MBA Online Course

Brian Civin, South Africa

After 20 years as managing director of my own group of companies, the experience gained and the knowledge that there must be easier ways to do things led me into the consulting arena. It is interesting to note that the environment of senior management is not necessarily difficult but is bounded by self imposed barriers of ego, status and isolation.

The decision to take on the EBS MBA was the most enlightening experience of my career. After 25 years there is not much that has not been seen and done, but the new insights gained and the endorsement of some of the concepts I had used without being sure why was like an epiphany. The value of the practical approach to each sphere of business was so useful and the simple to use methodology of instruction was exciting to the extent that I accelerated my programme and ultimately completed the course in 20 months.

The value that I have added to client businesses as a direct result of the information contained in the programme is immeasurable. It is not specific knowledge but the overall rounding off of the meeting between knowledge and experience that is the goal. The flexibility of the distance learning programme and the ability to access any assistance as and when needed, meant, that as a particularly independent and busy person I could work at my own pace and plan my own programme. This was something I could not find elsewhere. It is my intention to apply my experience to the doctorate programme in the near future. The cost and exchange rates being the only obstacle.

Eftychios Papadopoulos, Russia

Back in 2003 I was looking for an MBA program that would really fit my hectic private and professional life. I was recently relocated to Russia in a new and demanding position, and due to my irregular working hours and frequent business trips I had to find a program that would give the option to fully control the pace of my studies without any compromises to the quality of the course.

I did a lot of market research and from a series of respectable Business Schools, the EBS program proved to be the most suitable due to its flexibility, good reputation and reasonable cost. I did not regret it.

It took me 5 years to complete the course and in between a lot of nice things came to my life; a marriage, the birth of a child and eventually a new more challenging and upgraded post, as a General Manager.

The course was very demanding, and asks for self determination and stamina, as practically it consumed most of my already limited free time, but is greatly rewarding.

It really gave a push to my career and I wholeheartedly recommend it to all of you!

Ayodele Amos Olujide, Nigeria

I researched over 30 MBAs in the UK before choosing to study with EBS. The design of the programme was particularly appealing to me when I perused the website and read the profiles of the faculty.

The main reason why I chose EBS was my strong desire to increase my knowledge and skills in the field of strategy and when I stumbled on the Making Strategies Work module through a senior colleague, the strategic focus wheel was like a major discovery of a lifetime for me. The way the wheel was used to establish the link among all the interacting disciplines was to me simply genius. Authorities in the somewhat 'abstract' field of strategy are not readily found especially in my part of the world; we have only very few people who are skilled in employing the necessary tools and techniques in strategy implementation. If at all, it is poorly done; strategic planning has not even been fully understood in many parts of the world.

EBS offered a combination of the attributes that all the other programmes I researched did not. The global reputation and popularity of the business school and Heriot-Watt University at large also helped my decision.

The courses are indeed very tough; when you think you know a course, you have to really know it well and inside out.

The standard of the examinations may not be strikingly different from what we see from other top business schools but they are definitely very unique and rigorous. With no choice of questions in the exam, you cannot just do selective reading and expect to pass. I think this is a very strong selling point for EBS.

I will strongly recommend the EBS programmes to anyone who really wants to challenge him or herself intellectually and be abreast in their careers and professions. My EBS decision has no doubt been the best I have taken so far in my life to date. I have no regrets.

Nadine Zahra, Malta

After a 6-year career in retail banking and financial advice I was looking forward to a change, which materialised as a post within the training centre of the same organisation I was employed with.

My new post was quite challenging, and the atmosphere of learning I was exposed to encouraged me to further my studies. This led me to engage in a 3-year Management Diploma course with a local university that entailed attending long lectures, twice a week, after working hours. Since this course was extremely inflexible and time consuming, when I decided to proceed with my management studies to Masters level, I wanted a programme that could better help me reconcile work with study and personal life.

The answer to my demands was the MBA offered by Edinburgh Business School (EBS) as it provided me with such a flexible and innovative approach that I could progress in my studies at my own pace, not imposed by the institution.

I managed to successfully complete my MBA in 15 months, also attaining a distinction! Only thanks to EBS could I achieve an MBA in such a short time span, and though this meant a lot of hard work, I was ready for the challenge and my efforts were recognised.

The study material provided by EBS is very comprehensive and the practical case studies used are always updated to reflect current economic climates. It provides students with real life scenarios that prepare them to confront everyday business problems with a creative outlook.

Last but not least, the support given by professors and administrative staff at EBS is unquestionably of an excellent standard. My queries and difficulties were always answered effectively within 24 hours, thanks to the various on-line forums which are available to students.

Thanks to the EBS MBA I was able to progress further up the career ladder within my organisation and make valuable contributions through my newly acquired skills and experiences.

If you are seeking an MBA programme that gives you enough flexibility to pursue your studies at your own pace, and if you are ready for the challenge of an intriguing management course, do not look any further – EBS MBA is your choice!

Loke Yuen Wong, Malaysia

I chose Heriot-Watt University for my MBA study because of its strong international reputation as a world-class MBA provider. EBS MBA is a very challenging and rewarding course. The exam is of very high standard and I am happy with my final paper which I scored an A. As a college lecturer I managed to pass all exams at first sittings and completed the requirements for graduation in 1.5 years.

Not only doing my MBA by self-study and continuing my existing career, I also successfully graduated with other qualification – ACTDEC Pre-Cert (ES) TESOL.

Time management is the key to success; I prepare my own notes everyday and interact with EBS Tutors online for guidance during my study. Though I was too busy working as a lecturer for two colleges, I insisted to sit for exam in every diet (four diets a year) and finally completed all papers in six diets.

I certainly enhance my management knowledge and teaching capabilities with the completion of EBS MBA. The programme offers outstanding quality for its course materials which is written by a team of world-renowned experts in their fields. I find that all the subjects have relevant practical content and focus on providing cutting edge knowledge of international perspectives.

I would like to recommend this course to anyone; it is great value for investment!

Yair Mendelowitsch, Israel

I graduated in February 2009 with an MBA in Marketing from Heriot-Watt University. I found Heriot-Watt MBA program very useful and beneficial.

I am working for about 10 years in a Marketing position in the Israeli Hi-Tech industry. This program provided me very useful tools in my work. It opened my mind to things that I would never have paid attention to. It enhanced my marketing skills and knowledge and helped me to provide the right solutions to marketing problems.

I found the courses to be very interesting and enjoyed the lectures. Even though I have a family with two kids and hold a full time position, I never allowed myself to miss a lecture, hence each lecture provided me new ideas and important information.

I found that the program was very practical. This program allowed me to work full time and still have time to be with my family.

I also found, that I can use the studied material to my own use. To provide the right advice to my wife and friends in regards to business issue.

Lately I got involved in a new business entrepreneurship as an independent distributor in LifeWave company (in addition to my current job). I used my Marketing and Strategic Planning knowledge for this new business.

Finally, I would highly recommend to anyone that considers a business career and would like to enhance their career, to enroll on the EBS, Heriot-Watt MBA program.

Tony Hontzeas, Greece

I am originally from Canada and my first degree was a Bachelor of Engineering degree from one of the top Canadian Universities. I started my career in Telecommunications in Montreal Quebec and after a number of years as a design engineer of mobile communication systems I was promoted to management. I soon discovered that I needed to formally enhance my qualifications –through an MBA - in order to more effectively perform my duties.

My job requirements included frequent travel as well as long term international assignments. This meant that the MBA program I was going to pursue had to be flexible and location independent. After a considerable search I decided to pursue the MBA distance learning program offered by Heriot-Watt University's Edinburgh Business School (EBS).

The program could be pursued in any part of the world that had post services since at that time there were no online courses and the mode of study was done through high quality courses that were quickly mailed to the required destination. In addition, examination center locations were always conveniently close by, while access to the university's support services was quick, efficient, reliable, and a phone call away. I entered the program while I was in Montreal Canada, continued studying while working in Saltillo Mexico and successfully completed the program in Athens Greece.

My pursuit for higher education through the EBS MBA program resulted in directly upgrading my professional qualifications. This was due to the high quality nature of the MBA program, and the fact that Heriot-Watt University and Edinburgh Business School are internationally well known, highly respected and highly acclaimed institutions.

My experience with the Heriot-Watt EBS MBA program was extremely positive and was one of the reasons I agreed to become a local ambassador for the Edinburgh Business School.

Karim Hamza, Egypt

My study with Edinburgh Business School for the MBA program, has changed my career significantly. It was not an easy two year journey and it required great effort to acquire such knowledge, which I always now use when I am in a real business decision making situation when your real qualification stands by you.

The global oriented approach of this program plus its flexibility, is a great advantage especially for a student working oversees from the UK and who has regular travel and social commitments. This is why it was the best choice for a busy person like me, who had many responsibilities and a career to develop. Without such flexibility I would not have been able to achieve such a degree.

I believe most of the credit in becoming a Regional Business Development Manager in one of the biggest Multinational Systems integrated companies is down to EBS, and it was one of my most successful decisions during my career development.

Amr El Sharkawy, Egypt

The MBA is an eye opener. As a graduate engineer and an oil & gas professional with 18 years work experience, the MBA has completed the picture for me.

The engineering knowledge and professional practice was put so much more in perspective when complemented with the financial and other content of the MBA studies. Moreover, distance-learning has enabled me to reap those benefits without derailing my professional career. On the contrary, it has allowed me to test the MBA theories in real-time.

Thank you Edinburgh Business School. I'm recommending your program to anyone seeking my experience.

Val Kaplan, China

My MBA studies with EBS were a very interesting and rewarding experience. The studies were a constant juggling act to balance my work and family commitments and the need to dedicate enough time to prepare for rigorous tests. This was not an easy process and support of my family was the absolute essential ingredient.

The studies are no walk in the park by any means. If one wants to pass the exams and actually really learn something, the utmost dedication and discipline are imperative. For the last 2.5 years I would get up at 6.00am every single morning to have enough time for 1.5 hours studies and this routine stayed with me ever since. Now, as I've completed the degree, I still get up at 6am and spend my morning hours working out or studying Chinese. My present productivity has increased immensely and it is all thanks to the routine developed to accommodate the demands of EBS.

The EBS program is a perfect fit for people like me – expat professionals with busy schedule, lots of travel and dynamic life style. I was able to sit my exams in Seoul, Shanghai and Hong Kong and doubt that such flexible arrangement would be available with any other program. In addition, students can take advantage of web based support, course forums as well as the student community support of the "watercooler".

When I look back on the years spent on studying, I realize that it really wasn't all that difficult as it felt at the time and 2.5 years of commitment was a small price to pay for being able to put "MBA" after my name. Every time when I look at my diploma hanging on the wall of my office that says "graduated with distinction", I feel an overwhelming sense of achievement and it's a great feeling. My efforts have certainly paid off and now I'm able to take on more responsibilities in my company which directly translate to very tangible benefits in terms of more cash in my pocket as well as more respect from co-workers and the management.

Sures Muniandy, Brunei

Choosing EBS for my MBA was a wise one. I realised the quality of the programme from my very first module, Organisational Behaviour. It was a tough ride for 2.5 years, but I pulled through; a strong dedication with great assistance from the faculty boards, made it possible.

Having flexible programme especially for the busy executives is crucial. If not, the chance of them not completing the programme is very high. That said, EBS is a masterpiece in delivering distance learning MBA.

I must say the journey was completed with my trip to Edinburgh with my wife to attend my graduation ceremony. Receiving the certificate in my hands gave an immense pleasurable feeling. It is very difficult to describe the sense of achievement I felt at that moment.

Fadi Moubarak, Lebanon

'Efficient and great immediate impact to my career': this is how I would summarize my experience and the programme. The way the courses are designed and delivered is extremely efficient for somebody who has a senior and very demanding business role and yet needs to develop their academic skills. The course design is fit for any kind of background and is very easy to understand because it is based on real-life examples.

Having an engineering background, and having reached a management role in my career, the EBS MBA programme offered me exactly what I needed to be able to take my career to the next level, and this has opened a range of new career paths that were not possible before.

Alexandre Dziouba, Australia

Three years after migrating to Australia from Russia and settling down in my job as a metallurgical engineer in an automotive company I became interested in undertaking some business study.

Our training department has offered me a MBA distance learning program with Heriot-Watt University, as several managers from the company were already studying it at the time.

It took me four and a half years to complete nine courses, starting and completing a new course every six months.

The distance learning was a new concept for me and I found it completely different to the traditional university education as in my first university in Moscow.

However, in my situation only the distance learning could provide me with the combination of full time employment and study at a pace determined by me.

I found that all the courses were comprehensively prepared and excellently presented in the course textbooks.

As in any study, sitting an exam was a stressful experience every time and I found that the use of the past years examination papers was an essential tool for a successful preparation.

The highlight for me was a graduation ceremony in Edinburgh, which I attended at the end of 2000.

The MBA program has significantly broadened my knowledge and I do recommend it to anyone interested in high quality business studies.

Deborah Thompson, UK

Carling don't do MBAs, but if they did, I'm sure it would be like doing one with the Edinburgh Business School. Imagine deciding you want to do an MBA on a Monday, and sitting on your couch reading through your first module by Friday. By this stage you don't have to have decided which of the nine modules you will be studying – you can have ordered just one, or all nine, or anything in between. The modules themselves are very readable and clear, with well-worked examples and test questions. You can study them at home, in the bath, on the train or even in your lunch hour. And boy, are they addictive! I found once I started I couldn't put them down.

When you have read and understood them; and feel confident enough to prove it, you simply apply to sit the relevant paper – at a venue to suit you, in one of four "exam taking weeks" spread throughout the year. After that it's back to studying for the next subject, whilst keeping one eye out for the postman to deliver those keenly anticipated results. You can take as many papers at one time as you wish and take as long as you need to prepare for them (within a maximum of seven years from registration.) When it's all done and you have nine scores of 50% or above, you can head off to Edinburgh for a delightful ceremony and a few days with the parents! Oh, and when you get back to work, the prospects for promotion suddenly seem brighter, you can surreptitiously add those coveted three letters onto your business card, and ... well; mine's a pint please barman! (Oh and by the way; it doesn't do your marriage prospects any harm either!!)

Israel Mwanza, Zambia

For me studying the Heriot-Watt MBA was quite challenging but manageable. I had to strike a balance between my tight work schedule as someone responsible for financial reporting at Zambia National Commercial Bank Plc and finding time to study. I completed the MBA programme in 18 months. The materials are written by very renowned and experienced professors from American and European universities.

The MBA really equipped me with soft skills and moulded me into a more complete professional who can ably handle every aspect of business in any industry. I am so versatile that I can efficiently and effectively manage both front office and back office operations.

Armed with the Heriot-Watt MBA, one gains a greater insight of an integrated picture of business and how the various operational and support units complement each other to make an effective whole unit.

Heriot-Watt produces graduates who take a systematic approach to business issues in arriving at decisions rather than the reductionist approach or silo effect where managers make sub-optimal decisions that are not in the best interests of the organisation as whole.

Xuchen Zhang, China

On a normal Thursday in June 2005, I commenced my MBA study with EBS with zest. The straightforward style of EBS and Heriot Watt convinced me to set down my selection after nearly one year of business school investigation.

I enjoyed my study with EBS a lot, although it was hard for me to arrange my time due to a heavy load of daily work. The time spent with my dear classmates and absorbing knowledge from the courses encouraged me to success.

Being a middle manager, I have accumulated plenty of management experiences that exist like independent rings. The courses designed by EBS are bunching together those independent rings. Thus the knowledge, combined with my own experiences, forms a strong support helping me stand on a new height to view my work and even my life.

When I adapted what I learned from OB to view my staff, help my family members to analyse their puzzles, so-called troubles were readily resolved. My company is applying the procedures to strengthen risk control of projects. The Project Management course helped me to understand the core idea of those procedures. Well, I am ready to look up to another height, with the help of continuous study with EBS.

John & Sylvia Lankhof, Germany

As a young married couple with international careers in a global company we needed a serious yet flexible MBA. The flexibility of the Heriot-Watt MBA was really put to the test for us when we moved in 2003, 3 years into our MBA together. We had started with the birth of our first son in 2000 as a husband and wife team on our MBA. When news came in 2003 that John had an opportunity to take an assignment in Japan we did not want to say no. We knew this might happen, and for this reason had opted for Heriot-Watt; we were doubly pleased to find out that the Examination Centre in Osaka would be but a 15-min JR ride from our home in Ashiya. Being able to continue so easily was doubly helpful for Sylvia as she took on a PR and Finance role at a local school, to test her hard-won new skills.

Heriot-Watt delivered serious study and global flexibility.

Arkadiusz Kowalczyk, Poland

My adventure with the Edinburgh Business School MBA programme started a long time ago, in 1999. It was the year when the Internet bubble seemed to grow indefinitely and all the IT jobs seemed to be secure. And it was exactly the time when I started asking myself whether a pure IT education was going to be sufficient for me in the modern world. The answer was 'no'.

I decided to investigate the local MBA market in Poland. All the programmes, even those offered by the top business schools in Warsaw, required attendance to lectures during evenings or over weekends. At that time I was travelling on business almost every week for a couple of days. I could not afford more time out. I was freshly married and my wife was expecting a baby. A friend of mine mentioned the EBS distance learning course being designed for people who wanted to study at their own pace. He mentioned that one needed to be very self-disciplined to be able to make it. Well, I decided I would be.

The first experience with Accounting was tough – the concepts, taught in English, were difficult, but as I continued reading, everything was becoming more and more logical. I signed for a session in June 2000 and when my son was born in April I realised that I could not cope with both tasks. I had to become a full-time daddy for a year. I attempted it again in June 2001 and I passed the exam, reaching 87 points. It encouraged me to go for more.

Over the course of the next 4 years I managed to keep my job, keep my wife, pass another 7 exams, welcome my daughter, born in 2002, to the world, build a family house and move in. At the end of the MBA course I was promoted to become an IT manager for the Europe, Middle East and Africa – a true success that would not have been possible without completing the EBS MBA.

Natalie Jones, Barbados

I chose this MBA programme based on three criteria: flexibility, popularity and range of programmes available. The specialism in HRM was perfect for me, and I liked that this programme did not require me to submit periodic assignments, only self-study and examinations as frequently as my work schedule would permit. This was important to me. I was able to schedule my exams according to how heavy my workload was and pace my personal study schedule to suit.

Good programme, great flexibility, with online and electronic study resources to help me along the way.

Tam Cho Yan Ide, Hong Kong

Working and studying simultaneously really is not an easy task! But it is crucial to enrich my knowledge for business development. I graduated from the Heriot-Watt University MBA in 2003.

Because I got my Bachelor Degree and Postgraduate Certificate in the technical field, I had no strong knowledge about business-related subjects; I think I made a good decision to study this MBA. Although I have been working in the sales and marketing field for more than ten years, this knowledge really played important role in helping me to analyse the raw data for accurate decision making.

The Heriot-Watt MBA is very flexible in the selection of courses as well as the duration for completion. I travel for business frequently, so distance learning is really suitable for me. I always studied when waiting for a flight in the airport, inside the train, subway, hotel room and public area. I called this "Discrete Time Multiplexing": combining separate pieces of time for studying. I found the textbook sufficient to understand the subject. My hardworking effort paid off and I finally got my MBA with distinction. This is really a fantastic experience.

Edwin Mungadzi, South Africa

It took me a long time (more than a year!) to decide on which MBA course to study. I eventually chose EBS for two main reasons:

1. The distance learning facility and flexibility that the programme offers its students.

2. The opportunity to study with an internationally recognized institution with impeccable standards that are formally recognized and whose course content is highly regarded for its quality and relevance by both current students and graduates.

I received my first course material in December 2004 and planned to complete the degree in as short a time as I could manage. My approach was to tackle a set of three modules at a time, starting with the ones that I was more comfortable with in order to gain confidence. The challenge was in managing the long hours of study required for success with a busy deadline-driven work schedule plus family time (wife and two kids aged 9 and 7). I committed to my study timetable, which entailed reducing my Saturday rounds of golf per month from the usual four to one and studying for at least 4 hours per day during weekdays (from 8pm, when my kids go to bed, to midnight).

It was a lot of hard work but I will forever be grateful that I've done it! The course has definitely sharpened my skills at work and this should catapult me to greater heights.

I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to study towards an outstanding and relevant MBA whilst in full-time employment.

Olivier Bianchi, Canada

When I enrolled in the EBS MBA programme, I had a hectic schedule and was traveling extensively for business. I was in sales, working and living in Montreal (Canada) and wholesaling mutual funds for an investment firm. At that time I needed a MBA programme that had the flexibility and also the quality that I expected from the most reputable MBA programmes. My research led to me to the Edinburgh Business School.

My busy travel schedule prevented me from attending regular evening classes and carrying heavy books around. I therefore found the modular courses and the online help to be very convenient. I wrote three exams in Montreal. I then had the opportunity to move twice for professional reasons - when I moved to Toronto I was able to write my exams in Toronto and when I relocated to Paris (France) I wrote another 2 exams there. The transition was seamless. The support staff in Edinburgh was fantastic and made everything extremely easy. I wrote my final exam – Strategic Planning – back in Toronto. I graduated in 2003.

I also found the programme to be extremely well designed. It really helped me to cement my business knowledge and gave me the tools that I needed to analyse, assess and solve the business challenges that I face every day.

Bethia Scott, Chile

When I was looking for an MBA I knew it had to be one that I could do from anywhere in the world and one that would allow me to study at my own pace. I am not typical of the average person who pursues their MBA. I am an expatriate wife who has lived in 5 countries on 4 continents. As our lives as expatriates will be coming to an end soon I wanted to update my qualifications to something I could use when we eventually settled down and I was living in a country which would allow me to work. Edinburgh Business School offered me the options I needed. I knew the reputation of the University as my husband had received his Civil Engineering degree from there. I sat all my exams at the British Council in downtown Santiago. It was a major shock to have to sit an exam after so many years out of university but they did become easier the further I was in the programme. The University does a good job of providing its students with access to the professors through their online administration board. They also provide access to past exams which is an excellent way of ensuring you are ready to answer the questions and that you know your course work. There is also a student internet site that allows you to interact with other students and ask questions or form online study groups which make you feel less isolated.

I felt a real sense of achievement on gaining my MBA. I am confident that when I do go and look for work that having an up-to-date MBA from Edinburgh Business School will go a long way in helping me find what I want.

Gehan Colliander, Sweden

The will to get the "bigger picture" is what drove me to pursuit an MBA program. Credibility and flexibility is what led me to Heriot-Watt, Edinburgh Business School.

It has been a tremendous experience in every sense of the word.

For a mother, wife, a career woman and a person, the journey could be describe in two words: challenging and rewarding.

It took me over 3 years to complete the program, and thanks to the exposure an MBA enrolment at such a distinguished university gave me, I managed to move to the Revenue Management unit of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Regional office in Stockholm, to hold the strategic position of Pricing manager, Denmark & Iceland.

And now that I have graduated, there are no limits...

I would like to thank Edinburgh Business School and its distinguished professors and authors for well structured, flexible, and high standard program.

Jason Julien, Trinidad & Tobago

The Edinburgh Business School MBA experience far exceeded my expectations. In deciding to pursue my postgraduate studies I researched the various MBA options available and confidently selected the EBS program because of its flexibility, reputation and recognition.

The quality of the teaching materials was first-class, as they were well written and effectively communicated the complex concepts. In addition to presenting theory and practice, the authors fostered critical thinking with their narrative and encouraged independent thought.

Further, the attractive selection of elective choices available allowed for a broader academic encounter. The range of electives truly enabled both specialization and an in-depth understanding of the functional areas of management. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the advanced subjects in my particular area of interest and easily transferred this knowledge into the workplace.

I highly recommend the EBS MBA program for any experienced professional seeking to further equip themselves for the challenges of today's dynamic and competitive world. It truly provides a competitive advantage.

Parham Baseghi, Iran

I majored in Aerospace Engineering at the Sharif University of Technology some years ago but I'm not the type of guy who enjoys the governmental system (all the renowned companies were governmental). So I decided to teach English at Cavendish College Institute in Iran. After a while I realized that I needed to make progress to use my full capacity; that was what drew me to take my MBA at EBS. Having the opportunity to study at the weekends suited my purposes and although I faced some problems in my second year of living in Dubai, I enjoyed the programme and it broadened my horizons. It gave me the vision to fulfil what I was thinking of for a long time. I'm now in the construction business, enjoying a good knowlege of business. Directly and indirectly, I'm benefiting from my knowlege.

I highly recommend taking part in this programme if you really think that you have higher needs in your life that are not satisfied yet.

Thomas Hasenpflug, Germany

I joined the EBS DBA programme in November 2004 and graduated in November 2009.

In the course of the programme I earned a Master of Science degree after completing the study part of the programme in 2006.

Going through the programme has been an intense experience. I can say this relating to the knowledge and the research experience I gained, as well as the personal dimension.

The course helped me to enhance my education in the field of business and to build on what I had already learned in the MBA programme. In the DBA programme, it was advantageous to be able to choose from a larger number of elective courses, giving me more options.

Never having done primary scientific research before, this part of the programme was a particular challenge for me. Successfully completing my research and doctoral thesis opened up an entire new chapter in my professional experience.

Working closely with my mentor and supervisor for three years on the research project was an enriching personal experience. Being guided through the process – overcoming setbacks and delays – for such a long period of time and on such a demanding level was an experience that led to personal growth. I will treasure it for years to come.

Eric van Duijn, Switzerland

So you are curious, you would like to know more about 'business', about its mechanics and interconnections? You want to know about Finance, Accounting and Strategic Planning, not just the short version, but the full story? You are ambitious and willing to invest a lot of your energy and feel attracted by the fact that your goal – an MBA – is demanding to achieve?

In 1997 my answer to all these questions was yes. I was working for a very fine aviation company and I had an excellent job as First Officer. But I was looking for more. EBS had exactly what I needed: an ambitious, challenging road to a fully recognised Master in Business Administration. As my spare time was highly irregular, the possibility to study wherever I was suited me ideally. I had been shopping around for a while looking for distance learning degrees; I had been in contact with several institutions, with rather mixed results.

Edinburgh Business School stood out with its fair pricing policy, with the possibility to start with just one course (a modest risk if things would not work out according to my plan), and with high academic standards compared to other programmes.

After buying the first course I felt unsure: is this it? Where does the information provided in the text modules come from? Is this sound, how do they teach this at other universities? I checked out some other universities, bought some books and came to a simple conclusion rather quickly. What was presented by EBS was top quality. It not only represented state-of-the-art knowledge but even went on to teach it in a very professional way. Straightforward, the important concepts first, clear explanations. I started feeling sorry for the full-timers I had interviewed and enjoyed the freedom to choose my own path and pace at EBS.

Studying was tough, my time available to study decreased steadily as my employer kept me more and more busy. I aimed at ten hours per week on average, which was just about manageable with two kids, some military flying duties and my job as copilot. When the company I worked for called me for a transition course to captain I had to take a break with my MBA course. That promotion would not come for free and would demand full attention for quite some time, I knew. No problem with Edinburgh Business School: I waited half a year before buying my last two courses and graduated a year after becoming a captain.

The progress thereafter was fast, too fast maybe – but you would have to ask my family about that. Within a few years I got promoted to Fleet Chief, a management position responsible for the safe operation of our airplanes. The job put to test all contents of everything I had studied at Heriot-Watt: the company went into a steep nose-dive, restructured several times, went bankrupt. We had to draw up new plans for a restart, lay off employees, set up completely new operations and find ways of merging culturally with another company. As Fleet Chief I was in charge of some 240 employees at that time and I was doing everything to keep my fleet together. More restructuring, more lay-offs, then the sale of the enterprise. Finally the recovery and thanks to the general economic upturn in aviation some positive results. Every book on my shelf came in as a good guide, as a valuable source of sound information.

Would I do an EBS MBA again? Yes, I would! And today I would go to Heriot-Watt without hesitation. The programme is worth every minute of time invested. The concepts and contents are useable in industry – I can tell.

Nzuki Waita, USA

The choice to pursue the EBS MBA in 1997 was an easy one. At the time I was working for ITOCHU Corporation, one of the world's largest Japanese trading houses, in their Nairobi Liaison Office. I was eager to commence my MBA studies but was finding it extremely difficult to locate an MBA programme that was flexible enough to accommodate my heavy travel schedule. My job required me to travel frequently throughout Africa, Japan and South East Asia. I loved my job and was not willing to take the time off to pursue the MBA on a full-time basis.

The EBS MBA proved to be a flexible, well-respected course with examination centres in all the cities I regularly travelled to. I particularly liked the fact that the EBS MBA is not for everybody. It requires a lot of self discipline, focus and determination to complete this intellectually demanding and arduous programme. I also loved the fact that I could immediately apply business concepts gleaned from the various courses to real-life work situations.

I am currently based in Washington DC working for a reputable international development consulting firm and I am still able to apply my valuable MBA skills on a daily basis. Thank you EBS!

Nivine Mohamed Rushdy, Egypt

In December 2002, I started a challenging educational journey with the Heriot-Watt MBA program. The journey took me into deep waters, experiencing the pain of despair and the joy of success.

The Heriot-Watt program offers a comprehensive syllabus that facilitated studying while working on a full-time basis. The strategic management edge gained through studying this MBA was applied directly to my work at Xceed Contact Center and helped me move to the reputable Kharafi Group after completion.

This program was in no way stress-free but I can comfortably say that it has addressed most of the challenges of the business world in an organized and comprehensive manner.

I would recommend this MBA program to those who wish to grow their career and enhance their prospects.

Proneeta Roy, India

I have just completed the nine-paper MBA degree with EBS, and I can honestly say that it was a unique experience. After completing my Bachelors in Management Studies in India, I was looking for a course that would complement this background, and I was lucky to have found this. It suited my needs perfectly. I've done the course from one of the learning centres in London, and I've never regretted my decision. The University was very helpful whenever I required any assistance. They have a great set-up for their students. Always willing to answer any queries and completely accessible by e-mail, I never felt disadvantaged for not studying at the EBS campus myself. Also, it was nice to see what a keen interest they took in how the learning centres were ensuring quality education. We were regularly sent questionnaires to test the ability of professors, which shows the university's genuine concern for the welfare of their students. Another thing that I found very satisfying was that I was able to choose the pace with which I could complete the course myself. There was never any rush or any strict schedule put in place by EBS.

The course itself was great. It was designed to suit students of any nationality. It was a comprehensive course, and I honestly feel that it has enhanced my knowledge of how organisations work. I have retained all the study material, which I find very useful whenever I need to refer back to them to understand the current situations I face at work. It has helped my professional life tremendously, in understanding the working of my organisation, its people, managing difficulties, understanding the language that different people from different departments speak, etc. This course is really something that I will always be proud of having completed, and I would recommend it without hesitation to anyone considering it.

Sam Easaw, Malaysia

Without doubt, the MBA programme at Edinburgh Business School was the most stimulating educational and empowering experience. The programme has been rejuvenating, enlightening and invigorating. I gained specific tools for sharpening my organization's strategic focus, which made me think deeply about the impact of global competition, and how the lessons learned from other industries can be applied.

The human dimension was particularly valuable and helped me reflect on my role and my future career. The whole experience was first-rate, helping me to continuously learn new business skills, get a broader base of knowledge and wider issues of business responsibility so that I could help the company move forward on various initiatives

The strategic frameworks were very effective, and I will be able to use them to improve the execution of our strategy. I am now highly capable of delegating, coaching, effectively communicating to higher levels; I also have a better understanding of the various perspectives on organizational issues, and creating a work environment that is team-oriented with an immense amount of fun. In general, the MBA programme stimulated many new ideas and methodologies that will prove useful for both leadership and management roles.

The quality of the faculty is world-class. The programme blended real business cases with current research findings. My gain has been an awareness of the complexity of growing a business in revolutionary times. This programme addressed many issues that I am currently struggling with – rewards and recognition, strategy, power and organizational behavior – and provided courses of action.

The programme and instructors brought up stimulating issues on today's business and current business practices. I learned how 'the company culture' can greatly impact the execution and the performance of the company. I will definitely consider the MBA one of the best investments I have ever made.

Ehud Ben-David, Israel

My EBS MBA is one of the most effective and beneficial decisions I have ever made with regards to my studies and career.

The merits of the EBS MBA programme are split into two:, flexibility and educational value.

On the flexibility side, as a very busy professional travelling a lot, the programme has allowed me to complete it and graduate taking into account the busy schedule and demanding tasks of business life.

On the educational side it had contributed enormously to my knowledge and understanding of the different management aspects of business life, covering all the disciplines today's managers are required to have in order to succeed and advance in their career, starting from marketing, financing, economics, organisational behaviour and so on.

The most important value of this programme is that it is not just a theoretical one, but actually very pragmatic and business-oriented. The materials in the programme have been implemented on a regular basis ever since.

Ricardo Ortiz, Uruguay

Through its distance learning MBA programme, EBS has allowed me to pursue and finally achieve a coveted degree. The flexibility of the approach along with the user-friendly textbooks – written by authorities in each field – provide the student with the opportunity to set the most convenient working rhythm. This feature is especially relevant for those who are already working. The material covers modern subjects and provides up to date information making it exciting and challenging to move through the pages. A fine support and feedback system is available to the student, even on a personal basis. One can easily clarify facts by e-mail and also the friendly website is a clear advantage.

An MBA degree is necessary for career advancement and we can say that a degree from EBS carries a lot of prestige.

For people with a tight job schedule like myself I strongly recommend enrolling in EBS's distance learning programmes.

Peter Dowling, New Zealand

I began studying for my MBA with Edinburgh Business School shortly after the birth of my second child. The distance-learning option meant that I could study at home while still being available to help with the kids, and ensured that I wasn't a stranger to them or my wife by the time I graduated. With the support of my company, I was able to study flexibly and apply my learnings to real situations as I went along.

Completing the degree equipped me with the tools to handle a broad range of business issues, and was an important factor in my moving to a senior management role within Reed. In addition to teaching me all-important lessons in people and organizational management, the MBA has enabled me to take a strategic view on where our business is now, and where we need to go. In particular the international marketing module that was one of my electives has helped in my close involvement in some major export initiatives.

Studying with Edinburgh Business School provided me with the knowledge and the confidence to take my career ahead, without sacrificing a work–life balance, and has left me with a desire to keep on learning and stepping up to new challenges.

Mohamed Adel Hassan, Saudi Arabia

It was a hard time for me to manage distance learning and my daily job requirements with long working hours. However, now after I have accomplished the nine MBA courses and graduated from EBS, I can feel how it was worth that time and more!

Every subject has contributed to a better understanding of my job as a sales manager.

Marketing, Strategic Planning and Consumer Behaviour gave me a clearer insight into company marketing and business strategy and the real needs of our customers.

Accounting and Finance enriched my personal finance decisions as well as the business ones.

Influence enabled me to better influence decisions to my favour at the office as well as in my family!

Organizational Behaviour made me better at building successful sales teams.

Project Management taught me how time, quality and cost are essential dimensions that a successful manager should master.

Economics enabled me to make a fortune from the stock market!

Prem Prakash Sewpaul, Mauritius

I work at middle management level for the National Airline Company of my country. I am also occasionally involved with audio visual companies as a freelancer. Coupled with the demands of my personal life, the overriding consideration for my choice of an MBA programme was flexibility.

My concern was also to find an accredited Business School which would increase my employability internationally.

EBS was therefore an easy choice for me as it is a prestigious establishment which was offering the best distance learning solutions from my shortlist of available options. The way the programme is designed has enabled me to take 2 modules per semester and complete it in 2 and a half years.

The user friendliness of the course material also contributed to the relative ease with which I completed the programme. The quality and availability of material over the websites was also of a great help. The packs are comprehensive, well organised and uniform in their formatting, reducing the teething problems of adapting to the following module. I could therefore focus my efforts on studying rather than looking for syllabi and collecting information from a variety of sources. This of course does not exclude the need to carry out research and collect complementary information.

The courses' pertinence and applicability to work have considerably improved my performance at work as has been noted by my superiors.

The difficulty of studying part time and the main challenge of distance learning from my point of view is to keep the flame burning and find the motivation to conclude the programme once you have started. I would like to note the crucial role of the Glamis Business school in Mauritius, which has created a community of EBS students providing quality courses and support to students. I have been happy to feel part of the community of students which has gathered around the Glamis Business School and it was paradoxically almost heartbreaking to have completed the programme.

Vibha Dineshkumar Shah, Kenya

The MBA with EBS is one of the most useful courses one can embark on. Personally I have enjoyed this course more than others that I have pursued. I found it very stimulating, challenging and satisfying.

When I graduated as a pharmacist from UWIST, Cardiff, Wales, I had not acquired any business training. The degree course had focused mainly on the drug aspects. Yet most pharmacists graduating at that time aspired to be small business owners.

When I commenced my ACCA course, I was happy to acquire the skills and abilities required by an accountant. However, in any business, an accountant – although an essential element of the human resource capital – has acumen in only one area of the business. For me, the MBA opened up the doors left closed by previous qualifications.

In the first place, it was very convenient to study at my own time and pace. I could manage my hectic schedule and yet fit in more than the 200 hours of study required by each module.

Secondly, each module is presented in a manner that is very easy to assimilate. In modern terms, the course is extremely 'user-friendly'. I enjoyed tremendously each of the seven courses I studied, and the elective courses presented a wide choice to suit any personal aptitude. In fact, while studying some courses, I felt that I was actually sitting in a live class – for example, economics.

Furthermore, the courses I found difficult presented a challenge that one had to surmount. In fact, finance and financial risk management, which I found the most difficult, secured my best marks! I would recommend studying for the Master of Business Administration with Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University to anyone. It is simply the BEST!!

Koh Tong Huat, Singapore

I decided in 1998 to undertake an MBA course after I was promoted and given marketing responsibilities – a significant departure from my professional training as a certified public accountant. Given that I had to travel regularly and extensively throughout Asia, I had to select an MBA programme that was not only widely recognised internationally but also had a flexible study schedule with a wide choice of core/specialised subjects that could be tailored to fill my knowledge/skills gap. I did fairly extensive research about the MBA programmes then available in Singapore and only the EBS MBA appeared to fully meet my selection criteria.

All the course materials were a joy to read – concise and written in a style that makes for easy comprehension by non-English native speakers like myself. The course was supplemented by tutorials conducted by the marketing agent in Singapore – useful for in-depth discussions and interaction with fellow coursemates. I was able to pass all the core/specialist subjects at the first attempt – a clear testimony to the depth and quality of the study materials.

There is no question that the EBS MBA has significantly broadened my knowledge/skills set and this, in my mind, has made me a better all-round manager – able to discharge my professional duties and responsibilities far better than I could have without this qualification.

Bing Yuan, China

My name is Bing Yuan(Chinese name is 袁冰). I come from China. I'm an MBA graduate of EBS in Dec 2008.

In fact, I have to say that my experience of studying is not very smooth. The difficulty is not in studying itself, but the mechanism of education in our country. As is well known, the conditions may be a little different from other countries. The special point is that a foreign university can't directly set up any educational course project in China on its own.

The only feasible way is that it will have to firstly choose one Chinese university that is registered, confirmed and authorized by the Ministry of Education of The People's Republic of China, and then cooperate with it under the authority of MEPRC. Thereby, my way is much uneven. That said, I had to spend extra 2 years to study and attained another Diploma at the Graduate School of Beijing Institute of technology, because it was the cooperating School for EBS, during the time of learning the EBS MBA lessons.

But what I felt very deeply impressive is still the courses of EBS. It's the key.

I learned very much from EBS MBA courses, not only the knowledge, but also the way of thinking, and the skills of applying flexibly what are written in the referencing books. I also knew about the different cultures of the test between the two countries, the UK and China. All above are very useful for me. In my opinion, EBS MBA course is very excellent.

Amir Armanious, Egypt

After I got my degrees from university, I got a job at the Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company as a financial consultant. Though I am a Master degree holder, my desire for knowledge and love for learning made me search for a programme at a credible university that guarantees the quality of education yet with flexibility in learning. I needed to preserve my career and even develop it. I wanted to gain the necessary knowledge and master the theoretical facts as well as the practical parts of business.

I kept searching for a university that could offer the balance between quality and flexibility, and then I found the Strategic Planning Masters programme at Edinburgh Business School. Studying with EBS provided me with the knowledge and the confidence to move forward in my career and it left me with more eagerness to keep learning and face life challenges. I chose the strategic planning programme to go hand in hand with my Masters in Economics. I love the fact that I could immediately apply business concepts that I learned from the various courses to real life work situations. It gave me the tools that I needed to analyze, assess and solve the business challenges that I face every day.

The university does a good job in providing its students with all the tools they need in order to make their learning experience easier and of more value, like providing students with access to professors through their online administration board.

I had a great and enriching experience with Edinburgh Business School and I am very proud to be one of its alumni. I do recommend it to anyone who wants to carry on with their studies without sacrificing their careers.

It has been a tremendous experience in every sense of the word and has enhanced my career to further equip me for the challenges of today's dynamic and competitive world. It truly provides a competitive advantage.

Atef Adly Ayoub, Egypt

First of all I would like to thank the Heriot-Watt university and Edinburgh Business School teachers and staff for making this course available for people like me who live abroad.

It was a tremendous experience and I highly recommend the MBA programme specifically in this market of cut-throat competition.

On the business level I know now how to set my objectives and make use of competitive advantages as well as knowing the opportunity cost.

On the personal level I was surprised by how much I learned, for example setting goals for myself and working out how to achieve them.

It was not an easy course; it was a very demanding one but also very gratifying. I had a hectic schedule during this period; it took me away from my family a lot so I would like to thank them for their support and understanding.

Yasser Wadie Bishay, Egypt

I am the owner and the managing director of a group of companies, and have a mechanical engineering background. I wanted to join an MBA program to help me with my business, however, my main concern was the studying time and so I opted to join a distance learning program.

I found EBS' studying courses to be very useful and helped me a lot in managing my business. The program offers a wide range of business relevant material.

The program helped me speak the same language when talking to the marketing and financial people in my company and other agencies. I recommend this program to anyone looking for educational material applied to the highly demanding business world and with a busy working schedule.

Norrafidah Md Ibrahim, Ireland

I heard about EBS many years ago during the time when I was still in college from my lecturers at the time, who were pursuing their MBA. Five years on, I decided then that I should look it up.

Balancing my career and family life (mother of two young beautiful daughters) is not an easy task. I have a busy schedule. The nature of my job providing supporting role to the wider group in my company means that I need to be available when needed and my working hours need to be flexible.

I realized that if I want to continue to pursue my ambition, I would need a good school which is reputable, flexible with good lecturers to support me around my schedule. I also was looking for course material that is solid and easy to follow for me to be able to do self study and study remotely. This is why EBS distance learning course is perfect for me.

The flexibility is not just around time management, but also my budget. It is not always easy to allocate funds to further my own ambition, when I have young children, but the flexibility means that I was not under pressure to pursue the course within 1 -2 years; I could phase myself, save money and plan my education time.

In my opinion, EBS has adopted the successful business strategy to meet the dynamics and demands of its students need without compromising on quality. I feel that EBS is a modern thinking school that suits my modern lifestyle.

As a result, I achieve what I wanted without making too much change to family life and work life. The knowledge that I gain, especially from my elective course do provide a competitive edge for me in my current role.

EBS came very highly recommended to me and now I'm happy to recommend it to anyone.

Alpesh Vadher, Kenya

The MBA degree awarded by Edinburgh Business School proudly hangs on my office wall with distinction. It reminds me of the wonderful experience and how my thought process has actually changed since receiving the award. I am now more focused on thinking "outside the box" and being more innovative in implementing ideas and providing practical solutions to clients needing advice on various issues.

EBS's MBA certainly carries some weight and credibility within our firm and amongst my co-partners. The programme has certainly helped me in making positive contributions towards the strategic goals of the partnership. The flexibility and design of the course made it easier for me to balance my work and studies and also enabled me to complete my course in eighteen months.

I can honestly say that there are no regrets in choosing the EBS's MBA option. Since receiving the degree I have been assigned more responsibilities. This includes taking over the Human Resource function and operations of an office where we had just finalized a merger. Taking core courses like Organisational Behavior and my chosen electives; Mergers and Acquisitions and Corporate Governance, have certainly helped in executing my additional responsibilities.

What more can I say about the programme!! It's a cocktail of courses definitely designed to suit and advance your career.

Suresh Nagalingam, Malaysia

The EBS MBA program requires determination, discipline and effort. To put it simply, it's a challenging course that pushes your intellectual thinking to its boundaries, and works it further.

Let me add that unlike other postgraduate courses, this is not a course that simply skims the surface. What you are getting rewarded as an end result is a solid understanding in business backed by a highly reputable and prestigious university.

Undeniably I have to say that the course is challenging and standards are very high to say the least. However, the extremely comprehensive and detailed learning materials not only help students understand but in addition it also makes learning fun and addictive due to it's well structured presentation and real world cases. I have to add again that EBS has done a fabulous job by developing quality learning materials that I find to be very beneficial and useful during my study.

In addition, my experience with the academic staff and professors had been very pleasant and they were always present to answer my queries and clear my doubts.

When I chose EBS to pursue my MBA after years of scouting around for options, I exactly knew where I was heading and my inner heart felt a sense of contentment, fulfillment and joy knowing that I have made the right decision investing in a high quality solid education from a top university.

2 years have passed since I graduated with a distinction and I feel very proud to be part of the Watt club and a product of the university!

Aida Berenice Saldana, Mexico

Studying Heriot Watt Univerity's Edinburgh Business School MBA long distance program has completely changed my life. I have gone from a teenager who did not know what to do with her life to a successful economist working for the Mexican government.

I was always good in math and English, but never thought about doing a long distance program until a friend of mine recommended the HW MBA program to me. I gave it a try since I thought I had nothing to lose, and I'm glad to say I was right.

When I started the MBA program, back in 1999, I had to mail the green sheets to enroll in the program, after two passes I would be a matriculated student. Sadly, only after my first fails, I realized the program requires serious commitment and it was then when the race began. I became a serious student and workout diligently all exercises in the big black books, I communicated with some of the students to exchange ideas about the modules and with my first two passes in 2001 I became a matriculated student.

Learning about Economics in the MBA program made me realize I would want to become an economist and as soon as I could, while still doing the long distance program, I enrolled in Economics school at my local university in Tijuana, where I graduated with distinction.

I am very happy I was able to attend my graduation ceremony in July 2008, the time of the year when weather in Edinburgh is simply gorgeous... up to now, the most memorable day of my life.

I never thought I would ever reach the day where I would see myself as a Heriot Watt graduate since there were several obstacles I had to overcome to achieve this goal, but I always had the support from EBS when I needed to defer exams. I took advantage of the installment payments program when doing my last module. I also took advantage of Edinburgh Business School's widespread testing centers, taking some of the modules in Mexico City, and others in California, USA.

Heriot Watt's, Edinburgh Business School MBA long distance program has given me not a title but a profession, its up- to-date material and interactive website has widened my horizons and has helped me develop an acute mind. Today, I'm not just a graduate who has a job in the public sector.

Erik Gabrielsen, Norway

During my career as an officer in the Royal Norwegian Navy, I have completed a fair amount of internal training, but only modest amounts of academic studies – so when I had the opportunity to expand my academic horizon I felt it right choosing an institution of higher education that has opened its MBA-program for those of us who haven't followed a normal line of education and who don't have a bachelor's degree to build upon.

Undertaking intensive studies alongside full-time work, and with two small children in the house, requires systematic work. The MBA-program at Edinburgh Business School is very well laid out and is well-organized. In particular I enjoyed the possibility of focusing on one module at a time. The complete curriculum is compiled in one place by the professor responsible for the module. The web-pages are easy to relate to and work well. The professors and staff are available on the web and in my opinion the professors answer any questions quickly and accurately. I've also occasionally taken advantage of the opportunity to download the syllabus as pdf-files and bring it along on travels. I also found it very useful to be able to download and study the past papers several years back in my preparations to sit for exams.

The immense flexibility the MBA-program offers was also an important factor when choosing what MBA-program to follow – it is somewhat less daunting to start a demanding study when you know that you can adjust your pace to match other varying commitments at work or at home.

In my opinion there is an advantage that so many have obtained their MBA-degree from Edinburgh Business School. The program is well-known and the university is prestigious.

After having completed the nine modules in two and a half years, it was a great moment and an overwhelming experience to receive the degree at the graduation ceremony in Scotland on my 39th birthday. It has also been satisfying receiving confirmation that the degree is considered highly relevant, and I know that it was given great weight when I shortly thereafter received a promotion in rank in the Navy and the new position in the Norwegian Ministry of Defence.

Vladimir Shevchenko, Russia

Several years ago I found myself in a position of a strong necessity to systematize my previous knowledge to obtain the integral understanding of the business management issues and to prepare myself for the new stage of professional career development. Having a good technical eductation, solid experience in different business areas with multinational companies and professional ambitions, I was eager to grow to a senior management level. Of course, a MBA programme seemed to be the proper way to follow.

For several reasons full-time study was not a feasible option for me. The tough travel schedule made an option of regular evening classes a doubtful solution. EBS MBA is really one of the few programmes which offer fantastic flexibility with no compromise over quality. Excellent mix of professional approach to the distance learning, flexible schedule, accurate selection of modular courses, different study and examination options, top quality textbooks written by the respected professors gives you an opportunity to concentrate on study in almost every situation. I managed to continue study in trains, airports, hotel rooms and other places without loosing the subject focus. During one of the extremely challenging projects I had to suspend my study for a year but then resumed and succeeded.

Of course, distance learning is a demanding task. It requires strong self discipline and dedication. You have to share your time simultaneously between job, family and study. But you can also gain benefits from the very first day. In total I spent around five years to complete the programme but started to apply the new knowledge after the first month of study.

Three years ago, my EBS MBA study, highly rated by professionals and well known by many business managers, became the good supplement to my experience and achievements. All of that affected the decision of my new employer to select me from the short list of candidates for a senior position. Due to that I managed to return investments to MBA study even before graduation.

I highly appreciate and recommend EBS MBA programme.

Heidi Grimmer, South Africa

At the time that I decided to pursue an MBA I needed to consider my work travel commitments. Many of my colleagues had furthered their brewing training at Heriot-Watt, through distance learning courses. Their positive feedback about Heriot-Watt made EBS a natural choice for me.

A review of the quality of the academic staff at EBS, convinced me even further. The rest was self discipline, hard work and a very supportive husband.

The EBS allowed me to combine my technical knowledge with a broader business understanding. One of the perceived weaknesses of distance learning is the lack of personal contact with other students. However, it was possible to address this by looking within SAB and some of the suppliers to understand the application of the various modules. I found many colleagues willing to assist when they heard that my motive was to apply my MBA knowledge.

I would certainly recommend EBS for anyone considering a distance learning MBA.

Françoise de Valera, Spain

When I first signed up to study the EBS MBA in 1993, straight out of University, I found I wasn't ready for it. I struggled to link the course to reality, as I hadn't experienced many of the situations in which the concepts taught would apply. However, I knew I wanted to complete it and that it would be highly beneficial for my career. It wasn't until 2005 when, as a senior manager within the telecommunications sector, I realized that the time was right. I graduated from the MBA programme the following year.

The prime benefits I have obtained from the course are additional confidence in my business skills, new analytical tools and a sense of speaking more of a common language with my peers. The confidence piece is critical – I now know that those around me are unlikely to know that much more than I do about the principles of running a business, except what experience may have taught them (highly valuable too, of course) and am able to make informed, considered decisions and unpick flawed arguments without worrying about whether others made their case based on some business concept I might not have been aware of. Shortly after completing the MBA, I was promoted to Chief Operating Officer, in charge of a 50 million GBP business. (I am the only female officer in our organization).

The flexibility offered by the distance learning course was crucial to my being able to complete it. I travel extensively with work and have little free time. When I do have free time, the last thing I want to do is study. The distance learning approach and not having to submit assignments allowed me to use travel time to study the course when my schedule allowed which, coupled with some study leave (5 days per exam) which I was able to negotiate with my employer, allowed me to complete the course without affecting my quality of life. While my employer would probably have funded the course for me had I asked, my late grandfather had given me the money to complete the course back in 1993, so I owe it to him.

I highly recommend the course.

Bjorn van Matern, Sweden

I took my Bachelors degree 20 years ago at one of the top ranked business schools in the US. And by comparison Edinburgh Business School is world class.

I studied my MBA long distance while attending classes for each module in Sweden. The set up was perfect and I finished my studies in approx. 2 ½ years. I thoroughly enjoyed the studies, it was challenging and the material was immensely mind expanding. I graduated in 2008 and crowned the MBA program by attending the ceremony in Edinburgh in the summer.

Strange as I might seem, I miss the studies and the constant feed of hands on business applicable models and reasoning.

We have an EBS alumni group in Sweden. Besides networking, we stick together as a group and meet at the charter office in Stockholm once a year for updates on the latest courses by EBS.

In summary, my experience of studying with Edinburgh Business School is all positive, I can vouch for the education at any time and I am personally very happy that I choose this MBA program. It has given me insights, confidence and tools that I apply daily both at work and private.

Jacob Senderovitz, Sweden

Being a father of 3 with a wife also pursuing a professional career, I needed the ability to study at my own pace, and taking breaks as needed along the way. That is the main reason I chose EBS.

I have been very happy with that decision. I was able to pursue my career, take care of my family, and at the same time extend my skills by studying at EBS.

The required level of understanding and mastery of the course material came as a surprise to me, and passing all the exams took a lot of effort.

During the years I studied, I met some really interesting fellow students, one of which later became my partner in a new start-up business.

Nearing the end of my studies I relocated from Denmark to Sweden, but that did not constitute any problems whatsoever with respect to EBS. I just signed up for my final exam in Stockholn instead of in Copenhagen. No worries.

The broad and deep competencies I have obtained at EBS have helped me a lot, and despite the hard journey I do not regret it for a minute.

Nando Cesarone, Switzerland

The material at EBS was very relevant to today's business environment. It also covers the material from an International point of view.

The material was challenging but allowed for an effective learning of the subject matter. The course itself was very flexible. I was able to balance a demanding work schedule with a family schedule. I could study at my own pace, evaluate how I would do on the exams and then schedule the exams at a convenient location and time.

Perfect fit for me.

Zdravko Ninov, Switzerland

I looked at several options before choosing Heriot-Watt but with my very busy job and family life the EBS distance-learning program offered the maximum level of flexibility that fitted best my needs. It's simply a fantastic way of gaining qualifications without the hassle of travelling and also without having to take time off work, as it is something you can do when it is quiet both at work and at home.

The program's flexibility and the ability to plan and study at my own pace with no deadlines helped me to concentrate more on each unit. The sequence of each course can also be chosen freely both of which was very important to me.

At the beginning I wasn't sure if everything would work out for me studying over the internet but the web-based portal that accompanies the paper-based textbooks is excellent. Always available and very user friendly. I found the numerous exercises offered at each module very useful including monitoring the study progress pointing out areas to strengthen.

The quality of study material was outstanding, supported with numerous examples including many practice-oriented case studies.

The MBA degree I earned at EBS helped me make a big enhancement to my career, not only on better understanding the operational details of my work, but also in terms of understanding management and teamwork in general. In my opinion this program provides students with the necessary skills and academic knowledge for both entry and mid-level positions in business.

Finally big thanks to all the administration staff and tutors for their co-operation, support and encouraging comments.

Reyad Yakot, United Arab Emirates

Studying EBS's MBA has truly changed my life.

After joining my current company, as a projects Architect, I realized that I had a knowledge gap in management and business tools which would be critical to my career future. To achieve my goals, I decided to study for an MBA and researched and found that the EBS program is the best choice because of the credibility and reputation of Edinburgh Business School, the high ranking of the program in all MBA surveys, program flexibility that would fit my full time job and all the courses can be applied practically to real business life.

After completing 3 courses, the company noticed my knowledge in accounting and finance concepts and the improvement in my management skills and I was promoted to Head of projects department.

By completing the MBA program and learning all the important business concepts and skills I was more confidant and able to contribute effectively to the company's profitability and success. Based on that I was promoted to General Manager and I have achieved most of my goals in very short time, thanks to EBS MBA program.

Zhou Aixia, United Arab Emirates

I really enjoyed the time I spent with EBS.

I still remember 3 years ago I quit my job in Siemens because I realized that there was no room for the kind of career growth I would like. I felt exhausted and stressed.

I thought it was the time to recharge and therefore I decided to take the MBA at EBS which is respected and very welcomed by Chinese people. To be honest, this is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

How can I describe how much this programme helped me? What it gave me the chance to further my career. It is a special and timely programme for me. Actually this programme provided me a new angle of view to feel the world and changed my way of thinking and doing things in business life, consequently it enriched me and made me powerful in heart. The door was closed to me 4 years ago and now there are a lot windows opened to guide me to advancement of my career.

Justine Bagyenda, Uganda

It was indeed an enriching experience.

When I started the MBA I was heading Commercial Banking Department at BOU as a Director. By the time I completed in 2007, I had been promoted to Executive Director Supervision and I am the only lady Executive. This is a second highest position in the Bank after Governor's office.

My MBA has enhanced my skills in providing leadership towards achievement of a strong and sound financial sector in Uganda by application of the Organizational Behavior principles. The MBA has also assisted me in promoting a positive corporate image for Bank of Uganda through application of the knowledge I acquired in the Corporate Governance course.

To all EBS Alumni I say: "Always keep your head up, do the best you can in life and follow your dreams. Everybody has the potential to make it no matter where you come from. Also try to look at every challenge as an opportunity to make you a better person".

When I embarked on my MBA, it was quite a challenge to balance my heavy schedule and at the same time read the books. However, I took it up and here I am; basking in glory with pride.

Ana Lucia Cristea, UK

I studied an Edinburgh Business School MBA through West London College in Central London graduating in July 2008. It was a very interesting and reasonably challenging experience at the end of which my chances of getting a well paid job and the opportunities for career progression have significantly increased.

The tutors were well prepared, the supporting manuals and materials very comprehensive combining theory, examples and practical case studies- basically all you need for being well prepared for the exams. As a word of advice I would say that the exams are not easy - so you have to be well prepared and have good exam techniques and time management skills in order to pass.

The mandatory subjects were well combined so that it gives one thorough knowledge and a good understanding of the skills needed in order to efficiently run a business.

I would recommend this MBA programme to anyone. It is flexible and good value for money, especially if done through a good college.

Jayshree Shah, UK

Don't be fooled to think that the EBS program is an easy option, you will have to be very disciplined and work hard to successfully complete the course requirements. Finishing the program is a very satisfying experience. I found that EBS was very supportive throughout the program and the online help is fantastic.

Lorraine Mohammed, UK

I started studying with EBS by the distant learning program, and later in 2007 moved to the UK and then to the Riccarton campus. From the beginning I found the non teaching staff very helpful, and this was key to helping me settle down with my studies and use the tools available. Once I got into my studies the online tools and interaction with various professors provide invaluable guidance and help in grasping various topics and overcoming hurdles.

On campus, there is the added benefit of face to face interaction with the professors and other students, which I feel takes the learning experience to another level and helps build a meaningful network. The facilities are top notch and very conducive to studying, I love the break-out rooms! The campus itself is quite special; it not massive but it is spacious, very green and lush, you feel as if you are studying in a national park. If you prefer energy the campus pub has a good vibe and my personal favorite was treating myself – after a bout with the books to a Starbucks cappuccino in the café and taking in the news.

What excited me from the beginning was how practical the EBS MBA program was; you had to understand the theory and background but the program pushed you to use it in projects, and when you answered you exam questions you really needed to know how to apply the information you gathered in your studies to have a quality pass. However, above all the single most important aspect of my experience at EBS were the simulation workshops that came with the Economics and Strategic planning modules; these really help to put academic knowledge into practice and has taught me a great deal about management style and running a business.

Nicholas Ross, UK

I was working as an IT Analyst in the financial sector, and had been looking for a study option outside of work to broaden my skills and knowledge. I happened to have a conversation with the Head of IT at the firm, who attested that his MBA was the best career move he had made. When selecting a school, the appeal of Edinburgh Business School was twofold.

Firstly, the internationally popular distance learning study route had a very good reputation. Secondly, it offered good value relative to other local universities - and despite preferring the distance learning study route, I did want to study with a local institution in order that I could have easier access to the faculty for support.

As someone who would be staying in full time employment, and with a baby on the way, the flexibility to study as and when I could (I took a six month break following the birth of my son) was fantastic.

Any distance learning course stands or falls on the quality of the written materials provided, as well as on the support provided to students on campus or online. I found both the coursework and online support forums to be extremely good, with the quick and helpful responses of tutors online being particularly noteworthy.

Upon completion of the MBA I immediately found that more prospective employers and their agents were keen to speak with me than had previously been the case. There were a number of opportunities to go and work in London, but family ties meant I was keen to stay in Edinburgh and I secured a role at Standard Life Investments in January 2008.

Before I started the MBA, the advice given to me was that you get out of the qualification what you put in – and that would be my advice to anyone considering taking one on today. It is a significant commitment in terms of both time and resources, but one that has the potential to repay with interest.

Phillip Ochama, UK

It was the best decision of my life when I chose the MBA programme at Edinburgh Business School, Heriot – Watt. It was a hugely enriching and invigorating experience to spend time with the lecturers and other students understanding the range of issues that affect all professionals from formulating to realising organisational strategies.

As well as making a number of friends and contacts from throughout the world, I learnt that, whilst there are no straight roads, all students face different kinds of challenges, concerns, stresses and strains. Addressing these issues through case studies and sharing experiences in the class in a lively and friendly manner was both hugely stimulating and rewarding. The course facilitated me in relating my work directly to the different business / management models, this in turn helped me to get promotions.

The course was entertaining, valuable and challenging but, most of all, great fun. This is because of the wide choice of courses the EBS MBA programme offers.

I would highly recommend EBS MBA.

Sanna Darboe, UK

First things first, I would very much like to seize this opportunity to thank EBS and whoever is involved in allowing me to gain an invaluable education and experience and most importantly to be a graduate of this highly regarded institution.

This as I regard is a life changing achievement and am sure will very much contribute to my career progression.

It has always been an aspiration for me to one day be in a senior position in a challenging business environment and as such, today's business environment needs highly talented individuals who are dynamic and confident in their role as decision makers.

After completing my professional qualifications in accounting and finance I decided to do a Masters in Business Administration program to enable me to realize my ambitions. The choice of which MBA to go for was an easy one for me after speaking to one of my ex colleagues who went through similar experiences and after looking through the choice of courses to take and with the exemptions given to me which reduces the number of courses for me.

The quality of this MBA program is supplemented by the choices available in terms of the courses to sit and the flexibility in when to take and how many to take at a time not forgetting to mention the materials available in hand and online, this is second to none.

I feel I have really benefited from the program, courses like Economics, Project Management, Organisational Behavior, Marketing and many more have given me enhanced potential to one day become a manager in my own right.

I would like to conclude by once again thanking everyone at EBS and to mention that my graduation day was one of the best days in my life and if not the best ceremonies I've ever witnessed.

Smita Sanyal, UK

I joined Edinburgh Business School (EBS), Heriot Watt University in January 2006 as a MBA student. I opted for MBA with Marketing specialism to gain in-depth knowledge and exposure in Business Management. After searching through different universities and their course structure, I found EBS the most appealing. The course structure and modules were very challenging and exhaustive.

This course is different from other MBA courses because it provides a detailed insight into the different core modules like Marketing and Finance which are the building blocks of every organization. This attracted me towards this degree and EBS the most.

The MBA degree from EBS helped me to acquire an edge personally and professionally in terms of Time and People Management. It helped me to utilize my theoretical knowledge into the practical environment. I could confidently oversee the projects from conceptualization through to successful and timely completion. The marketing strategies learnt during MBA helped me to increase sales and gain an edge over the competitors within companies like GEA and HSBC.

The faculty and staff at EBS were very cooperative and supportive. Their encouragement and advice throughout my MBA tenure has helped me achieve this degree with Grade 'A' in Finance and Marketing Communications. I feel proud to be al Alumnus of this prestigious institution.

Graham Robertson, USA

I researched many business schools worldwide before selecting Heriot-Watt's Edinburgh Business School MBA. The school provided me with the careful blend of both convenient distance learning options and a respected global reputation. I was able to study while working in the US and sat my exams locally in Los Angeles at an affiliated quality university (University of Southern California, USC).

The knowledge and experiences gained from the MBA are a constant presence in my professional/personal life and I would highly recommend any one to take the necessary steps towards achieving an MBA and would encourage everyone to consider the Heriot-Watt EBS MBA no matter where they live.

I'm an expat Scot living in California so the EBS was the clear logical choice especially given Professor Lumsden's reputation. It was a privilege to study economics (as part of the MBA) with such an 'Ivy league' Stanford scholar. The quality of the course work and tutors for all sujects in the MBA was extremely high but the Economics module served as the most complete and well presented compendium of the subject and became the back-bone to my MBA experience.

The choice to study with a Scottish university being led by an ex-Stanford University Economics expert and the option to sit exams with the University of Southern California was overpowering and offered me the complete MBA package. I had such a positive experience before, during and after studying the MBA with EBS I have decided to challenge myself further and go for the Doctorate in Business, again with Heriot Watt's EBS.

Clement Kapila, Zambia

Having obtained Associate of Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIOB) and Associate of Chartered Institute of Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualifications, I felt confident with my technical capacity to discharge my duties to the required standard. However, as I started rising up the ladder in my work career, I started feeling a sense of inadequacy in myself . Increasingly a lot of people that I was interacting with were MBA holders. I admired their quality of work which clearly looked superior to mine.

After searching for suitable institutions that could offer me a widely recognized MBA at affordable fees and flexibility to pursue the studies whilst working, I finally settled for Edinburgh Business School as it met all my requirements. Its course fees were affordable, MBA widely recognized, and I found its mode of education delivery appropriate for my situation and a lot of individuals I knew who studied with Edinburgh Business School gave it a favourable review.

During my studies with the School, I found the course materials very detailed and easy to follow. The case examples were extremely helpful to me as they helped link theory into practice and deepened my understanding of the subjects. Pursuing my studies whilst working gave me an opportunity to immediately apply the new knowledge gained in my studies straight into my daily work. I could clearly see the relevance of my studies to my work. This gave me a sense of satisfaction with my studies and made me enjoy both my studies and work. Completion of the MBA has broadened my knowledge, I now feel more confident in my daily work interaction with colleagues.

Having enjoyed my MBA Studies with Edinburgh Business School, I do not want to stop there and sit in a comfort zone .I have since enrolled for DBA with the School. I am quite aware of how challenging the DBA course is but I feel any challenging course represents a rare opportunity to separate oneself from the many.

Joma Tambatamba, Zambia

I chose this EBS MBA programme based on the flexibility and popularity it has. With my tight work schedule working in the Public Sector, which is in Central Government as a Principal Accountant, I had targets to make each day and at the same time I found time to study for the MBA.

I had other challenges being a working Professional Accountant, a wife and mother of four children, I had to find time for all these roles. A big thank you to EBS MBA which was just right for me to carry out these roles. The MBA has molded me into a complete professional with skills in various fields.

Being a Finance person, I can proudly advise anybody on issues relating to Strategic Management, Organizational Behaviour, Economics, Marketing, Project Management, Influence and Competitive Strategy . This experience will definitely shape help my reputation.

The flexibility of this MBA allows you to plan when to take an exam. I planned to sit an exam at each exam diet and this enabled me to complete the programme on time. The secret is to write an exam at each exam diet and you will not go wrong! The self study books and examinations in them were just the right practice for me. The MBA has immediately transformed me into an intellectual with business concepts which can be applied to any real life work situation.

I would like to thank my husband and kids who allowed me to spend sleepless nights towards exam time. A big thank you to the country coordinator at ZICAB and lastly to EBS for providing this MBA.

Martine George, Belgium

Business Professional development was my primary objective for undertaking this program. I had a PhD in Physics and 8 years of professional experience. The last two years had allowed me to move from R&D to Marketing Intelligence. I started the program when my son was two years of age and I had a girl the next year.

The flexibility of distance learning enabled me to balance the demanding and sometimes competing priorities of being a full time mother, holding down a full time job and study requirements. This valuable flexibility would not have been possible in a traditional study arrangement.

This program has material that is relevant and directly applicable to my work. I constantly refer to the study materials for guidance. The program enabled me to understand end-to-end business processes, their relationships and intersecting points— thereby extending my professional capabilities.

The program is not only of a very high standard but offers concrete skills that one can use daily. The study material is current and relevant to people who aspire to contribute strongly to their organisation's strategic direction and achievements. The program is essential to understand in greater detail the current business environment especially in these economic turbulent times.

Andrew Sinclair, Canada

When I began the Edinburgh Business School distance MBA program in 2005, I was working for a large international mining company and was about to begin a 2-year stint at a fly in, fly out construction site in northern Labrador. I knew that I wanted to pursue an MBA, however I was having trouble finding a program that was going to be flexible enough to fit my demanding travel schedule. I then heard about the EBS MBA program and after comparing it to other distance MBA programs in the UK, US and Canada, it was clear that the EBS was a perfect fit for my needs.

Never having taken a distance course prior to joining this program, I was pleasantly surprised at the various media and discussion forums available for content delivery. This variety was very useful to me since I was equally as likely to be reading from my Economics book pdf on my laptop while flying in a plane, reviewing pages from my Marketing binder during down time at the construction site and reading posts on the Project Management discussion forum at my kitchen table.

I found the content to be very interesting and since I was completing the program while working full time I was able to translate it to my day job, particularly in the area of project management, which helped me understand the content that much more. The knowledge I have gained in this program has also played a part in my career progression. I am still with the same company and I have had three jobs of progressively increasing responsibility since joining the MBA program.

Finally, in 2008 after three years of taking one or two courses per semester, my wife and I made the trip overseas to attend the graduation ceremony in Edinburgh. It was a strange feeling to walk around the Heriot-Watt campus knowing that I had been a student for three years but had never set foot there.

I continue to recommend the EBS distance MBA program to my colleagues, friends and anyone interested in pursuing business education at the graduate level that faces challenges in their schedule due to professional or personal constraints.

Brian Watson, Canada

After 21 years in business management, I changed careers in 1999 to teach in the Ontario college system. Shortly thereafter, the provincial government changed the college's Charter to include to the granting of degrees.

My undergrad degree and professional designation alone would not allow me to teach into the degree programs, so I needed a Master's degree. The obvious choice for me was an MBA, but which one and from what institution? I had to study on a part-time basis, so I began my search.

I decided to enroll in the MBA program with EBS, beginning my studies in January 2004. There were two primary reasons for choosing EBS; flexibility and value! Like many people I was already juggling a very busy family, work and professional life, and I needed as much flexibility as possible to fit my studies into an already busy schedule. I did not want to be tied to a structured schedule where I had to be in a classroom on a specific evening at a specific time.

For this to work for me, I needed complete flexibility, and the MBA at EBS provided that opportunity for me. Additionally, there are many other good programs I could have chosen that would have required a significantly greater financial investment. In my opinion the MBA at EBS provides for much better value dollar for dollar.

I found the program of study to be relevant, current, and rigorous! Not only have I benefitted directly from the program, it has also enriched what I bring to the classroom and offer my students each day. I successfully completed the program in June 2008, and my family made the trip to Edinburgh to attend graduation ceremonies in June 2009.

I highly recommend the MBA at EBS! It was an excellent experience! Thank you EBS for such a fine program!

Vincent Chow, Canada

I always consider the completion of this MBA programme one of my greatest achievements. Being a Chartered Accountant with an undergraduate degree in this same discipline, I have received a substantial amount of technical training but have never been trained sufficiently in general business subjects. Because of this, I researched different MBA programmes offered by many universities before finally selected the EBS programme.

There were mainly three factors affecting my decision. Firstly, the programme must have a solid and well-rounded structure. EBS MBA was and still is one of the best programmes one can find in the market. It includes all the subjects I consider most relevant to a graduate level programme but never goes overly specialized in any specific subject area unless one chooses to pursue a specialisation in that discipline.

Secondly, the programme must offer sufficient flexibility. In my opinion, no other MBA programmes in the world can beat EBS MBA. Lastly, the tuition fees must be at a reasonable level. My finding is that while EBS MBA programme maintains a very high academic standard, its cost is almost among one of the lowest in the market.

As in other academic programmes, some courses are better than the others in the EBS MBA programme. In particular, the Economics course is one of the better courses (if not the best) I have ever taken.

This MBA programme has helped me to acquire a well-rounded education in general business practices. What I earned is not merely a degree certificate but also all the knowledge and the perspective that comes with this study. Without this programme, perhaps I would still be a competent accountant, but I would never be as well-rounded an accountant as I am now.

Altantuya Altankhuu, Mongolia

I started my MBA studies with EBS in 2001 and finished it in 2007. At first I was not sure if this was my cup of tea, but after the pleasant surprise of passing my 1st exam, (Accounting), I gained a lot of confidence.

I was very lucky to have a CEO who agreed to finance my MBA course, because without this, my background of being an average citizen in a developing country would have made it impossible.

The only time I could study was after my work and during weekends. In the beginning I had to read the module twice and go over every multiple choice question and case study. Later on I was able to absorb material by just reading it once, (but not Finance). I even used to take my reading when I went to the hairdresser! For 5 years I did not take any holidays, and instead every May during my holiday I would prepare for exams, which were sat at the British Embassy in Mongolia.

From time to time, when I think back, I don't know how I managed it. I found motivation from the fine materials designed for self learners. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was fascinated by the skills and knowledge of the professors-authors, although regretfully I could not see or talk to them or ask questions.

When I started my MBA, only the hard copies were available and later on when the on-line access was introduced it was a great advantage. I found past papers on-line which helped me so much, especially Finance. I remember working on all the past years exam materials, which guaranteed my pass. I had 2 fails, Project Management and Finance. The reason for the PM failure was after I passed my first 2 exams I became over confident thinking "I will pass". Finance was simply difficult for me and I had to spend a whole year only on this subject.

Not only was I proud of myself, I enjoyed the knowledge I obtained and how this knowledge took me up the ladder. I felt a huge difference within me, especially when I had problems or issues, the words would flow spontaneously and I even surprised myself! I was able to perform well, help colleagues and teach new employees; that was the biggest satisfaction I could get.

Nathaniel George, Rep. Dominica

Immediately prior to beginning the EBS MBA, I completed an Executive Diploma in Management with the University of the West Indies. Selecting EBS MBA was very easy. A co-worker had recently returned from the UK where she completed the program and she was very satisfied with the experience, and so I did some further research of my own and came to the same conclusion; that the EBS MBA is among the top in the world and so I signed up. I wrote my first exam in December 2002.

The road to success was very lonely for the greater part of the program. I was the only EBS student on the island when I started the program. It was not until about 2006, a fellow co-worker started the program. Closer to the end of my study, I convinced another co-worker to sign up. There were many defining moments during the course of my studies. I was promoted to Business Planning Manager in 2002 with responsibilities for strategic planning, budgeting and forecasting. This new appointment was very demanding, especially because the most significant aspects of my duties coincided with the exam timetable!

In October of 2003, I was transferred to the position of Customer Service Manager, a position I currently hold.

In 2006, I took a break from the program for about eighteen months to construct our house. It was proving too difficult to manage the construction of our house, work and do the program. But I was committed to my studies and in spite of the challenges I was more determined than ever to finish what I started. I had to defer subjects at times, because it was just impossible to study…..but I did not quit.

I resumed my studies after our house was constructed and in June of 2009, I graduated with an MBA with specialism in Marketing. My wife and I travelled from the Commonwealth of Dominica for over 15 hours to get to Edinburgh. This was a dream come true on several levels. I promised Zilia I would take her to London and I promised myself that I would finish what I started. No matter what the circumstances……………………and I did.

Karen Battoo, Trinidad

I started my MBA with EBS in late 2005 by attending classes in Trinidad where I live at the satellite/affiliated School of Business and Computer Science (SBCS). Though options were offered for part-time study after working hours and on weekends, I wanted a way to complete my MBA with minimal inconvenience and hassle involved in long commutes, rush-hour traffic and night driving.

I decided to travel to Scotland to complete several of the modules at EBS on campus. Despite the costs involved with international travel, it was far more convenient to complete intensive programme sessions on campus over 4-5 days each than it was to endure 5-month semesters in Trinidad attending evening classes. The choice of accommodation provided was excellent given the options of Graduate housing or the comfortable hotel-style Paul Stobbart Building and I always felt like I was in a home away from home.

Completing the intensives in Edinburgh not only gave me the opportunity to travel and to connect with students from all over the globe, but it was also a truly rich and rewarding learning experience given the course format, the professionalism and experience of the lecturers and the opportunities to immerse oneself in the different global perspectives.

The whole experience with EBS was a joy – the staff were super-efficient and kind and went out of their way to offer assistance when approached. The campus's location allows quick and easy access to the city-center by public transport and the campus always felt very safe – even if returning from the city at late hours.

I graduated this June 2009 – approximately 4 years after I started. Had it not been for attending the Executive/Intensive Courses in Edinburgh, I may not have completed my degree or would have certainly taken much longer to do so. The EBS course was the perfect fit to my busy life and trying to balance a demanding job, new marriage and home renovations with studies. Just a few months prior to completion of my last MBA modules, I recommended the course to my best friend. She is now a full-time MBA student on campus and having the experience of her life!

Neil Derrick, Trinidad

I completed the MBA with specialism and graduated June 2009. The only regret I have with respect to my decision, to do this programme with EBS, is that I did not make the decision earlier.

The planners and co-coordinators of this programme have ensured they covered all corners in the planning of this degree. They have dealt with the issue of entry through the creation of entry paths for persons with formal qualifications and those with life learning.

In this regard they introduced the novel idea of no hassle entry and matriculation after the completion of four courses; a brilliant way to test students' capability to continue. The structure of the programme also allows for the flexibility of constructing an MBA programme to suit the peaks and troughs of your schedule and your areas of interest.

The online access, including watercooler, and supported by a prompt, courteous and committed administrative staff mimics an on-campus setting. The breadth of the programme and the real life case studies also provides tools that you can implement during your period of study and see immediate results.

In short, it is a programme that changes your approach to day-to-day business by changing your thought patterns.

Suzanne Singh, Trinidad

Studying with Edinburgh Business School was a rewarding experience in many and varied ways. I embarked on this programme to enhance my professional career. This was accomplished with a surprising added value.

As an individual, the knowledge and insight acquired assisted in my personal transformation resulting in a renewed understanding of people in any type of situation/environment and has provided me with the harmony/balance and understanding to respond in a positive manner in any given situation whilst creating a path for encouraging growth in any situation. This is most valuable to me.

Now, I'm self employed, partnered with my husband and we own and operate two different international companies together. I have the confidence of the MBA credentials with my name which in itself is self rewarding and commands respect in today's world of international business. This MBA programme not only instills the educational knowledge in a person but it literally transforms a person providing the incentive of becoming a better individual to make a difference in the world without one even realizing it at the time. For me, it has helped me reached another level in the lesson of life and has guided me in finding my purpose on this planet.

I am very happy to have embarked on this programme, it was not an easy road, my journey comprised of real life situations to deal with in every aspect but I did not give up. I found the strength and encouragement in my husband, family and friends and I am very grateful to them for their support.

Embarking on this study programme, like everything else in life, is a Partnership consisting of two equal parts forming one vessel, to work in complete unison, both parts must be giving. Therefore my message to all who embark on a study programme with Edinburgh Business School is to "Give your gift openly, freely and honestly", the rewards are self gratifying.

Venetta Sookhai Mohammed, Trinidad

I chose the Heriot-Watt MBA because it was being offered by a well respected University and because the flexibility of the program is a good fit for working adults. The MBA offered a comprehensive business education program using a principled-centered approach along with relevant and effective case studies.

The programme was challenging but extremely rewarding, I definitely view attaining my MBA as a great personal accomplishment and it would be remiss of me to not say that the program has certainly changed the way I approach my job and all the tasks in between.

I would have no hesitation in recommending this course of study to persons who want that extra edge to distinguish themselves from others with similar qualifications but more importantly to persons wishing to widen their perspective by learning new approaches to old problems.

Having decided to pursue this qualification has been one of the best decisions I could have chosen for myself and my career.

Robin Fowler, UK

I started studying 10 years ago to confirm to myself that I had a broad grounding in business. Family life and work intervened at many times to put my studies on hold, but the EBS staff never forgot me and encouraged me to continue.

With my family older and undertaking higher education I somehow found the time and resources to make that final push to complete the MBA by taking a module at each diet. This demanded tenacity and application whilst undertaking a very demanding job.

As a senior strategy/finance manager, a lot of what I was dealing with on a day to day basis had a relevance to the compulsory and elective modules I was studying, which in turn added new techniques or insight into my decision taking. So this was a course that could immediately be applied to the real world.

My advice to anyone considering this course is to go for it. Its not any easy option, but success really does demonstrate your ability to commit, project manage your time, and perseverance to achieve goals as well as exposure to many disciplines within the business world.

Brian Strong, USA

During my research for a MBA programme, I reviewed many and thoroughly considered 12-15 institutions. I chose to study through Heriot-Watt University's Edinburgh Business School because of the programme's reputation, thourough and challenging curriculum, and flexibility.

Having had no previous experience with the University up to that point, I had to trust what I had read and what I had heard from my peers. At no time during my course of study was I disappointed.

I always found the material to be relevant and current, the courses and exams to be challenging and fair, and the school's staff to be accessible, responsive and helpful.

I chose to study for an MBA to exercise my brain and help me to think about problems and solutions in new ways. The EBS MBA programme has helped me to do that, and I use the methods and lessons learned through the courses regularly.

Michelle Albert, USA

EBS/HWU is a green oasis of high frequency and high standards. The environment captured both my interest and my imagination as a student and in conjunction provided a solid education.

The EBS/MBA program has shifted my psyche entirely and career prospects will eventually follow. However, most importantly, the desire for further learning and discovery was awakened in me; and this need can be filled with additional EBS programs of study.

Barry Simpson, Brazil

The need to improve my business knowledge and expertise whilst maintaining flexibility with an internationallt mobile career was the main driver for choosing the EBS MBA and MSc in Strategic Planning programs.

I found it an immensely rewarding and challenging experience that gave me the intellectual tools to address the many varied challenges one faces on a daily basis in our South American business unit. It has helped develop my career immensely as I moved from different positions and countries to my current Director role in our South America business unit, based in Brazil.

The courses are well written and I was able to apply the learning as I went along. It's a great program and I strongly recommend it.

Of course, it also helped being Scottish as I was aware of the excellent reputation of Heriot-Watt University. As I complete the MSc I am currently pondering the idea of joining the EBS DBA program!

Carmen Dima, Canada

Writing a doctoral thesis is a journey. And like any expedition the companionship makes a big difference! Once more in my life I came to realise that is not only the work that keeps you motivated, it is the people around you that make it interesting and worthwhile.

And talking about the work, don't fool yourself: it is a lot of work. Dedication, perseverance and the ability to accept criticism with a light heart and start all over again, are just a few of the many qualities that you'll need in order to succeed. While the EBS MBA program interplays flexibility and performance, the EBS DBA takes it to a higher level. From administration to the Research Committee, everybody is committed to your success.

I've experienced prompt feedback, a constructive approach and a genuine commitment to excellence. The warmth and famous Scottish hospitality in conjunction with a high degree of professionalism surfaced throughout the duration of the program.

The defence phase of the degree, as much as everybody fears it, was my most fulfilling academic experience ever.

The learning that goes into the DBA degree goes beyond academics: I've learned to manage industry, peers, and supervisors, due dates, family and professional relationships while conceptualizing and proofing academic theories. Not an easy undertaking, yet the resilience and expertise developed in the process are the pinnacles of my future professional career.

Thank you EBS for this experience.

Graham Mitchelmore, China

I chose to study with EBS for several reasons.

Firstly, through the Heriot-Watt University I was reassured that my qualifications would have the worldwide credibility of a 'Royal Charter' UK university, a credibility that was further justified by notoriously tough examinations. Next, the independent nature of the programmes, with no residential or group study requirements, combined with self-contained notes, meant that my study time was used very effectively. Finally, the flexible structure allowed me to combine a busy career with life-long learning.

As my work commitments ranged from fairly busy to frantic, I studied when time permitted and I tentatively sat exams one by one, even taking a year out along the way. I persisted though, and after four years, I travelled to Edinburgh with my family to graduate as an MBA with Distinction.

Afterwards, I took some time to reflect and enjoy my free evenings and weekends, but I had a nagging curiosity - what next? - it was between learning the piano and doing a Doctorate.

I looked at the courses available with EBS starting bottom of my choices as I wanted to expand my portfolio of universities. However, as I did my assessments, EBS crept up the list as the best fit for my circumstances. I made the application and took the plunge to do the EBS DBA.

With my experience of the renowned EBS pedagogy, I completed most of the examinations within one year and took the milestone option to graduate with an MSc, once more with Distinction. I was on the research element of the Doctorate, which was new territory for me.

The road from research proposal to final thesis and viva voce was long and winding, with quite a few pot-holes along the way. At times, progress was painfully slow, and for a period of more than a year I seemed to be stuck in a rut, although I never doubted my destiny. Finally, with a tactful prod from my supervisor, Dr. Bill Wallace, and the encouragement of many others from EBS, the research came together and my thesis and viva were done.

For my Doctorate, I chose to graduate in Hong Kong, again with my wife and sons in tow. Our boys are much bigger now – they have seen the value of persistence.

Isaac Yaw Ani, Ghana

The flexible nature of the programme and the facilities for distance learning students at EBS enabled me to work and finance my studies at EBS without much difficulty. The course materials provided were comprehensive enough that I did not seek for any text books to supplement my studies. The online facilities at EBS enabled me to access relevant library materials and to communicate with my supervisor as if I was on campus.

At the DBA stage of my studies, my mentor professionally guided me to produce an acceptable proposal to meet the requirements of the EBS DBA Research Committee. The research stage was equally challenging and I am proud to say that I communicated with my supervisor 382 times. Statistically, this indicates an average interaction rate with my supervisor once every third day over the three year period (2007 to 2010).

This shows the high level of dedication and commitment of staff at EBS. It was not surprising therefore, that with hard work and the support received from the business school, I was able to complete the DBA programme on schedule.

I must say that the rigorous nature of the programme and the discipline of meeting objectives stated in the monthly EBS DBA Research Evaluation Reports have built my confidence in my career as a senior public service worker in Ghana.

To prospective business students therefore, though there are many business schools world-wide, hence difficult to knowing the school that completely meets one's future development. However, the selection of EBS to do my doctorate degree was the best decision I made in my academic endeavour as it has prepared me for the challenging and exciting opportunities out there.

Mpoti Ralephata, South Africa

When I decided to study for a DBA degree my two overriding criteria for selecting a University were that it should offer a full distance-learning international programme that was flexible enough to accommodate my travelling schedule.

The EBS DBA fully met and exceeded my expectations. Firstly the study component of the program equipped me with research skills that proved to be a key success factor for my research. Secondly the EBS DBA roadmap with clearly defined tollgates instilled discipline in my work and constantly reassured me that I was making progress. Lastly my interactions with my research supervisor were greatly enhanced by the EBS web based learning platform.

There were no unnecessary delays while I waited for feedback or an appointment to discuss with the supervisor.

I strongly recommend the EBS DBA program.

Petter Tømmerberg, Norway

In year 2000 my current boss asked me what my plans were for changing a negative cash-flow into positive. The question gave me an unpleasant feeling of helplessness that made me realise that I lacked competence and tools to deal with business issues.

I decided that I needed business training and this led me to the EBS MBA programme, which had the flexibility and reputation I looked for. I enjoyed studying the courses, but more importantly each course made me feel better equipped to deal with the business problems I faced in my own work.

When I was in the final stages of the MBA programme, EBS suddenly launched the DBA programme. Though, I was aware that the self-study pathway for the DBA programme would be a daunting task, the attraction of being trained in applied research based thinking and methods to define, implement and evaluate real business issues drove me to go for the challenge.

The EBS DBA programme should definitely not be taken lightly, but at least EBS provides you with experienced researchers to guide you. Personally, I loved working with my mentor during the research proposal stage, and I will forever be indebted to my supervisor for supportive and inspiring guidance from the early phases of the literature review to the viva voce examination.

The DBA has been an incredible experience. The programme has not only trained me in applied research based thinking, but has also broadened my understanding of strategic management. However, the greatest experience of all has been to prove to myself that I was capable of overcoming the intellectual challenge to conduct research at doctoral level.