MBA with a Specialism in Finance
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Key information
- Mode of delivery
- Online
- Start date
- Open enrolment
- Duration
- Varies
- Qualification
- MBA
Contact
Contact our enquiries team
Contact usOverview
This programme is created for professionals who are looking to drive more informed financial decision-making and set organisations up for long-term success. You will gain key skills required for budgeting, investment analysis and strategic financial management, all of which are crucial within senior roles in finance and business.
You will study nine courses which will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of financial management. You will master financial risk and decision making, allowing you to navigate the complexities of corporate finance. Guided by expert faculty, you will not only learn the principles of finance, but also develop the practical acumen required to excel in a dynamic and evolving financial landscape.
This programme is not just about obtaining a degree; it's about empowering yourself with the tools to lead in an interconnected global economy, where financial decision-making plays a pivotal role.
Degree duration
Our MBA programmes are available to study on-demand, at your own pace, from wherever you are in the world. You can enrol at any time, begin your studies when you are ready, and pick up courses as you go – meaning you can structure your studies in a way that fits around your life. Each individual course requires approximately 200 hours of study, which also includes time to complete course activities and practice assignments. On average, it takes approximately two years to complete a full MBA with a specialism, but it can be completed faster or over a longer period - you can choose your own pace. Throughout the programme, regardless of your schedule, you will be able to learn alongside a diverse and global community of students and professionals and interact with peers and tutors in forums.
How you'll learn
You will have access to a virtual learning environment (VLE) that houses all your course content and acts as your online campus. Tools to track your progress through the course materials will help keep you on track with your learning. Other online resources such as quizzes and assessment practice are available in the VLE. Wherever you’re studying from, you’ll have access to collaborative discussion forums where you can engage with your fellow students around the world. With guidance from your experienced tutors, you will critically engage with your course materials and discuss how they apply to real-world business challenges.
The university provides a range of valuable resources to support you in your academic journey. This includes our study skills support, which aims to enhance your learning strategies and techniques. Whether it's time management, note-taking, or exam preparation, we offer workshops, tutorials, and online materials to help you develop effective study habits. You can also connect with fellow students and receive additional support through our very popular Facebook community.
Live online tuition
You can choose to supplement your independent learning by enrolling in live online sessions led by experienced tutors. These sessions help you further contextualise your learning, prepare for your final assessment, and ensure your success on the programme.
Meet our students
When you study online with Edinburgh Business School, you join a diverse and global community of over 50,000 motivated individuals making an impact in the world and workplace.
Your personalised MBA
The MBA with a Specialism in Finance is part of a portfolio of flexible MBA programmes that are tailored for working professionals. Learn more about this unique programme from Edinburgh Business School, which allows you to stack courses together in a way that works around your life, matches your career goals and allows you to build credit towards your qualification, course by course.
Meet our Students
Meet Corinne Caldwell, an online MBA graduate from Vancouver, Canada.
Course content
Year 1
The online MBA with a Specialism in Finance from Edinburgh Business School offers unparalleled flexibility, allowing you to study at your own pace and stack courses together to seamlessly build credit towards your qualification. Select from courses that interest you, position you to have an impact, and align with your career path.
During this programme you’ll progress through nine courses: six MBA core courses, two specialist core courses, and one optional specialist course (totaling 190 credits). You are required to successfully complete and pass all nine courses to be awarded an MBA with a Specialism in Finance.
Download the prospectus for a full curriculum outline.
Degree structure
Core MBA courses
- People, Work and Organisations
- Leadership Theory and Practice
- Delivering Successful Projects
- Developing and Executing Strategy
- Financial Decision Making
- Strategic Marketing
Core Specialism courses
- Advanced Financial Decision Making
- Managing Financial Risk
Optional courses
- Lending and Credit Risk Analysis
- Financial Derivatives
- Mergers, Acquisitions and Restructuring
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 MBA with a Specialism in Finance 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 programme 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 the programme is available via Approved Learning Partners.
Assessment Policies
With the exception of 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.
Assessment for H11PJ is by 100% coursework. One re-assessment opportunity is permitted (coursework re-submission).
"When joining Edinburgh Business School, you join a network of industry professionals, top academics and people driven to succeed. We are here to prepare you to enter competitive job markets, excel professionally or even start a new business."
Provost and Vice Principal, Heriot-Watt University Dubai
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
View fees for this course.
Additional fee information
The MBA with a Specialism in Finance degree comprises of nine courses. You can study on a course-by-course basis and pay as you learn, or enrol in multiple courses at once.
All course fees include one assessment attempt. Each attempt after this point will be charged at £160.
If you would like to enrol in live tuition for any or all of course courses, you can opt to at an additional charge. For more information, download the programme prospectus.
Additional information is available within our Frequently Asked Questions.
Scholarships and bursaries
Each year Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University makes available a number of scholarships and discounts to help students to achieve one of our awards.
Scholarship funding
Edinburgh Business School is committed to ensuring our courses and programmes remain accessible to students no matter where they live. Therefore, we offer an Emerging Economies Scholarship in certain areas. Check whether you are eligible for an Emerging Economies Scholarship.
20% Fee Reduction
Students on our online Edinburgh Business School programmes benefit from a 20% fee reduction when purchasing all courses upfront for their programme of choice*.
Take advantage and enrol today.
* This does not apply to PG Cert, PG DIP or DBA programmes.
Alumni Discount
If you are a Heriot-Watt alumnus, you qualify for 20% off your programme fees. For more information on how to claim for your alumni discount contact hwonlineapps@hw.ac.uk
Please note that these discounts cannot be applied simultaneously.
Entry requirements
Typically, you will hold a recognised first or second-class honours degree, or equivalent professional qualification. Students whose native language is not English and who have not been educated previously in the English language must provide evidence of their English language proficiency.
However, at EBS we are proud to make transformative education accessible to diverse communities and individuals across the world, therefore, we offer a performance-based admissions pathway onto our MSc and MBA programmes. This means that we provide a pathway to entry into our MSc and MBA programmes, even if you don’t meet the suggested entry requirements above. You will simply be required to enrol in and successfully pass three courses on your desired MSc or MBA programme (of which one must be a core course) before progressing to complete the full qualification.
What does this mean? No matter your pathway to entry (direct or through performance-based admission), there is no need to complete an application form before enrolling. To begin your journey with us, simply click on 'Enrol Now’, follow the instructions to enter your personal details, select your desired courses, and make your initial payment.
Find more information in the FAQs.
English language requirements
If English isn’t your first language, you’ll need to confirm your ability to meet the English Language Requirements for this programme.
A minimum of IELTS 6.0 or equivalent is required, with all elements passed at 5.5 or above. If you do not have IELTS 6.0, we offer a range of English Language Courses to help you meet the English language requirement for this programme prior to commencing your studies.
Additional information
Rewarding previous study
Edinburgh Business School recognises that some students entering our online MBA or MSc programmes will have completed prior academic study in subjects that align closely to certain EBS courses. Therefore, you may be eligible to be granted exemption for a maximum of 20 credits. Find more information in the FAQs.
Assessment and award
All courses are assessed by a Final Online Assessment. Your final course assessment is designed to help you to critically apply what you’ve learnt.
You are given a 24-hour window to complete the assessment. You are able to sit your assessment in the comfort of your own space, from wherever you are in the world and will be allowed to access to your course materials during the assessment.
Assessments are conducted at three points in the year: April-May, August, December.
Upon successful completion of all three courses and the final online assessments, you will be eligible to receive a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration
Employability
Heriot-Watt University has a reputation for producing high-calibre, employable students. We have been named first in the United Kingdom for producing CEO’S*. Whether you're an early career professional looking to stand out in the job market or an established professional aiming for leadership roles, this MBA programme offers you the opportunity to lead and make an impact in a variety of roles, across sectors.
The MBA with a Specialism in Finance will equip you with the knowledge and skills required to implement effective business strategies and make more strategic management decisions. This is crucial for individuals looking to move into senior management or executive positions. Strategic analysis, planning and execution is a desirable skillset in all organisations seeking a sustainable competitive advantage and striving for long-term success and can set you up for success in roles such as consulting, corporate strategy, energy.
Additionally, the online, flexible format of the programme allows you to learn while you work. This means that you can apply your learning immediately in your current job, providing real-time value to your organisation. If you’re just starting your career, it means you can build your work experience while you study. You will also get access to The Careers and Graduate Futures Service to support your career planning.
*Novuna Business Cash Flow 2023
Coursera Career Academy
Edinburgh Business School has partnered with Coursera - one of the largest global online learning platforms - to offer you free access to Coursera Career Academy, which contains over 500 industry courses, projects and Professional Certificates designed by some of the world's biggest employers.
Read more about EBS partnership with Coursera or contact hwonlineapps@hw.ac.uk
"As a significant leader in employability, Heriot-Watt produces high-calibre students who are fully equipped for future success."
CTO Office, Cisco UKI
Why Heriot-Watt?
Flexibility and affordability
Study at a time and pace that suits you, and even while you work. HW Online offers pay-as-you-study courses and fees inclusive of exams and study materials, meaning you can focus on success, not extra costs.
Online tutoring and revision
We offer live tutoring and revision sessions with highly experienced tutors from our global network of teaching partners. You can choose the session which best suits your needs, such as time of day, duration and structure.
Your career
Employers around the world actively seek out our graduates because they are work-ready. All our degrees are career-focused and relevant to the needs of industry. Around 95% of our students are in employment or further study within six months of graduating.
Online events
We host online events throughout the year, giving you the opportunity to speak to our academic teaching staff, meet students, find out what it is like to study using our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and discover how to enrol.
Lifelong connections
Upon completing your studies you will automatically join the UK's oldest alumni association The Watt Club, with 147k members worldwide.