Choosing where to take your next steps for your career can be a difficult process. Our Graduate Masters class of 2024 have shared why they chose London Business School and their experience as they started their GM student journey.
Written By, Ekaterina Arkhipova, MFA24
After completing my Bachelor’s I decided to get an international experience and chose to study abroad. I conducted a thorough analysis of finance programmes and selected several universities that were ranked the best in the world. I applied to and got offers (including scholarships) from several world top ranked universities in and outside the UK and had to make a difficult choice. And here is why I chose LBS:
Global Perspective
One of the first factors I considered while choosing a masters programme was the location. London is a global hub for business, culture, and politics and provides you with a unique opportunity to interact with people from diverse backgrounds. It attracts professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders from around the world and is the perfect place for a career start. If you want to work in the UK, pursuing a masters programme in LBS is very beneficial as after graduation you will be able to apply for Graduate Visa and have 2 years in London, with no need to get sponsorship from an employer.
In London Business School diversity and inclusivity play a key role. Approximately 95% of students are international students. It was very important for me that during my studies I will be able to connect with people coming from different backgrounds and learn more about other countries, and cultures.
London Business School exceeded my expectations! LBS not only provides the opportunity but also encourages you to build different connections from the first day through various activities.
During Orientation, when Graduate Masters students met for the first time, we were asked to split into groups of people of different genders, nationalities, programmes, education, and work experiences and take a creative photo in London. It was a lot of fun and I was able to learn about my classmates.
Moreover, each student was assigned to a study group of 6-7 people which is specially designed to unite people from very different backgrounds to work together on the projects. We are also required to complete a Global Experience in which we have an opportunity to spend one week in another country and expand our knowledge of a certain subject.
LBS community
The key factor for me to choose LBS was the LBS community.
During my application process, I contacted many MFA ambassadors to learn more about their experience at LBS. All of them were friendly, patient, competent and determined to help by sharing their own journey at LBS. Talking to them helped me learn more about the programme and its benefits for both my personal and professional development.
Moreover, the LBS Recruitment & Admissions staff were very friendly, fast to reply and used a personal approach. They really helped me on several matters both when I was applying and when I accepted the LBS offer. In the stressful process of receiving a UK visa, the visas’ team support was invaluable.
Now, I constantly interact with people from the LBS community. We have a special social network called Meet in which you can get in touch with any LBS student, alumni, or member of staff. I like to connect with people from other programmes which is easy to do during events organized by LBS clubs or on electives. It is a perfect opportunity to meet people who already work in the industry you are trying to break into. I also like to interact with LBS alumni during the special LBS events organized by the Career Centre or even bump into them in front of the LBS campus.
Career Opportunities
Starting a career in another country is super challenging and I chose LBS as it takes a lot of care of their students.
LBS’ Career Centre does everything to make the process of finding a job less stressful and painful. Some job applications start as early as August, so the Career Centre starts to provide support even before the start of studies. We were all given the LBS template and tasked with perfecting our CV and had the opportunity to book a 1:1 coaching session.
The Career Centre often organizes events on which it explains how to improve your CV, Cover Letter, and what to expect in the Assessment Centres. There are also many sessions on which you can train for virtual, phone or in person interviews, while actively engaging with your peers, and getting feedback from them and career coach. You can also book 1:1 and talk to people experienced in a field you want to apply.
Finally, LBS holds a lot of events with potential employers, so you have an opportunity to gain a valuable insight into company’s culture and talk to people working there. During one of these events, I and several other women from LBS were invited by the company’s Investment Director to participate in Women’s Networking event in their office without undergoing the selection process.
MFA programme flexibility
The programme is well-organized. I was afraid that at LBS I would have to do a lot of home tasks and tests and wouldn’t have enough time for a job search. The MFA classes are smartly distributed throughout the year, to allow students to concentrate on applying to jobs in autumn, especially busy season.
You can also personalise your academic experience through electives: you choose on your own which course to take and when. For example, you can do the whole elective course in a week or have regular lectures once or twice a week.
Another interesting feature of the MFA programme is the optional fourth term during which you can do electives or go on an exchange programme. The ability to decide in which year you want to graduate expands your eligibility for internship opportunities which is also a great plus.
Scholarships
Masters programmes in the best universities of the world are expensive. The living costs in London, especially rent, also bite. LBS does tremendous work to support talented students coming from various backgrounds, with awards for women, UK residents and global students, just to name a few. This year LBS provided 25% of its students with scholarships and plans to support even more students in the future.
There are different types of scholarships. For merit scholarships all admitted students are automatically considered. People in financial need may also apply for bursary award after they receive the offer. In my situation, receiving support (the Stolyarenko Scholarship and a bursary) was crucial.
To sum up, LBS is a fantastic university with a very lively culture where you can meet people coming from all over the world and leverage your chance to pursue a career in various sectors. So far I have enjoyed my experience at LBS a lot and never regretted the decision I made. I’m very grateful to all LBS staff and very happy to be a student here.