How to apply

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Applications for the MBA2028 class

Application process
Application calendar

Applications for the August 2026 intake will open later in August 2025.

We have three application deadlines each year - see Application Calendar for dates
All application deadlines are 17:00 UK time
Selected applicants are invited to join us for an interview conducted by alumni or senior admissions staff, usually in the region in which you are based.

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

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 (PDF document, 156.00kb)

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You must have a valid GMAT, GMAT Focus or GRE test score before submitting an application. 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.

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

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

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.

Submit a strong application

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

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 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 / GRE score is valid by the application deadline of the Round you apply in. Our average GMAT score for the MBA class is around 700, with a typical class range of 600 to 800.

We will look at all elements of your score and although a good score is preferable, the GMAT is just one of several admissions criteria. Just as a high score does not guarantee admission, a below average score does not always eliminate a candidate. You should however note that the minimum score we will accept is usually around 600.

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

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

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 are happy to accept the GRE; however, you should be aware that some employers may ask for a GMAT score.

Please note, you may be asked by the Admissions Committee to retake the GMAT or GRE 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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The average amount of work experience is 5.5 years (participants from some countries usually have less work experience than the average since their undergraduate study may be longer than others and/or national service has meant they started work later than others). Admission may be granted to candidates with less than three years work experience if they can demonstrate superior academic credentials and truly outstanding evidence of leadership through professional and personal experiences.