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We've partnered with one of the world's leading online education platforms, edX, to offer a new MicroMasters programme. The graduate-level courses provide students with the opportunity to complete a course of study without the time commitments or cost implications of a full master's degree.

The first course to be offered is Predictive Analytics for Business Applications. The five-step course focuses on Big Data and meets growing business sector demand for advanced skills in the discipline of analytics. Learners can choose to study elements of the course for free, or pay to access full course materials and assessments.

Students who successfully complete the verified programme will receive 30 postgraduate credits, which will be recognised if they apply for a related master's degree at Edinburgh. There is no application process to take up a MicroMasters programme. Students can self-assess their ability to undertake a programme and can access free content before signing up.

More than 8,000 students globally have benefitted from studying for an Edinburgh degree online since the University launched its service in 2005. A further 2.7 million learners have engaged with Edinburgh's free online content, which includes Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs).

Professor Wendy Loretto, Dean of the University of Edinburgh Business School, said:

Our new MicroMasters course enables us to provide learners with key skills that are in high demand in the age of big data, and to reach out to learners who might not otherwise be able to study with the Business School.