The University of Edinburgh
College of Humanities and Social Science
Business Studies
What is Business Studies? “I chose Business Studies as it Information Systems. Students must also take
two compulsory courses – Business Research
The scope of Business Studies is much broader offered me the opportunity, not
than its name may suggest. Our courses cover Methods I: Quantitative Techniques and Career
only to gain an understanding Development Planning.
issues of organisational policy and strategic
of a broad range of areas within
planning, together with functional areas like In their third year students must take a
production, finance, marketing, employment the business world, but also to
compulsory course in Strategic Management
relations and human resources. In particular, tailor my learning to what I was and Business Research Methods II:
we strive to reflect the global, dynamic climate interested in, and what I wished Applications and Analysis.
of contemporary business and management to pursue after university. My
through specialist courses in International In their third and fourth years, students
experience at the Business School increase their level of specialisation by
Business, Entrepreneurship and Climate
Change. We draw on a variety of disciplines, surpassed my expectations, with choosing from a range of honours options. The
such as psychology, law, economics, sociology, particular areas of note being the availability of Honours options varies from year
and mathematics. The courses cover topics opportunity to study in Canada to year but will include many of the following:
in businesses but also in other types of for a year, and my involvement Advertising: Theories and Practice; Consumer
organisation, for example charities, voluntary Behaviour; Corporate Finance; Financial
in the Business Society. These Services Marketing; International Marketing;
organisations etc. Therefore, while our courses
are certainly useful to students who would like all added to the excellent core International Business in Emerging Markets;
careers in management, they are also relevant degree programme to provide a Investment and Securities Markets; The
to anyone interested in the relationships full range of challenges that helped Management of Technology; Management
between people, organisations and their my development throughout my Science and Operations Planning; Managing
environment. Employment Law; A Global Problem?
university career.” Climate Change and a Low Carbon World;
Iain Kirkpatrick, Critical Perspectives on Global Strategic
Why study Business Studies at MA Business Studies and Accounting Management; Marketing Research; Market
Structure, Conduct and Performance; New
Edinburgh? Graduate 2009
Product Development: Bringing Innovations
The University of Edinburgh is one of the
to Market; Social Shaping of Electronic
pioneers of management education in Britain. What does the degree Commerce; The Entrepreneurial Manager;
We first awarded the BCom degree in 1920. Our
students choose from a wide range of degree actually involve? Managing Change; Behavioural Finance
and Market Efficiency; Entrepreneurship and
programmes and Business Studies courses, and We offer or contribute to over twenty Honours
New Venture Creation; Risk Management;
the flexible course structure allows them to opt (four-year) degree programmes as listed below.
Human Resource Management: Current
for broadly-based or quite specialised degrees.
All Business Studies students take Business Issues and Controversies; International
Our degree and course offerings are constantly
Studies 1 in their first year. Divided into Strategic Management in Practice; Decision-
reviewed to ensure we offer a high-quality
various modules, this course introduces Making Under Uncertainty; and Theoretical
learning experience. All students are assisted
students to the key concepts of management Foundations of International Business.
in their choices by their Director of Studies and
Student Support Officers. and to specialist business functions. Classes
in key computing and academic study skills are Students also write a business dissertation in
also taken. Students will also take Accountancy their Honours years. Advised by a member
A key facet of Business Studies at Edinburgh is
1A and 1B in their first year. of staff, they select and research a topic of
the focus on developing employability skills. We
particular interest to them. The dissertation may
liaise closely with the University Careers Service
In their second year students choose from involve primary research with organisations, as
and directly with a range of employers to ensure
a menu of courses in Business Studies - well as a review of books, journal articles and
our programmes are equipping students with
Applications of Finance; Organisation Studies; other documents on the topic.
the transferable skills which will enable them to
Business Economics; Principles of Finance;
succeed in the graduate job market. The MA International Business degree
Managing Employment Relations; International
Business; Marketing; Management Science; is very similar to the MA Business Studies
Innovation and Entrepreneurship; and degree. The first two years are almost identical
Degrees in Humanities and Social Science
MA Honours in: International Business with a Language LLB Honours in:
Business Studies Arabic and Business Studies Law and Business Studies
Business Studies and Accounting Economic History and Business Studies
Business Studies and Economics French and Business Studies Degrees in Science and Engineering
Business Studies and French German and Business Studies
Business Studies and Geography Italian and Business Studies A range of degrees combining Science and Engineering
Business Studies and German Psychology and Business Studies subjects with Business Studies or Management are
Business Studies and Law Russian Studies and Business Studies available. See Undergraduate Prospectus for more details.
Business Studies and Spanish Spanish and Business Studies
International Business
The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336
Business Studies
with the exception that for International
Business students the course in Economics
guest speakers and working on real life
business projects. Students are assessed
Are there any bursaries or
1A or Economic Principles and Applications in a variety of ways. In addition to degree scholarships available?
is compulsory in the first year. The two examinations, most courses have a continuous The Robertson-Ness Business Studies
International Business courses in second year assessment component. This may take the Travelling Scholarship currently enables three
are compulsory choices. The third year is a form of essays, reports, presentations, or Business Studies students to travel abroad
compulsory year abroad at a partner institution practical projects. Many projects involve during the summer, studying an aspect of
in one of the following countries: Austria, students working together in small groups. The business practice there. For example, recent
Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech proportion of the final mark accounted for by winners have studied the business climate for
Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong continuous assessment varies from course to foreign direct investment in Chengdu, China
Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Singapore, course. and eco-tourism in the Amazon Basin. Each
Spain, Thailand or the USA. The fourth year scholarship awarded is up to the value of
of the programme is similar to that of the
MA Business Studies: students choose four
Are there any opportunities £1,000. Certificates of Merit are awarded to the
best student in Business Studies 1 and each of
Honours options and undertake a dissertation. to study abroad? the Business Studies 2 courses. There are other
Students must choose a minimum of 60 credits Given the increasingly international nature of prizes for the best students, including prizes
(out of 120) in International Business in their business and markets, it is particularly helpful awarded by employers.
fourth year. for Business Studies students to spend some
time living abroad, learning more about the
The MA International Business with a
language and lifestyles of other countries.
What can I do after my
language degree programme is identical to the
MA International Business programme, except
Under the ERASMUS/SOCRATES scheme, degree?
selected students spend their third year at Our graduates use their degrees to enter
that a language is studied in Years 1 and 2
another European university. We already have a wide range of careers. Some enter the
and then Year 3 is spent at a university where
exchange agreements with universities in accountancy profession, many embark on
PDF version available at: www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/information-sheets
this language is spoken. At the moment the
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, careers in management consulting, banking,
foreign languages available in this programme
France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain and insurance, finance or human resources. Other
are Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian,
Sweden, and are discussing possible links with popular careers are sales, marketing and retail
Japanese, Russian and Spanish.
others. management. Many graduates work in large
multi-national companies. However, others
Degree Structure Business Studies students are also eligible to have chosen management careers in other
Students at the University of Edinburgh apply for a place on the University of Edinburgh organisations e.g. charities, local government
generally take three courses each year in their and Business Studies International Exchange or the health service. Some graduates go
first two years of study. This will involve taking Programmes. This enables students to spend on to study for professional qualifications, in
Business Studies courses each year as well their third year at a university in Australia, accounting, human resources or marketing
as a foundation course in Accountancy. This Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the management. In many cases, they are granted
leaves up to two optional courses, in addition USA. Further exchange programmes are under exemption from some examinations due to
to the many choices available within Business development. courses taken in Business Studies.
Studies. Our degree programmes include an
integrated skills pathway running from Years Are there any links with the
1 through to 4. An example of an MA Honours How do I find out more?
curriculum is provided in the table below. business community? If you would like further information about
Business Studies has strong links to Business Studies courses, please contact:
For more detailed information on degree local, national and international business
structure and content, please see: The University of Edinburgh Business School
communities, through research, consultancy
www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/student- William Robertson Building
and teaching. This is reflected in our courses,
recruitment/publications-resources/degree- 29 Buccluech Place
many of which incorporate guest speakers or
programmes Edinburgh, EH8 9JS
corporate sponsors and base their assessment
on real life business projects. We work closely
Printed on recycled paper for Student Recruitment and Admissions – www.ed.ac.uk/student-recruitment
Telephone: 0131 650 3900
What sort of teaching and with the University Careers Service to offer
employer-led training seminars and to promote
Email: UG@business-school.ed.ac.uk
Web: www.business-school.ed.ac.uk
assessment methods are used? other opportunities such as placements or
Lecture, tutorial and seminar programmes internships in organisations. We also have a
make use of videos, reports, case studies and panel of advisors drawn from senior members (May 2011)
practical exercises, and computer practicals of the business community. The vibrant and
are built into several courses. Links with the active Business Society further promotes
business community are reinforced through corporate links through many of their activities.
Typical degree curriculum: MA Honours in Business Studies
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4
Accountancy 1A Business Research Methods I: Strategic Management Critical Perspectives on Global
Accountancy 1B Quantitative Techniques Investment and Securities Strategic Management
Business Studies 1 Organisation Studies Markets Corporate Finance
Economics 1A Marketing Contemporary Marketing Consumer Behaviour
Computing for Business Business Economics Literature Advertising: Theories and Practice
Economics 2 Managing Employment Law Management Honours Dissertation
Career Development Planning Business Research Methods Ⅱ:
Applications and Analysis
The Economics of Corporate
Strategy
Research in Management
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this leaflet at the time of going to press. However, it will not form part of a contract between the
University and a student or applicant and must be read in conjunction with the Terms and Conditions of Admission set out in the Undergraduate Prospectus.