Global Business Communication, _{MSc, PgCert or PgDip}

Programme Fees

Fee information

Fee category	Cost
EU / International students	£23,000
Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year
UK	£11,100
Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year

Stage 1

Compulsory Courses

Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD5006)

This course, which is prescribed for all taught postgraduate students, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 5-6 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across a number of weeks.

Topics include orientation overview, equality and diversity, health, safety and cyber security and how to make the most of your time at university in relation to careers and employability.

Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Enhanced Transcript as ‘Achieved’.

Detailed course information

Communication Theory and Analysis (QA50C1)

30 Credit Points

This course introduces the theoretical frameworks used in analysing communication, enabling students to investigate social interaction, power relations, and the ways in which language is used in a variety of contexts. It provides a grounding in the precise analysis of language use, which will enable students to go on to investigate communication in a range of professional contexts during the MLitt programme.

Detailed course information

Negotiation and Cross - Cultural Management (QB5045)

15 Credit Points

Business cannot be conducted without some form of communication between the participants involved. This course examines a wide variety of different types of interpersonal communication in different types of business contexts and, by so doing, provides students with a detailed and practical overview of this vitally important subject area.

Detailed course information

The Leadership Challenge (QB5046)

15 Credit Points

This course provides an opportunity to explore and develop an understanding of your own leadership behaviour. Through seminars, group activities and discussions we investigate how personality, past experience, current situations and culture shape the way each of us behave in a leadership role. Using this information as a starting point we then explore how different leadership theories and approaches can be used as a frameworks for developing a deeper understanding of leadership behaviour. You will also have an opportunity to assist you in the development of your own approach to leadership.

Detailed course information

Stage 2

Compulsory Courses

Intercultural Communication (QA55C2)

15 Credit Points

In this course a range of theories for exploring cultural norms and practices will be explored. Cultural Dimension Theory, Cross Cultural Pragmatics and Language socialization will be considered core areas of study. Other areas of relevance that will be covered and discussed include: Social Identity Theory and Language, English as a Lingua Franca the effects of Globalisation on language policy and communication, Intercultural Communication in Specific Professional Contexts, Intercultural Communication in Health Care ”The case of migrant patients and native speaker Doctors/health care staff, Intercultural Communication in Business Meetings” overcoming cultural barriers and negotiating meaning.

Detailed course information

Institutional Discourse (QA55C3)

15 Credit Points

This course will identify various audiences, appropriate content and ways of communicating within organisations and institutions, with particular focus on the energy industry, law and law enforcement, emergency services and healthcare. It will identify various purposes, types and modes of communication within organisations and institutions and consider communication plans as part of organisational and institutional strategic plans.

Detailed course information

Marketing Management (QB5513)

15 Credit Points

The course will apply theoretical and practical content to explore the key concepts of marketing management to provide students with an understanding of planning, coordinating and controlling marketing activities. It aims to take students understanding beyond what has been labelled as a transaction-based approach to a relationship-based approach. As such the aim is to provide students with an understanding of the role of marketing in establishing, developing and maintaining relationships for mutual gain. This will be achieved through a combination of lectures, seminars, simulations and directed private study.

Detailed course information

Stage 3

Compulsory Courses

Dissertation in Professional Communication (QA59C4)

60 Credit Points

This course requires students to prepare a 12,000 word dissertation. By the end of the course students will have learned how to understand, synthesize and present data in an intelligent and intelligible fashion. Through guidance and supervision they will develop their academic writing skills in order to write and present an extended dissertation on a topic relevant to the course.

Detailed course information

Programme Fees

Fee information

Fee category	Cost
EU / International students	£23,800
Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year
UK	£11,100
Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year

Semester 1

Those starting the degree in January should be advised that they will complete the dissertation over the summer and finish the programme with the Semester 3 selection of courses. Taught courses do not run in the summer. Students wishing to do their dissertation at the end of the programme should consider starting their study from September.

Candidates must undertake the following curriculum:

Compulsory Courses

Intercultural Communication (LN5510)

15 Credit Points

In this course a range of theories for exploring cultural norms and practices will be explored. Cultural Dimension Theory, Cross Cultural Pragmatics and Language socialization will be considered core areas of study. Other areas of relevance that will be covered and discussed include: Social Identity Theory and Language, English as a Lingua Franca the effects of Globalisation on language policy and communication, Intercultural Communication in Specific Professional Contexts, Intercultural Communication in Health Care ”The case of migrant patients and native speaker Doctors/health care staff, Intercultural Communication in Business Meetings” overcoming cultural barriers and negotiating meaning.

Detailed course information

Marketing Communications (BU5573)

15 Credit Points

Through a combination of lectures, tutorials, workshops, debates and in-course assessment, this course encourages students to critically reflect upon: Social theory and its relevance to marketing communications; Concepts and contemporary thought within the practice of marketing communication; expressive practice.

Detailed course information

Institutional Discourse (LN5518)

30 Credit Points

This course will identify various audiences, appropriate content and ways of communicating within organisations and institutions, with particular focus on the energy industry, law and law enforcement, emergency services and healthcare. It will identify various purposes, types and modes of communication within organisations and institutions and consider communication plans as part of organisational and institutional strategic plans.

Detailed course information

Critical Skills: Research and Dissemination (PD55C1)

This course will equip you with core research and dissemination skills. Centred on an interdisciplinary approach to research, the course will allow you to engage with peers from various research backgrounds to contribute, discuss and share in an interactive academic community. The course will detail key research techniques and communicative modes for successful dissemination. Communication skills specific to engaging with industry stakeholders will also be covered as part of this course in order to boost employability.

Detailed course information

Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD5506)

This course, which is prescribed for all taught postgraduate students, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 5-6 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across a number of weeks.

Topics include orientation overview, equality and diversity, health, safety and cyber security and how to make the most of your time at university in relation to careers and employability.

Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Enhanced Transcript as ‘Achieved’.

Detailed course information

Semester 2

Compulsory Courses

Dissertation in Professional Communication (LN5905)

60 Credit Points

This course requires students to prepare a 12,000 word dissertation. By the end of the course students will have learned how to understand, synthesize and present data in an intelligent and intelligible fashion. Through guidance and supervision they will develop their academic writing skills in order to write and present an extended dissertation on a topic relevant to the course.

Detailed course information

Semester 3

Compulsory Courses

Marketing Management (BU5039)

15 Credit Points

The course will apply theoretical and practical content to explore the key concepts of Marketing in Management to provide students with an understanding of, coordinating and controlling marketing activities. A key theme running throughout the course is the importance of creating customer value. The aim is to provide you with an understanding of the role of marketing and relevant critical strategies in establishing, developing and maintaining customer value.

Detailed course information

Communication Theory and Analysis (LN5019)

30 Credit Points

This course introduces the theoretical frameworks used in analysing communication, enabling students to investigate social interaction, power relations, and the ways in which language is used in a variety of contexts. It provides a grounding in the precise analysis of language use, which will enable students to go on to investigate communication in a range of professional contexts during the MLitt programme.

Detailed course information

Negotiation and Cross - Cultural Management (BU5072)

15 Credit Points

Business cannot be conducted without some form of communication between the participants involved. This course examines a wide variety of different types of interpersonal communication in different types of business contexts and, by so doing, provides students with a detailed and practical overview of this vitally important subject area.

Detailed course information

Critical Skills: Reading and Engagement (PD50C2)

This course will equip you with the essential skills required to engage with your postgraduate studies. Through a series of lectures, interactive seminars and authentic materials, you will build on your critical thinking skills with fellow PGT students from across the school. Critical Reading, essay writing and presentation skills will be offered as part of this course, providing students with skills fundamental to PGT and workplace contexts.

Detailed course information

Programme Fees

Please refer to our Tuition Fees page for fee information for this programme, or contact study@abdn.ac.uk.

Stage 1

Compulsory Courses

Institutional Discourse (LN5518)

30 Credit Points

This course will identify various audiences, appropriate content and ways of communicating within organisations and institutions, with particular focus on the energy industry, law and law enforcement, emergency services and healthcare. It will identify various purposes, types and modes of communication within organisations and institutions and consider communication plans as part of organisational and institutional strategic plans.

Detailed course information

Intercultural Communication (LN5510)

15 Credit Points

In this course a range of theories for exploring cultural norms and practices will be explored. Cultural Dimension Theory, Cross Cultural Pragmatics and Language socialization will be considered core areas of study. Other areas of relevance that will be covered and discussed include: Social Identity Theory and Language, English as a Lingua Franca the effects of Globalisation on language policy and communication, Intercultural Communication in Specific Professional Contexts, Intercultural Communication in Health Care ”The case of migrant patients and native speaker Doctors/health care staff, Intercultural Communication in Business Meetings” overcoming cultural barriers and negotiating meaning.

Detailed course information

Marketing Communications (BU5573)

15 Credit Points

Through a combination of lectures, tutorials, workshops, debates and in-course assessment, this course encourages students to critically reflect upon: Social theory and its relevance to marketing communications; Concepts and contemporary thought within the practice of marketing communication; expressive practice.

Detailed course information

Stage 2

Compulsory Courses

Marketing Management (BU5039)

15 Credit Points

The course will apply theoretical and practical content to explore the key concepts of Marketing in Management to provide students with an understanding of, coordinating and controlling marketing activities. A key theme running throughout the course is the importance of creating customer value. The aim is to provide you with an understanding of the role of marketing and relevant critical strategies in establishing, developing and maintaining customer value.

Detailed course information

Communication Theory and Analysis (LN5019)

30 Credit Points

This course introduces the theoretical frameworks used in analysing communication, enabling students to investigate social interaction, power relations, and the ways in which language is used in a variety of contexts. It provides a grounding in the precise analysis of language use, which will enable students to go on to investigate communication in a range of professional contexts during the MLitt programme.

Detailed course information

Negotiation and Cross - Cultural Management (BU5072)

15 Credit Points

Business cannot be conducted without some form of communication between the participants involved. This course examines a wide variety of different types of interpersonal communication in different types of business contexts and, by so doing, provides students with a detailed and practical overview of this vitally important subject area.

Detailed course information

Programme Fees

Please refer to our Tuition Fees page for fee information for this programme, or contact study@abdn.ac.uk.

Stage 1

Compulsory Courses

Institutional Discourse (LN5518)

30 Credit Points

This course will identify various audiences, appropriate content and ways of communicating within organisations and institutions, with particular focus on the energy industry, law and law enforcement, emergency services and healthcare. It will identify various purposes, types and modes of communication within organisations and institutions and consider communication plans as part of organisational and institutional strategic plans.

Detailed course information

Intercultural Communication (LN5510)

15 Credit Points

In this course a range of theories for exploring cultural norms and practices will be explored. Cultural Dimension Theory, Cross Cultural Pragmatics and Language socialization will be considered core areas of study. Other areas of relevance that will be covered and discussed include: Social Identity Theory and Language, English as a Lingua Franca the effects of Globalisation on language policy and communication, Intercultural Communication in Specific Professional Contexts, Intercultural Communication in Health Care ”The case of migrant patients and native speaker Doctors/health care staff, Intercultural Communication in Business Meetings” overcoming cultural barriers and negotiating meaning.

Detailed course information

Marketing Communications (BU5573)

15 Credit Points

Through a combination of lectures, tutorials, workshops, debates and in-course assessment, this course encourages students to critically reflect upon: Social theory and its relevance to marketing communications; Concepts and contemporary thought within the practice of marketing communication; expressive practice.

Detailed course information