StudyQA — MBA: Business Administration

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The full-time MBA is an intensive programme designed for students with a minimum of three years' managerial experience who wish to progress to more senior and leadership roles in business.

The programme immerses students in a world of academic thought, current business practice and applied projects.

Studied over 12 months, this is a taught programme delivered by world class faculty complemented by guest business practitioners.

Successful businesses in the future will be those that can confidently and capably steer a path through a world characterised by intense competition, rapid technological development, economic turbulence and increasing resource insecurity.

Businesses need leaders who can think and act strategically in this volatile environment, managing the risk and challenges involved, but also spotting and seizing opportunities for efficiency, innovation and new business models. Businesses also need leaders who will act responsibly in delivering value to all stakeholders.

The Edinburgh MBA will prepare participants to progress with confidence into leadership roles in this new world. We will:

deepen participants’ understanding of how businesses and markets work, how value is created through innovation and marketing, how strategies are crafted, how businesses are financed, how performance is measured, how value is delivered efficiently and effectively, and how organisations should be governed, managed and led through change
instil a passion for business improvement, innovation and entrepreneurial action to help participants lead in the growth or creation of new business opportunities
develop participants’ ability to think strategically and beyond disciplinary silos

Successful leadership also requires accomplished interpersonal skills to bring about change in organisations. Through skills training and professional development, we will work with participants to understand their leadership strengths and weaknesses and provide support for improvement.

The MBA is delivered full-time starting in September each year. The programme combines intensive academic study with practical application. This is achieved both in the classroom through case studies, but also via consultancy-style projects with external organisations to broaden participants’ insights into alternative business models and approaches.

Compulsory courses include:

Strategic Leadership
Strategic Marketing
Organising for Effectiveness
Operations Improvement
Understanding Economies
Finance
Accounting
Qualitative Methods and Tools
Entrepreneurial Leadership
Creative Strategy
Critical Eye for Business
Professional Development Programme

A range of specialist options are also available. In parallel with academic study, we deliver a Professional Development programme to help enhance interpersonal and leadership skills. Your studies will culminate in a major Capstone Project.

On our core 12-month MBA, there is an opportunity to study International Business in Context (a one-week intensive module located in an emerging market) and to undertake your Capstone Project focused on a country outside of the UK. For those who want further international experience, there is an opportunity to study on our MBA (within international exchange) which will give you the chance to spend 2-3 months on an exchange at one of our international partner Universities (Australia, Canada, China, Finland, France, Mexico, Spain and USA).

12-month MBA

The programme is delivered in four parts:

September–December: students focus on core business disciplines
January–March: students develop integrative and strategic thinking, and choose a number of specialist elective subjects
April–June: students' specialisation continues
June–August: students undertake a Capstone Project as the final part of the 12-month MBA

12-month MBA (International Business)

The MBA (with International Exchange) programme is delivered in four parts:

September–March: students study the same core disciplines, integrating courses and a number of specialisations as the main MBA programme
April–June: students study abroad at one of 12 partner institutions worldwide, experiencing new cultures and new ways of business
June–August: students undertake a Capstone Project as the final part of the 12-month MBA.
Details of programme structure and elective courses

Before applying for the full-time MBA programme, please consider our minimum entry requirements, which include academic qualifications, managerial work experience and English language requirements.

Professional experience requirement

At least three years' work experience in a managerial role.

Experience can be from any industry, including the public sector, charitable organisations or the arts.

Minimum academic requirement

UK 2:1 honours degree from a good university in any subject, or an equivalent overseas qualification.

If you do not meet the minimum academic requirement, you may still be considered if:

you have professional qualifications with substantial work experience; or
you do not hold a degree or professional qualifications but you have a very strong employment record demonstrating a high degree of responsibility.

If you do not meet the minimum academic requirement, we may require you to complete the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), which is an internationally-recognised assessment of analytical, numerical and verbal reasoning. If we require you to take GMAT, we would expect a score of 600 to qualify for our MBA.