The University of Edinburgh Business School
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Overview of the university
About the University of Edinburgh Business School
The Business School sits within the University of Edinburgh, a global top 50 university (QS 2026). We first welcomed students in 1919 and have been providing excellent teaching, stand-out research, and community connection ever since.
From Climate Change Finance & Investment to Finance, Technology & Policy, our postgraduate degrees explore critical themes that drive positive impact. The Edinburgh MBA flexes to fit the needs of students, welcoming new members to an expansive, international network.
Business School students, in Edinburgh and online, are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to put them at the forefront of their chosen fields.
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Why Edinburgh?
- Founded in 1583, the University of Edinburgh has a unique legacy and continues to be featured amongst top international rankings.
- The Business School is triple accredited by AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA – assurance of its quality and achievement as an institution.
- As a city, Edinburgh blends history, culture, and a world-renowned arts scene with the entrepreneurial energy and modern thinking you would expect from the UK’s second largest financial centre.
- Our MSc students represent a diverse range of nationalities and backgrounds, typically originating from over 70 different countries.
- The Business School’s faculty includes over 150 specialist academics, many of whom are active researchers or consultants who reflect their experiences in their teaching.
Programmes
- MBA, with varous study formats: Full-time (with or without International Exchange), Online
- MSc Accounting and Financial Management
- MSc AI for Business
- MSc Banking Innovation and Risk Analytics
- MSc Business Analytics
- MSc Climate Change Finance and Investment
- MSc Data and Decision Analytics (Online)
- MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- MSc Finance and Investment
- MSc Finance, Technology, and Policy
- MSc Global Strategy and Sustainability
- MSc Human Resource Management
- MSc International Human Resource Management
- MSc Management
- MSc Marketing
- MSc by Research
A commitment to your professional development
All our Masters and MBA students undertakea personal, professional development journey that challenges, engages, and prepares them for real-world success. We encourage you to take ownership of your professional development so your experience is tailored and unique.
At your side is the backing of a supportive faculty delivering robust, relevant learning designed to expand your capabilities. Giselle Gonzales, MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation alum and Founder and CEO of EqualReach, shared that she was “impressed by their drive to equip students to learn, innovate, and help shape the world.”
The Business School’s Student Development team is also dedicated to helping our Masters students maximise their potential in the global market, and similarly an MBA-specific team for our MBA students.
Strong corporate links and alumni network
Much more than simply a source of knowledge, the Business School connects our Masters students with local, national, and international businesses, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Our commitment to corporate engagement and our strong sector-wide links are evidenced by our sponsored research, guest speaker events, and themed events.
Some of our programmes also give students the opportunity to work closely with corporates and other organisations in terms of student-led projects and dissertations. Some of these senior industry practitioners are the Business School’s own alumni who act as an invaluable resource in terms of guidance to students.
Our alumni network is a community of over 20,000 people stretching across 141 countries and a wide range of industries. Beyond graduation, alumni are encouraged to stay connected with the Business School so they can benefit from networking and professional development opportunities, as well as support current students.
Programs and courses at The University of Edinburgh Business School
40 courses at The University of Edinburgh Business School, listed alphabetically:
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Student reviews
After I graduated in 2010 with a BA in Economics, I became a Financial Specialist at the Federal Highway Administration in Washington DC. I returned to study as I had progressed as far as I could in my current role and I also wanted to move from the public sector into the private sector. I chose the University of Edinburgh for its global reputation, its location, and because of the length of the MBA programme (1 year compared to 2 in the US).
The MBA is an intense full-time program providing an overview of business with the option to specialize in an area of interest. There is a strong focus on sustainability and corporate social responsibility as well as the development of leadership and other soft skills. Because the school is so well placed in Europe and has such a good reputation, it attracts students from all over the world, providing a diverse and stimulating learning environment. The opportunities to learn beyond the classroom – from international business treks to case competitions and undergraduate mentoring programs are vast.
The programme allowed me to develop both my technical skills and my soft skills which were instrumental in landing me my current job. I am now a Senior Financial Analyst for Johnson & Johnson and was introduced to my current company through the programme’s Capstone project.
Having an alumni community that I can tap into is important to me. The network I’ve built thus far has been a huge support in my post-MBA life. The programme is quite rigorous and the city can be a huge distraction, so it’s essential to find the right balance between studying and enjoying all that Edinburgh has to offer. Make sure to take advantage of all the opportunities the school provides for development outside of the classroom – the multiple clubs, volunteering opportunities, projects, guest lecturers, and career services.
Prior to moving to Edinburgh I completed a BA in Management from the University of York. During the course of the degree I spent a placement year working at the Pharmaceutical Company GlaxoSmithKline. I worked within the Human Resource Development team concerning their future leader programmes.
I went back to study as I enjoy the stimulating and liberating environment available in academia, and wanted to pursue my interest in HRM. Edinburgh University is an elite university, but more specifically, the Business School provided a route to CIPD accreditation which is key in HRM careers. Being by definition an international programme, the IHRM cohort is also very international and therefore we get so many new perspectives on issues. We have been taught about crucial areas of HRM as well as having particular focuses on the issues an international context brings. These concepts were reinforced during a class trip to Helsinki.
The CIPD accreditation is hugely important, but to have a deep theoretical background in topical HR issues is even more so. The Reward Management module in particular has helped me get a job in this area as I will be working in reward management for Virgin Money. I will also be maintaining links with the health sector.
Edinburgh itself is beautiful, vibrant and quaint all at the same time. It is also walkable which is very important to me. I love a good view, and Edinburgh is spoilt with these! Of course its culture and arts scene aren’t too far behind. The city will, I am sure, hold a special place in everyone’s memories so keeping in touch is crucial personally as well as professionally. I encourage new students to make the most of what Scotland and the Business School have to offer.
Location
The main campus of The University of Edinburgh Business School in Edinburgh is shown on the map below:
Accommodation
The University offers accommodation in a number of places within Edinburgh for our Postgraduate students.
Private accommodation
Many MBA and MSc students prefer to live in private rather than University accommodation. If you are interested in renting privately, there are a wide range of flats and apartments in close proximity to the School. To help in your search for privately-available accommodation, the links below may be helpful. Equally, the School is sometimes notified of properties that are available for rent, for example, when current students leave Edinburgh, or if an alumnus has a property to rent.
For further information on accommodation options click here.
The University of Edinburgh Business School international links
We place a big emphasis on diversity within the Business School and each year we welcome students from over 70 countries. On your individual Masters programme, you are likely to have students from around 15 to 20 countries studying alongside you. This is a great opportunity to learn from each other’s backgrounds and experiences. Our students are able to start developing a robust and diverse network from day one.
Our international links are extensive and include links with partner schools such as: ENPC in France; EADA in Spain; Copenhagen Business school; Kellogg in USA, Schulich School of Business in Toronto, Macquarie Graduate School of Management in Australia, and Peking University Guanghua School of Management in China.
We also have international links through our international advisory board, our alumni network which now numbers over 20,000 and stretches across 141 countries, our international teaching faculty, and research centres. The Schools international links are strengthened by the University's extensive global links.
Some of our postgraduates will also have the opportunity to go on student treks, some of which take place internationally. For example, recent student treks locations included London, Dublin, Berlin, Reykjavik, and the Scottish Highlands.