London Business School Guide: Everything You Need To Know

Here is everything you need to get into London School Business.

This guide is designed to help you make a decision about whether London Business School is a good fit for you. In it, we give an overview of the school and its MBA program, including location, information about the MBA community, and ranking. We then give you a detailed look into the MBA course, including program offerings, extracurricular activities, and post-MBA opportunities. 

This guide also includes a wealth of resources that will strengthen your LBS application, including essay guidelines, interview advice, and letter of recommendation planning support.

We know this guide will be helpful for you and your MBA journey, and we wish you the best in your decision and application process! If you have any questions after reading, please feel free to contact us.

 

School and Program Overview

Location: London, UK

Located in the center of London, attending and living near LBS means that you will have a good balance between urban opportunities and access to one of the busiest financial hubs in the world.

As one of the biggest cities in the world, London is an incredibly diverse city that is both livable and full of cultural, culinary, academic, and professional opportunities. And as part of the University of London, LBS is part of a wide network of academic institutions throughout the city, including other prestigious universities such as Imperial College and the London School of Economics.

London is an expensive city, but rent prices vary significantly. Off-campus apartments can cost anywhere from around $690 to $2500 per month, depending on apartment size and location. LBS also provides an accommodation search portal via the University of London.

Overall, LBS’ location is one full of opportunities and unique experiences, but you will have to reflect on whether an urban experience matches your needs and desires.

Note: LBS also has a location in Dubai. Click here to find out more.

 

LBS’ Community

With a strong emphasis on diversity and a global mindset, there is no “typical” LBS student. However, the LBS community is uniquely international and is full of leaders who are driven to change the status quo. As London Business School Admissions says, “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.” 

Photo courtesy of @londonbschool on Instagram

As such, LBS tends to be a cohesive community that forms strong networks and leverages them long after the MBA is done. If you are interested in joining a proactive and global group of driven leaders, LBS may be just the place for you!

 

Class Size and Demographics

Out of around 3,000 applicants for the Class of 2025, 487 were admitted and accepted their spots at LBS. 

43% of LBS’ Class of 2025 are women, and around 91% are international, representing 63 nationalities. The breakdown of LBS students’ nationalities is below:

Photo courtesy of  london.edu 

In general, LBS tends to admit applicants with 5 years of work experience. Most students came in from consulting (29%) and financial backgrounds (21%), although a wide range of industries are represented, as illustrated in the chart below:

Photo courtesy of london.edu 

The median GMAT score for the Class of 2025 was 708.

 

Tuition

Currently, tuition for the full 15- to 21-month program is £115,000, or around US$146,000. This does not include student fees (~$350), travel, and living costs, which may vary.  

Note that LBS has a wide range of scholarships that are offered based on merit.

 

Costs and Financing

LBS offers a range of merit-based scholarships to applicants of all nationalities. Applicants are automatically considered for some of these scholarships, while others require a separate application. Learn more about LBS’ financial aid opportunities and resources here.

For information on how to get company MBA sponsorship, see our guide or visit this page. 

To search for third-party scholarships available for MBA candidates, click here.

For US nationals seeking federal loans, visit the US government website for financial aid. For private loans, see this list to see what firms are offering the best rates.

For international students interested in loans, we recommend the following institutions: Mpower Financing, Juno, or Discover.

 

Program Length

LBS’ MBA can be completed in 15 to 21 months, depending on the choice of each student (most students choose to complete the program over 21 months). Note that there are other degree programs, including an Executive MBA (20 months), which may vary in duration. 

 

Ranking

Across multiple ranking sources, LBS is consistently placed at the very top. Financial Times has LBS at #8 globally for all MBA programs and Forbes ranks LBS as first in the world.

 

Employment Information

Another important consideration to make when deciding whether any business school is right for you is the MBA’s ROI – where graduates go and how well they succeed. You want to ensure that the investment you make in your MBA, both in terms of time and money, gets you the career boost you’re aiming for!

The first key indicator of the school’s preparation and reputation is how many students receive job offers immediately after graduation (this is usually within three months). Secondly is the median base salary, which shows the value that employers see in candidates as a combination of their previous experience and skills and knowledge gained during the MBA. Employers are willing to pay candidates more when they can trust that the MBA has provided them with solid leadership skills. We provide the median base salary for all MBA graduates, but we also recommend looking at LBS’ latest employment report to see detailed post-MBA salary information for your industry.

You will also want to consider each school’s career services and any resources they offer to support your post-MBA success. Part of the investment you make towards your MBA includes ensuring that you are getting the help you need to prepare for interviews, salary negotiations, and network-building. We include information about LBS’ career services below.

 

Key Statistics

Of those that sought employment after completing their MBAs in 2023, 90% received an offer within three months. The top functions that graduates pursued were consulting (45%, mean base salary of $125,219), finance (26%, mean base salary of $121,870), and technology (21%, mean base salary of $110,052). 

Photo courtesy of london.edu

85% of students who accepted an offer received other compensation/bonuses. The top employers of graduates were McKinsey, BCG, and Bain.

Photo courtesy of london.edu

55% of graduates received jobs in the UK. The rest were relatively evenly distributed throughout the world, as illustrated in the map below:

Photo courtesy of london.edu

Employment Services and Resources

LBS also offers excellent career services to support students and alumni in their post-MBA journeys. LBS’ Career Center provides access to a suite of career resources, including coaching, learning, employment opportunities, and insights.

Key resources that students and alumni can access include career and coaching advice, career learning workshops and tools, recruitment opportunities and events, and personalized career information. 

 

Is LBS Right for You?

Now you’ve got the basics of what LBS is all about. Before you read on to the details of LBS’ MBA program, you may be wondering if the school is really right for you and your situation.

Our team here at Ellin Lolis Consulting is always excited to support our clients in deciding which MBA is right for you. From mapping out your business school brand and objectives to planning your visit to your top-choice schools, we get to know you so we can offer you the best support along each step of the decision-making process.

Learn more about our all-in consulting services here.

 

Academics at London Business School

Now you’ve got the basics of what LBS is all about. Before you read on to the details of LBS’ MBA program, you may be wondering if the school is really right for you and your situation.

Considering the fact that you can only do one MBA, choosing where to apply is the most important decision you will make during your application process. 

Though there are many components to a successful business school application, it’s important to know what you want out of your MBA. One of the most important aspects of an MBA program is academics. After all, you’ll spend most of your time in the classroom, preparing for class, or studying for exams!

In this section, we go into depth about just what you can expect during your London Business School MBA. 

 

Curriculum

LBS’ MBA curriculum is focused on business fundamentals as well as leadership, communication, and analytical skills. The curriculum includes both required core courses, tailored core courses, and time for chosen electives (note that students opting for the shorter program length will have fewer opportunities for electives). 

Before the first year starts, students are required to take accounting, statistics, and finance courses online. Then, during the first year, students embark on their core courses, all of which are mandatory. These eleven courses include Perspectives in Business Ethics, Global Leadership Assessment for Managers, and Operations Management. 

Then, once core courses are finished, students can start choosing from their tailored core course options. This period allows students to fulfill their business fundamentals knowledge while delving deeper into key areas that are most important for their careers. Examples of these tailored core courses include Developing Entrepreneurial Opportunities, Innovation and Technology Strategy, and Global Economic Analysis. This is the structure of most students’ first year.

Then, during the summer, students have two options: taking on a summer internship or enrolling in LBS’ Entrepreneurship Summer School.

Finally, during the second year, students choose between ten and 12 electives in accounting, finance, economics, management and operations, marketing, organizational behavior, and strategy/entrepreneurship. Students also have the option to enroll in global or business experiential programs and cross-register for certain electives and language courses offered at University College London.

While optional, students can choose to pursue seven concentrations: change management, entrepreneurial management, finance, marketing, private equity, strategy, and economics.

 

Notable Faculty

LBS is known for the quality of its professors. Here are just a few of them.

Alex Edmans is a Professor of Finance and the Academic Director of the Centre for Corporate Governance at LBS. Recognized as Poets and Quants’ Professor of the Year in 2021, his research interests include corporate finance, responsible business, and behavioral finance. He is also a prolific public speaker, having spoken at the World Economic Forum in Davos and giving three Ted talks that have been viewed a combined 2.5 million times. If you’re interested in topics like the social responsibility of business, Professor Edmans should be at the top of your list.

Herminia Ibarra teaches organizational behavior. She is an authority on leadership and career development, a member of the World Economic Forum’s Expert Network, and one of Apolitica’s 100 most influential people in gender policy. She is the author of two best-selling books, Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader and Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career. Her most recent article, The Leader as Coach, won the 2019 Warren Bennis Prize for the best leadership article in the Harvard Business Review. Ibarra writes regularly in leading academic journals and business publications, including the Harvard Business Review, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times and speaks internationally on leadership and organizational transformation.

Suleyman Basak is recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on asset pricing and risk management and has won a number of awards for his teaching. He was previously at Wharton and acted as a consultant to Goldman Sachs.

 

Pedagogy

Instruction style

In general, there are three primary teaching styles: case studies, experiential learning, and lectures. LBS’ MBA combines all three. Depending on the class, professors may employ any combination of these approaches.

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.

Photo courtesy of london.edu

LBS is home to some of the world’s best experiential learning opportunities for MBA students. 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. 

Labs

London Business School is home to six research centers and institutes. This includes the AQR Asset Management Institute, the Center for Corporate Governance, the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Leadership Institute, Private Equity at LBS, and the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development.

International Study Programs

Apart from the international experience that all MBA students are immersed in due to LBS’ diverse class, the school also offers Global Business Experiences (GBEs) so that students can gain experience and build networks abroad.

GBEs are week-long programs that consist of lectures, guest speakers, site visits, group workshops, company visits, and alumni meetings. During this time, students apply their academic learnings to real-life, global business situations. Each experience is tailored to the location and hosting company/organization. Past locations include Stockholm, NYC, and Paris.

Students can also take part in international exchange programs with partner schools across the globe. Students can take up to four elective courses in their location of choice. 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.

 

Networking and Extracurricular Activities

The quality and extent of any business school’s community and network are key to assessing how the MBA will support your goals and objectives. While the MBA’s academic offerings are certainly one of the most important considerations, the influence and support of others connected to the school are one of the most influential aspects of getting an MBA. 

In clubs and extracurricular activities, you will meet others who can expand your perspectives, give you innovative ideas, and potentially become future business partners. When exploring each school’s extracurricular opportunities, see whether there are activities that align with your goals, values, skill gaps, or general interests.

Photo courtesy of @londonbschool on Instagram

As for the school’s networks and alumni community, some programs have stronger connections than others. You will want to consider whether the school has good connections to the regions and/or industries that you are aiming for and whether or not alumni networks exist where you are headed post-MBA. Not only will this be a chance for you to stay connected after graduation, but it can also get you lifelong career support and opportunities.

 

Extracurricular Activities and Clubs

With plenty of clubs and extracurricular activities available at LBS, there are many ways to refine leadership, networks, and skills during the MBA. There are over 75 clubs available and over one thousand events each year.

Whether you are interested in networking with others from your region or social group (e.g., Africa Club, Out in Business Club, LBS Women in Business), exploring your industry/background further (e.g., Entrepreneurship Club, Social Impact Club), or simply finding others with similar personal interests (e.g., Sailing Club, Photography Club), there are certainly a number of clubs that fit your profile and objectives.

 

Networking and Alumni Opportunities

In addition to experiencing LBS’ tight-knit student community, MBA students and grads have access to the school’s one-of-a-kind alumni community. LBS’ alumni network has more than 47,000 members in 157 countries. Students have the chance to interact with alumni through a number of alumni events, while alumni have lifetime access to LBS resources such as the LBS library. 

Photo courtesy of @londonbschool on Instagram

Whether you are a student or an alumna, you also have access to the LBS Hub, an engagement platform to enable global alumni connections, clubs, and online mentoring. 

 

What Makes LBS Special?

Apart from being a consistently well-ranked school with an excellent reputation among employers, there are a few key aspects that make LBS unique:

• Global culture and opportunities: 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.
• Collaboration: 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. 
• Location: To complement the school’s unique international opportunities, students can also take advantage of LBS’ location in one of the biggest global hubs for a number of industries. From the classroom to clubs, students can leverage LBS’ close relationships with local businesses and organizations for events, projects, and internships.

 

LBS Resources To Help You Get Accepted

Now that you know just about everything there is to know about LBS and its opportunities, you may be considering applying. Luckily, our expert team at Ellin Lolis Consulting has a wealth of LBS-specific resources to make your application stand out and succeed. We’ve compiled them below:

 

LBS Essay Analysis

Receiving around 3,000 applications per year and with an acceptance rate of around 20%, LBS is a highly selective MBA program. 

This guide, which includes tips from our expert essay editing team, will help you use your LBS admissions essays to stand out. You’ll find an analysis of who LBS is looking for, the essay questions, and what to (and not to!) do. We’ve also included sample essays. All in all, using this guide will ensure you give your LBS application your best shot.

Access the guide here.

 

LBS Interview Prep

The LBS interview is one of the most sought-after – and most difficult – interviews to land in the business school world. Luckily, we’ve created this exclusive guide to help you prepare for an LBS interview that stands out among the competition.

In this guide, we’ve rounded up not only our best tips from our interview team but have also included sample LBS interview questions.

Access the guide here.

 

Additional LBS Resources

Looking for even more resources to ensure you get into LBS?

Our MBA Resource Center is the perfect tool to start – or improve! – your LBS application. In our MBA Resource Center, you get access to:

• Dozens more successful LBS essays
• An exclusive essay brainstorming guide
• Letter of recommendation guides and templates
• Résumé templates 
• Additional resources like interview mocks and sample interview essays 

Our MBA Resource Center is the tool you need to turn an average application into an outstanding application that earns you a spot at LBS! 

 

Our clients get admitted to LBS

If your eyes are set on LBS, you may be wondering about how you’ll prepare and execute a successful application. As one of the most selective MBA programs out there, getting admitted to LBS is no easy task. Luckily, Ellin Lolis Consulting is here to offer our comprehensive expertise to you.

From brainstorming your ideas for your essays to negotiating your scholarships, our all-star team ensures that you get exactly the support and guidance you need along every step of the application process.

Don’t just take our word for it – take a look at the following testimonials from some of our clients who were admitted to LBS:

Landing a spot at LBS is no easy task. Now is the time to make sure your accomplishments truly shine. 

Ellin Lolis Consulting began with one mission: provide the best possible service to our clients and get them the best possible results. We know that applying for an MBA can be a difficult, long process, but our goal is to take away as much of the stress as possible by acting as your ally in the process. 

So if you need much more than just a few comments on your essay but instead want focused help shaping how you present your life’s greatest hits to one of the world’s toughest critics, you can count on us. 

That’s why we have a 98.9% success rate. We love digging deep into your story, finding what makes you unique, and sharing your accomplishments and why you belong at LBS, all without losing your voice.

 

 

Additional MBA Resources To Help You Secure Your Spot

While preparing your MBA application, the following resources created by Ellin Lolis Consulting will help you ensure you are not just doing everything right but developing an outstanding and competitive application.

Deciding and Planning 

• How to Decide Where to Apply to Business School
• Your Complete Timeline for MBA Application Success
• How to Create Your Business School Brand
• When Should You Start Preparing Your MBA Application?
• MBA Application Rounds: When Should You Apply?
• 3 Key Ways MBA Consultants Help You Build a Better Application Strategy

Writing your Essays and Résumé

• Your Complete Guide to Writing Winning MBA Essays
• How to Choose Your MBA Essay Stories (webinar)
• How to Write an MBA Goals Essay that Lands You an Interview
• 3 Reasons MBA Consultants Are Critical When Identifying and Telling MBA Essay Stories
• How to Use Storytelling to Write Standout MBA Essays
• How to Highlight Uniqueness in Your MBA Essays
• How to Discuss Failures and Weaknesses in Your MBA Essays
• How to Write an MBA CV

Letters of Recommendation

• How to Choose the Best Recommenders for Your Application
• How MBA Consultants Can Help you Obtain Better Letters of Recommendation
• How to Secure MBA Letters of Recommendation

MBA Interview Prep

• How to Be an Interview Rockstar and Leave a Great Impression
• The 5 Toughest MBA Interview Questions and How to Ace Them
• 5 Critical MBA Interview Mistakes Non-native English Speakers Make (And How to Stop Making Them)
• Ask These Questions During Your MBA Interview
• 3 Key Ways MBA Consultants Can Help You Prepare for Your MBA Interviews
• The 3 Most Common MBA Interview Mistakes (and How to Avoid Making Them) (webinar)

After Getting Accepted

• You’ve Just Been Accepted to Business School! Now What?
• MBA Application Fundamentals: What To Do After You’re Admitted

 

Get Expert Help

We hope you have enjoyed this guide to the London Business School MBA.

I know that applying for an MBA can be a difficult, long process, but arming yourself with information about your top-choice programs, planning ahead, and finding your application ally can take away as much of the stress as possible in the process. 

So, whether you need help developing your London Business School essay or guidance shaping how you present your greatest hits to one of the world’s toughest critics, you can count on my amazing team and me.