Full-time MBA programme structure (with or without exchange)

Teaching Model

Our full-time MBA programme follows a Hybrid Teaching Model that provides a blend of face-to-face teaching and online learning. We have developed this model based on past student feedback. The feedback indicated improved student wellbeing, experience, and a feeling of empowerment. Students were able to take a more proactive and accountable approach to balance their own workload.

In practice, for compulsory courses, this means that you will be in the classroom daily for interactive 2-hour tutorial sessions in groups of up to 30 students. Additional content will be delivered through online live sessions, pre-recorded videos, readings, case studies, and so on, enabling you to plan and manage your learning in your own time.

When moving on to option courses, these electives will see you selecting and tailoring your studies according to your career ambitions. These courses will generally be taught in intensive week-long blocks and will see you in the classroom every day for around 8 hours per day.

As these option courses consist of smaller groups, a more personalised teaching approach will be implemented throughout each course. If studying the MBA with international exchange, then this model may vary depending on the delivery model of the partner institution.

Events such as welcome week activities, team building sessions, and community building sessions will also be factored into the programme's in-person teaching structure, which will allow you as a student to discuss opportunities with staff and network among your peers.

Core courses

Between September and July, all students study 11 core courses in major disciplines including strategic leadership, professional development, finance and economics, strategic marketing, and operations improvement.

Elective courses or international exchange

Depending on which MBA pathway you choose, you will either undertake electives in Edinburgh, chosen from our diverse catalogue of courses, or embark on courses offered by one of our exchange partners in an international setting.

In both cases, you can tailor your studies towards specific career interests, develop international management skills, and improve your cultural versatility.

MBA Capstone

Towards the end of the MBA programme students write a 7,500 word problem-solving assignment. This is a real-life assignment based on an organisation for which students have previously worked or might wish to in the future. The assignment identifies the problem and offers a critique of why the organisation faces the problem, plus a theory driven solution.

Past dissertations

Find out what topics past students have researched by browsing a selection of dissertation summaries by our postgraduates:

Dissertation executive summaries

• Full-time MBA
• With Exchange