London Business School MBA program ranks #8 in Financial Times MBA rankings for 2022. The school offers over 80 electives and flexible exits with a course duration of 15, 18 or 20 months. LBS possesses an international community of 47,000+ members in more than 156 countries worldwide. Students With an acceptance rate of 20%, admission to London Business School is tough. Higher academic scores, work experiences, and international exposure hold special weightage in the admission process. With a 92% employment rate, LBS is one of the finest MBA institutions in UK.
London Business School accepts applications via an online portal. Applicants have to submit their documents and an application fee before the application deadline. Prospective students may go through the below sections for LBS MBA admission 2023 details.
How to Apply for LBS MBA Program?
Applying to the London Business School MBA program is easy. Prospective students can follow the below-mentioned steps for an easy application.
- Step 1: Register in LBS Application Portal with an authentic email id.
- Step 2: Submit the application form vis the portal.
- Step 3: Pay a non-refundable application fee of 200 GBP (19,214 INR) for MBA
- Step 4: Submit the required documents.
- Step 5: Selected candidates will be notified regarding the interview stage.
Admission Checklist
- Academic transcripts
- GMAT or GRE scores
- GMAT score: 708 (average); GMAT code: Z11-J7-50
- GRE code: 7832
- English language proficiency test scores (TOEFL iBT, IELTS or PTE)
- 2 Essays
- 1 Letter of recommendation
- 1 page CV
- A student visa
Admission Deadlines
LBS MBA admission for August 2023 will commence from August 2022. Admission for 2022 is now closed. Applications for LBS are accepted in 3 rounds.
| Rounds | Application Deadline | Decision Date |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | September 10 (closed) | October 14 |
| Round 2 | January 6 (closed) | February 10 |
| Round 3 | March 25 (closed) | April 28 |
Visa Requirements
For studying at London Business School, international students need a student visa for the UK. Students who have the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from LBS can apply for their student visas. The documents required for a U.K. student visa are as follows.
- CAS document
- Proof of funding for tuition and living costs
- A fee of 470 GBP (45,155 INR) per year as Immigration Healthcare Surcharge (IHS)
- Passport
- Tuberculosis test results
- IELTS Score of 6.5
International students have to apply for their visa online and report to their nearest visa application center to submit documents and biometrics. The student visa will allow the students to work for a maximum of 20 hours per week. Also Check: UK Student Visa Process for Indian Students
What does LBS look for in MBA Applicants?
London Business School prefers students with an international approach and solution-driven mindset. Even if someone doesn’t know about a particular topic or subject, they will still have a chance of selection based on their approach towards it. LBS looks for cultural diversity and collaborative nature in its students. The school is particularly interested in candidates’ global exposure, team management skills and knowledge of their cultural heritage.
London Business School 2023 Class Profile Summary
London Business School MBA class of 2023 comprises 511 students representing 67 nationalities. Europe and Asian countries are the top contributors of international students. Majority of the class, around 59% are from Consulting and Finance backgrounds. Admitted students in the class of 2023 have their GMAT scores in the range of 590-790, with an average GMAT score of 708.
Based on the London Business School MBA class profile 2023, let’s discuss how you can improve your chances of admission.
LBS MBA Application Guide
London Business School offers 3 application deadlines every year in September, January and March. Applicants need to submit the application form online with required documents within these 3 deadlines. After that, no application will be considered. Along with GPA, GMAT and English proficiency scores, students have to submit 2 Essays, 2 LORs and work experiences. If selected, the students will be invited for interviews with LBS Alumni or senior admission officers. These interviews generally take place in the region in which applicants are based.
Admission Essays
Essays are an important part of the application as the school puts a significant amount of weightage on them. To apply for the London Business School MBA program, students have to submit 2 essays in total.
How to Approach? students should express their future plans about what career path they want to pursue and how they have planned to achieve so. Here are some key points to guide the students through the essay.
- Post-MBA plans and how they have prepared themselves for it.
- Work experiences and how it has prepared the applicants for their target.
- Highlight 1-2 major accomplishments and be selective about the details.
- Be straightforward in portraying the goal or any company for a job preference.
- Applicants need to discuss their previous experiences and how they have prepared themselves for new challenges.
- Go through the LBS MBA program thoroughly and try to incorporate how an MBA degree from LBS can help one to reach his/her goal.
- A maximum of 500 words are allotted for this essay. Students can explain their goal in about 100-200 words and work experiences in another 100 words.
- Last 200 words should be devoted to explaining how an LBS MBA can prepare the applicants for their future.
How to Approach? Students can talk about their hobbies, passions, extracurricular activities and anything they find significant about their character. The key points are -
- Applicants need to be cautious about what information they are presenting in this essay, as it can be used for making the final decision.
- Avoid interesting but insignificant details.
- Students can explain if they have any anomalies in their academic or professional records.
- More accomplishments and interests can be shared but do not provide any details which are not relevant to the school.
IELTS or TOEFL
LBS accepts both IELTS and TOEFL scores for English language proof. However, in the UK, IELTS is more preferred than TOEFL scores. There is no minimum score for IELTS to apply for London Business School. There are waiver available, in cases like
- if they can submit proof of studying in an English-medium college or university or if they have sufficient work experience working in an international space (like an international company) where English could be assessed as a first language.
- Candidates may also be exempted if they have worked in an English-speaking country.
GMAT or GRE
LBS accepts both GMAT and GRE scores for its MBA program. For the MBA program, GMAT scores have a higher weightage than GRE scores.
Why GMAT over GRE?
GMAT stands for Graduate Management Admission Test. It is specifically designed for students interested in business programs. On the other hand, GRE stands for Graduate Record Examinations and can be used for any graduate program including MBA. That’s why, for business programs, GMAT sometimes outweighs GRE.
Average GMAT scores: Students of the London Business School MBA class of 2023 have a GMAT score in the range of 590-790. The average GMAT score of the class stands at 708.
GMAT Coaching:
Ideal time to start preparing for these exams: The preparation time varies depending on one’s ability to grasp the concept. Ideally, 6 months time is needed for full preparation. Applicants need to decide when they want to take the test and give themselves at least 6 months time to prepare for it. (Note: These are simply recommendations and actual prep time may vary depending on the candidate)
Letter of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation are validations of the information that a candidate provides and claims to be authentic. LORs are basically a perspective of a third person about the candidate.
- Number of LORs required: LBS requires 2 LORs for its MBA program.
- Who should ideally write LORs: LORs should be written either by the current employer or colleague or anyone known in a work context. They can be a former employer or even a long-time client. Keep in mind that that person should be someone a candidate has worked with in a close capacity, someone who can advocate for them personally and knows their strengths and weaknesses.
What LBS expect in an LOR?
LORs should be within 500 words at max. Some questions that need to be answered in a Letter of Recommendation are as follows.
- How does the referee know the applicant and for how long?
- What are the applicant’s strengths and talents?
- What are the weaknesses and where does he/she need improvement?
- How does the applicant stand out from others on the same platform?
- Where does the referee see the applicant in 10 years' time? What are the reasons for this prediction?
The recommender also has to rate the applicants in the following categories:
| Academic and intellectual potentiality | Quantitative ability | Decision-making skill | Ability to solve problems |
| Leadership quality | Team handling ability | Personality | Self-confidence |
| Spoken English skill | English writing skill | Organizational ability | Self-motivation |
MBA Interview Session
General questions: London Business School is generally interested in someone’s global reach and collaboration ability. The school also takes a keen interest in candidates’ cultural backgrounds and knowledge. Some of the interview questions asked by the school are as follows.
- What is your best travel experience?
- Have you worked globally? How have you worked and managed your team?
- How do you deal with cultural and regional differences?
- What are your goals?
- Spot presentation of 5 minutes.
How can one go about answering those questions: The questions are not hard or anything out-of-the-blue. Students should answer honestly and confidently about what they think and believe. The important part is the impromptu presentation where the students have to think on their feet. The key is to not be nervous and keep calm.
Pre-MBA Work Experience
Average work experience of candidates: Students admitted to London Business School MBA program have 5 years of work experience on average. Students from some countries can have slightly less experience due to the longer duration of bachelor's degree. 59% of the students of LBS MBA class of 2023 have previous work experience in Consulting and Finance industries. The top background industries of the applicants are depicted below.
Significance of work experience: Work experience is a vital portion of the application. Years of work experience and brands on the CV can vouch for someone’s leadership and teamwork skills as well as international exposure. Also, previous working years prepare the candidates for the classroom where they can relate the theories to their practical experiences. Check Out: How to write an effective Resume!
MBA Fees
Students applying for MBA at London Business School need to make a budget for their cost of attendance. London Business School charges 97,500 GBP (93.39 lakhs) per year for MBA program. Along with that, there is an additional Student Association Fee of 270 GBP (25,863 INR). An expense of around 102 lakhs per year can be expected including tuition fees and other student fees, for Indian students. The details of the fees are mentioned below.
| MBA Fees Type | Costs in INR |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fee | 93.39 lakhs |
| Student Association Fee | 0.26 lakhs |
| Commitment Fee | 2.9 lakhs within one month of admission offer |
| Reservation Fee | 5.8 lakhs within one month of commitment fees |
London Business School MBA Scholarships
LBS provides more than 10 scholarships to Indian students for studying its MBA course. LBS provides a number of scholarships to its students. Some of the London Business School scholarships for Indian students are tabulated below.
| Scholarships | Eligibility | Grants (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Laidlaw’s Women’s Leadership Fund | Women candidates admitted in MBA program | 50% of MBA tuition fee |
| London Business School Fund Scholarship | Based on academic and professional merit | Up to 100% tuition fee |
| SARI Foundation Trust Scholarship | All admitted candidates | 100% tuition fee |
| London Business School Energy Scholarships | For applicants employed in Energy sector | Up to 50% tuition fee |
| 30% Club Scholarship | For women candidates | Up to 50% tuition fee |
| London Business School Entrepreneurship Scholarship | For applicants who are interested in entrepreneurship | Up to 50% tuition fee |
| London Business School Luxury & Retail Scholarships | For applicants employed in Luxury & Retail sector | Up to 50% tuition fee |
| LBS Technology & Engineering Scholarships | For applicants employed in Technology & Engineering sector | Up to 50% tuition fee |
| London Business School Healthcare Scholarship | For applicants employed in Healthcare, medical research or pharmaceuticals sector | Up to 50% tuition fee |
| Out in Business LBS Scholarship | For part-time MBA applicants | Up to 14.38 lakhs |
| Reaching Out MBA Fellowship | Open to all | 19.17 lakhs |
How to obtain a scholarship?
Students are already eligible for some scholarships upon admission, based on their submitted applications and grades. These scholarships range from partial to full tuition. For some of the scholarships like Laidlaw’s Women’s Leadership Fund, students have to make an application separately. Students are recommended to check the deadlines for scholarships as many of them tend to miss out on many grants due to expiration of deadlines. Students seeking further financial assistance can also apply for government and private loans. LBS sends additional information on applying for financial aid along with their offers of admission.
Other Financial Aid
Apart from the LBS scholarships, students can also avail some external scholarships. These include -
- iSchoolConnect Scholarships - Open to all.
- Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust Scholarship - For Indian women with excellent academic records.
- Peace Fellowship - For active Rotary members.
- Enhanced Learning Credit Scheme - For scheme members with sufficient service.
- The Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship Programme - For Indian students below age 30.
- BK Birla Scholarships - For Indian students; grants up to 100% tuition fees.
- Vodafone Group Foundation Award - For students with Technical background; grants 19.29 lakhs.
LBS MBA Application: How to Stand Apart from Other?
Keeping a calm and composed approach in the interview can be highly profitable. It is advisable to avoid vague answers and to present a transparent picture of one’s thoughts. Even if any answer is not known, be honest in that too. Another key to stand out from the crowd is to make the essay unique. Put information that is worth knowing, relevant to the program and which represents one’s character.
Networking with current and former students at the institute will also help. Attending events, interacting with alumni, connecting with clubs, and overall engagement with the institute in the months leading up to the interview can also prove to be beneficial.
Mistakes to avoid/tips/suggestions
- Even with a consultant, applicants are recommended to do their own research, which will help with an overall understanding.
- Make the essay as close to perfect as possible and put authentic pieces of information.
- It is highly recommended to apply in Round 1. So that if anything goes sideways, applicants will have another chance in the further rounds.
- Ask for feedback even if not selected.
- Do not hesitate to ask for help.
MBA Counseling
Ques. Why do people don’t/opt for consultants?
Applicants mostly opt for MBA consultants for guidance. Even if someone is able to manage all the procedures by themselves, a consultant can make it perfect. It is also beneficial to look at someone’s achievements from the perspective of a 3rd person to evaluate whether it’s enough to get into a foreign university.
Ques. What factors go into choosing a consultant?
Applicants can manage the application process on their own but for first-time applicants, it can be a bit difficult and tiring to check all the deadlines, write essays according to the university guidelines and prepare for the interview. It is advisable to approach a consultant for guidance. Before choosing any consultant make sure they are knowledgeable and look for any reviews of their past customers.
