Studying for the Edinburgh MBA has always meant attending classes in Edinburgh but now for the first time, students from around the world will be able to study for our new Online MBA.
Business School launches Online MBA

Over the past 40 years, more than 4,000 alumni have graduated with the Edinburgh MBA. Many took the option to put their career on hold and travelled to Scotland to study the Full-time MBA over a period of 12 months.

Others, who were usually based locally, chose to complete the MBA part-time, allowing them to continue working throughout. Our current Executive MBA is studied over 27 months.

Designed to complement both these programmes, our new Online MBA will give students the chance to benefit from our world-class teaching from wherever they are based, enabling them to combine their study with work and family commitments.

Director of MBA Programmes, Julian Rawel, tells us more.

Julian Rawel

"The pandemic was a challenge for so many of us, not least our MBA students whose year in the beautiful capital city of Edinburgh was abruptly paused when lockdown hit. Determined to ensure their learning experience continued, I was proud of how quickly both our academic and professional support staff pivoted to deliver the Edinburgh MBA virtually.

"Much as we have been delighted that we have returned to delivering the MBA in-person, giving students the full Edinburgh experience, festivals and all, it gave us an insight into our capabilities of delivering a programme virtually, and opened our eyes to the possibility of opening the doors to the Edinburgh MBA to potential students all over the world."

As with the Full-time and Executive MBA programmes, the Online MBA is designed to enhance career potential giving MBA students a clear focus on the role of the highly sought strategic leader, helping them to progress with confidence in their careers.

To achieve this, this new programme is built on the three pillars of ‘Strategic Leadership’, ‘Professional Development’ and ‘Global and Connected’.

"These pillars help to differentiate our online MBA from many others in the market. Leaders of the future must be strategic leaders—driving strategy and change and, concurrently, leading with inclusivity, empathy and an appreciation as to how to lead ethically."

Similarly, the professional development element is often highlighted by alumni as one of the most significant parts of their experience. It encompasses both the training in the skills that make strategic leaders more effective as well as personalised coaching to help students to build increased self-awareness and take ownership for their goals, both personal and professional.

Deputy Director of MBA Programmes, Amanda Singleton, who leads on this key element, explains.

Amanda Singleton

"Unlike many other MBA programmes, professional development is a for-credit course which is a sign of how seriously we take skills development.

"It is designed to help our students to enhance their leadership capability and professional competence and most importantly, it gives students the opportunity to reflect upon their own personal strengths and development needs, whilst gaining increased self-awareness."

Aditi Agarwal, who graduated from the Executive MBA in 2018, shares how her MBA experience has already enabled her to jump a few levels in her career:

"The professional development coaching and the modules on strategic leadership were invaluable. They prepared me for future situations and taught me, in a very safe space, how to deal with them. I learnt a lot and thoroughly enjoyed myself in the process.

"I also learnt a lot about myself and my working style through the various tools that the programme employed. These made me reflect on my traits and personality and align my career goals accordingly. The professional coaching helped me tie these together."


Interested to know more?

If you are an Edinburgh MBA alum yourself, you’ll know the many benefits of completing the programme. Perhaps you have members of your own teams who you feel may be interested in completing the programme without the need to be based in Edinburgh?

Alternatively, you may have completed your undergraduate degree at Edinburgh and now at a stage in your career that you are considering more advanced study?

Further details about the Online MBA

For an informal conversation about the Online MBA, please contact Copil Yáñez, MBA Relationship Manager.