The University of Glasgow Adam Smith Business School

The Adam Smith Business School at The University of Glasgow has deep roots in economics. Named after the “Father of Modern Economics,” Adam Smith, the school very much still has Smith’s influence of emphasizing research, morality, and holistic thinking. The school’s mission is to graduate students that shape culture and deliver impact while promoting the tradition of Scottish enlightenment and enterprise, and they’ve been doing so since 1976.

The B-School is located in Glasgow, Scotland and is known for being one of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world. The city itself is renowned for its thriving music and arts scene, with numerous music venues, art galleries, and theaters. Glasgow is recognized for its stunning Victorian architecture, green spaces, and warm hospitality.

The full-time Glasgow MBA spans 12 months, and they intake small cohorts by design for their students to receive personalized teaching and support. Peer-to-peer learning is at the core of the MBA experience. Glasgow has for many years delivered a blended learning experience, and it was recently reinforced by the post-COVID-19 landscape.

At Glasgow, MBAs select from three pathways – Start-up, Industry or Research – as a means to customize their MBA to align with personal goals. Customization doesn’t end there. MBAs can then specialize in Finance, Marketing or Strategy.

The program culminates with Consultancy Week where students get to apply what they’ve learned throughout the program with real-world business challenges with actual businesses.

“A good example of how the course can blend quite seamlessly from study to enjoyment was the Consultancy Week, where we had to work on problem statements for clients. Ours was the Glenturret. For us, being able to work in their environment helped bring all of the theory we learn to the work environment, and that was really interesting,” says Glasgow MBA Sam in a video on Glasgow’s website.

Outside of curriculum, MBAs frequently attend social, networking, and guest speaker events. They can participate in case competitions and student-led clubs as well.

A unique aspect of the Glasgow MBA is the Professional Development and Employability Award – an opportunity for a student to be mentored by one of their alumni during the second half of the program into a few months after graduation.

Post-grad, the B-School offers MBAs who wish to stay in the UK to develop a business the opportunity to earn one of ten available Tier 1 Visas. The Visa can be extended past one year if all goes well. Recent alumni have gone on to work for companies such as Amazon, Deloitte, KMPG, and Morgan Stanley.