Before applying for the Full-time MBA programme, please consider our minimum entry requirements, which include academic qualifications, managerial work experience, and English language requirements.

Professional experience requirement

You should have at least three years' work experience in a managerial role. Experience can be from any industry, including the public sector, charitable organisations, or the arts.

Managerial experience encompasses many efforts you may already be undertaking. It is not defined by having “manager” in your job title or by having direct reports (although you may, of course, have both). Management is any project, initiative, remit, or task (either permanent or ad hoc) where you are responsible for guiding the resources, teams, or individuals to a final goal. Some roles are designed around a management function. Others take on managerial responsibilities on a case-by-case basis. Whatever your role, we want to see these managerial responsibilities highlighted in your CV.

Minimum academic requirement

You will need a UK first-class or 2:1 honours degree in any subject, or an equivalent overseas qualification.

Exemptions

If you do not meet the minimum academic requirement, you may still be considered if:

  • you have professional qualifications with substantial work experience, or
  • you do not hold a degree or professional qualifications but you have a very strong employment record demonstrating a high degree of responsibility

If you do not meet the minimum academic requirement, we may require you to complete the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) which is an internationally-recognised assessment of analytical, numerical and verbal reasoning.

If we require you to take GMAT, we would require a score of 600 as a minimum to qualify for our MBA programmes, or 555 under the Focus edition. This equates to a performance in the 51st percentile under each format. The GMAT is not a compulsory part of the application process, but if you have a score that you wish to report to us then this would be welcomed.

We will accept results from the GMAT Online exam while it is available.

More about GMAT

Required documents

We require a number of supporting documents, including a CV and official transcripts.

View full list of required documents

Overseas students

In addition to academic and professional requirements, international students will have to adhere to immigration guidelines.

Overseas students' advice

The minimum academic requirement is a UK 2:1 honours degree in a related subject or an equivalent international qualification.

Some examples of equivalent qualifications:

  • Canada: mid B+; 3.3+ (4 point scale); 7.3/8+ (9 point scale)
  • China: Band D; 80-85%+
  • Germany: 2.5+ (reverse 5 point scale); Sehr Gut/Gut
  • India: 1st Class degree (60%+)
  • Nigeria: 2:1
  • South Africa: 2:1/1st
  • USA: GPA 3.25+ (4 point scale)

If your home country is not listed above, consult the minimum grade point average (GPA) required by following the link below.

Entry requirements by country

Important Points

  • The ranking of the university at which you studied is considered when we determine whether or not your degree is equivalent to a first or upper second-class honours degree in the UK.
  • If your degree is not of the required standard and you do not have highly relevant work or other experience, we will normally reject your application.
  • Meeting the degree requirement doesn’t ensure acceptance. A higher standard may be needed for your application to be competitive for admission or funding.
  • Other equivalent qualifications can be requested from the Admissions team.
  • A conditional offer can be made if you are waiting for a final degree result or a language test result.

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

English language tests

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

Your English language qualification must be no more than two years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency, in which case it can be no more than three and a half years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed 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.

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 start of the month in which your programme of study begins.

More on English language requirements

University English language requirements

Other important points to note

  • If you already have an English language certificate then you can include this with your application. However, if you have not yet taken a test, we will still process your application and you will be able to upload your results when you receive them.
  • A conditional offer may be given to you if you do not yet meet our minimum English requirement. But you must provide evidence that you have reached the minimum English requirement before we can provide you with an unconditional offer.
  • We advise you to start working towards your English language qualification as early as possible to ensure that you have achieved the required standard in time to start the programme. If you require a visa, you must have achieved your English qualification and have met any other conditions to qualify for an unconditional offer, which is a requirement for the CAS. The University will commence issuing CAS from June onwards.

Optional pre-sessional English courses

The English Language Education offers summer pre-sessional English language programmes intended for students who plan to study at the University of Edinburgh.

English for Business Masters

This programme focuses on improving English language skills for effective participation in the University of Edinburgh Business School MBA and MSc programmes. If you have been accepted by the School and have already met your English requirement, you may want to attend this course to brush up on your English skills.

General English for Academic Purposes

This programme is intended for international students who need to improve their English language level prior to commencing a programme of study at the University of Edinburgh. At the end of the course, students will undertake an assessment which can be used to meet the English requirements of their Masters programme beginning in September.

English for academic purposes summer courses