MA (Hons) Business Management and Sociology · University of AberdeenBachelor's degree · 4 years
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University of Aberdeen · Undergraduate

MA (Hons) Business Management and Sociology Bachelor's degree at the University of Aberdeen

MA (Hons) Business Management and Sociology at University of Aberdeen combines business fundamentals with sociological perspectives, offering specialisations such as Marketing, Finance, HR, Operations, Strategy, International Business, Entrepreneurship, Supply Chain and Consulting.

MA (Hons)
Award
4
Years
Full-time
Study mode
90%
in work/study (15m)

About this course

MA (Hons) Business Management and Sociology is a Bachelor's degree (MA (Hons)) at the University of Aberdeen, based in Old Aberdeen. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.

For Sociology graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 45% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)

For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Business & Management, see the sections below.

Course evidence score

The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.

8.6
/ 10
Excellent
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Excellent83

Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Graduate outcomes
In work or further study 15 months after graduating
Exceptional90

Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Excellent84

Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 84% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Curriculum & modules

Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.

Year 1 8 modules
  • Academic and Professional Skills for BusinessCompulsory
  • Academic Writing for BusinessCompulsory
    Module details

    This compulsory evaluation is designed to find out if your academic writing is of a sufficient standard to enable you to succeed at university and, if you need it, to provide support to improve. It is completed on-line via MyAberdeen with clear instructions to guide you through it. If you pass the evaluation at the first assessment it will not take much of your time. If you do not, you will be provided with resources to help you improve. This evaluation does not carry credits but if you do not c

  • Getting Started at the University of AberdeenCompulsory
    Module details

    This course, which is prescribed for level 1 undergraduate students and articulating students who are in their first year at the University, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across the first 4 weeks of term. Topics include University orientation overview, equality & diversity, MySkills, health, safety and cyber security, and academic integrity. Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Transcript

  • Managing OrganisationsCompulsory15 credits
    Module details

    The aim of this course is to introduce students to the fundamentals of management, the internal structure and processes of organisations. Students will understand the main functions of management, what management is, what managers do and the factors that influence behaviour and performance of managers and other employees within an organisation. The course will introduce a range of theories, research and real-life illustrations of a diverse range of management practices and organisational behavio

  • The Economics of Business and SocietyCompulsory15 credits
    Module details

    This course is an introductory course in microeconomics where we study the decision making of individual actors (consumers, employees, firms, governments, etc.) in an economy. Actors must make decisions about behaviours because they face scarce resources, but often they find that trading with other actors in markets can increase the wellbeing of all parties. This course models and examines the nature of these interactions, highlighting when they work well and when they fail to increase wellbeing

  • Introduction to Sociology I: Self, Identity & SocietyCompulsory15 credits
    Module details

    Sociology is the study of human social groups. It particularly focuses on modern societies, analysing how they work and how the major social institutions in them (such as religion, the media, government and the economy) operate. The course provides students with a general introduction to the unique manner in which sociologists seek to understand contemporary societies. Students are presented with current and classical approaches to understanding the social processes that underlie self-constructi

  • Accounting and EntrepreneurshipCompulsory15 credits
    Module details

    The course provides an understanding of how organisations, particularly small businesses, capture, create and use accounting information both to guide their own activities and to communicate their financial performance and financial position to parties external to themselves. It develops knowledge and understanding of accounting, accounting techniques and accounting information, so that students become informed users of accounting data and information, not creators of that data and information.

  • Introduction to Sociology II: Systems of PowerCompulsory15 credits
    Module details

    This course is an introduction to macro-sociology, which analyses the ways that people's lives are shaped by large-scale forces, structures, and institutions. Students are introduced to the particular ways in which classical and contemporary sociologists understand social forces in the modern domestic and global environment and learn to think critically about those social forces that impact their everyday lives using the sociological imagination. Substantive topics likely to be covered in this c

Year 2 7 modules
  • Contemporary Issues in BusinessCompulsory
  • Human Resource ManagementCompulsory
  • MarketingCompulsory15 credits
    Module details

    This course provides students with an overview of the underpinning concepts of marketing, and the requirements for the development of a market oriented organisation. Specifically introduces the basic concepts of buyer behaviour, market research, the marketing mix and the strategic context of marketing. The linkages between marketing and other key functional areas of management, notably operations and human resource management are highlighted by this course, encouraging the adoption of a systems

  • Sociology of Everyday Life i: the Embodied SelfCompulsory30 credits
    Module details

    This follows on from level-one sociology. It is designed to highlight the ways that sociological theory informs the research endeavour, not only the questions sociologists raise, but also the particular modes through which we go about investigating them. The module examines these points in relation to a range of micro-level topics – the body, food and feeding, health and illness, the emotions, group behaviour, sex and gender, the life course and death and dying – all of which emphasise the natur

  • Operations ManagementCompulsory15 credits
    Module details

    Operations is the part of management that considers processes rather than people and focuses on the organisation rather than its environment. We study processes and process types: when we produce goods or provide services through projects, jobs, batches or by mass production or mass services. We study layout–how facilities are arranged–, capacity and inventory–how much we can make and when to store–, supply chains, project management, quality and improvement. The course considers theories such a

  • Sociology of Everyday Life II: Global Issues in the 21st CenturyCompulsory30 credits
    Module details

    This macro-sociology course extends students' understanding of large-scale social, as well as political and economic, processes and institutions. Particular focus is on the sociological analysis of global issues and socio-political controversies, many of which are subject to topical and, at times, contentious debate at the beginning of the 21st century. The substantive topics include areas of social and political concern such as globalisation; the changing nature of economy, work and leisure; ri

  • Building Skills and Experience for Career SuccessCompulsory
    Module details

    This course, which is designed for level 2 students and above, is studied entirely online. Topics include career planning, finding work experience and articulating your skills and experiences in applications and interviews. Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Enhanced Transcript as 'Achieved'. The course takes approximately 5-6 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across a number of weeks.

Year 3 6 modules
  • Thinking SociologicallyCompulsory30 credits
    Module details

    Thinking Sociologically is the department's core sociological theory module. The course offers our students an introduction to a range of key sociological thinkers and bodies of thought, both classical and contemporary, that inform sociological analysis of social life and social institutions. As such, this course is intended to provide our honours students with a conceptual 'toolkit', that can be applied to facilitate understanding, insight and informed critique with respect to a broad range of

  • Sociology of ReligionCompulsory30 credits
    Module details

    This course provides students with an introduction to the sociological imagination as applied to the topic of religion. While the focus is on religion, it uses religion as means of thinking about core sociological concepts and key social processes, as well as the challenges to studying the world sociologically. We will discuss the key dimensions of religious belief, practice and institutions, and what we can learn from these that can be adapted and applied to other kinds of beliefs, practices an

  • Social Research MethodsCompulsory30 credits
    Module details

    Sociologists use a range of methods and techniques to explore and test sociological theory. This module introduces many of these methods and techniques. It aims to ground students' theoretical understanding of society through the practical analysis of a variety of data. It starts by introducing the varying philosophical starting points of research and goes on to provide foundation level critical analysis skills in the key quantitative and qualitative methods that sociologists have deployed to un

  • Ten Sociological StudiesCompulsory30 credits
    Module details

    This course bridges the theoretical emphasis of SO3066 and the methodological elements of SO3524. It presents sociology as a social science by having students examine and discuss in detail ten reports of sociological research. The goal of the course is to highlight the different ways sociological research combines theory and methods to examine and explain specific phenomena, events, or experiences of the world. Each of the ten studies will be chosen by one of the Sociology staff and present theo

  • Business Ethics and Corporate Social ResponsibilityCompulsory30 credits
    Module details

    What is Business Ethics and why should we care? There is an impression amongst many that Business and Ethics are opposed ideas. This course seeks to address these issues. Exploring Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility, tracing its historical origins through to current practice within organizations and the impact on the wider world. The course covers the fundamental question of what ethics is, granting a context for wider discussion. It looks at why ethics is relevant in the busine

  • Research Methods for BusinessOptional30 credits

Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.

Course in depth

What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.

What you'll study

This MA (Hons) programme combines business management and sociology, giving you analytical tools to understand both organisations and society. You'll usually start with foundations: how firms are structured and managed, marketing principles, and business economics with data skills. In Year 2, a typical course moves to operations and supply chain management, organisational behaviour and human resource management, and strategy. From Year 3 onwards, you'll choose specialist options such as entrepreneurship, international business, digital business, consulting, marketing, or people and HR. The course normally culminates in a capstone project, often a real client brief or dissertation, that integrates your learning across management and the sociological dimensions of work and organisations.

Who it's for

This course suits students interested in understanding organisations through both management and social theory. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent qualifications; typical entrants had a UCAS tariff of 192–207 points. The course is taught in English and delivered full-time.

Careers & job market

Across Business & Management courses nationally, 87% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 60% of working graduates are in highly skilled roles or further study. National Graduate Outcomes data shows starting salaries of £24,000–£32,000 at 15 months; after three years, £21,250–£30,000; after five years, £26,350–£37,200. These figures reflect national patterns, not individual guarantees.

University & format

The University of Aberdeen is a public university located in Old Aberdeen, founded in 1495. This four-year, full-time MA (Hons) Business Management and Sociology is taught in English. The degree is a nationally recognised qualification from a UK degree-awarding body and is.

Student satisfaction

How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.

The teaching on my course
90%
Learning opportunities
80%
Assessment and feedback
73%
Academic Support
91%
Organisation and management
76%
Learning resources
94%
Student voice
79%

Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 82%.

Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Applicant information

The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.

Application timelineWhat happens next
  1. 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted

    Your application needs a reference before you can send it.

  2. 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  3. 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

  4. 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline

    18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.

Show 5 later dates
  1. 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens

    Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.

  2. 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers

    Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.

  3. 2027 entryClearing opens

    Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.

  4. 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  5. 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

Entry & how to get in

Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent75% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 192 - 207 pointsThe most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students. This is what entrants had, not a stated requirement.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check the University of Aberdeen's official course page for the current offer.

Who gets in

What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.

UCAS tariff of entrants

Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.

Qualifications held on entry

QualificationShare
A-levels or equivalent75%
another higher-education qualification21%
No / unknown prior qualifications2%
a Baccalaureate1%

Entry & your chances

An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.

Competitive entry

Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.

Will you get in? Plot your grades

Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.

Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.

Add your grades to see where you land

Your points will drop onto the distribution above, with an honest above / within / below read.

Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.

How to apply

Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.

Apply by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
Typical gradesA*A*A*+A-level equivalent admitted students held
UCAS codeLN32quote this on your application
  1. 1
    Register on UCAS Hub

    Create your UCAS application and add this course (code LN32). One application covers up to five choices.

  2. 2
    Write your personal statement

    A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.

  3. 3
    Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time

    UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.

  4. 4
    Reply to your offers

    When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.

  5. 5
    Results day & confirmation

    On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.

💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask University of Aberdeen whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.

Fees & funding

What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.

Tuition per year

International£20,800 / yr

Provider fee page. Set under Scotland's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.

Check fees at University of Aberdeen →

If you normally live in Scotland

For eligible Scottish-domiciled students at an eligible Scottish provider, SAAS can pay tuition directly. Living-cost support can combine bursary and loan and depends on household income and student circumstances. Students from elsewhere use their home funding body.

Check the current amounts with SAAS →

Paying for it

  • SAAS tuition payment: paid directly to the university for eligible Scottish-domiciled students, applied for through SAAS.
  • Living-cost support: a mix of bursary and loan from SAAS, depending on household income.
  • Repayment: only above the Scottish repayment threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
  • Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.

Scotland runs its own system through SAAS; check saas.gov.uk for current rates.

Funding matched to this course

Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for

All University of Aberdeen funding →

Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.

Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.

StudyKit · free

Still deciding what to study?

StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.

Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check

Careers & earnings

What Business & Management graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.

Graduate earnings: this course

WhenMedianTypical rangeGraduates
15 months after£24,000£22,500 – £30,00015
3 years after£23,000£20,000 – £26,50030
5 years after£28,500£21,500 – £33,00035

Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.

Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course

90%
in work or further study 15 months on
45%
in highly skilled work or study
84%
continue past their first year
60%
find their work meaningful
55%
say work fits their future plans
  1. 1Graduate / AnalystOn a scheme or first role · 0–2 yrs
  2. 2Specialist / ManagerOwning an area, marketing, finance, ops · 2–5 yrs
  3. 3Senior / Head ofLeading a function and a team · 5–10 yrs
  4. 4Director / FounderRunning a business unit or your own company · 10+ yrs

How pay grows: this course vs Business & Management nationally

Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£24,000
£24,000 – £32,000
After 3 years LEO
£23,000
£21,250 – £30,000
After 5 years LEO
£28,500
£26,350 – £37,200
national rangethis course’s medianaxis £20,000 – £38,500

National figures for Business & Management graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.

Work out your pay

Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.

What happened to 100 students?

Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.

90 of 100

were in work or further study

15 months after graduation

70% working10% working and studying10% in further study45% in highly skilled work or study

Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.

Value compared with similar courses

How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Business & Management courses at the same study level.

This course £28,500Peer median £31,000Middle 50% £26,500–£37,000
36th percentile

Compared with 3,421 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.

UK occupations graduates enter

Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.

  • Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 25% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
  • Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 25% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
  • Managers, directors and senior officialsSOC 2020 1 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £51,733
  • Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
  • Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
  • Business, Research and Administrative ProfessionalsSOC 2020 243 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £48,746

Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 45; response rate: 70%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.

Job market & outlook

How Business & Management graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.

87%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Business & Management courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes
60%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled
81%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuation

How AI is changing the work

AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.

What AI takes off your plate

  • Routine reporting and data pulls
  • First-draft decks and copy
  • Standard forecasts and reconciliations
  • Scheduling and admin workflows

More human than ever

  • Strategy and judgement under uncertainty
  • Leading, negotiating and selling
  • Sense-checking and owning what AI produces
  • Relationships with clients and teams

The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.

Roles & employers

Where Business & Management graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.

Where they work

  • Consultancies
  • Corporate graduate schemes
  • Retail & FMCG
  • Startups & scale-ups

Is this course right for you?

The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.

💷

Student finance

Fees for this course are set under Scotland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. Tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students is paid by SAAS directly to the university, applied for through SAAS and not Student Finance England. Living-cost support is a mix of bursary and loan, and you repay only above the Scottish threshold.

📈

Where graduates go

90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £24,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.

🎯

Your entry chances

Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.

Official-data snapshot

Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.6 out of 10: NSS 83.3% · in work or study 90% · continued 84%.

Who studies here and in this subject?

Provider- and UK subject-level context.

The University of Aberdeen

All students13,930
International18.8%
Aged 25+29.2%

Business and management across the UK

Students586,710
Aged 25+44.3%

HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.

Is Business & Management right for you?

Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.

International students

What applying to University of Aberdeen from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.

Tuition fees

International tuition is £20,800 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.

English language

Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.

Student visa

You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.

Scholarships & funding

University of Aberdeen offers the Aberdeen Global Scholarship (£6,000/yr) for international students, see Scholarships above.

Living costs

Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.

Working while you study

A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.

Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of Aberdeen and gov.uk before you apply.

Common questions

Entry is competitive. Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 192 - 207 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
Set by the University of Aberdeen. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
For Sociology graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 45% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
Fees for this course are set under Scotland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. Tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students is paid by SAAS directly to the university, applied for through SAAS and not Student Finance England. Living-cost support is a mix of bursary and loan, and you repay only above the Scottish threshold. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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