Key information
Our MA (Hons) International Business Management with a Year Abroad programme provides you with a vital understanding of the modern business world, an opporunity to experience global business management, and apply business theory to defined, practical settings.
- UCAS code
- N201
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Delivery type
- Full Time
- Degree qualification
- MA
- Mode of delivery
- On-Campus
- Duration
- 4 years
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Start date
- September
During this hands-on degree, you’ll gain key international business management knowledge to allow you to proceed to professional and managerial careers in private, public and third-sector business.
You’ll spend your third year studying abroad at a partner business school or university in the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Belgium, Poland, Sweden, Italy or France. All partner universities teach their management courses in English.
Throughout your studies, you’ll develop important transferable skills including critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and team working. You’ll also develop creativity skills and will build on your confidence and research abilities which will help you succeed in your career and personal life.
The International Business Management with Year Abroad programme will also allow you to develop knowledge, understanding, and subject skills related to the principles and practices of modern business management. You’ll understand statistical techniques that are appropriate to business. You’ll be provided with opportunities to explore and develop links with the industry, which will prepare you for employment in a variety of management careers.
Each course will equip you with highly employable expertise and skills across business management. Throughout this four-year degree, you’ll have the opportunity to choose optional courses – from organisational behaviour, intercultural issues in business and management, employment relations, and leisure marketing – to customise your learning and develop your specific business management interests. Your dissertation will allow you to engage in an independent in-depth critical examination of a particular business management topic, which is of interest to you.
Your student experience
Our programmes are informed by an Industry Advisory Board of business leaders who ensure our curriculum matches the needs of global employers.
The Edinburgh Business School approach ensures that an industry focus is built into every part of this degree, so that your studies reflect the current thinking and practices of successful organisations and their leaders.
The industry experience and research expertise of our staff bring your teaching and learning to life with case study-driven assignments and applied group projects, complemented by guest lectures from industry leaders, CEOs and directors of national and multinational organisations.
Go Global
Go Global is our student mobility programme, allowing you to seamlessly transfer your studies to one of our global campuses, or to a partner university. Live and learn in a new country, experience different cultures and build a global perspective, while continuing your degree without interruption.
European Exchange
Worldwide Exchange
Course content
September Intake - Edinburgh
Mandatory September
- Critical Academic Skills
- Introduction to Marketing
- The Economy
- Management in a Global Context
Mandatory January
- Sustainable Business
- Introductory Finance
- Technology for Business
- Becoming a Professional
Disclaimer
The courses mentioned above may change between now and the time that you study. For more information, please view our Terms and Conditions.
Fees and funding
| Status | Fee |
|---|---|
| Scotland | Paid by SAAS |
| England / Wales / N Ireland / Rep of Ireland | £9,790 |
| International | £21,192 |
- Status: Your residency status is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course.
- International: 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above).
Additional information
Year abroad fees
Students should note that the standard fee does not apply for the year abroad (Year 3). Instead a fee of £3,000 is charged for the year spent on placement.
Scholarships and bursaries
Bursaries for students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales
In addition to government loans and grants towards the costs of fees and living costs, we are offering generous financial support to attract and support eligible undergraduate students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales:
- Heriot-Watt University Bursary (up to £3,100 per year)
Entry requirements
We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.
Standard entry requirements
- Highers AABB (over two sittings)
- A-Levels BBC
- International Baccalaureate 29 points
- BTEC Extended Diploma DMM
- HNC B in graded unit
- HND BB
Please check that you meet our University-wide National 5/GCSE (or equivalent) English and Maths requirements.
Minimum entry requirements *
- Highers BBBC (over two sittings)
- A-Levels BCC
- International Baccalaureate 29 points
- BTEC Extended Diploma MMM
- HNC B in graded unit
- HND BC / CB
* Minimum: under our Fair Access Policy, we will relax our standard entry requirements for some Scottish and Rest of UK status students depending on their circumstances. Our minimum requirements will apply if you:
- live in an area within the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation lowest 20% (SIMD20) or POLAR4 Quintile 1 regions (RUK)
- or are care experienced.
We can also make exceptions for some Scottish students with grades above minimum but below standard. Read more about our Minimum and standard entry requirements.
Why Heriot-Watt
We have been producing career-ready graduates since 1821. With our roots as the world’s first Mechanics Institute, Heriot-Watt is a pioneering university with a global reach.
At Heriot-Watt, learning goes beyond the lecture theatre. We tackle real world challenges through extraordinary research – from climate change to protecting our oceans, to advancing life-saving medical breakthroughs and shaping the next generation of AI. We are also committed to developing forward-thinking design and sustainable business practices that impact industries worldwide. On our campuses you’ll find some of the world’s most advanced facilities, while our strong industry links set you up for career success. This is why almost 90% of our graduates are in employment or further education (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024).
Employability
We’re delighted that Edinburgh Business School has the highest percentage of graduates in Scotland who are appointed to a CEO or MD role (Novuna Business Cash Flow, 2025). We’re also 1st in Scotland and joint 2nd in the UK for graduate prospects (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025). Typical careers for International Business Management with Year Abroad graduates include finance professionals, and business and public service associate professionals.
Salary
Potential career paths
- Finance Professionals
- Business and public service associate professionals
Student life
Explore facilities, and chat to staff and students
Discover Uni course data
Discover Uni provides data on each university's degree courses across a range of measures including student satisfaction, graduate jobs and salaries.