Applications for our MBA class commencing in August 2021 are now open. We understand the time and effort that goes into an MBA application, and with the Round 1 application deadline fast approaching, we want to tell you more about our admissions process and application deadlines.
We operate a ‘staged admissions’ process, just like most top schools. See the table below for more details.
| Application deadline | Interview decision sent on | Interview period | Admission decision sent on |
| Round 1 | |||
| Friday 11 September 2020 | Thursday 08 October 2020 | Mid-October to early November 2020 | Thursday 19 November 2020 |
| Round 2 | |||
| Tuesday 05 January 2021 | Tuesday 09 February 2021 | Mid-February to early March 2021 | Wednesday 31 March 2021 |
| Round 3 | |||
| Thursday 04 March 2021 | Wednesday 14 April 2021 | Mid-April to early May 2021 | Tuesday 25 May 2021 |
| Round 4 | |||
| Wednesday 27 April 2021 | Tuesday 18 May 2021 | Mid to end May 2021 | Tuesday 22 June 2021 |
On the MBA, we have four rounds, starting in September and running through to a final round in April. That final round is later than most of our US competitors, but not uncommon for global schools. On other programmes we extend even longer, especially for part-time programmes where the candidate decision making process is quite different.
David Simpson, MBA Recruitment & Admissions Director advises “We have deadlines to be able to process a high volume of applications. However, every deadline is still a busy one! So if you want to ensure that your application stands out from the rest, you might want to aim to submit early (a few weeks before one of the four deadline dates). This will ensure that we are reading your application during a quieter period and your application can stay fresh in our minds.”
For us on the MBA, although a large portion of our places are filled in rounds one and two, it is essential that we hold back places for the final rounds, in order to build the very particular kind of class we are seeking. What we don’t want to do is front load our admissions process and sacrifice our class quality. Aside from having the world’s most flexible programme, an excellent London location and outstanding employment success, one of the key points our students love about us, is the class diversity – typically around 70 nationalities, with no more than 15% from any one country. To get a better understanding of the diversity of backgrounds that make up our MBA cohort, you can download the MBA2021 class directory here.
The main thing you need to know is that whilst admissions deadlines are open, you honestly have every chance. We look at each application holistically so we encourage people to apply from a variety of backgrounds. Throughout the application process the Recruitment and Admissions team are with you and want to support you in any way possible.
Wishing you the best of luck with your application!