Webinar recap: Introduction to Edinburgh Business School online

Choosing the right online programme is an important decision, especially if you’re balancing study with work, family or other commitments. Our Introduction to Edinburgh Business School webinar is here to help you understand your options and feel more confident about your next step.

Led by Kristell Le Goff, Enrolment Adviser at Heriot-Watt Online, the session walks you through how online study works and what you can expect from our online programmes. It covers learning support, enrolment, assessments and the different routes available to help you start your studies.

Why study online with Edinburgh Business School?

Online learning gives you the flexibility to build new knowledge and skills around work, family and other commitments. Many of our online students work full-time, so our programmes are designed to help you study at a pace that fits your life.

You can apply what you learn to your workplace straight away. This means your studies can support your professional development while also bringing value to your organisation.

Studying online also gives you the chance to connect with a global community of students and professionals. You’ll learn alongside people from different industries, countries and career stages, helping you broaden your perspective as well as your network.

Why choose Heriot-Watt University?

Heriot-Watt University has more than 25 years of experience delivering distance learning. Our online programmes are built around flexible digital learning, so you can access your learning materials, support and assessments through a virtual learning environment.

Kristell also highlighted Heriot-Watt’s global outlook and strong graduate outcomes. The University has more than 173,000 graduates in over 190 countries worldwide, giving you access to a large and active professional community.

At Edinburgh Business School, you can choose from a wide range of online programmes, including:

• MBA programmes with various specialisms
• MSc programmes in areas such as Business and Organisational Psychology, Financial Management, Business Analytics, and Supply Chain Management and Logistics
• BSc Business Management

You can also start small with our range of Professional Academy CPD courses that can be stacked into a full degree. This range gives you options whether you’re looking to progress in your current field, move into a new area or strengthen your business knowledge more broadly.

Online and on-campus qualifications

One of the most common questions covered in the webinar is whether an online degree is different from an on-campus degree.

The answer is simple: you receive the same qualification as an on-campus student. Your degree certificate will look the same and will not mention online learning.

You’ll complete the same or equivalent coursework and assessments, and your programme will meet the same academic standards as the on-campus version.

What support will you receive?

Although you’ll study online and mostly asynchronously, you won’t study alone. You’ll have access to a wide range of academic and student support, including:

• 24/7 access to the virtual library
• ebooks and online learning materials
• academic support from tutors on weekdays
• discussion boards and informal café areas
• Teams chat access to tutors
• digital study and academic skills support
• LinkedIn Learning
• careers and disability support services

You’ll also be able to contact the enrolment team if you have questions before you start. This support can be useful if you’re deciding which programme is right for you or if your circumstances are more complex.

Entry requirements and performance-based admission

For postgraduate programmes, you’ll usually need a recognised first or second-class honours degree, or an equivalent professional qualification. For the undergraduate BSc Business Management, you’ll usually need a secondary or high school qualification.

If English is not your first language, and you have not previously studied in English, you may need to provide proof of English language proficiency.

Kristell also explained Edinburgh Business School’s performance-based admission pathway. This route can support students who do not meet the standard academic entry requirements but are ready to prove they can succeed.

Through this pathway, you start with a core course from your chosen programme. If you pass, you can then be formally enrolled on the full programme. This is not an extra course or an extra cost. It is simply the first course you take.

How to enrol

Enrolment is designed to be straightforward. Once you have chosen your programme, you can visit the relevant programme page and select the ‘Enrol now’ button.

You’ll then be asked to:

• enter your personal details
• choose the courses you want to purchase
• make your initial payment

After this, the student engagement team will contact you to guide you through the next steps. Once your details and any required documents have been checked, you’ll usually receive access to the virtual learning environment within a few business days.

There are no fixed intakes, so you can start when you’re ready.

How assessments work

Assessments are completed online through the virtual learning environment. You’ll download the assessment paper, complete your answers and upload your work through the student portal.

You’ll have 24 hours to complete each assessment. Assessments are open-book, so you can use your notes, course materials and the internet during the assessment. You’ll need a reliable internet connection on the day.

There are three assessment sessions each year:

• December
• April-May
• July-August

If your assessment date does not work for you, you can move it to a later assessment period, as long as you do this before the relevant deadline.

Career support and Coursera Career Academy

Edinburgh Business School online students and alumni can access Coursera Career Academy free of charge during and after their studies.

This gives you access to around 500 industry courses, projects and professional certificates across different career paths. Courses are offered by globally recognised organisations such as Google, IBM, Meta and Salesforce.

You can use Coursera Career Academy to build practical skills that support your degree, prepare for a specific career path or explore another professional interest, such as accountancy or cybersecurity.

Funding and scholarships

The webinar also covers funding options, including scholarships and fee reductions.

The Emerging Economies scholarship is available to eligible students based on country of residence and results in savings of over £3000. Other scholarships may also be available throughout the year.

A 20% fee reduction is available if you purchase all courses for your programme upfront. This applies to MBA, MSc and BSc programmes, but not to postgraduate certificates, postgraduate diplomas or DBA programmes.

Some scholarships and fee reductions cannot be combined, so it is worth contacting the enrolment team if you’re not sure what applies to you.

Watch the full webinar

If you’d like to revisit the session or catch up in full, you can watch the full recording here:

Explore our online Edinburgh Business School programmes

If you’re ready to take the next step, explore our online Edinburgh Business School programmes and choose the route that best fits your goals.

Visit our FAQ page to find answers to your questions.

For personalised advice, contact the enrolment team at HWOnlineApps@hw.ac.uk or book a 15-minute call with an adviser.