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Application details
Application deadlines

Applications for our August 2026 intake will open in August 2025.

All deadlines are 17:00 (UK time)
Your application must be complete before it is considered - we must receive all documents by the deadline for you to be considered in that round. This includes receipt of your reference from the referee you have nominated.
Apply as early as possible. Competition is often more intense in the final rounds.
If you wish to be considered for a scholarship, early application is strongly encouraged.

Prepare for your application:

Visit our website
Read blogs from our admissions team, alumni and current students
Attend one of our global information events online
Connect with our student ambassadors who will be happy to answer any questions you may have

Required documents

Full-time Masters in Finance essay questions:

Q1. What are your career objectives and what steps are you taking to achieve them? What alternatives are you considering? What geographical region do you hope to work in? (maximum 500 words)

Q2. What specific areas of London Business School life are you most excited about getting involved in and where do you believe you will add value to the School Community? (maximum 300 words)

Download the essay template

You can apply to the programme before taking the test. Note that some GMAT/GRE test waivers will be granted. Read our FAQs for more information on GMAT/GRE requirements and waivers.

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

Our institution codes are:

GMAT = Z11-J7-79

GRE = 7330

Practise the GMAT test with London Business School's GMAT simulator and prepare yourself for the test.

These tests are important tools which allow the Admissions Committee to assess your aptitude for graduate management study. With our incoming class drawn from different undergraduate disciplines and education systems around the world, they help us assess your ability to succeed academically.
If English is not your native language, or you have not studied in English in an 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.

Submit a strong application

Masters in Finance: How to submit a strong application

The Recruitment and Admissions Teams speak about the MiF application process and what makes an exceptional candidate.

So what happens next?

Congratulations on successfully submitting 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 MiF programme

Reject – Your application will come to an end for this year but the option to apply in the subsequent admission cycle is sometimes available
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. Each year some applicants who are placed on the waitlist are later offered a place in the current class, or sometimes for the following year. If you are placed on the waitlist you will be provided with additional information about next steps.

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

Get expert insight on what we’re looking for

Find out what we’re looking for. Submitting your CV is quick and easy and a great way to get feedback on your fit for the programme.

Submit your CV for review

Admissions advice

David Simpson, MBA and MiF Admissions Director at London Business School, shares his advice on building a successful MiF application.

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.

In the great majority of cases we are unable to give individual detailed feedback as the decision is the result of the high degree of competition. Our initial review of each application checks that the candidate has met our basic admissions criteria. All candidates are reviewed. In some exceptional cases we actively encourage applicants to improve their application and reapply with some feedback on how to enhance their competitiveness as a candidate.
If there is new information that adds significant weight to your reapplication, the Admissions Committee will consider this. Examples include an increased level of responsibilities, a new role, a new qualification or a substantially improved GMAT or English test score. If there is no new information, no purpose can be served by reapplying. We will need a formal request (by letter or e-mail) for us to reconsider your application. This should also detail the new information that you wish the Admissions Committee to consider. If after a reject decision you reapply for entry more than one year after your original application, then a new application will be required.

Appeals will only be considered against an admissions decision on the following grounds:

There is a substantive evidence of bias or prejudice against the applicant

There is substantive evidence that the Admissions Committee have departed from published policies and procedures.

In the first instance appeals should be made in writing to the admissions team. The admissions team will acknowledge the appeal within 5 working days and respond fully within 20 working days.

If, following this step, the applicant is dissatisfied with the outcome they may petition the Executive Director of the programme to review their case. This decision will be final.
We offer waivers for GMAT/GRE to a very small number of applicants. To qualify, candidates will need to exhibit previous academic excellence. GMAT/GRE waiver decisions are made at the discretion of the MiF Admissions Committee. When the Admissions Committee are considering whether or not to grant a waiver, they will be looking for strong grades in previous university studies, especially in quantitative subjects, and outstanding professional experience in finance. In addition, professional qualifications will add weight to the case for a test waiver. Holding CFA II or above gives you an automatic GMAT waiver. If you are a non-native English speaker, we will also be seeking to establish that you are fluent in English. It is important to note that having insufficient time to prepare for GMAT/GRE (for example, due to work commitments) is not one of the grounds on which a waiver will be granted.
You are welcome to submit your application without a test score. After reviewing your complete application we will advise you that:

1 - we have decided to waive the GMAT/GRE requirement OR

2 - we have decided to move forward to interview, but our offer may still be conditional on a strong GMAT/GRE score OR

3 - we have decided to wait for a test score before making a decision to call you for interview, OR

4 - we have decided not to consider you for this intake. In all cases the Admissions Committee reserves the right to require a strong score in GMAT or GRE before confirming a place on the programme.

The earlier you apply, the more time we will be able to give you to take the test, if we make a conditional offer. Conversely, if you apply very late in the cycle, you will have a shorter time frame to meet the test requirement of a conditional offer, and it will be unlikely that you will be given the option to resit if your first test siting does not go well.