Selection and Admissions Strategy (MBA)

1. Selection Criteria
2. Assessment of Your Application
3. Application Timeline
4. Application Deadlines

The University of Edinburgh is one of the world's leading research and teaching universities. We are a truly international university and as such, we strive to recruit and develop the world's most promising students.

The programmes taught in our Business School are global in their focus and we aim to ensure that this is reflected in the diversity of the student cohort we admit. Our MBA students represent a wide range of nationalities and backgrounds. Typically cohorts originate from over 15 different countries and a breadth of industries and professional backgrounds. The strong mix across our student body creates a forum where stimulating and lively discussion can thrive and new perspectives can be developed.

1. Selection Criteria

We select students through a highly competitive process, using the information you have provided on your application form to compare you against your peers. We are looking for talented students who best demonstrate that they have the potential to benefit from, and contribute to, the challenging academic experience we offer.

Our selection process concentrates on the educational achievement as well as managerial work experience and any other aspects demonstrated in your application. All applicants eligible for an offer will be interviewed to ensure we have a full understanding of your background and potential.

You must include a personal statement as part of your application which should indicate your reasons for applying to the programme. The statement should be approximately 500 words in length and answer the following questions:

• Why have you selected this particular programme?
  • You should also include motivating factors and additional relevant information in support of this
• What contributions do you feel you can make to the programme?

2. Assessment of Your Application

Our overall decision on your application will be based on academic results as described in the entry requirements section, your work experience demonstrated in your CV and other non-academic qualities as outlined above.

Successful applicants are likely to have scored very highly in both academic results and non-academic qualities. Unfortunately, due to the level of competition for a limited number of places, many high-quality applicants are unsuccessful.

Our decision will be based on the following weightings:

• 40% Academic Performance
• 60% Non-Academic Qualities

3. Application Timeline

Applications for the MBA can be submitted at any time during the year, and will be evaluated as they are received. Decisions will be delivered within 4–6 weeks by the set deadlines. Due to high competition we will hold some applications we consider competitive until the next decision deadline and deliver those decisions in the following round.

Failure to submit all required documents will prevent the Admissions Team from considering the applicant for a place on the programme, and may delay the decision on your application beyond the stated deadline.

Applicants who are not made an offer at a specific selection deadline will either be notified that they have been unsuccessful in securing a place on the programme, or that their application will be carried forward to the next selection deadline for further consideration at that time.

Applications which are received after our final selection deadline will be considered at our discretion, if there are still places available.

4. Application Deadlines