Management of Bioeconomy, Innovation and Governance MSc

The MSc MBIG programme is offered as a one-year full-time programme.

The programme draws upon real life case studies and the latest research findings from the Innogen Institute.

Experiential learning is encouraged, and is accomplished through:

• problem-based group work activities
• presentations
• interactive seminars
• conventional lectures

Courses

You will complete four core courses (80 credits) and a selection of optional courses (40 credits). 

Core courses

• Innovation Systems and Risk Management (20 credits)

This course is designed to introduce you to concepts and methods at the centre of contemporary studies of technological change and innovation including technological systems, industrial clusters and sectoral, regional, technological and national innovation systems.  

• Delivering the Circular Economy and Bioeconomy (20 credits) 

This course introduces the concept of the circular economy and the role of the bioeconomy in delivering it for applications in agriculture, health, energy and manufacturing sectors. It teaches a 'total systems approach' to managing the interactions across a broad range of components to deliver, where appropriate, a viable circular bioeconomy.  

• Innovation in Sustainable Food Systems (20 credits)

This course considers sustainable food systems and food security from a wide range of perspectives, examining farming as a social practice, as commercial food production, as a contribution and challenge to environmental policy, and as an integral part of sustainable and healthy consumption. Innovation is examined in both its scientific and social aspects. 

• Biobusiness (20 credits)

This course provides you with a comprehensive overview of and the ability to assess how innovation in the life sciences is changing production methods, industrial structures, market dynamics and strategic decision making.

Dissertation

You will also be required to write a 15,000 word dissertation which is worth 60 credits. The dissertation can be a conventional academic dissertation or a placement-based project.

Placement-based dissertation

The aim of the placement-based dissertation is to provide you with the opportunity to work on your dissertation within the context of a workplace of your choosing, subject to Programme Director and Placement Adviser approval.

The placements generally consist of eight weeks of research with a host organisation in the UK or overseas, from our network of contacts which includes:

• NGOs
• charities
• social enterprises
• think-tanks
• government bodies

Placements can either be in person, hybrid or undertaken remotely. You are also able to source your own placements subject to university approval.

Please note that a placement-based dissertation is not guaranteed as part of this programme and are by competitive application during Semester 1.

Find out more about the placement-based dissertation option via our dedicated information pages

• SPS Placement-based dissertation

Extra-curricular

The MSc programme offers you various opportunities to visit and undertake work with industry partners through field trips and the placement-based dissertation.

Students who aim to leave the masters degree with practical entrepreneurial skills are encouraged to apply for the Edinburgh Enterprise Award Scheme. This scheme which is highly complementary and runs parallel to the MSc MBIG programme, helps you to identify relevant skills and foster reflective practice. It is run by the Edinburgh Careers Service and Launch.ed.

• Edinburgh Careers Service

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

MSc MBIG graduates will excel in strategic thinking that brings globally contextualised solutions to practical problems relating to:

• innovation and firm strategy
• policy and regulation
• collaborative R&D models
• governance and intellectual property

Basic scientific knowledge is no longer sufficient for building a successful career in the growing bioeconomy.

There is a high demand for trained professionals in this area, and this degree is an opportunity to impress prospective employers in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors with expertise in life science innovation.

You may also choose to continue your studies and pursue an academic career in this rapidly growing field.

The transferable skills you gain in areas such as communication and research will give you an edge in the employment market, whatever your eventual career.

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Tuition fees

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

• borrowing money

  • taking out a loan

  • family support

• personal savings

• income from work

• employer sponsorship

• scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Featured funding

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding