Master of Business Administration

Detailed degree guide

Understanding, Knowledge and Cognitive Skills

Participants will achieve the following learning outcomes at programme level:

• Develop a detailed and critical awareness of relevant concepts, theories and principles in subjects fundamental to management
• Demonstrate leadership in professional situations with the ability to conceptualise, analyse and resolve complex problems and issues in business and management
• Gain professional level insights into dynamic international business environments and propose appropriate courses of action for organisations to deal with and take advantage of rapid external change
• Through synthesis of ideas across diverse management disciplines, critically evaluate complex situations and propose innovative and sustainable solutions to the strategic and operational challenges that organisations face

Scholarship, Enquiry and Research (Research Informed Learning)

The learning model and curriculum actively encourages students to develop and apply their learning to their own professional experience and to wider developments in business and management.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The Edinburgh Business School MBA is an applied programme aimed at working professionals, providing them the opportunity to reflect on their own practice using contemporary theory in the management field. The programme is designed at the intersection of theory and practice and courses are oriented towards exploration of real-life examples and case studies.

The MBA is entirely modular and delivery is flexible, operating a learning rather than a teaching model and each course is designed for self-study. All courses are designed around a comprehensive online offering that contains all necessary learning materials and guidance for students to successfully complete their studies. A key part of this is the opportunity for students to engage with each other as part of a global multicultural learning community.

In addition to the online offering, different study modes offer a variety of value-added services to students. These include access to live cohort-based tuition on-campus or with an Approved Learning Partner and access to synchronous online tuition for all students across all modes.

The Executive MBA study route offered in Edinburgh from September 2021 is designed for mid-career professionals and runs part-time over 24 months. The programme involves a mix of online study, intensive course-based workshops and personal development planning, culminating in a capstone business project linked to the student’s own organisation.

The MBA is available in languages other than English via selected collaborative partnerships. Non-English provision is detailed under programme code H149-MLN.

Assessment Policies

With the exception of the two entrepreneurship courses and the project, all courses are examined by written examination. Assessment includes objective questions (where appropriate), case studies and essays.  All courses are examined three times per year aligned to Heriot-Watt University's two semesters and the summer period.

The pass mark for all courses is 50%. A candidate must pass all required course units to be eligible for an award. Failing candidates are allowed a single resit in each course.

Awards with Distinction will be made to candidates completing an award with average marks of 70% and over with no examination failures. Awards with Merit will be made to candidates completing an award with average marks between 60% and 69% with no examination failures.

Assessment for H11PJ, H11EN, H11EV, H11BP is by 100% coursework. One re-assessment opportunity is permitted (coursework re-submission).

The MBA core courses and selected electives are available for examination in Chinese and Russian via collaborative partners, detailed under programme code H149-MLN.