Marking the UN International Day of Education with 20% off Professional Academy courses fees

The UN International Day of Education recognises education as a fundamental human right and a powerful driver of opportunity, resilience, and economic progress. To mark the day, we are offering a 20% fee reduction for Professional Academy courses for a limited time, widening access to flexible, career-focused learning for professionals worldwide.

The 20% fee reduction is available until 30 January and applies to all courses available via the Professional Academy.

Education designed for modern careers

For many working professionals, access to education is limited not by ability, but by time and flexibility. The Professional Academy is designed to address this challenge directly, offering fully online, self-paced courses that fit around work, family, and life commitments.

Key features include:

• Fully online, self-paced courses designed for flexibility
• Short, focused learning, typically completed in four to eight weeks
• Immediate start, with no fixed start dates
• Stackable, credit-bearing courses that support progression over time
• Access to Coursera Career Academy, providing additional industry certificates and employability support

Together, these features allow you to build practical skills without stepping away from your career, and while maintaining clear progression routes for your future.

As Russell Brooks, CEO of Heriot-Watt Online, explains:

“We know today’s professionals are time-poor. That’s why our Academy is built for flexibility: self-paced courses, open-access enrolment, and the freedom to study from anywhere. It’s learning that works around real lives.”

Skills you can use now

Professional Academy courses focus on practical, industry-relevant skills that can be applied immediately. Learning is designed with real-world impact in mind, helping professionals strengthen performance, prepare for progression, or transition into new roles.

Our courses are designed to reflect current employer demand and global priorities, covering areas such as:

• Business analytics: Enabling data-driven decision-making.
• Supply chain and logistics: Addressing disruption, resilience, and humanitarian challenges.
• Leadership and organisational psychology: Supporting effective leadership through change.
• ESG and sustainable investment: Supporting effective leadership through change.

All courses are developed and delivered by expert faculty, drawing on Heriot-Watt University’s global research strengths and strong industry partnerships.

Lower barriers, without lowering standards

The Professional Academy removes unnecessary obstacles to learning. It offers a low barrier to entry, with no previous qualifications required to begin studying the short courses. Through a performance-based admissions route, you can demonstrate your capability by successfully completing your first course. This credit-bearing learning can then be stacked and used to progress towards a full MSc, MBA, or PGCert as your career evolves.

There is no formal application process and no fixed start date. You can enrol and begin studying immediately. For example, our Sustainability, Investment and Valuation course has been developed in collaboration with Arkadiko Partners, a specialist strategy consultancy working with leading global asset managers.

A limited-time opportunity

Marking the UN International Day of Education, the 20% tuition reduction on Professional Academy courses offers a clear opportunity for professionals to invest in their future without delay.

The offer is available until 30 January only. After that, standard fees apply.

Explore Professional Academy courses and enrol before the discount ends.