Key information
The online MBA Essentials (PGCert) helps you develop the business, management, and leadership skills needed to progress in your career.
- Level
- Postgraduate
- Delivery type
- Self-paced
- Degree qualification
- PGCert
- Location
- Online
- Duration
- Flexible
- Start date
- Open enrolment
Programme overview
Build
Build core MBA skills and gain practical expertise in leadership, strategy, and project management.
Stack
Stack into a full MBA and earn credits you can carry forward towards your MBA at Edinburgh Business School.
200+ years
Founded in 1821, we are a leading UK university with 200+ years of in academic excellence in business and industry.
Start your MBA journey with Edinburgh Business School’s MBA Essentials. Designed for professionals who want to gain practical business insight and leadership confidence, this programme helps you strengthen decision-making, teamwork, and strategic thinking. You’ll learn from the same expert faculty who teach our globally recognised MBA — building skills you can apply from day one.
The MBA Essentials gives you the tools, insight, and confidence to accelerate your career – and a pathway to a full MBA when you’re ready.
Comprised of three core MBA courses and a third of the way to a full MBA, the programme gives you the knowledge, tools, and confidence to make better business decisions, manage teams effectively, and lead with impact. You’ll gain an academically rigorous yet practical foundation that can be applied immediately in your current role — or stacked later into the full MBA.
Why choose this programme:
- Earn a standalone, globally recognised postgraduate certificate.
- Complete 3 core MBA courses – fully online, at your own pace.
- Apply what you learn immediately to real workplace challenges.
- Build essential leadership, strategy, and project management skills.
- Stack your credits toward a full MBA when you’re ready.
Your first step towards a full MBA
The MBA Essentials is your launchpad into advanced business study. Complete three key MBA courses – People, Work and Organisations; Leadership Theory and Practice; and Delivering Successful Projects – to earn your Postgraduate Certificate. When you’re ready, stack your 60 credits into the full MBA and keep progressing towards your goals.
Enrol nowStudent experience
Edinburgh Business School is a mission-led, global hub of business knowledge and research.
With a long-tradition of offering inclusive, experiential learning for the ambitious leaders of tomorrow, we leverage our campuses Online, and in Edinburgh, Dubai, and Malaysia to create maximum worldwide impact.
Course content
The MBA Essentials is made up of three core MBA courses (60 credits). You can take them one at a time or together – it’s completely flexible.
Core courses
People, Work and Organisations
Understand how people and culture drive business performance.
Leadership Theory and Practice
Explore modern leadership and develop your personal leadership style.
Delivering Successful Projects
Learn the tools to plan, manage, and deliver effective projects.
Expand your learning with Coursera Career Academy
As a Heriot-Watt Online student, you get unlimited access to Coursera Career Academy’s library of certificates from global leaders like Google, IBM, and Meta. Learn the digital, leadership, and technical skills you need, exactly when you need them, to complement your degree and stay ahead in a rapidly changing world.
Explore coursesOur teaching faculty
“Our vision is to offer a truly unique MBA experience – one that is practical, resilient and most importantly, designed with the student at the forefront. This programme has been thoughtfully crafted to meet the evolving needs of working professionals. With our distinctly flexible model, we ensure that every student can tailor their MBA journey to fit their unique career aspirations and life commitments, and in doing so, make a real impact.”
Fees and funding
At Edinburgh Business School you can start with just one course and pay as you learn, or enrol in multiple courses at once.
Online Fees Calculator
Please select the programme you wish to study and your country of residence.
Funding opportunities
Pay per course
All our programmes offer the flexibility to pay course-by-course, allowing you to spread the cost of your tuition over the lifetime of your studies.
20% Alumni Discount
If you are a Heriot-Watt alumnus, you qualify for 20% off your programme fees. For more information on how to claim your alumni discount contact hwonlineapps@hw.ac.uk.
Emerging Economies
Edinburgh Business School offers an Emerging Economies rate to residents of selected countries, which allows eligible students to reduce their programme fees.
Employer Sponsorship
Securing funding from your employer can help with financing your studies. For more information contact hwonlineapps@hw.ac.uk.
Entry requirements
We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.
We believe ambition and potential should open doors. That’s why this programme is open-entry – no previous degree or professional experience required.
English language requirements
If your first language is not English, or your first degree was not taught in English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability.
The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 5.5.
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.
Why Heriot-Watt
We're the top university in Scotland for graduate outcomes and 5th in the UK, which means that more of our graduates are employed or in postgraduate education than any other institution in the country. We're also ranked 1st in Scotland for producing CEO and MDs (Novuna Business Cash Flow 2023).
We're Scotland's most international University, with five global campuses and a global community of 60,000 online students and alumni from over 158 countries. Our online programmes are designed and developed by the same faculty who teach on our global campuses - expert academics and leaders in research and innovation who work alongside industry to find solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges.
Together, we shape your future.
30+ years
With 30+ years of online education experience, we're experts in designing our programmes to meet the needs of our diverse, global student community.
500+
From day one, you get access to 500+ industry courses on Coursera Career Academy – courses from global titans Google, IBM and Microsoft.
6000+
Join a global community of 6,000+ online learner professionals – engage in discussion forums, attend live webinars and collaborate across borders.
Employability
With our flexible model you can earn while you learn, build your CV, and apply new skills right away. Get free access to 500+ industry credentials and dedicated Careers Service support.
Our graduates now work at
Your Online experience
Explore Heriot-Watt Online as a student
Speak to an advisor
Not sure where to begin? Our Enrolment Advisors can help you choose the right pathway for your goals. Whether you want to take a single course, earn an MBA Essentials PGCert, or work towards a full MBA, they’ll guide you every step of the way – ensuring your journey is tailored to your career ambitions.
Speak to an Enrolment Advisor
