MBA & Master Programmes

MBA & Master Programmes of the Heriot Watt University (U.K.) and the Edinburgh Business School

Increased and international competitiveness in the labour market has now made it necessary to obtain a Master's degree both  for someone who now makes his first professional “steps” as well as for those that have significant working experience.

But how may one chose the right programme? Which programme offers both the knowledge and upgrade the C.V. of the graduate as well? Should one choose to do an MBA or an MSc? What is the difference between these?

Choosing the right Master programme has to do with several factors, including the quality and credibility of the University, the content of the curriculum, but also whether the programme fulfills the actual needs and requirements of the prospective student.

The Heriot Watt University (Edinburgh) is one of the top U.K. universities. By studying the relevant rankings of the University, reading its strategic goal (the creation of an institution with an international reach and presence) we understand that Heriot Watt offers students and graduates a qualification with global recognition.

The University was founded in 1821 by economist George Heriot and engineer James Watt (inventor of the steam engine). The University has almost 200 years of experience and presence in the field of higher and innovative education, which means that it is an institution with a long tradition and worldwide recognition of its degrees. These are very important as  graduates hold degree that offers quality and solvency which are recognized by employers, since the majority  of graduates find employment or ameliorate their working conditions within six months of graduation.

The MBA (Master of Business Administration) programme is designed to educate a student for a managerial position. It is a post-graduate degree that provides high caliber knowledge that will enable graduates to manage any function/department of an organisation, to understand the interconnectivity of all functions/departments allowing the company to operate harmoniously as a whole, and to have the abilities to plan strategically and lead the organisation.

A Master of Science offers specialized 'technical' knowledge in a specific function (such as finance, marketing, management of human resources) and its aim is to create experts in specific issues according to the field of studies i.e. MSc in Financial Management (Finance), MSc in Marketing, MSc in Human Resource Management, etc.

It is important to understand that the level of education of both degrees is the same, that is they are both post-graduate Master courses but their objective is different.

Which programme to choose depends on the interests and career objectives of each candidate.  For example, for a bank employee with the appropriate work experience that wishes to obtain a managerial position, it would be more appropriate to undertake an MBA programme.

An MSc gives the opportunity to  specialize and thus lead a specific business function, but  further career advancement needs general business knowledge. Probably the terms generalist and specialist best describe briefly the difference of the two programmes (MBA and Master)

The MBA and MSc programmes of Heriot Watt University and the Edinburgh Business School go into great depth in the techniques and models of business, markets and specific disciplines. But, more important than all of this, they place learning in the context of your own personal experience. This way, you emerge better informed and better able to make the right decisions.