Update: This article was originally posted on August 4, 2022. It has been updated with new information and tips below.
Located in one of the most important global business centers and with a 15-month option, London Business School is one of the best and most efficient places to prepare for a successful and international career. Considering that LBS offers one of the best-ranked MBAs out there, earning a spot at this school requires you to really stand out among the competition.
In this guide, we will go through how to get into LBS. While many applicants think that simply marketing themselves well is enough to gain admission, successful applicants are the ones who understand a) who LBS is looking for, b) how LBS’s MBA program, community, and opportunities fit their profile and goals, and c) how to prepare an LBS-specific essay and interview. Read on for our expert advice on how to master these three things.
1. Understand who LBS is looking for
(Photo courtesy of @londonbschool on Instagram)
“We nurture our students to challenge the status quo, to question the norm and to develop the skills to become the world’s best business leaders. Over the years we have adopted a truly global outlook tackling challenges faced by international businesses and their leaders.” London Business School Admissions
Every year, London Business School searches the globe for outstanding professionals to join its annual class of less than 500 students. With a strong emphasis on diversity and a global mindset (63 nationalities are represented in the Class of 2025), there is no “typical” LBS student, yet the average admitted student does tend to have 5 years of work experience and a 708 GMAT score.
Beyond the impressive statistics, though, LBS offers its students the chance to prepare themselves to lead in an increasingly globalized world.
So, if this sounds like a community in which you’d be right at home, you’ll have to think of the ways in which you align with the main characteristics of LBS’s students. This means forming your business school brand and then focusing on the aspects of that brand that align with changing the status quo, collaborative leadership, and a value for internationalism and diversity.
So, if this sounds like a community in which you’d be right at home, you’ll have to think of the ways in which you align with the main characteristics of LBS’s students. This means forming your business school brand and then focusing on the aspects of that brand that align with changing the status quo, collaborative leadership, and a value for internationalism and diversity.
2. Know LBS’s program and how you can use it
The second thing you must do to get into LBS is to know the MBA program and how it applies to your career goals. If you want to get into LBS, you really need to show the admissions committee why it’s a good fit for you (and why you’re a good fit for the community too)!
While you will have to do your own research to find the specifics of what aligns specifically with your goals and profile, below we are highlighting some of the main aspects of LBS’s MBA program so you can be informed about what makes it unique in comparison to other business schools.
LBS’s global culture
LBS has a reputation for its extremely diverse MBA class and strong network that is maintained even as graduates take jobs across the world. Additionally, there are many opportunities for global immersion, student treks, and exchange programs that give students an extra dose of international experience. For example, LBS’s Global Business Experiences (GBEs) provide students with an immersive global business experience and the opportunity to build networks abroad.
Students can also take part in international exchange programs with partner schools across the globe. Partner schools include HEC in Paris, Hitotsubashi University’s Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy in Japan, Kellogg School of Management in the US, Universidad de los Andes in Colombia, and the Gordon Institute of Business Science in South Africa.
Collaborative opportunities
Group work is a key component of the LBS experience, whether it’s inside or outside of the classroom. Although business can often be a competitive environment, LBS emphasizes collaboration over competition. Particularly, LBS values lectures and discussion, group work and role-plays, field visits and experiential learning opportunities in London and around the globe, and talks with industry leaders and real-world entrepreneurs.
London location
To complement the school’s unique international opportunities, students can also take advantage of LBS’s location in one of the biggest global hubs for a number of industries. From the classroom to clubs, students can leverage LBS’s close relationships with local businesses and organizations for events, projects, and internships. For example, LondonCAP allows students to test the knowledge and skills gained in the classroom alongside a group to create value for real-world companies and organizations in London. Previous students have worked on projects with leading London-based organizations such as the BBC, Football Association, AB InBev, and the British Fashion Council.
Looking for more than just a summary of the London Business School MBA? Luckily, we’ve created a complete guide on LBS, including program specifics, MBA class profile, and LBS post-MBA salary and employment information. Additionally, we have dozens of sample London Business School MBA essays that got our past clients into LBS, plus essays for numerous other top schools, all in one place. Click to join!
3. Prepare a winning application
Last, but certainly not least, is knowing how to write an outstanding essay and prepare for a successful interview. Below are our top tips on succeeding at both of these key aspects of your LBS application!
Write an outstanding essay
Writing any admissions essay is a tough task, however, impressing LBS’s highly selective adcom is especially challenging. Below, we discuss how to successfully respond to LBS’s main essay questions.*
*Though these questions are accurate at the time of publication, check out our LBS Essay Analysis post for the most up-to-date questions and analysis.
Essay 1 tips
What are your post-MBA goals and how will your prior experience and the London Business School programme contribute towards these? (500 words)
In this essay, you have a big task. In around 500 words, you need to discuss:
- Context for your goals
- Your specific-post MBA goals
- Why you believe an MBA is necessary to reach these goals
- How an LBS MBA will help you reach these goals
Each of these elements must be included and must build off of each other.
First, discuss your goals, providing both clarity and context. Second, you should clearly demonstrate why you need an MBA. As such, you need to demonstrate that the goals you have set for yourself require the additional training an MBA can provide.
Third, add how LBS can specifically help you grow in the areas you’ve identified. Show that you understand the flexibility of LBS’ curriculum and have done significant, thoughtful research into how the opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom can help you grow. If you have space, it’s also highly recommended that you mention how you can contribute to the community.
End with a winning conclusion statement that reinforces your personal brand and ties the whole essay together.
To learn more about LBS’s essays (including how to complete its short answer and optional essays) and check out sample essays that got our clients in, click here!
*Note: this is the latest essay questions as of the date this guide was published, but we suggest that you check for recent changes, as schools often update their essay questions closer to the round 1 deadline. You can access LBS’s essay questions and more application info here.
Video essay tips
The video essay, which you will complete if you are selected to interview, gives the admissions committee the chance to truly “meet” candidates — as well as identify red flags in potential members of the LBS community. In their words, “[The video essay] is an addition to our interview process, which we hope will give us a chance to get to know you better.”
The first question is random, and the second is a fixed question (which will be asked of all applicants).
For more on how to respond to LBS’s video essay prompts, click here.
Prepare a winning interview
LBS interviews are conducted by current students and alumni, include both an interview section and a presentation section, and last around one hour.
Interviewers will try to gauge how solid your motivations for wanting to pursue an MBA are, how interested you seem in the LBS program, and if you fit well with the program’s global community. They will have access to your application before the interview, but will not have seen your video essay responses.
Interviewers often ask many standard MBA interview questions, as well as questions designed to test how collaborative and globally-minded you truly are. You can also expect numerous follow-up questions.
Our clients who have interviewed with LBS in the past say that the interviewer was very friendly and demonstrated a genuine interest in their answers. For some clients, questions were far more personal in nature, covering topics like their childhood and family upbringing. Other clients reported their interview was strictly professional, so make sure you’re ready for anything when you interview with LBS.
In addition to the traditional interview questions, you will also be required to answer a presentation question (similar to a case study) during the LBS interview.
The key to the presentation element of the LBS interview is to see how you think on your feet. You will have around 5 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes to present.
Make sure you prepare a successful LBS application
Getting into the LBS MBA is no easy feat.
With multiple essays, numerous letters of recommendation, and admissions interviews, a successful application to LBS requires that you carefully think about all aspects of your profile and craft the most cohesive, compelling narrative possible.
Starting from scratch, though, can leave many applicants like you feeling confused and uncertain they are developing an application that will impress the LBS admissions committee.
That’s why we created our MBA Resource Center, which includes everything you need to get into the LBS MBA, all in one place. This includes dozens of sample essays, recommendation letter questions and guides, sample letters of recommendation, MBA CV templates, interview mock sequences, and even sample answers to the most common interview questions.
In short, our Resource Center puts the Ellin Lolis Advantage into your hands, giving you exclusive access to the materials we used to help maintain our 98.9% success rate.
The Ellin Lolis MBA Resource Center has helped countless applicants around the world get into LBS. Sign up today to put this competitive advantage to work for you.
Real MBA Essays That Got People In
School-specific sample essays that got our clients accepted
