Why You Should Apply To London Business School

Emma Bond, Director at Fortuna Admissions

With admissions season upon us, it’s time to narrow down your choice of B-schools. If London Business School (LBS) isn’t on your shortlist, it should be. The current class profile includes a student body that is 92% international, with 68 nationalities. Even more impressive, the Financial Times (FT) consistently ranks the LBS full-time MBA among the top two or three programs globally.

Here are a few more reasons why we’ve got our eyes on LBS:

Global leadership: An MBA fit for purpose

LBS continues to be committed to a truly global MBA experience. Based in a capital city and business hub, the school provides a challenging, real-world learning environment, showcasing diverse cultural, professional and international perspectives. Aiming to develop global leaders who will be competitive in today’s markets, LBS offers a strong multi-dimensional curriculum, from pre-term courses like Global Leadership Assessment for Managers (GLAM), to exciting programs like the Global Business Experience (GBE), which offers students location-specific immersive opportunities. The recently launched LBS Leadership Institute will fund research projects, case clinics, and conferences, creating innovative experiences that will help improve leadership practice.

For decades, LBS has been cultivating and growing its global focus, building global recruiter networks, alumni chapters and B-school partnerships. So, while Brexit has shaken up much of Europe, don’t let it deter you from applying. The school’s established international networks, top-class rankings, and extensive recruiter links (both in London and worldwide) should ensure LBS graduates will remain unaffected by any economic unrest.

It’s not as expensive as you think

At first glance, tuition fees for LBS’s two-year MBA programme (with an option for a 15-month programme), like those at all top schools, can appear eye-watering. MBA2018, matriculating this August, will pay £70,800 (approximately $93,000) in fees — and that’s before factoring in the steep prices of London living. However, some recent developments may soften the blow.

Firstly, evidence shows that salaries at European schools are no longer falling behind their U.S. counterparts. In addition to a post-MBA salary increase of 107%, LBS graduates can now expect an average 20-year ROI circa $3 million, a rate matched by only three U.S. programs. Secondly, there’s no denying that Brexit has caused sterling to be hit hard. Since the UK voted to leave the European Union, the pound has fallen 13% against the dollar, with even further losses anticipated. Last year at this time, tuition for the LBS MBA cost upward of $111,000; with sterling currently trading at $1.31, fees are down to around $93,000, a figure that lags far behind all top 10 U.S. schools.

Moreover, LBS has achieved great success in increasing its endowment fund; the school recently surpassed a £100 million goal in under three years. We advise applicants to submit applications early (at least by Round 3), since more scholarships will be offered this year than ever before. Scholarships are granted on both academic and professional merit. They are open to all, though some, like the new 30% Club Scholarship, are women-only. There are also field-specific awards, targeting areas as diverse as healthcare, consulting, tech, luxury, and the military.

Exciting times

2017 is set to be a monumental year for LBS. Having recently completed a tenure at the Wisconsin School of Business, François Ortalo-Magné succeeds Sir Andrew Likierman as dean, and the new Sammy Ofer Centre — a landmark infrastructure investment — will open, expanding teaching space by a massive 70%. With the potential for a Brexit exchange rate windfall, now is the perfect time to join the LBS community. If you’d like more guidance on applying to London Business School, reach out to Fortuna Admissions at info@fortunaadmissions.com for a free consultation.

Emma Bond is a director at MBA admissions coaching firm Fortuna Admissions and was previously responsible for MBA admissions at London Business School. Fortuna is composed of former directors and associate directors of admissions at many of the world’s best business schools.