Master of Science in Business Administration (Commercial Management)

The focus of Business Administration is on how a business is organised, and on how it does business. You gain insight into the structure of a business, its internal dynamics and its external relationships with stakeholders, and you learn to understand those stakeholders better. This will enable you to make successful business decisions. The Master’s programme offers you an understanding of one of the domains that traditionally constitute an important challenge for businesses. We prepare you for managerial positions in one of the functional management domains (e.g. HRM, taxation, finance, marketing and informatics). You learn how customers think, what the importance is of a fiscal environment, how to set up an efficient HR policy, how to use IT to monitor profitability, what points to consider when financing new activities, or how to make strategic goals more feasible by means of an optimal business structure.

The Commercial Management main subject offers an understanding of which products and services an organisation has to develop and make available, which accompanying services are needed, the type of pricing policy to pursue, the relevant forms of communication to use, and the appropriate sales techniques and distribution channels to implement in various segments of the market. Each course unit pays attention to digitalisation, artificial intelligence and the synergy between on- and offline aspects of commercial activities. Thanks to our multidisciplinary and enterprising approach you learn to integrate insights from economics, social psychology and IT in a sustainable and socially responsible manner. Our course units serve to develop and hone your creative, entrepreneurial and analytical skills further. In this main subject, we focus on a strong integration of case studies, guest speakers and/or assignments issued by the business world, and in so doing, we build a strong bridge between academic and professional skills.

We offer a choice of five main subjects: Taxation, Finance and Risk Management, Management and IT, HRM and Organisational Management, and Commercial Management. Each of these main subjects encompasses a work placement in the second term, as well as the course unit ‘Strategic Management’, including a business game.

In addition to the (domain) Master’s programme described above, you can also choose a Master’s Programme in Teaching (in Dutch: Educatieve Master). Find out more at www.ugent.be/educatievemaster (in Dutch).

The Master of Science in Business Administration opens doors to executive positions in corporate life, where management is key. You acquire a broad range of competencies, allowing you to find your way in the many challenges a modern business has to face. You will find yourself holding a responsible position, in which you will experience personal fulfilment. Other options are the government, public institutions or non-profit organisations. Finally, there is the option of becoming a self-employed accountant, tax advisor or management consultant.

Commercial Management graduates also find employment in marketing and sales departments of small and large businesses alike. Many of our graduates end up at consulting companies and communication agencies.