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Applications for the MBA1Y2027 class

Application process
Application calendar

Applications for the August 2026 intake are open.

We have four application deadlines each year - see Application Calendar for dates.
All application deadlines are 17:00 UK time

Prepare for your application

You can start preparing for your application for the August 2026 intake, following the below guidance:

Prepare for and take your GMAT or GRE test
Notify your professional referee
Begin drafting and writing your essays, as per essay questions below.

Question 1. (500 words) What are your post-MBA goals and how will your prior experience and the London Business School programme contribute towards these?

Question 2. (200 words) What makes you unique?

Question 3. (500 words) (This question is optional) Is there any other information you believe the Admissions Committee should know about you and your application to London Business School?

Candidate requirements

Candidates must have a qualifying masters in management, or an equivalent masters level degree covering the main disciplines of business, in line with the seven subject areas of the School. Candidates will need to show they have studied, in their masters qualification, a minimum of five courses from the seven disciplines of business below. These must the include the quantitative courses, specifically finance, accounting and data analytics.

Accounting

Data analytics

Economics

Finance

Marketing

Organisational behaviour

Strategy

If there are topics the candidate did not cover during their masters qualification, they will be expected to take relevant online courses, as recommended by London Business School, prior to joining the programme.

Masters qualifications must have been obtained three or more years ago and be from a university/business school approved by the accreditation bodies EQUIS and/or AACSB, UK Russell Group universities, or from a University of London member institution.
Essays are a vital part of your application and we recommend that you spend a significant amount of time in their preparation. The questions for our MBA programmes are:

What are your post-MBA goals and how will your prior experience and the London Business School programme contribute towards these? (500 words)

What makes you unique? (200 words)

Is there any other information you believe the Admissions Committee should know about you and your application to London Business School? (Optional) (500 words)
You need to ask someone to act as your referee, this person could be either of the following:

your current employer (if you don't want to ask your employer to be a referee, a colleague is acceptable)

someone else who knows you well in a work context, for example a former employer or long-standing client.

After you input your referee's details into the online application form we will send them an email with log-in details for our online reference system. London Business School reserves the right to contact your referee for further information in connection with your application.

Download further information on references for applicants and referees

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You must have a valid GMAT, GMAT Focus or GRE test score before submitting an application. We also accept EA scores from candidates who have previously scored well on the GMAT / GRE when applying for their masters, but whose scores are no longer valid. Valid scores must be less than five years old and you must request for the test organisation to report the official score to us. Please submit your official test taker copy of your score with your application.

If you are taking a GMAT Focus test, or have previously taken a GMAT test, you might not have the option to download a test taker copy of your score. In that case, please take a screenshot of your score and upload it with your application

Register to take the GMAT, or try the GMAT test.

Please note, you may be asked by the Admissions Committee to retake the test before receiving an offer.

Read the FAQs for more information on GMAT/GRE requirements.
If you are not a native speaker national of a majority English-speaking country, you will need to submit an IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge CPE, CAE, PTE Academic or Duolingo English Test score. Other tests will not be accepted.

Our TOEFL institution code is 0898.

At the discretion of the Admissions Committee, the requirement to submit an English language test score may be waived.

For more information, see our English language requirements information sheet.

So what happens next?

Once you successfully submit your application. Here’s what to expect next.

Interview feedback is then combined with your initial application and used by the Admissions Committee to reach a decision which may be:

Offer – The exceptional merits of your application and interview mean London Business School would like to offer you a place to join the One-year MBA programme

Reject – Your application will come to an end for this year but the option to apply in the subsequent admission cycle is available

Waitlist – London Business will not be making an offer at this stage, but we remain open to gathering more information concerning your candidacy given the strengths of your application

Please note that all offers are made via email. Given varying time zones this email may reach you outside of working hours.

Admissions advice

David Simpson, MBA and MiF Admissions Director at London Business School, shares his advice on applying to the MBA programmes.

London Business School in 360°

Dynamic. Cosmopolitan. Diverse. You’ll find all the energy of London – its cultural richness and spirit of innovation – right here on our London campus. Take a look around in this 360° tour.

You must ensure that your GMAT, GMAT Focus or GRE score is valid upon submitting your application.

Our average GMAT score for the MBA class is around 700, with a typical class range of 600 to 800. You should note that the minimum score we will accept is usually around 600, depending on your academic and professional background.

Our score expectations for GMAT Focus are in line with the equivalent scores from the previous GMAT. You should aim for 645, but we are likely to require at least 555 and above.

For GRE, we prefer scores over 160 for both verbal and quantitative sections.

We will look at all elements of your score and although a good score is preferable, the GMAT / GRE is just one of the admissions criteria. Just as a high score does not guarantee admission, a below average score does not always eliminate a candidate.

If you feel that you could improve your score, you are advised to retake the test to help make you a more competitive candidate. If you plan to retake your GMAT after the application deadline you should liaise directly with the MBA admissions team at apply.mba@london.edu for further advice.

We will accept the EA if you have a good score on a prior GMAT / GRE, but it is from more than five years ago.

You should be aware that some employers may prefer you to have a GMAT score.

Please note, you may be asked by the Admissions Committee to retake a test before receiving an offer if they feel that your current score is too low. Practice the GMAT test with London Business School's GMAT simulator and prepare yourself for the test.

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In addition to having obtained a masters in management, you will need to have at least three years’ relevant, high-quality work experience that demonstrates a strong track record of achievement.

Your work experience does not necessarily need to include experience as a manager. The programme is suitable for people who come from technical backgrounds (for example, engineering or IT), as well as for people who have worked in finance or consultancy or run their own business. We also welcome applications from people who have worked in the public sector/government.