Applying for a masters at a top UK business school

Top business schools in the UK such as Imperial, UCL, LSE and LBS are extremely competitive. Business courses at these institutions are often individually ranked which means that they attract 1000s of applications each year and therefore, the entry requirements are high and very strict. So how do you compete with the 100s of candidates applying for the same position on the course?

Apart from ensuring that you meet the basic entry criteria detailed on their websites, you need to present yourself as the right ‘fit’ for the institution and the course. There are some general characteristics that business schools are looking for which you need to demonstrate in your personal statement and CV:

1. Leadership – business courses at postgraduate level are designed to develop the leader in you but they need something to work with. You have to show them that you already have the hallmarks of a leader and that they merely have to tap into this to bring it to fruition.
2. International exposure – business schools are international places just like the world of work. They want to see that you are not phased by the mixing pot of ideas and approaches that come from multiculturalism and that you can thrive in such environments. By drawing on some of your international experiences you demonstrate that you can contribute to their diversity. But note: they are not interested in your beach holidays; your international exposure must have purpose!
3. Self-awareness – business school courses often focus on developing your soft skills (team-work, communication, project and time management etc) but to develop in these areas, you need to be able to observe yourself, take criticism and improve. A lack of self-awareness inhibits this goal so show the admissions teams your ability to self-assess, overcome challenges and learn from your mistakes in education, work or life.
4. Give back – Business schools don’t give something for nothing. They are looking for students who ‘give back’ to the school by immersing themselves in the student experience (societies, conferences, research groups, networking events), encouraging the next cohort of students to join the school and ultimately, becoming an accomplished alumnus/a who will go on to do incredible things. In a way, you have to pitch yourself to them through your career aspirations, your personal goals, your future achievements and give them something that they want to put their name on.

UKSO knows what business schools are looking for. We will help you pitch yourself successfully and get a place on a world-leading masters course. Contact us to find out what university application support services we can offer.