Postgraduate study
Edinburgh: Extraordinary futures await.

Management of Bioeconomy, Innovation and Governance MSc

Awards: MSc

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

This programme responds to the rapid growth in the global bioeconomy by providing the core knowledge and skills needed to compete in a rapidly evolving, highly skilled workforce.

The Masters in Management of Bioeconomy, Innovation and Governance (MSc MBIG) is an innovative and dynamic postgraduate qualification designed to meet the increasing demand for skilled people in the growing global bioeconomy.

The MSc MBIG programme responds to the central challenges of the bioeconomy, including:

  • developing innovations in life science responsibly
  • identifying and exploiting value throughout innovation ecosystems
  • bringing new technologies to existing and emerging markets

To meet these modern challenges, MSc MBIG provides students with a dynamic set of competencies, and knowledge about life science innovation, as highly desired by prospective employers in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.

Areas covered by the programme

Areas covered by the programme include:

  • agricultural biotechnology
  • sustainable food and animal production
  • synthetic biology
  • pharmaceuticals and antimicrobial resistance
  • stratified medicine
  • industrial biotechnology
  • genetic databases
  • biofuels and energy-related developments

MSc MBIG graduates will excel in strategic thinking that brings globally contextualised solutions to practical problems relating to:

  • innovation and firm strategy
  • policy and regulation
  • collaborative R&D models

    • governance and intellectual property

The MSc MBIG programme is offered as a one-year full-time or two-year part-time programme.

The programme draws upon real life case studies and the latest research findings from the Innogen Institute.

Experiential learning is encouraged, and is accomplished through:

  • problem-based group work activities
  • presentations
  • interactive seminars
  • conventional lectures

You will complete four compulsory courses (80 credits) and a selection of optional courses (40 credits), then work on an independently researched dissertation, which can be a conventional academic dissertation or a work-based project.

Placement-based dissertation

The aim of the placement-based dissertation is to provide students with the opportunity to work on their dissertation within the context of a workplace of their choosing, which could be within a public sector, a voluntary, a charitable or a private organisation, subject to the approval of the Programme Director.

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
MScManagement of Bioeconomy, Innovation and Governance1 YearFull-timeProgramme structure 2023/24
MScManagement of Bioeconomy, Innovation and Governance2 YearsPart-timeProgramme structure 2023/24

MSc MBIG graduates will excel in strategic thinking that brings globally contextualised solutions to practical problems relating to:

  • innovation and firm strategy
  • policy and regulation
  • collaborative R&D models
  • governance and intellectual property

Basic scientific knowledge is no longer sufficient for building a successful career in the growing bioeconomy.

There is a high demand for trained professionals in this area, and this degree is an opportunity to impress prospective employers in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors with expertise in life science innovation.

You may also choose to continue your studies and pursue an academic career in this rapidly growing field.

The transferable skills you gain in areas such as communication and research will give you an edge in the employment market, whatever your eventual career.

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

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

English language tests

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

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 59 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, Trinity ISE or PTE, 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:

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 (non-MESC).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScManagement of Bioeconomy, Innovation and Governance1 YearFull-timeTuition fees
MScManagement of Bioeconomy, Innovation and Governance2 YearsPart-timeTuition fees

Featured funding

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.

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • Graduate School of Social & Political Science
  • Chrystal Macmillan Building
  • 15A George Square
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9LD
Programme start date Application deadline
9 September 2024 1 July 2024

If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

References are not usually required for applications to this programme.

A personal statement should be included with your application. Your personal statement should be focused and have substantive information about you and your ambitions on the programme.

This MSc programme is a conversion course, designed to help people change career direction. All disciplines are welcome, but applicants must show they have a personal interest in bioeconomy, rather than sustainability, finance or business management.

The School of Social and Political Science website provides further important information about applying for this programme. For full details, please see the 'Additional information' section on the programme webpage:

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • Graduate School of Social & Political Science
  • Chrystal Macmillan Building
  • 15A George Square
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9LD