Strathclyde Business School

Strathclyde Business School (SBS), part of the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, was founded in 1947, tracing its origins to the Department of Industrial Administration at the Royal College of Science and Technology. The business school was formally established as a faculty in 1973. It is one of four faculties at the university and currently has around 200 academic staff and more than 4,500 students, including undergraduate and postgraduate learners.
 

SBS is a triple accredited business school, holding accreditation from AMBA, AACSB, and EQUIS. It is the first in Scotland to achieve this status and one of fewer than 100 schools worldwide with triple accreditation. This reflects its commitment to maintaining international standards in business education.
 

The school offers a wide range of programmes including bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, MBA courses, and doctoral research. The MBA programme is highly regarded, having pioneered one-year full-time MBAs in the UK since 1966. SBS also operates five international centres in Bahrain, Greece, Malaysia, Oman, and the UAE, allowing local students to study for UK qualifications.
 

Strathclyde Business School’s mission aligns with the University’s 200-year-old ethos of ‘useful learning’. It aims to engage business minds, create impact for stakeholders, and deliver knowledge that benefits society and industry. SBS has strong links with business, government, and public sectors, providing executive education and research that influences practice.
 

Research at SBS is rated among the top in the UK, with over 80% of research classified as world-leading or internationally excellent in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework. The school has specialist centres in entrepreneurship, finance regulation, employment research, and decision analytics.
 

SBS also offers numerous scholarships and bursaries for international and home students, including support for MBA candidates, masters students, and undergraduates. Its alumni include senior business leaders and government officials worldwide.

Strathclyde Business School’s history begins in 1947 with the establishment of the Department of Industrial Administration at Glasgow’s Royal College of Science and Technology. This marked the start of formal management education at the institution. In 1950, the Glasgow School of Management was created as a joint venture between this department and the Glasgow and West of Scotland Commercial College, which later became the Scottish College of Commerce in 1955.
 

In 1964, the College of Commerce and the Royal College merged to form the University of Strathclyde. Although there was hope for a dedicated business school at the new university, government funding after the Franks Report in 1963 focused on business schools in Manchester and London instead. 

Despite this, Strathclyde had a School of Business and Administration from 1964 and continued to grow its business education programmes. By this time, there were around 370 undergraduate students, 86 postgraduate students, and over 400 part-time diploma students. The university also started offering short post-experience courses to over 500 people each year.

In 1966, Strathclyde introduced an MBA programme within the Department of Industrial Administration. In 1970, government funding was secured to establish a business school in Scotland, but rather than a single school, the Scottish Business School was created as a partnership between the universities of Strathclyde, Glasgow, and Edinburgh in 1971. 

Over time, this partnership expanded to include Stirling and Heriot-Watt universities. The Scottish Business School later became the Confederation of Scottish Business Schools in 1987 and then the Association for Management Education and Training in Scotland in 1989.

In 1971, Strathclyde’s Department of Industrial Administration became part of the Department of Administration, and in 1973, the Strathclyde Business School was formally established. Business education was spread across several departments, with postgraduate courses offered by the business school and undergraduate courses provided by the School of Business and Administration. Other postgraduate management courses were available through the Department of Production Management and Manufacturing Technology.

A significant reorganisation took place in 1982, which saw the School of Business and Administration close, and the business school was raised to faculty status, comprising multiple departments. Since then, the school has expanded its academic departments and established specialist centres covering areas such as entrepreneurship, financial regulation, employment research, and data analytics.

The business school has been a pioneer in management education, being the first UK business school to offer a one-year full-time MBA in 1966, the first part-time MBA in 1976, and a distance learning MBA in 1983. It also introduced a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme in 1988.

Strathclyde Business School has grown internationally, launching its first international centre in Singapore in 1988. Today, it operates five international centres in Bahrain, Greece, Malaysia, Oman, and the UAE, providing MBA and other programmes locally.

The school has maintained its position as a leading institution by securing triple accreditation from AMBA, AACSB, and EQUIS, the first in Scotland to do so. Its academic departments hold various professional accreditations from bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, and the Institute of Hospitality.

Research at Strathclyde Business School is highly regarded. In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, it ranked among the top business schools in the UK, with a large proportion of its research rated as world-leading or internationally excellent. The school continues to build strong partnerships with industry and government, providing knowledge exchange, executive education, and applied research.

Currently, the school has around 200 academic staff and over 4,500 students. It offers a wide range of courses, including undergraduate degrees, master’s programmes, MBA options, and doctoral studies. The school continues to develop its international presence and maintains close connections with the business and public sectors in Scotland and worldwide.

Strathclyde Business School offers a wide range of courses across different levels, designed to meet the needs of students with various interests in business and management. The programmes include undergraduate degrees, postgraduate taught degrees, MBA courses, and research degrees such as PhDs and Doctor of Business Administration (DBA).
 

At the undergraduate level, students can study Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degrees with options to specialise in areas such as Business Analysis and Technology, Business Enterprise, Economics, Human Resource Management, Hospitality and Tourism Management, and Marketing. These programmes provide a solid foundation in business principles and practical skills, preparing students for a variety of careers or further study.
 

Postgraduate taught courses include over 40 Master’s degree programmes in subjects like Accounting and Finance, Data Analytics, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Hospitality and Tourism, Human Resource Management, Management, Management Science, Marketing, and Sustainable Finance. These courses are designed to develop specialist knowledge and skills for career progression. Many MSc programmes offer opportunities for real-world projects and work placements.
 

The Strathclyde MBA is one of the school’s flagship programmes, offered in full-time, part-time, and international centre formats. The MBA focuses on leadership, strategic thinking, and practical management skills. The school offers flexible study routes to suit different personal and professional circumstances. The MBA programme also includes strong career support and networking opportunities.
 

For those interested in research, the school offers PhD and DBA programmes across its departments. These research degrees focus on original contributions to knowledge in fields such as finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, and organisational behaviour.
 

Strathclyde Business School also provides executive education and professional development programmes for businesses and public sector organisations. These courses aim to build leadership and management capabilities through short courses, workshops, and customised training.
 

The school maintains industry links to ensure its courses remain relevant to current business needs. It is accredited by professional bodies such as CIMA, CIPD, and the Chartered Institute of Marketing, which enhances the value of its qualifications.

• Ranked #42 in Full-time MBA Rankings – Europe (2025)
• Ranked between #131-140 in Full-time MBA Rankings – Global (2025)
• Ranked #131-140 in Executive MBA Rankings – Global (2025)
• Ranked #47 in World University Rankings – Masters in Marketing
• Ranked #90 in World University Rankings – Masters in Management

Each year, a high percentage of its graduates find relevant jobs or further study within six months of completing their course. The school offers career services, including placements, internships, and employer networking events, which help students gain practical experience. Many MBA students benefit from work placement opportunities both in the UK and through the school’s international centres. The exact number of placements varies each year, but the school consistently supports thousands of students to enter the workforce successfully. The university's Graduate Outcomes survey, conducted 15 months after qualification, provides insights into the career and study activities of graduates. This data helps current and future students make informed choices and allows the university to promote and evaluate its courses effectively .

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