London Business School is the leading two-year MBA program in Europe. With 90% percent of each class coming from outside the UK, the school offers a truly international environment that cannot be matched by even the most international two-year MBA programs in the US.
LBS takes full advantage of the London location through programs like the LondonCAP, in which students work with London-based companies on live projects. Frequent project sponsors include tech companies like Google, retail stalwarts like Mulberry, and even government agencies, such as the UK Cabinet Office.
LBS is careful to admit students who have a good fit with the program, and two categories of applicants should be cautious:
On the flip side, candidates who need a two-year business education and want to live and work in the UK or Europe are a great fit for this program.
| Class Size | 509 |
| Acceptance Rate | Does not disclose |
| GMAT Average | Does not disclose |
| Average Age | Does not disclose |
| Avg. Years Work Experience | Does not disclose |
| Diversity Women | 37 |
| Diversity Intl. | Does not disclose |
| Pre-MBA Industries | Consulting: 30 % Finance/Accounting: 25 % FMCG/Retail/Luxury Goods/E-commerce: 9 % Manufacturing/Engineering/Construction: 6 % IT&T: 5 % Energy/Power Generation: 5 % Healthcare/Pharmaceuticals/Biotech: 3 % Automotive/Aerospace/Transport/Logistics: 3 % Public Sector/Not for Profit/Education: 3 % Other: 11 % |
| Undergraduate Majors | Does not disclose |
The data above is from 2022 and represents the LBS MBA class of 2024.
See the full report: LBS MBA Class Profile
| Salary Average | $163,760.00 |
| Offers Upon Graduation | Does not disclose |
| Offers At 3 Mos. | 93 |
| Post-MBA Industries | Consulting: 38% Finance: 26% Private Equity: 8% Investment Banking/Brokerage: 7% Investment Management: 4% Hedge Funds/Alternative Investments: 2% Venture Capital: 2% Private Wealth Management: 1% Finance – Other: 2% Technology: 26% Internet/E-Commerce: 10% Information Technology and Services: 6% FinTech: 5% Electronics: 1% HealthTech: 1% Media and Entertainment: 1% Technology – Other: 2% Diversified: 10% Consumer and Retail: 3% Industrials: 3% Healthcare: 2% Energy: 1% Diversified – Other: 1% |
| Post-MBA Locations | United Kingdom: 52% Asia: 13% Europe (excl. UK): 10% Latin America (incl. Caribbean): 9% North America: 9% Middle East/Africa: 5% Oceania: 2% |
| Post-MBA Companies | McKinsey & Company: 56 |
| Career Development Resources |
The data above is from 2021 and represents the career statistics for the LBS MBA class of 2021.*
See the full report: LBS MBA Employment Report
The London Business School curriculum is spread out across the two years of the program, with the first year divided into three academic terms. Term one lasts from August to December, term two begins in January and ends in March, and term three is from April to June. The second year of the program is entirely customizable, right upto the exit date, which can mean that the program lasts anywhere between 15 to 21 months. The first year of the program is dedicated primarily to LBS’s core coursework. Students take several classes in business fundamentals, including subjects such as strategy, marketing, and operations management. Some of the core components can be selected from a range of topics in the “tailored core” part of the curriculum. Topics that are part of the tailored core include Digital Strategy, Value Chain Management, Global Economic Analysis, and Business Analytics. As part of the LBS elective curriculum, students make their selection out of 80 available courses. You can take classes in subjects ranging from Accounting to Organisational Behavior.
See course offerings in more detail: LBS Course Descriptions
In lieu of majors, LBS offers elective concentrations. The current offerings include the following seven concentrations.
LBS’s experiential learning program consists of the following four components.
London Business School is home to six research centers and institutes: the AQR Asset Management Institute, the Center for Corporate Governance, the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Leadership Institute, Private Equity at LBS, and the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development.
Through the Global Business Experience Program, students at LBS can combine gaining real-world business experience with an international business component. Current locations available to students are South Africa, Israel, India, Hong Kong, Peru, Myanmar, and Brazil. During these one-week trips, you can participate in workshops, panels, and company visits.
Coming from a middle-office role in a local commercial bank, Shu Wing knew he was going up against some very stiff competition. He wanted to propel his career to a front-office role in investment banking, targeting an LBS MBA, and without a top employer or top school on his resume, he had to find a way to stand out against a very competitive pool of bankers from buy-side or front-office roles in large investment banks like Morgan Stanley or Goldman Sachs.
Hear how he navigated the MBA application process and ultimately won a spot in the LBS MBA Class of 2022.
The latest application requirements set by the LBS MBA admissions office are described below.
Here are the prompts for LBS’s 2022-2023 application:
What are your post-MBA goals and how will your prior experience and the London Business School programme contribute towards these? (500 words*)
*Note: You are required to add the word count at the end of each question.
Current employment.
1. Tell us about your responsibilities. Describe your day-to-day role, details of any clients you work with/for, the level/title of the person you report to, the size of budget for which you are directly responsible and the number of people in your team. (text box, 400 words max)*
2. Reason for taking on this role (text box, 255 characters)*
*Note: You are required to add the word count at the end of each question.
Do you feel that your academic performance so far gives an accurate indication of your potential for success on the programme? If so, why? If not, why not?
Have you ever received formal disciplinary action from an academic institution, been forced to withdraw from a course of study, or failed to graduate? If so, you must declare that information here.
We encourage applicants to take into consideration the impact of study on family and friends. Who have you discussed your plans with and what was the response? (300 words max)
The LBS admissions interviews are by invite only and usually occur in the region which you are based. You will be interviewed by alumni or a member of the senior admissions staff.
| Admissions Info | MBA Program Home Page Application Process & Requirements |
| How to Apply | Request Information Start an Application |
| Meet LBS Business School | Admissions Events – Upcoming Connect with a Student |
| Do Your Research | LBS Student and Admissions Blog Think – LBS LBS News Faculty Directory |
London Location: It’s no surprise that LBS has strong ties to the city in which it originates. In addition to the emblematic British building situated in the heart of the city, the school fosters close relationships with local businesses–as well as the government–for projects and internships.
Diversity as a Cornerstone Value: Because 90% of the typical LBS MBA class hails from outside the UK, you can expect an inclusive and multiculturally rich environment with no dominant culture. Additionally, the school is committed to embracing “the many dimensions of diversity” and publishes an annual report documenting its progress and ongoing efforts to create an even more diverse community.
*All data retrieved from the London Business School MBA Program webpages and other sources.
