Business Management and Finance, MA

In this section
Business Management and Finance, MA

Introduction

Business Management and Finance at Aberdeen gives you the ideal springboard to a brilliant career in any area and size of business or public sector organisation. You will learn how management and organisations function in a fast-moving environment and how market influences are driven by global, regional and local economy.

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
NN32
Pathway Programme Available
Undergraduate Foundation Programme

In Business Management, you will gain a wide perspective and thorough grounding in all areas of business, including skills in accountancy and statistics. Your knowledge will develop in a dynamic learning and research environment, inspired by staff who are leaders in the fields of business, financial markets, corporate finance, and organisational change.

In Finance, you will learn about crucial areas such as financial management, corporate finance, personal finance, financial institutions, derivatives and the stock market. You will develop intellectual skills by analysing and evaluating financial problems and the practical skills to understand and use information from financial newspapers and documents.

You will benefit from professional training facilities, such as our Bloomberg finance lab, used by major financial services companies across the world, integrating real activity in financial markets directly into students’ courses.

You will thrive in the international, dynamic environment of our Business School of 45 nationalities creating a truly global experience. You will have the support of outstanding teaching staff and dedicated careers advisers to help you add value to your degree with the skills and attributes sought by employers from large multinational blue-chips to small and medium-sized enterprises in all sectors of business.

What You'll Study

Year 1

Compulsory Courses

Academic Writing for Business (AW1003)
Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD1002)
Managing Organizations (MS1009)
The Economics of Business and Society (EC1006)
Finance 1: Finance, Risk and Investment (FI1004)
Accounting and Entrepreneurship (AC1517)
The Global Economy (EC1506)

Optional Courses

Plus further credit points from courses of choice to gain a total of 120 credits.

Year 2

Compulsory Courses

Finance 2: Business Finance (FI2004)
Marketing (MS2006)
Operations Management (MS2511)
Financial Markets and Regulation (FI2501)
Understanding Statistics (PO2508)

Optional Courses

Plus further credit points from courses of choice to gain a total of 120 credits.

Year 3

Compulsory Courses

Advanced Corporate Finance (FI3505) and International Financial Management (FI3503) run on alternate years, with FI3503 running in 2023/24

Finance 3: Corporate Finance (FI3004)
International Financial Management (FI3503)

Optional Courses

NOTE: If you intend to take your dissertation in Business Management in level 4 you must take Research Methods for Business (MS3553) in level 3.


Plus further credit points from level 3 course(s) in Business Management to gain a total of 60 credits in the discipline. (See Table of Honours Options below).

Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility (MS3056)
Understanding the Consumer (MS3551)
New Venture Development (MS3058)
Research Methods for Business (MS3553)
Human Resource Management (MS3554)
Year 4

Compulsory Courses

Choose one of the following:

  • Empirical Methods in Finance (FI4003)
  • Financial Strategy and Investment Management (FI4002)

Plus one of the following:

  • Dissertation in Finance (FI4501) AND Business Strategy (MS4536)
  • Dissertation in Management Studies (MS4540)
Empirical Methods in Finance (FI4003)
Financial Strategy and Investment Management (FI4002)
Dissertation in Finance (FI4501)
Business Strategy (MS4536)
Business Management Dissertation (MS4540)

Optional Courses

Plus select further credit points from Business Management and Finance level 4 courses to gain 60 credits in each discipline.

NOTE: You are required to gain a minimum of 90 credit points from level 4 courses.

Understanding and Managing Change (MS4048)
Understanding and Managing Behaviour in Organisations (MS4053)
Business Strategy (MS4536)

We will endeavour to make all course options available. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.

How You'll Study

Learning Methods

  • Individual Projects
  • Lectures
  • Research
  • 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.

The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, years of study and individual courses.

Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.

Why Study Business Management and Finance?

  • 1st Scotland in Student Positivity for Business Studies and Management Studies in the National Student Survey 2024
  • Business Management at Aberdeen provides an opportunity to study Management on its own or alongside one of a large number of the other disciplines taught at the University.
  • Aberdeen is known as being the oil and gas capital of Europe and the industry has a high demand for Business Management graduates. The University's close links to international companies will improve your career prospects.
  • Our Bloomberg finance lab integrates real activity in financial markets directly into your courses. The platform is used by major financial services companies across the world. You gain experience of sophisticated financial management technology placing you at the leading edge with skills that employers are seeking.
  • You will learn about crucial areas such as financial management, corporate finance, personal finance, financial institutions, derivatives and the stock market.
  • You will gain practical skills, helping you to read and extract information from financial newspapers and documents.

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.

View the Aberdeen Global Scholarship

What Our Students Say

Varun Sahani India

Varun Sahani <small><i>India</i></small>

Varun Sahani India

Being a student at Aberdeen has opened up some incredible opportunities for me. I won the Harvard Business Coffee Shop Simulation Competition, and completed internships at PwC Aberdeen and Carbon Financial Partners.

Entry Requirements

Qualifications

The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.


General Entry Requirements

2024 Entry

SQA Highers

Standard: AABB

Applicants who have achieved AABB (or better), are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/ Advanced Highers may be required.

Minimum: BBB

Applicants who have achieved BBB (or are on course to achieve this by the end of S5) are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/Advanced Highers will normally be required.

Adjusted: BB

Applicants who achieve BB over S4 and S5 and who meet one of the widening access criteria are guaranteed a conditional offer. Good performance in additional Highers/Advanced Highers will be required.

More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.

A LEVELS

Standard: BBB

Minimum: BBC

Adjusted: CCC

More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.

International Baccalaureate

32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL.

Irish Leaving Certificate

5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3.

PLEASE NOTE: National 5/ Standard Grade/ GCSE (or equivalent) in Mathematics / Applications of Mathematics is required in addition to the requirements noted above.

2025 Entry

SQA Highers

Standard: BBBB

Applicants who have achieved BBBB (or better), are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/ Advanced Highers may be required.

Minimum: BBC

Applicants who have achieved BBC at Higher and meet one of the widening participation criteria above are encouraged to apply and are guaranteed an unconditional offer for MA, BSc and BEng degrees. 

Adjusted: BB

Applicants who have achieved BB at Higher, and who meet one of the widening participation criteria above are encouraged to apply and are guaranteed an adjusted conditional offer for MA, BSc and BEng degrees.

We would expect to issue a conditional offer asking for one additional C grade at Higher. 

Foundation Apprenticeship: One FA is equivalent to a Higher at A. It cannot replace any required subjects.

More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.

A LEVELS

Standard: BBC

Minimum: BCC

Adjusted: CCC

More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.

International Baccalaureate

32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL.

Irish Leaving Certificate

5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3.

PLEASE NOTE: National 5/ Standard Grade/ GCSE (or equivalent) in Mathematics / Applications of Mathematics is required in addition to the requirements noted above.

Entry from College

Advanced entry to this degree may be possible from some HNC/HND qualifications, please see www.abdn.ac.uk/study/articulation for more details.

The information displayed in this section shows a shortened summary of our entry requirements. For more information, or for full entry requirements for Arts and Social Sciences degrees, see our detailed entry requirements section.


English Language Requirements

To study for an Undergraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:

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

Read more about specific English Language requirements here.

International Applicants who do not meet the Entry Requirements

The University of Aberdeen International Study Centre offers preparation programmes for international students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for undergraduate study. Discover your foundation pathway here.

Fees and Funding

You will be classified as one of the fee categories below.

Fee information
Fee category Cost
RUK £9,535
Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year
EU / International students £20,800
Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year
Home Students £1,820
Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year

Additional Fees

  • In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips. Any additional fees for a course can be found in our Catalogue of Courses.
  • For more information about tuition fees for this programme, including payment plans and our refund policy, please visit our Tuition Fees page.

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. These are designed to provide assistance to help students support themselves during their time at Aberdeen.

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. More about this funding opportunity.

Funding Database

View all funding options in our Funding Database.

Careers

There are a wide variety of careers you can choose from with Business Studies and Finance. Business Studies allows you to apply your skills in consultancy, advertising, banking, insurance, logistics, manufacturing, public relations, HR, sales, retail, and buying as a minimum. If you apply your Finance knowledge you can go into trading, finance, development and more.

Our Experts

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.

Discover Uni

Discover Uni draws together comparable information in areas students have identified as important in making decisions about what and where to study. You can compare these and other data for different degree programmes in which you are interested.

Business Management and Finance at University of Aberdeen

To see official information about this course and others visit Discover Uni.

Make an informed choice.

See course info

link opens in new tab

Get in Touch

Contact Details

Address
Student Recruitment & Admissions
University of Aberdeen
University Office
Regent Walk
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX

Social Media

University of Aberdeen
Chat with us!