The Leading Independent
Resource for Top-tier MBA
Candidates

University of Edinburgh Business School

Image for University of Edinburgh Business School
Class Size 59
Women 56%
Mean GMAT n/a
% International 95%

The University of Edinburgh Business School is located on the main campus, close to the University Library and Students’ Association buildings, in the heart of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. Edinburgh offers a one-year, full-time MBA program, as well as an Online MBA and Executive MBA. Hallmarks of the Edinburgh full-time MBA program include its world-class faculty, close-knit cohort, and strategic leadership training. The school has a network of over 20,000 alumni worldwide.

FAQ

What is the tuition for Edinburgh’s MBA program?

The tuition for the 2024 September Edinburgh Full-Time MBA was £40,900. The school notes that annual living expenses can run between £12,000 - £15,000.

What is the average GMAT score for admission to Edinburgh’s MBA program?

Edinburgh does not report the average GMAT score for incoming students. The GMAT is not required for admission.

What is the average number of years of work experience for admission to Edinburgh's MBA program? (or, What is the average age of an Edinburgh MBA student?)

The average number of years of work experience among students in Edinburgh’s MBA program is 9. Edinburgh MBA students average the age of 29.

How long is Edinburgh's full-time MBA program?

The Edinburgh full-time MBA program is a one-year program, lasting 12 months.

What are the application deadlines for Edinburgh's MBA program?

The Round 1 MBA application deadline is October 16, 2024. The Round 2 application deadline is November 27, 2024. The Round 3 application deadline is January 29, 2025. The Round 4 application deadline is March 5, 2025. The Round 5 application deadline is April 23, 2025. The Round 6 application deadline is June 11, 2025.

What percent of Edinburgh MBA students are women?

Fifty-six percent of the incoming Edinburgh MBA class are women.

Admissions

The Class Profile

Fifty-nine students matriculated at Edinburgh to be part of the MBA Class of 2025. Fifty-six percent of the new class are women and 95% are international. They arrived on campus with an average of nine years of work experience at an average age of 31.

Application Procedures

Edinburgh Business School gives applicants the choice of applying in one of six admissions rounds, which typically run from October through June.

Application requirements include a personal statement of approximately 500 words, CV/resume, one professional reference, official transcripts (English translation if necessary), degree certificate (English translation if necessary) and English language qualification if applicable. A waiver is available if the applicant studied an in-person undergraduate program, in a majority-English-speaking country (as defined by UKVI), the study was entirely in English, and the study was no more than 5 years prior to applying. Applicants are expected to have at least three years of professional experience, including managerial projects.

Interested applicants who do not have an undergraduate degree can take the GMAT or present a strong employment record to meet admissions requirements.

Candidates who move to the second stage of the application process will have an interview with a member of the MBA staff. The interview can be arranged in person or online.

Application Checklist

  • Application Form
  • Personal Statement
  • Recommendation
  • CV/Résumé
  • Application Fee
  • Official Transcripts for College/Graduate Work
  • Degree Certificate
  • Proof of English language skills (if applicable)

Edinburgh LiveWire and DecisionWire

MBA DecisionWire

HBS
September 24, 2024 8:03am ET
Enrolled: Harvard Business School
Admitted: U. Chicago Booth , Harvard Business School , Stanford GSB
Applied: U. Chicago Booth, Harvard Business School, Stanford GSB, UPenn / Wharton
Entering Year: 2024
Post MBA Career: Venture Capital, Private Equity
GMAT: 770
Notes:

Late but thought I'd add my decision to the mix!

CBS
September 13, 2024 12:28am ET
Enrolled: Columbia
Admitted: Columbia
Applied: Columbia
Entering Year: 2025
Post MBA Career: Venture Capital Companies: Other
GPA: 3.86
Cor
August 20, 2024 9:28am ET
Enrolled: Cornell / Johnson
Admitted: Cornell / Johnson $
$40000
,
Washington U. / Olin $
$100000
Applied: Cornell / Johnson, Michigan / Ross, UVA / Darden, Vanderbilt / Owen, Washington U. / Olin
Entering Year: 2024
Post MBA Career: Undecided
GPA: 3.85
Location: Miami, FL
Notes:

This is for applicants who are applying directly from undergrad to an MBA program without "post-bachelor" work experience. It is tough but possible with perseverance.

Sta
July 31, 2024 12:10pm ET
Enrolled: Stanford GSB
Admitted: U. Chicago Booth , Columbia $
$180000
,
Harvard Business School $
$130000
,
Michigan / Ross , Stanford GSB $
$130000
Applied: U. Chicago Booth, Columbia, Harvard Business School, Michigan / Ross, Stanford GSB, UPenn / Wharton
Entering Year: 2024
Post MBA Career: Undecided
GMAT: 750
Notes:

Selecting Stanford GSB for smaller class size and focus on innovation and entrepreneurship.

Academics

Curriculum

The program runs for two semesters. The first semester focuses on core subjects needed for functional literacy in a variety of disciplines such as accounting, finance, economics, marketing, etc.). During the second semester, MBA students will either study abroad with one of thirteen international exchange partners, or take electives. All students will complete their program with a final Capstone project, a deep dive into a topic of their choosing that will accelerate their networking in the sector they hope to work in after graduation.

For the full-time MBA, there are 11 compulsory courses (totaling 140 credits), including the MBA Capstone Project. Students must also take 4 electives (or 40 credits if doing an Exchange) in addition to the compulsory courses. Edinburgh offers Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in cases of similar study elsewhere. Requests for RPL are reviewed by the Programme Director and would include information about the previous courses, like learning outcomes, course content, reading materials, and marks assessed. 

The full-time MBA program uses a hybrid teaching model, a blend of face-to-face teaching and online learning. Based on past student feedback, Edinburgh implemented this structure so students may take a more proactive and accountable approach to balance their own workload. In practice, for compulsory courses, this means being 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 students to plan and manage their learning in their own time.

Electives will generally be taught in intensive week-long blocks and will see students in the classroom every day for around 8 hours per day. As these option courses consist of smaller groups, a more personalized 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. Welcome week activities, team building sessions, and community building sessions are also integrated into the curriculum, allowing students to discuss opportunities with staff and network among  peers. 

Other MBA Degree Options

In addition to the full-time MBA program, Edinburgh also offers an Online MBA program. The program runs for 33 months and students can join either in September or March each year. Candidates should have at least three years of prior work experience and expect to spend 10-15 hours weekly on coursework. The Online MBA is designed for working professionals. 

Their Executive MBA is designed for candidates with a minimum of five years of work experience. The program starts in December and runs for 28 months. The EMBA is designed for senior leaders located within commuting distance of the school. A majority of the coursework is delivered over one weekend per month (Friday-Saturday); there are also six week-long course blocks and one 3-hour online session per month.

Degree Offerings at Edinburgh

Full-time MBA
https://www.business-school.ed.ac.uk/mba/full-time

Online MBA
https://www.business-school.ed.ac.uk/mba/online

Executive
Executive MBA
https://www.business-school.ed.ac.uk/mba/executive

Campus Life

Edinburgh MBA students have a variety of opportunities to get involved with the school community. At the University of Edinburgh, there are 350+ student-led societies and there is something for everyone. They center around culture, identity, professional interests and hobbies. For instance, the Business Society prides itself on inclusion and diversity, while offering several events and speaker engagements to support members’ career goals. Others focus on consulting, finance or economics, to name a few. Cultural societies literally span the globe, with students from China, Chile, Africa and more running various ones. More casual societies, like the Hot Chocolate Society, organize cafe socials, film nights, study sessions and more. Students are also encouraged to form their own society.

Campus Spaces

The Edinburgh MBA offers an MBA Suite and Syndicate Rooms for exclusive use. The Business School also has a library and study space (called The Hub), a café, and open space reading areas. Set in beautiful George Square on the Edinburgh campus, the surrounding area is a mix of vibrant student-focused restaurants, pubs, and cafes, next to picturesque hiking trails and historic architecture.

Most students live in University housing, which is spread throughout the city and offers a ready-made community of students, activities, and wellness support.

MBA Careers

Career Services

Edinburgh MBA students benefit from personalized career support. The MBA Careers Consultant is available to help before and after graduation, as students develop career plans or look to refresh their strategy in the future.

The Professional Development team arrange Business Engagement Treks, an Employability Conference, speakers, panels and other activities to support MBAs in pursuing their career goals. The treks are offsite industry visits to help MBAs connect to and learn from a range of diverse organizations. Past site visits have included Amazon, the Royal Bank of Scotland, the National Health Service (NHS), and a range of start-ups, across sectors and geographic locations. Additionally, industry experts from a variety of sectors participate in the Employability Conference to network with current students and help MBAs shape their career narrative to appeal to employers.

Career Statistics

Ninety-five percent of the MBA Classes of 2021 and 2022 found employment within six months of graduation. Twenty-four percent entered the financial services field. Seventeen percent joined IT and 13% pursued management consulting. Nine percent found work in retail/consumer goods and seven percent in energy/chemicals/natural resources. The graduating classes landed jobs across 26 different countries. Some notable recruiters include Accenture, Deloitte, JP Morgan Chase, Tesla and many others.

Financing

The tuition for the Edinburgh full-time MBA program in 2024 is £40,900. Additional living expenses can add £12,000 – £15,000 to the total cost.

Students can apply for study loans, use military veterans funding sources, and apply for scholarships. Scholarships range from £5,000 and upwards, based on academic qualifications, work experience and/or the Scholarship Application Form. Students may apply for school scholarships once they are accepted to the program.

Cost of Attendance – Edinburgh MBA

Tuition: £40,900
Core text books (avg.): £300
Living expenses: £12,000 – £15,000

Contact

Address of main campus:
29 Buccleuch Place
Edinburgh Scotland EH8 9JS
Phone: +44 (0)131 650 8074
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.business-school.ed.ac.uk/
Blog: https://www.business-school.ed.ac.uk/about/blog
Instagram Handle: @uoebusiness