By Tino Matienga, Student Recruitment Manager One-year MBA
The One-year MBA programme launched this year, welcoming 33 students, with 24 different nationalities represented and from a large diversity of employment backgrounds. The programme sits alongside our flagship 15-21-Month MBA and provides an opportunity to achieve the MBA qualification in shorter period, for those who qualify.
Before deciding if this is the right option for you, here are a few things you must consider.
Meeting the prerequisite
The programme is designed for professionals who already hold a Masters in Management or equivalent – which essentially is a masters covering multiple key business subjects, such as finance, accounting, data analytics, strategy and organisational behaviour.
There is no repetition of the standard core courses you would have previously covered in your masters. We offer an innovative new core, split into three dynamic categories, each addressing contemporary business needs. You then promptly progress to electives, where you begin to tailor the programme to suit your career goals, choosing a minimum of 8 electives from a portfolio of 80+.
Another key consideration is the accreditation requirement. The programme requires candidates to have a masters from institutions which are accredited by EQUIS or AACSB. These accreditations are internationally recognised quality standards for business education. We also accept masters from universities that are part of the UK Russell Group.
At last, the work experience… We look for candidates to have between 3-10 years of high-quality experience, with the class average of 6 years. What does high quality experience mean? This is more than just the number of years you have, but the depth and impact that you have achieved in that time. We want to see a track-record of progression, influence and impact.
Thinking about your next career move
Your time on the programme will fly by. What should be front and centre of your motivation for joining the programme, is understanding how this MBA will help you achieve your career goals.
It is important to evaluate the recruitment climate in your target industry. For example, industries such as Investment Banking utilise internship pipelines, while areas like Private Equity and Venture Capital rely heavily on having relevant previous experience, such as in Investment Banking. With the shorter timeline and no summer internship, the programme is ideal for candidates with clear direction – whether that is advancing in your current area, scaling an entrepreneurial venture/idea, returning to a family business, or making a focused pivot. It is also an ideal route for company sponsored candidates, such as consultants from top firms.
If you are looking for a significant change of career, then our 15-21-month MBA may suit you better than the One-year MBA.
Whichever programme you choose, you will have full access to our Career Centre early on, who will be on hand to help you refine your goals, connect you to employers and alumni worldwide, and maximise your chances of employment.
What is your ‘value add’?
With over 80 student-led clubs that range from professional to social, such as the Consulting Club, Tech Club, PE/VC Club, Foodie and Salsa Club there is no shortage of exciting opportunities at LBS. When researching and preparing your application you should strongly consider how you will contribute to life at LBS. With the programme being fast paced, the connections you make and activities you get involved with mean that your overall contributions will be a huge part of your journey.
Putting your best foot forward
What brings all these things together will be the application process itself. This consists of the online application form, essays, GMAT/GRE scores, English language test (if required) and submission of your academic transcripts.
You need to show us why the One-year MBA is the best option for you and what you will bring to the programme and the LBS community overall. You must also give yourself enough time to prepare for the GMAT/GRE. The class typically has a range of about 555–715 for the GMAT Focus. The median score for our inaugural cohort was 635.
Additionally, finding a suitable professional reference. This must be someone who has worked with you within a professional capacity, and ideally someone close enough to give an accurate character reference, bringing out all the qualities that make you an ideal fit for LBS.
Planning your funding
Finally, how you are going to fund the MBA is an important consideration. Students will often take a blended approach, combining personal savings, loans or company sponsorship (if their intention is to return to the same company post MBA). We do have a modest portfolio of LBS merit-based scholarships, however, you should not solely rely on these – so better have a clear plan in place beforehand!
Final considerations
The One-year MBA programme is an exciting opportunity for professionals looking to make an impact in a shorter period. It will be academically rigorous, career-focused and community-driven.
Of course, there will be other factors to consider, such as the time you will spend out of the working environment, if your career goals align with the recruitment structure (i.e. do you need to recruit via an internship?), and current market conditions and recruitment trends.
It is important that you take time to reflect on where you are in your career, what you want to achieve and how the amazing LBS One-year MBA experience fits into all of this.
If you want to find out more about the programme and if it’s the right fit for you, we would love for you to join one of our information events.