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University Of Edinburgh Mba Entry Requirements

MBA Entry Requirements

Before applying for the Full-time MBA programme, please consider our minimum entry requirements, which include academic qualifications, managerial work experience, and English language requirements.

Professional Experience Requirement

You should have at least three years’ work experience, with some managerial responsibility during that time. Experience can be from any industry, including the public sector, charitable organisations, or the arts.

Minimum Academic Requirement

You will need a UK first-class or 2:1 honours degree in any subject, or an equivalent overseas qualification.

Exemptions

If you do not meet the minimum academic requirement, you may still be considered if:

  • you have professional qualifications with substantial work experience, or
  • you do not hold a degree or professional qualifications but you have a very strong employment record demonstrating a high degree of responsibility

If you do not meet the minimum academic requirement, we may require you to complete the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) which is an internationally-recognised assessment of analytical, numerical and verbal reasoning.

If we require you to take GMAT, we would require a score of 600 as a minimum to qualify for our MBA or Executive MBA. The GMAT is not a compulsory part of the application process, but if you have a score that you wish to report to us then this would be welcomed.

We will accept results from the GMAT Online exam while it is available.More about GMAT 

Required Documents

We require a number of supporting documents, including a CV and official transcripts.

View Full List of Required Documents 

Overseas Students

In addition to academic and professional requirements, international students will have to adhere to immigration guidelines.

Overseas Students Advice 

International Qualifications

The minimum academic requirement is a UK 2:1 honours degree in a related subject or an equivalent international qualification.

Some examples of equivalent qualifications:

  • Canada: mid B+; 3.3+ (4 point scale); 7.3/8+ (9 point scale)
  • China*: 80-85%+; B+
  • Germany: 2.5+ (reverse 5 point scale); Sehr Gut/Gut
  • India: 1st Class degree (60%+)
  • Nigeria: 2:1
  • South Africa: 2:1/1st
  • USA: GPA 3.25+ (4 point scale)

If your home country is not listed above, consult the minimum grade point average (GPA) required by following the link below.Entry Requirements by Country 

*New entry requirements for students from China: as of 2022–23 both EMBA and MBA in the Business School are Band D. This means you should have a first degree from a recognised university, with a minimum of 80% awarded.

  • View the Postgraduate Entry Requirements for Students from China

Important Points

  • The ranking of the university at which you studied is considered when we determine whether or not your degree is equivalent to a first or upper second-class honours degree in the UK.
  • If your degree is not of the required standard and you do not have highly relevant work or other experience, we will normally reject your application.
  • Meeting the degree requirement doesn’t ensure acceptance. A higher standard may be needed for your application to be competitive for admission or funding.
  • Other equivalent qualifications can be requested from the Admissions team.
  • A conditional offer can be made if you are waiting for a final degree result or a language test result.

English Language Requirements

You must demonstrate English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

English Language Tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System): 7.0 (at least 6.0 in each section)
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) iBT (including Special Home Edition): total 100 (at least 20 in each section)
  • CAE and CPE: total 185 (at least 169 in each module)
  • Trinity ISE (Integrated Skills in English): ISE III with a Pass in all four components
  • LanguageCert International ESOL: C1 Expert – Pass overall with a Pass in each component

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, LanguageCert International ESOL or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees Taught and Assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

  • UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries.

  • Approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

More on English Language Requirements

English Language Requirements 

Other Important Points to Note

  • If you already have an English language certificate then you can include this with your application. However, if you have not yet taken a test, we will still process your application and you will be able to upload your results when you receive them.
  • A conditional offer may be given to you if you do not yet meet our minimum English requirement. But you must provide evidence that you have reached the minimum English requirement before we can provide you with an unconditional offer.
  • We advise you to start working towards your English language qualification as early as possible to ensure that you have achieved the required standard in time to start the programme. If you require a visa, you must have achieved your English qualification and have met any other conditions to qualify for an unconditional offer, which is a requirement for the CAS. The University will commence issuing CAS from June onwards.

Optional Pre-Sessional English Courses

The English Language Education offers summer pre-sessional English language programmes intended for students who plan to study at the University of Edinburgh.

English for Business Masters

This programme focuses on improving English language skills for effective participation in the University of Edinburgh Business School MBA and MSc programmes. If you have been accepted by the School and have already met your English requirement, you may want to attend this course to brush up on your English skills.

General English for Academic Purposes

This programme is intended for international students who need to improve their English language level prior to commencing a programme of study at the University of Edinburgh. At the end of the course, students will undertake an assessment which can be used to meet the English requirements of their Masters programme beginning in September.

Business Administration, Master of MBA

Awards: MBA

Study modes: Full-time

 Funding opportunities

Programme website: Business Administration,

Programme description

The full-time MBA is an intensive programme designed for students with a minimum of three years’ managerial experience who wish to progress to more senior and leadership roles in business.

The programme immerses students in a world of academic thought, current business practice and applied projects.

Studied over 12 months, this is a taught programme delivered by world class faculty complemented by guest business practitioners.

Successful businesses in the future will be those that can confidently and capably steer a path through a world characterised by intense competition, rapid technological development, economic turbulence and increasing resource insecurity.

Businesses need leaders who can think and act strategically in this volatile environment, managing the risk and challenges involved, but also spotting and seizing opportunities for efficiency, innovation and new business models. Businesses also need leaders who will act responsibly in delivering value to all stakeholders.

Our programme enhances your career potential by giving you a clear focus on the role of the highly sought strategic leader and helps you to progress with confidence. In order to achieve this our MBA is built on three pillars:

  • Strategic Leadership
  • Professional Development
  • Personal attention and connections

Programme structure

The MBA is delivered full-time starting in September each year. The programme combines intensive academic study with practical application. This is achieved both in the classroom through case studies, but also via consultancy-style projects with external organisations to broaden participants’ insights into alternative business models and approaches.

Compulsory courses include:

  • Accounting
  • Finance
  • Operations Improvement
  • Organising for Effectiveness
  • Professional Development Programme
  • Quantitative Methods and Tools
  • Research Methods for the Capstone Project
  • Strategic Leadership (incorporating Global Challenges for Business)
  • Strategic Marketing
  • Understanding Economies

A range of specialist options are also available. In parallel with academic study, we deliver a Professional Development programme to help enhance interpersonal and leadership skills. Your studies will culminate in a major Capstone Project.

On our core 12-month MBA, there is an opportunity to study International Business in Context (a one-week intensive module located in an emerging market) and to undertake your Capstone Project focused on a country outside of the UK. For those who want further international experience, there is an opportunity to study on our MBA (with international exchange) which will give you the chance to spend 2-3 months on an exchange at one of our international partner Universities (Australia, Canada, China, Finland, France, Mexico, Spain and USA).

12-month MBA

The programme is delivered in four parts:

  • September–December: students focus on core business disciplines
  • January–March: students develop integrative and strategic thinking, and choose a number of specialist elective subjects
  • April–June: students’ specialisation continues
  • June–August: students undertake a Capstone Project as the final part of the 12-month MBA
  • Details of programme structure and elective courses

12-month MBA (International Business)

The MBA (with International Exchange) programme is delivered in four parts:

  • September–March: students study the same core disciplines, integrating courses and a number of specialisations as the main MBA programme
  • April–June: students study abroad at one of 12 partner institutions worldwide, experiencing new cultures and new ways of business
  • June–August: students undertake a Capstone Project as the final part of the 12-month MBA.
  • Details of programme structure and elective courses

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MBA1 YearFull-timeProgramme structure 2021/22
MBA1 YearFull-timeProgramme structure 2021/22

Learning outcomes

Students will develop an integrated understanding of the essential aspects of business and leadership skills as well as the development of specialist knowledge through the choice of option courses and MBA Capstone project research.

Recently introduced is the option of a specialisation route consisting of taking two options and the MBA Capstone Project in a specific area of focus. Students will have their specialisations recognised with a Business School Certificate in Finance, Entrepreneurship, Strategy or Sustainability. Specialisations must be agreed in advance with the programme team.

The personal development programme ensures that, alongside the in-depth business learning, students will also develop the personal skills and characteristics required by senior managers in the modern business setting.

For those following the MBA (with international exchange), the study abroad period will add an international dimension to their studies, valuable to all who work internationally.

Career opportunities

The employment market is highly competitive, but the Edinburgh MBA is distinctive and will provide participants with a competitive edge. MBA participants will engage in a leadership and professional development programme that includes personal diagnostics, career planning and skills enhancement designed explicitly to support participants in their pursuit of promotion or new careers.

Entry requirements

Before applying for the full-time MBA programme, please consider our minimum entry requirements, which include academic qualifications, managerial work experience and English language requirements.

Professional experience requirement

At least three years’ work experience in a managerial role.

  • Experience can be from any industry, including the public sector, charitable organisations or the arts.

Minimum academic requirement

UK 2:1 honours degree from a good university in any subject, or an equivalent overseas qualification.

If you do not meet the minimum academic requirement, you may still be considered if:

  • you have professional qualifications with substantial work experience; or
  • you do not hold a degree or professional qualifications but you have a very strong employment record demonstrating a high degree of responsibility.

If you do not meet the minimum academic requirement, we may require you to complete the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), which is an internationally-recognised assessment of analytical, numerical and verbal reasoning. If we require you to take GMAT, we would expect a score of 600 to qualify for our MBA.

We will accept results from the GMAT Online exam.

  • Official GMAT Exam website

Students from China

This degree is Band D.

  • Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

  • Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

English language tests

For 2021 entry we will accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS: total 7.0 (at least 6.0 in each module)
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition): total 100 (at least 20 in each module). We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements
  • CAE and CPE: total 185 (at least 169 in each module)
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with a pass in all four components

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

  • UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries.

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

  • English language requirements

Fees and costs

Deposit

If you receive an offer of admission, either unconditional or conditional, you will be asked to pay a tuition fee deposit within 28 days to secure your place on the programme:

  • £1,500 (this contributes towards your tuition fees)

The fee does not include the cost of textbooks for core and option courses so you should budget an additional amount for this required expenditure.

See the programme website for more information on fees and deposits:

  • MBA – fees and living expenses

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MBA1 YearFull-timeTuition fees
MBA1 YearFull-timeTuition fees

Scholarships and funding

Featured funding

  • Business School scholarships
  • External Scholarships

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

  • your programme
  • the duration of your studies
  • your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

  • UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • Search for funding

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