Edinburgh Business School Information, FAQs

If you intend to study by distance learning, you do not need to apply formally to commence study on the MBA/MSc programmes. You simply purchase the first of your courses online. To enrol on the programme of your choice, you then complete and submit a 'Matriculation Form' which is available from the student services website.

If you wish to study as a full-time or part-time student on-campus in Edinburgh, you must apply formally and be accepted on to the programme. You may join the programme in October or January and should ensure that your application is submitted at least two months before the start date.

If you intend to study with one of our approved learning partners, you should contact them directly for information on deadline dates.

There is no start date for the self-study programmes. You can begin your studies at any time.

If you wish to study as a full-time or part-time student on-campus in Edinburgh, you must apply formally and be accepted on to the programme. You may join the programme in October or January.

If you intend to study with one of our approved learning partners, you should contact them directly for information on start dates.

These are available on the Admissions pages of both the full time and the part time MBA programmes.

If you are studying by distance learning, you should download a matriculation form from our website when you have purchased your first course The completed matriculation form must be returned to the Business School together with evidence of your prior academic qualifications (normally a recognised degree or a qualification deemed by the University to be equivalent). If you do not hold a recognised qualification when you commence your study, you will be matriculated when you meet the requirements for the Postgraduate Certificate in your chosen degree.

If you are studying with one of our approved learning partners, the relevant form will be submitted on your behalf when you commence your studies with them.

If the Business School identifies that a qualification gained overseas is comparable to a British degree and has been awarded by an educational institute recognized by Heriot-Watt University it will be accepted for matriculation purposes.

If you are beginning your studies on-campus in Edinburgh, you will be given your matriculation card at the registration session at the start of term.

Otherwise, once you have been formally matriculated as a student of Heriot-Watt University your student ID/matriculation card will be posted to you.

If you lose or damage your card or it is stolen, a replacement card will be issued to you when we have received a written request from you for a replacement. The cost of a replacement card is £10.

If you have not completed prior academic qualifications you will be matriculated when you meet the requirements for the Postgraduate Certificate relevant to your programme of study.

No, there is no work experience requirement for self-study degrees.

MBA and MSc programmes require you to complete nine courses in total. The MBA consists of seven core and two elective courses and the MScs consist of five core and four elective courses.

No, but there is an English proficiency requirement for the full-time or part-time MBA. Further details are available on the 'Admissions' page for each programme.

You will be issued with unique student identification (SID) and Registration numbers when you purchase your first course. These will remain with you for the duration of your study at EBS

Download and complete the Exemption Application Form from our website and return this to the Business School with a certified (and if applicable translated) copy of your award certificate and transcript of results. We recommend that you apply for any exemption for which you think you might be eligible at an early stage in your studies.

Guidance on the qualifications which entitle you to an exemption is available from the 'Exemptions' page for each programme.

Exemptions awarded on the basis of the Professional Qualifications listed on our website relate to qualifications gained within the last 5 years. Application for exemption on the basis of a professional qualification achieved prior to this must be accompanied by a copy of the award/membership certificate, a full syllabus and transcript of results. Possible exemption awards will be determined by the syllabus in use at the time examinations were sat and may therefore differ to those on the publicised list.

This is a copy of your qualifications which has been certified as a true copy of the original. Certification must be made by your employer, a notary, your agent, your doctor or someone of good standing in the community.

If you are studying full-time or part-time on-campus in Edinburgh, you will entered automatically for the examinations relating to the classes you are attending.

If you are studying by distance learning and are applying for an exam for the first time you can do so via the 'Apply for an Exam' section of the student services website. Exams can also be rescheduled via the 'Exam Service' section of the student services website.

If you are studying with one of our approved learning partners, please contact them to confirm their preferred application process.

No, all examinations take the form of a three hour written examination.

No, all courses are assessed by a 3 hour closed book examination.

All courses are examined in June and December in over 370 cities worldwide. The locations are determined on request and are not fixed in advance. In March and August a small number of courses is examined in over 20 major predetermined cities.

An exam detail letter will be sent to you by e-mail and regular post several weeks before the exam date.

No, but a copy is sent to you by e-mail and regular post several weeks before the exam date.

If you miss an exam it does not count as an attempt or affect your academic record. However, you will have to pay to reschedule the exam.

No, an exam is only considered 'attempted' if you attend the exam.

Compensatory passes are not applied for they are awarded when all other requirements for graduation have been met. If you have successfully completed seven or eight courses and have failed narrowly in the remainder you may be awarded pass(es) by compensation as long as the total shortfall of marks does not exceed 5%. The relevant Committee awards compensatory passes when it meets to confirm the names of those eligible to graduate.

You are allowed two attempts at each subject.

Under no circumstances will results be given over the phone. Results are released on the secure section of the student services website as soon as they are available.

No. Question papers are the property of the University and will not be returned to you.

You should notify the Head of School, as soon as possible after the examination, of any illness or other exceptional circumstances which may have adversely affected your performance and which you would like the examiners to take into account in making their decision.

You are not permitted to dispute the decisions or question the academic judgment of the Board of Examiners once the results are released.

When you have passed all the courses required for your degree, you will be sent a graduation pack. This should arrive around four weeks after your final result(s) are released.

You will be sent a graduation pack around four weeks after your final result is released. This pack will contain a form which should be completed and returned to the University with the relevant graduation fee.

No, the degree certificate does not mention the mode of study.

No, each course contains all the material required to pass the examination.

The course websites always carry the most up-to-date learning materials.

For the text block, each release of the text is given a separate code, which is reproduced at the foot of the first page.

This code shows an abbreviation of the title, the version number, the language and the release number (e.g. 'Release RE-A1engb 1/2005' would indicate Principles of Retailing, version 1, in English, first release of 2005).

The text blocks are updated every two years. The course websites can be updated twice a year (in June and December). However, please note that courses rarely change in terms of the pedagogy or basic content. If a change is made to the materials that introduces examinable content (major change), there will be a two-year lead time from the date of introduction before the content becomes examinable. Students with previous versions may apply to EBS or their local supplier/centre for a replacement text block.

Please note that replacement text blocks will not be provided for routine minor changes that do not affect students' ability to prepare for examination.

No, changes to your name must be made in writing and supported by a copy of the legal documentation that confirms this change (marriage certificate, deed poll certificate).

Yes, the University campus can be visited at anytime.