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MBA Essentials

Develop a core management toolkit and start your journey towards an MBA with an Edinburgh Business School online certification.

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Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt UniversityEdinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University

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    Advance towards an MBA degree with a PGCert that covers core business essentials

    Earning an MBA is one of the most prestigious and popular routes to advance your career as a business professional. However, pursuing an MBA often comes as a significant investment. 

    With the MBA Essentials from Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University, you’ll build a core management toolkit while exploring what an MBA has to offer. This online microcredential offers flexible, online learning that equips you with essential business, management, and leadership skills, tailored for career advancement in today's dynamic workplaces. 

    Over a timeline that works for you, you’ll complete three courses, structuring your studies in any order and progressing at your own pace. As you work through engaging materials and connect with a global network of peers and faculty, you’ll feel empowered to make a real-time impact whilst taking strides towards achieving a full MBA.

    Understand workplace dynamics and enhance performance

    On the EOCCS accredited ‘People, Work, and Organisations’ course, grasp the intricate factors influencing workplace behaviour and their connection to performance. 

    This course delves into understanding individual differences and their impact on group dynamics, as well as how organisational factors shape individual behaviour.

    By exploring these dynamics, you’ll gain the skills needed to enhance individual, team, and organisational performance across diverse environments.

    Bolster effective organisational development with fundamental leadership skills

    On ‘Leadership, Theory, and Practice’ you’ll develop a critical understanding of leadership frameworks and practices across diverse organisational, social, and cultural contexts.

    You'll delve into key leadership theories, alternative approaches, and contemporary issues like gender, culture, and ethics, progressing your leadership development and enhancing your ability to shape organisational strategy effectively.

    Hone project management skills to drive successful business projects

    On ‘Delivering Successful Projects’, equip yourself with project management skills to plan, manage, and execute projects that deliver on business objectives and withstand challenges.

    Mastering these techniques enables you to analyse and resolve issues, drive change, and foster innovation within organisations. You’ll establish a foundation for effective project decision-making, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and maximising project success.

    Grow your professional skills and career with the experts at Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University

    Guided by expert faculty with industry insights, this online microcredential goes beyond the textbook to equip you with practical applications and sought-after expertise that will set you apart in the competitive business landscape.

    Become part of a far-reaching global business network of over 50,000 graduates while you build the critical skills you need to stand out to employers.

    How will the skills I learn advance my career?

    The MBA Essentials microcredential builds your business acumen and sharpens your strategic thinking to make informed business decisions, exercise influential leadership, and successfully deliver projects. Whether you choose to continue your studies towards a full-length degree or not, you can apply the core MBA competencies you’ve learned in this online microcredential in a variety of career paths across a range of industries, including roles such as project manager, business analyst, marketing manager, operations manager, or financial consultant.

    What will I receive after completing this microcredential?

    Upon completion of this microcredential, you’ll earn your certificate and 60 credits that can be applied towards pursuing a full MBA with Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University, making you one-third of the way towards earning an MBA degree.

    Are you eligible for this microcredential?

    To make your career goals feel that much more possible, Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University is forging accessible education for all. And that starts with their application process.

    Unlike other postgraduate degree programmes, this online degree operates on a performance-based admission process. That means, while holding a second-class honours degree or equivalent qualification is preferred, you’re automatically eligible to begin your studies without meeting this requirement.

    Enrol in your first classes, complete registration, and begin studying when it suits you best. If you pass the first three courses of the programme (one of which needs to be a core course), you’ll be eligible to continue studying towards the full qualification. In other words, for this degree, there’s no need to complete an application form before enrolling.

    Additionally, if English is not your native language or you didn’t graduate from an English-speaking university, you’ll need to provide proof of your English language proficiency. A minimum of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent is required with all elements passed at 6.0 or above.

    Is this microcredential right for you?

    This microcredential offers business professionals eager to advance their careers a taste of an MBA degree, without immediate commitment to a full-length programme. It's ideal for career starters, mid-level managers looking to advance into senior positions, and experienced professionals wanting to excel in their current roles.

    Whether or not you decide to pursue further studies after completing this microcredential, you’ll gain career-advancing skills and develop core competencies to stand out in the competitive global business landscape.

    Syllabus

    What happens before, during, and after your microcredential

      World-class learning with Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University

      Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University specialises in business education that drives career advancement and empowers professionals to solve real-world business challenges.

        Want to know more?

        Please answer the questions below to help Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University give you the right information about further learning with them.

        This course is delivered wholly online, and admission to the course does not grant or contribute towards any visa or residency application.

        By submitting this form you agree to FutureLearn processing and sharing the information you’ve given us here, along with your name and email address, with Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University and their representatives getting in touch with you.

        By registering you agree to Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University privacy policy.

        FAQ

        We can accept payments made by card (Visa, Mastercard and American Express) or PayPal via our online system.

        You will have 14 days from the day the course starts to apply for a refund. If this Microcredential has any non-refundable costs they will be stated in the ‘Overview’ section above. You can find more information in our cancellation and refund policy.

        Microcredentials are designed to fit around your life and timezone.

        There may be live events as part of your studies, but these will be recorded and can be watched afterwards if you aren’t online for the live broadcast.

        No, microcredentials are designed to be taken anywhere in the world. You won’t need the right to study in the country where the university offering themicrocredential is based.

        Want to know more? Read the microcredential FAQs