject. You will learn about the latest business management techniques and models and will study topics such as managing organisations, the economics behind business and society, accounting and entrepreneurship, statistics, human resource management and consumer behaviour. You will have the opportunity to study a range of optional courses alongside compulsory courses.

Year 1

• Compulsory Courses
  • MS1511 - Academic & Professional Skills (15 Credit Points)
  • Managing Organisations (MS1009)
  • The Economics of Business and Society (EC1006)
  • Accounting and Entrepreneurship (AC1517)
  • Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD1002)
  • Academic Writing for Business (AW1003)

Year 2

• Compulsory Courses
  • MS2512 - Human Resource Management (15 Credit Points)
  • MS2007 - Contemporary issues in Business (15 Credit Points)
  • Operations Management (MS2511)
  • Marketing (MS2006)

Year 3

• Compulsory Courses
  • Research Methods for Business (MS3553)
  • Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility (MS3056)
• Optional Courses
  • Select 60 credit points from Level 3 Business Management courses, plus 30 credit points from courses of choice at Level 3.
  • New Venture Development (MS3058)
  • Understanding the Consumer (MS3551)

Year 4

• Compulsory Courses
  • Understanding and Managing Behaviour in Organisations (MS4053)
  • Business Strategy (MS4536)
  • Dissertation in Management Studies (MS4540)
  • Understanding and Managing Change (MS4048)

How You'll Study

Course delivery is by means of lectures, seminars and small group tutorials. On specific courses, these will be supplemented by external speakers.

Learning Methods

• Group Projects
• Lectures
• Tutorials

Assessment Methods

Students are assessed by any combination of three 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?

• The University of Aberdeen was ranked 12th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2025 and 15th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
• 1st Scotland in Student Positivity for Business Studies and Management Studies in the National Student Survey 2024
• 8th in the UK for Business and Management in the Guardian University Guide 2025
• 15th in the UK for Business, Management and Marketing in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
• 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.
• The spectacular, award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library, with fabulous study facilities, state-of-the-art technology and a first-class collection of reference works in business and management.
• A Business Management programme with the perfect balance between theory and practical work.
• Strong links with local and global businesses, giving you the benefit of cutting-edge insights into the subject.
• With a community of over 130 nationalities at the University of Aberdeen, students are immersed in an environment that enables international discourse creating truly global exchanges, generating deep insights that spark innovative change.

Careers

Studying Business Management at Aberdeen will open up a wealth of career opportunities over a wide spectrum of industries and many of our graduates now work for large multinational blue-chip companies. Previous graduates have gone on to work for employers including Ernst and Young, Royal Bank of Scotland, Bank of Scotland and British Airways.

Career Opportunities

• Account Manager
• Graduate Commercial Manager
• Investment Analyst
• Recruitment Consultant
• Ship Agent
• Supply Chain Management Intern
• Trainee Chartered Accountant

Accreditation

The Business School is EQUIS accredited, placing it among a select group of globally recognised institutions. Out of over 15,000 business schools worldwide, only around 200 schools across 45 countries have attained this distinction.

This degree holds accreditation from

• EQUIS

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

Scholarships and Funding

• UK Scholarship: Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, who pay tuition fees may be eligible for specific scholarships allowing them to receive additional funding.
• Aberdeen Global Scholarship: The University of Aberdeen is delighted to offer eligible self-funded international on-campus undergraduate students a £6,000 scholarship for every year of their programme.

Related Undergraduate Degrees

• MA Business Management and Economics
• MA Business Management and English
• MA Business Management and Finance
• MA Business Management and French
• MA Business Management and Gaelic Studies
• MA Business Management and Geography
• MA Business Management and History
• MA Business Management and Information Systems

Discover Uni

• 83% of students were satisfied overall with their course.
• 76% of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well.
• 95% in work or doing further study 15 months after the course.