Introducing the Early Careers classes of 2019

by Alexandra Salter, Senior Recruitment and Admissions Manager, Early Career Programmes

In the Early Career programmes, we have the privilege of working across a portfolio of programmes, one that has grown from the Masters in Management (MiM), launched in 2009, to its Global Masters in Management (Global MiM) addition, launched in 2015; partnering with Fudan School of Management in Shanghai, China. We have just enrolled our third Masters in Financial Analysis (MFA) class, and have launched recruitment for the inaugural Masters in Analytics & Management (MAM) to start in September 2019. Across the portfolio this year, we have enrolled 367 Early Career programme students, our biggest cohorts in their respective programmes. So who makes up these classes?

The MiM, our flagship Early Career programme, enrolled 251 students this August; our largest class yet. This number includes our 38 Global MiM students, who are pursuing a Masters in Management here at London Business School, and will earn a Masters in International Business at Fudan School of Management. The MiM class is diverse in its composition, hailing from 45 countries, and speaking 55 languages. The MiM programme is proud to have achieved strong female representation at 45%, ensuring an inclusive and diverse cohort.

The redesigned MiM programme combines a core general management approach with a wide offer of elective courses and practical specialisations, attracting candidates from a range of backgrounds. We have welcomed students from Commerce, Languages, Philosophy, Aerospace Engineering, Molecular Biology and Video and Television (and everything in between), demonstrating that the MiM programme provides opportunities regardless of your study background. The class has an average GMAT of 691, underpinning their classroom readiness.

The MFA class this year is our biggest ever cohort at 116! LBS’ stream approach to the classroom ensures that lecture sizes are around 60, providing an intimate and dynamic learning environment. The MFA programme this year has broken many records, the cohort size just for starters! The class of 2019 has also enrolled 33% women, breaking the 30% barrier in its third intake; striving to advance women’s representation in finance. With an average GMAT of 716, the MFA class have highly developed quantitative skills, and represent the highest GMAT average in the School.

As diverse as their Early Careers’ peers, the MFA class hails from 33 countries, speaking 36 languages between them. As the name suggests, our students are driven to obtaining careers in finance and its surrounding sectors. From Accounting, Banking, Engineering, Finance, Mathematics, and Statistics, our MFAs come with a strong analytical and numerical mindset. Recognising the importance of diversity in the finance sector, we will be opening up the future cohorts of the MFA to those from any degree discipline, with related finance work experience and a drive to launch a career in finance.

Regardless of the MiM, Global MiM or MFA, our students share an average age of 23, and between 0-2 years of full-time work experience. Our portfolio approach to the Early Career programmes is designed to allow diverse, driven students to share elements of the programme such as the Global Immersion Field Trips, clubs, and electives; expanding their networks and building adaptive mindsets.

As you can see, we have brought together diverse, well-balanced and hugely talented, cohorts; and I can’t wait to introduce not only these programmes, but the Masters in Analytics & Management next year! Welcome to the classes of 2019!