Explaining the Strathclyde MBA accreditation process, we should bear in mind that  less than 1% of business schools in the world hold “triple accreditation” – and Strathclyde is one of them. Currently, only a handful of business schools out of around 3500 worldwide have been fully accredited.

The MBA accreditation is a rigorous process that involves assessment of numerous aspects of the school and its programmes. Typically, this involves the business school submitting an in-depth self-analysis report for scrutiny by these bodies, followed by a visiting panel and the consequent interviewing of current students, staff, alumni, corporate clients and employers. These bodies have no obligation to make an award – indeed, many business schools are unsuccessful in their application. All the more reason for us to promote this achievement.

MBA Accreditation in detail

Strathclyde is accredited from all three international accrediting bodies for business schools:

• AACSB – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, based in the USA
• EQUIS – the quality assurance scheme run by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and based in Brussels
• AMBA – the Association of MBAs, based in the UK

Department and programme accreditations

• Department of Work, Employment & Organization is a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Approved Centre
• Department of Accounting & Finance programmes are accredited by Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAS), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), CFA Institute University Recognition Program
• Our Hospitality & Tourism degrees are accredited by the Institute of Hospitality

External recognition and milestones

• First business school in Scotland to achieve triple accreditation from the three main business school accreditation bodies – AMBA, AACSB and EQUIS (since 2004)
• First business school in Scotland to be awarded the Small Business Charter Award
• Featured in top 90 European Business Schools (Financial Times, 2020)
• Europe’s first university faculty to be awarded a license to operate an MBA in the UAE
• Ranked 1^st in Scotland and top 10 in UK for business school research by Times Higher Education (based on REF2014)
• First university to be awarded the ‘UK University of the Year’ award by Times Higher Education (THE) twice – in 2012 and 2019
• ‘Scottish University of the Year’ 2020 by The Sunday Times Good University Guide
• 5-star QS-rate university (2017-20)