What is a flexible MBA?

Key features of the online MBA  

At the heart of our online MBA are the concepts of global accessibility and flexible, modular learning that set it apart from traditional MBA programmes. It empowers motivated learners at any stage of their professional journey - from career starters to established leaders - to tailor their academic journey to match their unique career goals and life circumstances.  

Here are some of the key features of the Edinburgh Business School online MBA:  

Modular:

Our online MBA allows you to “stack” courses together to accumulate credit over time, at your own pace, and in line with your career goals. Because of the modular nature of the MBA, you can work course-by-course towards a qualification of your choosing. You can start by developing your core MBA toolkit with the MBA Essentials programme, comprised of three MBA courses, and build from there to achieve your MBA. Choose from a wide selection of career-relevant courses to tailor your MBA or pursue a specialist pathway to graduate with an MBA with Specialism. 

You also benefit from the freedom to study courses in an order of your choosing, which means you can structure your programme in a way that empowers you to have an immediate impact in your workplace.  

“What makes this programme unique is that we are putting the student in the driver’s seat. As Edinburgh Business School, we deliver the academic expertise and rigour that sets students up for long-term success, but with this model, we are really empowering students to craft a learning journey that fits their needs, lives, and goals.” - Bryan Rodgers, Global MBA Programme Director.   

Flexible:

This programme gives learners the flexibility to shape and curate a learning experience that is as unique as they are, and that fits their lifestyle and goals - no matter how these may change throughout their careers.   

Whether you want to fast-track your education or take a more gradual approach to achieving a qualification, the online MBA accommodates your needs, allowing you to study when, where, and how it suits you. As well as fitting your studies around your work and personal commitments, you can also sit your online assessments when you’re ready and from the comfort of your own home – with three different assessment sessions a year to choose from.  

You can further personalise your learning experience by adding optional live online tuition and revision sessions to any or all of your core courses, which will help you contextualise your learning and prepare you for your assessments. This also provides you with the opportunity to build a vibrant learning community, interact with peers and academics, and keep your studies on track.  

You can also pay-as-you-learn, meaning that you can choose to pay for courses as you register for them, spreading the financial commitment out over the period of your studies. This, paired with our Emerging Economies Scholarship, makes pursuing an MBA education more possible for communities and individuals across the globe. 

Accessible:

We believe in breaking down barriers and creating access to transformative, world-leading education for diverse communities and individuals across the globe. That’s why we offer a performance-based entry pathway into our MBA. If you don’t hold a first or second-class honours degree, or equivalent qualification, you simply need to successfully complete and pass three courses on the MBA to continue studying towards the full qualification.   

The best place to start for those seeking to enter through performance-based admissions is to enrol in the MBA Essentials programme, which will grant you entry into the MBA. All credit you accrue will count towards your MBA programme with Edinburgh Business School, meaning that upon successful completion of the programme, you’ll already be one-third of the way to completing your degree.  

Career-aligned:

Our programmes are known for their rigour and career impact and are purposefully designed by our expert academics to help you develop practical MBA competencies and specialist skills sought by today’s employers. Heriot-Watt is currently ranked 1st in Scotland and 4th in the UK for employability, and 95% of our graduates are in part-time or full-time employment within 6 months of graduating.*  

In a recent study conducted by Novuna Business Cash Flow**, they analysed data from 121 UK universities with the intention to uncover the educational roots of CEOs and Managing Directors across the country. 

The findings revealed a staggering 15.76% of graduates from Heriot-Watt University have ascended to the positions of CEO or MD, marking the highest percentage among all universities in the UK. 

The online MBA is specially designed to align with your individual career goals; whether you want to accelerate your career, transition into leadership roles, or change your career trajectory altogether. You can choose from industry-relevant, career-focussed modules that position you to have an immediate impact in your role, that align with your interests, and communicate your value to current and future employers. In addition to our general MBA, we now offer specialist MBA pathways: Finance, Strategy, Business Analytics, and Logistics and Supply Chain Management. 

Global:

Our online MBA is designed to be open to people from all backgrounds, meaning that wherever you are, whatever your goals, you will be able to find your place on this personalised MBA. You will benefit from learning alongside a truly diverse, global cohort of individuals, adding to the richness of your experience. You’ll have the opportunity to build a worldwide network of professionals from the comfort of your own home. Our global campus network and strategic partnerships will help MBA students shape social and economic futures around the world. 

Conclusion

We believe in delivering education that works for you, allowing you to take control of your future.  Through this flexible, online MBA, Edinburgh Business School is making a global difference for students of all backgrounds.  

Our commitment to flexibility and personalisation makes this more than just a traditional MBA – it’s a tailor-made journey built around you.  We invite you to embark on a transformative educational journey and pioneer a path that's uniquely yours. Visit our MBA Hub for more information about the programmes and the specialist pathways available to you. 

Any questions? Email one of our dedicated Enrolment Advisors at HWOnlineApps@hw.ac.uk or Book a Call. 
 

*Beyond the Rankings: The UK Universities Moulding Tomorrow's Business Leaders | Novuna 

**Heriot-Watt University | World University Rankings | THE (timeshighereducation.com)