by Masters in Finance Recruitment & Admissions Team
Applications for our Masters in Finance Full-time and Part-time programmes at London Business School are competitive. A strong, well-researched application can set you apart. Here’s our advice on how to make your MiF application stand out:
1-Page CV
Your CV is the front page of your application. Keep it professional, polished and precise. Focus on your achievements, but make sure they are relevant. Use the LBS CV template and guidance notes on our How to Apply pages to ensure it meets our expectations. Avoid gaps, exaggerations, jargon, or underselling your experience and achievements.
Research
Demonstrate your interest by researching the Masters in Finance and London Business School in depth. Read our Brochure and Employment Report to learn about the School’s faculty, core courses, electives, and explain how these will help you achieve your career goals. Tailor your writing to reflect this alignment. It is important you describe how the programme fits into your personal and professional journey.
Have Clear Career Goals
Clarity is key! Whether you’re aiming for investment banking, asset management, or private equity markets, to advance into a senior role or switch from the sell-side to the buy-side, articulate your career aspirations with precision. Explain why the MiF is the right bridge between where you are now in your career and where you would like to go. Find the balance between ambitious but realistic goals – do your research on the area of the finance industry you aspire to, and understand what the trends in the market are right now.
Stay Flexible and Open to Opportunities
While it’s important to have defined goals, demonstrate that you are open to exploring new opportunities. We look for candidates who are flexible, can embrace growth and adapt to a competitive and dynamic finance job market.
Engage with our LBS Community
Contact our Student Ambassadors, alumni, and the MiF Recruitment & Admissions Team. Attend our events, information sessions, and webinars. We’re frequently on the road – check our Events page to find out when we will be in your city and come join us for a coffee. Referencing your engagement in your application shows initiative, ambition and your commitment to LBS. Some application questions will ask you to name individuals you’ve met or events you’ve attended.
Highlight the Value You Bring
What makes you unique? We want to know how you will contribute to our community. What perspective, experience, or skill will you contribute to your study group, class discussion and our alumni network? We look for candidates who will not only gain from the programme but also help enrich a diverse and tight-knit community for the class and the School as a whole. Whether that will be within the clubs you’re interested in joining, as a Student Ambassador, academic or career representative, or even as you develop your leadership and mentoring skills.
The best advice we can share is to prepare thoroughly, be honest and consistent. Give it your best shot! We want to get to know you in detail, and more than just your GMAT/GRE score (whilst your scores are important too). We want to know what makes you special and how you will fit in our MiF community!