What is a flexible, stackable MBA?

Edinburgh Business School (EBS) at Heriot-Watt University is a global leader in accessible, industry-aligned business education and research. Having launched the world’s first distance learning MBA more than 30 years ago, EBS has a rich experience in innovating and evolving education to ensure it meets the needs of a modern world and workplace.

Now, we are proud to offer our most flexible, customisable MBA yet, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to making high-quality, career-focused education accessible for working professionals across the globe.

Through programmes such as our MBA, Edinburgh Business School empowers individuals, strengthens organisations, and contributes to positive societal impact globally.

Key features of the online MBA

At the heart of our online MBA are the principles of global accessibility and flexible, modular learning that set it apart from traditional MBA programmes. Designed for ambitious professionals at every stage of their career - from career starters to established leaders - it empowers learners to personalise their studies in line with their individual goals, professional aspirations, and personal commitments.

Modular and stackable

The online MBA allows you to “stack” courses together to accumulate credit over time, at your own pace, and in line with your career goals. Its flexible modular structure enables you to work course-by-course towards a qualification of your choosing. You can start by developing your core MBA toolkit with the MBA Essentials programme, comprised of three MBA courses, and build from there to achieve your MBA. The MBA Essentials consists of:

• People, Work and Organisations
• Leadership, Theory and Practice
• Delivering Successful Projects

You can also choose from a wide selection of career-relevant courses to tailor your MBA or pursue a specialist pathway to graduate with an MBA with a Specialism. Our Specialisms include:

• Strategy
• Finance
• Business Analytics
• Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Business Psychology
• Professional Practice

You will benefit from the freedom to study courses in an order of your choosing, which means you can structure your programme in a way that empowers you to have an immediate impact in your workplace.

According to Dr Bryan Rodgers, Global MBA Programme Director at Edinburgh Business School: “What makes our MBA programme unique is that we are putting the student in the driver’s seat. As Edinburgh Business School, we deliver the academic expertise and rigour that sets students up for long-term success, but with this model, we are really empowering students to craft a learning journey that fits their needs, lives, and goals.”

Flexible study options

This programme allows you to shape a learning experience that fits your lifestyle and professional goals at every stage of your career.

You can:

• Complete your MBA in as little as two years
• Take up to eight years, depending on your circumstances
• Sit your Final Online Assessments from home
• Choose from three assessment sessions each year

You can further personalise your learning experience by adding optional live online tuition and revision sessions to any or all of your core courses, which will help you contextualise your learning and prepare you for your assessments. This also provides you with the opportunity to build a vibrant learning community, interact with peers and academics, and keep your studies on track.

Accessible entry pathways

We believe in breaking down barriers and creating access to transformative, world-leading education for diverse communities and individuals across the globe. That’s why we offer a performance-based admissions pathway into our MBA. If you don’t hold a first or second-class honours degree, or equivalent qualification, you simply need to successfully complete and pass one course on the MBA to continue studying towards the full qualification.

The best place to start for those seeking to enter through performance-based admissions is to enrol in the MBA Essentials programme, which will grant you entry into the MBA. All credit you gain will count towards your MBA programme with Edinburgh Business School, meaning that upon successful completion of the programme, you’ll already be one-third of the way to completing your degree.

You can also pay-as-you-learn, meaning that you can choose to pay for courses as you register for them, spreading the financial commitment out over the period of your studies. This, paired with our Emerging Economies Scholarship, makes pursuing an MBA education more accessible for communities and individuals worldwide.

Career-aligned and employer-focused

Heriot-Watt programmes are known for their rigour and career impact. Designed by leading academics with deep industry insight, they are purpose-built to develop the practical MBA competencies and specialist expertise sought by today’s global employers. Heriot-Watt is ranked 1st in Scotland and 2nd in the UK for graduate employability (Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2024).

A report by financial services firm Novuna Business Cash Flow found that Heriot-Watt produces more Chief Executive Officers and Managing Directors than any other university in Scotland. The study analysed over 10 million LinkedIn profiles from graduates of more than 120 UK universities.

Our commitment to delivering rigorous, career-focused education also shines through in our student feedback. In the 2025 Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES), 91% of our online MBA students reported overall satisfaction with their programme, reinforcing the strength of the learning experience and its relevance to professional development.

That career alignment is clear in the outcomes our students achieve. In response to the survey, one MBA student shared: “Over the past 10 years, since taking my first course, I have been fortunate to receive six promotions. None of this would have been possible without the foundation and support provided by EBS.”

This combination of academic depth, practical application and flexible progression is designed to support sustained career growth at every stage of your professional journey.

The online MBA supports a range of professional ambitions, whether you want to accelerate progression, transition into leadership or reposition your career entirely. You can select industry-relevant modules that demonstrate your expertise and create immediate value within your organisation. In addition to the general MBA, specialist pathways are available in Finance, Strategy, Business Analytics, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Business Psychology and Professional Practice.

A global MBA community

Our online MBA is built to be accessible to talented professionals from all backgrounds. Wherever you are in the world, and whatever your ambitions, you can shape a personalised MBA that reflects your goals and circumstances.

You will study alongside a truly diverse, global cohort, enriching your learning through shared perspectives and international insight. From your own home, you can build meaningful connections and develop a worldwide professional network.

Supported by Heriot-Watt University’s global campus network and strategic partnerships, you will gain the reach, credibility, and global outlook needed to operate with confidence on the international stage.

When you graduate, you automatically join the Watt Club, Heriot-Watt’s graduates’ association with a history spanning more than 160 years. With over 173,000 alumni in 190 countries, this is not simply a network but a lifelong community. It gives you continued access to connections, opportunities, and influence long after your MBA is complete.

Begin your MBA journey

Our flexible online MBA is designed to put you in control of your professional development. With modular progression, accessible entry routes, and specialist pathways, it offers a practical route to long-term career growth.

Visit our MBA Hub to explore the available programmes and specialisms.

Any questions? Email one of our dedicated Enrolment Advisors at HWOnlineApps@hw.ac.uk or book a call.