The Business School has its own Student Development Team who work closely with our academic staff, the University's Careers Service, peer support teams, alumni, and the business community to enhance your university experience from the moment you arrive. Together, we're here to inspire and empower you to fully develop a range of key competencies and achieve your full potential.
Opportunities to develop your skills
Outside of the classroom, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with the wider Business School community to enhance your skills and development in line with your own focus and goals
You’ll have access to:
- Peer support
- Mentoring from our alumni
- Strengths-based coaching
- Student-led group coaching
Employability and Careers Expo
This is one of our flagship events - a fantastic opportunity to develop your practical employability skills, gain business insights and network with professionals who are currently in the types of roles you may wish to pursue.
The Employability & Careers Expo: Through a series of workshops, panels and discussions, students can equip themselves with new skills and insights to help reach their long term career goals.
The Edinburgh Award
At Edinburgh, you’ll have the opportunity to pursue a range of activities alongside your studies. This might be volunteering, part-time work or getting involved in the University community, for example through a society or sports club.
Many of our students get additional support and official recognition for their involvement in such activities through the Edinburgh Award.
As part of the Edinburgh Award, we will support you to get the most out of your experiences, to:
- Increase your self-awareness
- Make the most of existing strengths and develop new skills and abilities
- Make an impact whatever situation you are in
- Confidently sell and demonstrate what you have to offer to employers
In addition to receiving an official certificate, your achievements, and commitment to personal and professional development will be recognised on your Higher Education Achievement Report when you graduate.
Many employers expect something extra from today's graduates and the Edinburgh Award helps demonstrate what it is that sets you apart.
Be the person you want to be
Staff and students share their experience of the Edinburgh Award
Industry Opportunities
Undergraduates in the Business School have various opportunities to gain real-world experience from external companies and institutions.
Our Alumni Network, with over 20,000 members continue to support and contribute to the Business School undergraduate experience in a variety of ways through mentoring, assessing business projects, contributing to our In Discussion Series, Global Alumni Day, and the 100 Second Pitch competition, #MakeYourMark and our Jubilee Lectures.
Alumni Industry Insights Group
Members of our Alumni meet regularly with our Programme Representatives and Leads to discuss current industry practice and graduate requirements.
The Business School hosts an extensive programme of public events, executive education, and research seminars, featuring practitioners and academic experts covering a rich spectrum of topics including finance, entrepreneurship, psychological well-being, climate change, and corporate governance.
Many of our courses utilise industry guest speakers to provide practical insight into contemporary business behaviour.
The Business School has active student societies who work with industry professionals including:
- the Business Society BizSoc
- AIESEC (an international business society)
- the Student Industrial Society
- the Trading and Investment Club (EUTIC)
- the Entrepreneurship Club
During the fourth year of your Business undergraduate degree you may wish to register for a consultancy project.
This project-based course provides an opportunity to apply, in an integrated fashion, the knowledge and skills acquired elsewhere in your degree programme, in the context of a company or business. You will be working on a 'real' project, with four or five final year undergraduate students specialising in entrepreneurship or management, and will be delivering tailored research and consultancy for a client.
Why get involved?
- A 12-week research project with a final consultancy report and client presentation.
- It is an opportunity to work on a 'real' project defined by the company's business needs, which will challenge and increase your motivation.
- Your experience could provide essential networking opportunities which will help you as a future graduate looking to embark on a career path.
- By working closely with a client you will acquire an understanding of a working environment while learning practical skills and abilities outside of the classroom.
Examples of previous projects include:
- New product/service research
- Evaluation of new markets (domestic and international)
- Re-designing a product/service to improve value proposition
- Industry analysis and risk assessments
- Identify opportunities for innovation by integrating technology
- Assessing alternative business models
- Transitioning to a circular business model
- Market research and customer interviews
- Marketing and social media strategy
- Involving users in the innovation processes
- Business planning for business growth in national and international markets
- Capacity planning and devising an exit strategy
The Careers Service
The University's Careers Service looks to enhance your university experience from the moment you arrive.
Information, advice and guidance
- In person advice at our helpdesk in the Main Library
- 24 hour advice on our websites including lots of information on business-related careers
- Careers consultations
- CV, applications and interviews advice
- Careers events
- Job fairs, employer presentations, or job adverts on MyCareerHub
Personal and professional development
The Business School works closely with a dedicated careers consultant to develop activities as part of and outside your taught programme to enhance your personal and professional skills. This includes:
- Workshops to support career planning
- Tips for making the most of each year
- Advice on career planning
- One to one career appointments