Masters in Finance: How to submit a strong early application for the 2023 intake

Applications for the Masters in Finance (MiF) programme starting in August 2023 are open! You can view the application deadlines for our 2023 intake here.  Ahead of your application, we wanted to guide you through how to get ahead of the race by submitting a strong, early application

Applications are highly competitive in the later rounds, therefore we encourage you to submit your application as early as possible. This also increases your chances of being considered for our scholarships.

The most important thing before starting your application is to do your research:

We in the MiF Recruitment Team also help and support you across the research and applying stages. If you have any questions, please email us at mif@london.edu. You can submit your profile for review, allowing us to informally assess your eligibility for the programme. We also host one-to-one consultations, where we get the chance to have more in-depth conversations around your experience in order for us to provide you with tailored application support.

Once you have completed your research, the next step is to start your application. You will be required to fill out our online application form, which involves submitting a GMAT or GRE score, two essay questions, a one page CV, your academic transcripts and one professional reference.

Applications are reviewed holistically, therefore all aspects of your application are measured equally by the MiF Admissions Committee. Below is an explanation of the individual application requirements in more detail.

GMAT/GRE

So we can assess your quantitative ability to ensure you can keep up with the rigor of the programme, we require a GMAT or GRE score. We have no preference between GMAT or GRE. A strong GMAT score is 650 or above, and for GRE we look for around 160 in the quantitative section, and 155 in the verbal section. You can also submit your application in advance of GMAT or GRE as we do make conditional offers.

For a small number of candidates, we waive the GMAT/GRE requirement. If you have cleared CFA Level II then you will automatically receive a GMAT/GRE waiver. We also grant GMAT/GRE waivers to candidates with strong grades at undergraduate and postgraduate level, especially those who have studied quantitative subjects and who have outstanding professional finance work experience. Professional qualifications like CFA Level I, FRM, CPA and ACCA will increase your chances of getting a waiver. To apply for a GMAT/GRE waiver, please share your CV and your undergraduate and postgraduate transcripts with us at mif@london.edu.

Two essay questions

Our two essay questions are focused on why you are interested in studying the Masters in Finance at LBS, and how you will contribute to our community. Remember, there is no right or wrong answer. Use the essays to tell us your story, and to highlight your personality. Demonstrate your leadership potential, your global mind-set, and showcase your academic capabilities.

CV and transcripts

You must include a one page CV in our recommended CV template and your academic transcripts. We require transcripts from your undergraduate and any postgraduate degrees. If your transcripts are not in English, they will need to be translated.

References

We require one reference from you, and this should ideally be professional i.e. by someone you have worked with and who knows you very well. The seniority of your referee does not matter as much as the quality of your reference. Please note that these need to be submitted before we can start reviewing your application. You should give your referees sufficient time to prepare and submit the reference, and spend time explaining your motivations to them, so that they can complete the reference thoroughly.

Next steps

Once you have submitted your application, the Admissions team will inform you about whether you have been selected for an interview or not. Interviews are conducted by our Alumni. For a deeper insight into the interview stage, take a look at our blog here.  

You can watch my conversation with one of our MiF Admissions Managers, Stefania Gilea, where we share tips for strengthening your application and answer questions from the audience.


If you have any questions or require further information, please contact us at mif@london.edu

Best of luck with your application!

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