Gain MBA-level skills fast
MBA Essentials delivers practical leadership and strategy skills with three focused courses from our globally recognised MBA.
Key programme information
MBA Essentials PGCert is designed for ambitious professionals ready to move up without stepping away from work. Built from the same academic excellence as our full MBA, it helps you apply learning immediately, build credibility with an international qualification and stay flexible with part-time, online study. Gain the insight, confidence, and momentum to take your next career step – and beyond.
Study mode
100% online. Learn from anywhere, at any time.
Duration
Fully flexible. Design your studies around your schedule.
Start date
Enrol at any time. Start when it suits you best.
Fees
£1,285 per course. Scholarships available.
Online learning designed for you
Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University is a UK leader in online learning, having provided high-quality distance education for more than 20 years. The MBA Essentials programme builds on this to deliver a truly customisable, contemporary, and relevant learning experience for modern professionals.
Career focused
This programme is purposefully designed to help you develop practical, career-ready MBA skills sought by today's employers. Apply your learning in real-time in your own working environment.
Fully flexible
You are free to choose when you start each course, and you control the pace of your study. Course materials are available on demand, so you can structure your studies to fit around your life.
Truly global
Available to study from anywhere in the world, from any device. This 100% online programme is truly borderless, allowing you to build an international and diverse professional network.
Accessible
Open and available to you, regardless of your educational background, professional experience or location. We are proud to extend access to transformative, lifelong learning experiences.
Build towards a full MBA
Interested in studying an MBA?
The MBA Essentials is the perfect way to start your journey. Not only will you build your capabilities in core MBA areas which you can apply immediately in your current role, you'll also be taking steps towards achieving an MBA qualification.
Upon successful completion of the MBA Essentials programme, you will earn 60 credits that can be applied towards pursuing a full MBA with Edinburgh Business School. This means that by completing the MBA Essentials, you would already be one-third of the way to earning your MBA! You can also opt to receive a Postgraduate Certificate upon completion of the MBA Essentials programme.
What you'll learn
In the MBA Essentials programme, you’ll progress through three 20 credit courses purposefully selected to help you build your management toolkit. The duration of the programme is completely flexible to suit you, but the programme can be completed in one year or less. During the programme, you’ll build your strategic and critical thinking capabilities to make better, more informed decisions in business and beyond. You’ll learn to lead in a range of diverse settings and contexts, positively impacting individual, team and organisational performance.
People, Work and Organisations
Gain an understanding of the factors influencing how people behave at work and how these link to performance. Investigate differences between individuals, how organisational factors affect individual behaviour and, how these differences affect group dynamics. You’ll walk away with the skills and knowledge to positively impact on individual, team and organisational performance in a variety of dynamic organisational contexts.
Leadership Theory and Practice
Explore key developments in leadership theories and how they apply to modern organisations. Grow your awareness of alternative approaches to leading in a variety of contexts, and better understand the role of leadership in setting and shaping organisational strategy. Discuss contemporary issues of gender, culture and ethics in the context of leadership. You’ll walk away with the knowledge and tools you need to develop yourself as an effective leader in a variety of contexts.
Delivering Successful Projects
Understand, analyse and learn to apply project management skills to address issues and conflicts, enable change and drive innovation. Become empowered to lead projects and teams with the key skills to manage multidisciplinary stakeholders and complex scenarios under conditions of risk, uncertainty and change.
How you'll learn
All courses are offered fully online to accommodate your preferred study schedule and location. With no set times to study and no deadlines, you can study independently, when it works best for you. Access your course materials on demand, from mobile or desktop.
Online campus: Our Virtual Learning Environment acts as your digital campus, and it houses a variety of engaging course materials for you to work through in your own time. Throughout your programme, you will benefit from the opportunity to connect and collaborate with a global network of peers on course forums.
Duration: On average it takes around 200 hours to complete each course. You can complete your programme in under a year, or as long as it takes you! Choose your own pace by scheduling your studies when it best suits you.
Assessment: For each of the three courses, you will be provided with timed online coursework that can be completed within a 24-hour timeframe. You will have three assessment opportunities per year, and you can register to sit your assessment when you're ready.
How will the MBA Essentials benefit you?
Take the next step in your career
Pursue in-demand roles - including those in consultancy, operations, human resources and analytics - across a range of industries, or apply what you've learnt to start or advance your own business.
Increase your professional value
Build a comprehensive set of transferable MBA skills while you work and stand out to current and future employers.
Build your global business network
Tap into the same influential network, valuable insights and connections enjoyed by our MBA students.
Start your MBA journey
Complete the MBA Essentials and you'll be one-third of the way through your MBA - just build on 6 more courses to graduate with a full MBA.
Get in touch
Get in touch with us today to request your prospectus and learn more about this exciting programme.