MA Business and Economics

Year 1

You will study Global Challenges for Business and The Business of Edinburgh which introduce key concepts of management and business including strategy, finance, marketing and the management of people.

You will also study Accountancy 1A and 1B as well as Economics 1.

Year 2

You will study Business Economics, Economics 2 and Statistical Methods for Economics. You will choose two options from the following business courses:

• Organisational Behaviour 2
• Marketing
• Principles of Finance
• Applications of Finance
• Human Resources Management 2
• International Business: Globalisation and Trade 2A
• International Business and the Multinational Enterprise 2B
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Business Analytics and Information Systems
• Fundamentals of Programming for Business Applications
• Business Simulation
• Organising for Social Change: Creating Value and Impact

Year 3

You will study Strategic Management, Business Research Methods II: Applications and Analysis, Essentials of Econometrics, and Topics in Microeconomics.

In addition, you will choose one more specialist course in economics and one in business.

If you intend to write the Management Honours Dissertation you will take the Research in Management course.

Year 4

You will complete a dissertation on a topic in either business or economics, and study two further specialist courses in business and two in economics.

Programme structure

Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.

To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme structure (2020/21)

Our facilities

Teaching takes place in the Central Area of the University.

Study abroad

The University's Business School exchange programme offers exciting opportunities to study abroad in Year 3, subject to agreement with the School of Economics. Available partner universities in Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Canada or the USA vary from year to year. We publish an up-to-date list to our students each year.

To participate in our study abroad programme, you will need to achieve an average mark of at least 55 per cent in Year 1 to be eligible to study abroad in Year 3.

What are my options for going abroad?

How will I learn?

Courses are taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, practical exercises and computer-based learning.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed on presentations, reports, essays, exams and individual and group projects.

Programme details

Find out more about this programme's aims, what you will learn, how you will be assessed and what skills and knowledge you will develop.

To give you an idea of what to expect from this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme details (2020/21)

A key aim of our programmes is to combine academic knowledge with transferable skills in order to enhance employability.

Business graduates are highly valued by employers across the world. Our business-related programmes will help you develop the necessary personal and professional competences required to work across a range of roles central to contemporary business.

You will have a choice of careers open to you, including management, consulting, finance, marketing and human resources.

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

• SQA Highers: AAAAA-AAAA (achievement by end of S5 preferred). BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S5.
• A Levels: AAA - ABB.
• IB: 43 points with 776 at HL - 39 points with 666 at HL.

Minimum entry requirement

The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

• SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S5.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 34 points with 655 at HL.

More information for widening access applicants

Required subjects

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:

• SQA: Highers: Mathematics at B. National 5s: English at C.
• A Levels: Mathematics at B, or AS Mathematics at A (if A Level not taken). GCSEs: English at C or 4.
• IB: HL: Mathematics at 5. SL: English at 5 and Mathematics at 6 (if not at HL). Mathematical Studies is not accepted for any of our Economics degrees.

Find out more about entry requirements

International applicants

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Entry requirements by country

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international student and your school qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to the University you may be eligible for admission to this degree programme through our International Foundation Programme.

International Foundation Programme

Mature applicants

We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.

Mature applicant qualifications

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.

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

• SQA National 5 at C
• SQA Standard Grade at 3
• SQA Intermediate 1 at A
• SQA Intermediate 2 at C
• GCSE/IGSCE at C or 4
• Level 2 Certificate Grade C
• IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

English language tests

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

• IELTS Academic module overall 7.0 with 6.0 in each component
• TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition) 100 or above with 20 in each section. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency overall 185 with 169 in each component
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with a pass in all four components

We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

English language qualifications must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the degree 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.

English language requirements

*(Revised 27 April 2020 to include TOEFL-iBT Special Home Edition.)

As this degree is very popular, we strongly recommend that international students apply by 15 January 2021 as we can't guarantee to consider all applications after this date.

This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.

It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

Please note that some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for MA Business and Economics

Additional costs

Economics textbooks are required for Years 1 and 2, which cost about £100.

If studying abroad in Year 3, your costs will vary by country. In Year 4 you will undertake a dissertation and, depending on the field of study you choose, there may be costs associated with undertaking surveys and conducting interviews.

Funding

For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.

Fees and funding

• Enquiry Management Team
• Email: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk