Applying to MSc Management at Imperial: my journey and advice

Imperial College Business School campus

My heart skips a beat. I have been accepted to my top programme of choice, MSc Management at Imperial College Business School. But how did I get there? Well it was quite the long journey.

The beginning

A few years ago, I finished my Bachelor’s degree. Having finished my studies in the UK and fallen in love with London, I was faced with a dilemma. Either start a Master’s degree straight away or work for a bit before doing a Master’s degree afterwards. I accepted a job with a technology company with the idea in mind of working there one to two years and then going back to full time study. 

The decision

A little more than a year later, I had just gotten promoted, but I still yearned to learn more and get a Master’s. I decided to look into different Master’s programmes in December to be on time to apply to any Master’s programme I might want. After looking into different Master’s programmes, MSc Management caught my eye, due to modules like Innovation Management and Marketing Decisions, and the unique opportunities the programme offers, such as exchanges in foreign countries and a great network.

To make sure I was making the right decision, I reached out to different people who have studied at Imperial College Business School, in particular the programme that I was interested in. All I got were stellar reviews, with people telling me how much they enjoyed their time at Imperial and the learnings they got there. 

I watched some videos of students who did the programme and made my final decision. MSc Management was my top choice, a programme that will help me reach new heights, whether in startups, multinational companies or even my own business one day.

The hard work begins

While working a full-time job, I needed to do the full process of applying to Imperial, starting with getting my transcripts translated then sending them back to my school. I also needed to write cover letters, explaining why I wanted to join the MSc Management programme and Imperial College London. Although intensive, the application process is straightforward and after completing my interview, all that was left for me was to wait. 

Three weeks after completing my interview for the programme, I got THE email; I’d been accepted to Imperial! I felt excited and relieved, knowing that the next year would be spent meeting tremendous people and learning new skills that will last me a lifetime!

Why not do it too?

If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably thinking of applying, you’re starting to apply or you have already applied. If you’re in the same situation as I was, it might be difficult to write cover letters, do video interviews, contact your previous professors for reference letters and work full-time on the side, but with motivation, you can do it all and get the Master’s programme of your dreams! 

In my experience, it is best to set aside time to do your research before choosing a Master’s programme and a school — you’ll be investing a whole year here, so make sure it is what you want. 

Start this search early on so you then have time to apply for your chosen programme without any stress. Speak to current or former students, we’ll always be available to help you out! 

Also, practice before your interview — make sure you have read the programme thoroughly and you know why you are applying and what excites you about the programme. 

Most importantly, remember that through the late nights writing cover letters, you can and will do it! Good luck to you on your journey to Imperial.

Clotilde Moullec, MSc Management 2020-21, student at Imperial College Business School

About Clotilde Moullec

MSc Management
Clotilde Moullec, MSc Management 2020-21

What to look for when choosing a part-time Master’s programme

Graphic of woman studying on a couch

I am currently studying MSc Business Analytics (online delivery, part-time) at Imperial College Business School. This blog talks about the factors to consider when choosing a part-time Master’s and my experience while studying at Imperial.

Most students who pursue a part-time Master’s do it for different reasons than full-time students. From my experience, most part-time students study for a Master’s after working for some time and have family and work commitments while studying. Most people studying part-time also work full-time in similar fields to what they are studying. So if you are looking for a part-time programme, the factors that influence what programme you choose would vary, but not be entirely different.

Some common factors are as follows:

A well-connected, intelligent cohort

The importance of networking cannot be overstated. The most significant advantage of studying part-time is that the students studying with you have significant experience and are potentially working in important positions in your field of interest. The diversity of knowledge that these peers provide in class discussions, group projects and regular conversations is beneficial and unparalleled.

At Imperial, these benefits are augmented with the focus on group assignments, and on-campus connects.

Flexibility

Students studying part-time programmes often have to juggle studying, a full-time job and family obligations. Additionally, in online programmes, the time zone differences can cause problems during live classes and interactions with peers.

In my modules, every live class is taken twice at different times on the same day with the same content to accommodate students from different time-zones. Sufficient time is provided for coursework, assignments and submissions. For example, every week there is a half hour test which can be started anytime during the weekend.

A programme rooted in reality

Part-time students are experts in their field. One of the main reasons a student might pursue a part-time Master’s is to understand how concepts are applied across different domains and industries. 

For example, in data science, the same regression and classification principles are used across various fields from finance to supply chains for solving different types of problems. There is an emphasis on real-world case studies, and industry exposure on the MSc Business Analytics programme.

Relevant and useful programme content

Most part-time students pursue higher education to gain a better understanding of the basics of their profession, looking for a more fundamental understanding of the concepts. Students also look out for broadly useful topics that they are unfamiliar with.  

For example, my programme core modules starts with the basics in technology (Data Structures) and maths (Maths and Statistics Foundations for Analytics) and builds on these foundations. I have worked on machine learning, but I have never worked on deep learning or unsupervised learning which I am studying in the Machine Learning module. Even with machine learning, I know the practical aspects and implementation, and I am learning the nuts and bolts in this programme.

Sri Harsha Achyuthuni, MSc Business Analytics (online, part-time), student at Imperial College Business School

About Sri Harsha Achyuthuni

MSc Business Analytics (part-time, online)

Is Executive Education worth it?

Skills to success

Is Executive Education worth it?

When you’re making an investment in anything, you need to be sure about the return. Executive Education is no exception.

Whether you are an individual looking to accelerate your career development or an organisation with strategic development goals for leaders and employees, investing in management training implies time, effort and money. And in moments of acute uncertainty and complexity, when the future feels anything but secure, it’s natural to wonder if that time, effort and money mightn’t be better spent addressing the immediate challenges of the here and now.

Why then do so many business leaders and organisations prioritise executive training precisely when times are toughest or most complex? What’s in it for them? What makes Executive Education worth it, especially when the chips are down?

We consulted our programme participants, programme directors and faculty here at Imperial to understand how they see the value of Executive Education.

Here’s what they told us.

1. Address actual, real-world dilemmas

Executive Education programmes look at the real problems that businesses and leaders face today. At Imperial, our programmes for executives are expertly calibrated to the most relevant issues, challenges and trends impacting leadership development, strategy, sustainability and innovation. They address the live issues that decision-makers need to grapple with, by integrating the very latest thinking and technological insights from Imperial faculty with action-based, focused learning experiences that build practical, applicable skills. From digital transformation to design thinking, from risk management to machine learning for decision-making, our Executive programmes equip you to tackle the things you face today, and tomorrow.

2. Address your specific challenges

Executive programmes are firmly rooted in the real-world and relevant – and that includes those specific areas of focus that you and your organisation need to address. Imperial Executive programmes look at topics as specific and diverse as strategic brand transformation or AI and machine learning in the financial services space. Organisations also have the option of a custom programme – a bespoke learning experience 100% tailored to the individual needs of the business.

3. Tap into world-class expertise

Executive Education programmes are designed and delivered by the foremost business thinkers and practitioners. At Imperial, our faculty are world-renowned, with academic expertise that spans innovation and entrepreneurship, quantitative finance and healthcare management. As advisors and researchers, Imperial faculty maintain the closest ties to industry, commerce and government – a rich and privileged network of excellence that fully informs your learning experience.

4. Rethink the big issues

Business never stops. Yet it’s important for decision-makers to take the time to pause, to reflect and to rethink their challenges, solutions and approaches. Executive Education affords leaders a safe, secure and honest space to look at the critical issues afresh; to experiment, to learn, to unlearn, and to try out new ideas. It provides a unique opportunity to innovate and to find different ways to drive growth.

5. Broaden perspectives

When you are navigating complexity, you’re going to want to see the biggest picture possible. You will want to see problems in all of their dimensions, and to leverage a diversity of views as you find solutions. The Executive Education classroom – whether it’s on-campus, online or virtual – exposes you a breadth of perspectives; peer insights and expertise that spans multiple sectors and geographies. You quite literally learn to see the same problem from a host of different angles.

6. Network, network, network

The Executive Education experience doesn’t end when the programme concludes. At Imperial, the ties and bonds you build in the classroom endure for years. Completing an Executive programme entitles you to membership of the prestigious Imperial College Business School Alumni network; a 19,450-strong cohort of business leaders from a diversity of sectors spanning more than 140 countries. And each year, we deliver a full range of dynamic events, services and resources to keep you connected to each other and to ongoing opportunities to learn and to build new skills.

7. Strengthen alignment

For organisations, investing in Executive programmes for individuals is an investment in strategic talent. It signals to your top people that you are invested in their professional development and their capabilities as trusted decision-makers. It is a means of securing engagement, commitment and loyalty where it matters most. Similarly, custom programmes empower business organisations to build critical awareness, buy-in and alignment around strategic goals – and drive better results through cohesion and collaboration between and across your teams.

8. Accelerate performance

Executive Education is about solving concrete problems and delivering concrete results. At Imperial, learning is actionable – that means that the individuals and organisations that come to our programmes leave with knowledge, insights and frameworks that can be applied for immediate and lasting impact. Whether it’s building leadership capabilities, developing new products, ventures or even markets or improving operations for sustainable growth, our Executive programmes accelerate performance exponentially – giving you and your organisation the resilience and the competitive edge to thrive under pressure, and to navigate the uncertainty ahead with certainty and confidence.

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Short executive programmes

Our short executive courses combine our long-established capability in technology with the latest business thinking.

What is Executive Education?

What is Executive Education

There has arguably never been less certainty in our world than there is right now.

The Covid-19 pandemic caught countries, markets, industries and sectors of every description completely off guard at the start of 2020. Within the first three months of the new year, economy after economy had shut down; the impact of stay-at-home measures and social distancing constituting a financial shock unparalleled in modern times – far greater in scale and scope than the Great Recession of 2008. Businesses, organisations and institutions around the globe have had to adapt, and fast. Some have fared better than others, some have pivoted their business model to respond and even thrive in the so-called new normal. Others have shut up shop indefinitely.

If the global health crisis has shaken the world to its core – laying bare the vulnerabilities and weaknesses in our systems and structures and exposing geopolitical tensions that risk international trade and cohesion – it has also delivered critical lessons.

The most important lesson of all, perhaps, is the need to be prepared; to put into place the organisational resilience, the resources, the capabilities and the learning capacity to emerge safely from this crisis and to build towards a more robust, more sustainable future.

And this is the promise of Executive Education.

Building a sustainable future for you, and your organisation

So what is Executive Education? Put very simply, it is a portfolio of training and development programmes designed by business scholars and industry experts; learning experiences that empower business leaders and decision-makers to navigate the uncertainty ahead, with clarity, certainty and confidence.

Executive programmes are finely calibrated to address the most critical challenges and problems facing managers and their organisations. From developing the kinds of next-generation leadership competencies that businesses need in order to thrive in complexity, to building specific knowledge and skills to position you at the vanguard of digital transformation and beyond, executive education is intense, immersive and transformational learning experience – experience that delivers impact that is simultaneously immediate and enduring.

At Imperial, our suite of Executive Education programmes fully leverage the expertise, research and knowledge of our distinguished faculty –  world-renowned business scholars and practitioners who continuously identify and explore the emerging problems and the shifting megatrends that shape and reshape the global economy.

Our programmes give executives a unique opportunity to truly investigate the real issues they face as professionals, and those that face their organisation. And they give you an opportunity to do this within the safety of a learning environment geared to open and honest discussion and debate.

Our programmes also represent a unique opportunity to share and exchange insights with other leaders from diverse backgrounds – to broaden your perspective and mindset, and expand your professional and personal networks as you learn.

You choose the format, you choose the focus

Executive programmes are delivered a variety of formats at Imperial.

We offer on-campus programmes, online programmes via our state-of-the-art EdTech platform which integrate live, interactive sessions with faculty and peers.

The virtual format in particular has ensured that business leaders have been able to continue investing in their development despite the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. Meanwhile, online learning delivers the advantage of anywhere, anytime: participants can mark their own pace and tempo, without the need for travel or other types of disruption. On-campus programmes are delivered at Imperial’s stunning South Kensington campus close to the heart of London.

As part of our Executive Education promise, we offer a breadth of programmes both for individuals and for companies. Programmes for companies are called custom programmes, because they are customised and tailored to the precise and unique challenges facing a specific organisation. These are bespoke learning solutions that accelerate the development of your future leaders.

Our Executive Education offering is divided into four primary disciplines or areas of focus: Management and Leadership, Technology and Innovation, Sustainability and Health, and Finance and Strategy.

Every programme within each of these disciplines integrates the latest technological thinking and research in leadership, strategy and innovation with sector-specific deep dives in topics such as entrepreneurship, healthcare, cyber security or risk management.

Each programme also delivers hands-on, applied experiences and real-world project work, so that you have the chance to translate theory into practice into impact as you absorb exciting new ideas.

The choice is yours.

You decide the format and the focus that best meets your needs and objectives.

Because there’s never been a greater need

Whatever Executive Education is, it is, in part a solution to a problem.

There has never been a moment of greater uncertainty in our world.

To navigate the path ahead and capitalise on the promise of a better future, it is now incumbent on businesses, managers, decision-makers and the next generation of leaders to seize the opportunity to learn; to reflect on those areas of strength and those of vulnerability, to determine the capabilities necessary to thrive in this new normal – and to build those capabilities from the top-down, bottom-up, and across the entirety of your leadership, and your organisation. 

There has never been a greater need to think strategically about your future.

Nor has there been a better opportunity to do so.

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Celebrating International Women's Day #IWD2021

International Women's day logo

In celebration of the International Women's Day 2021 theme of 'Choose to Challenge', which focuses on calling out gender bias and inequality, we spoke to our alumni community and asked for their advice on what #ChoosetoChallenge means to them. 

Julia Osetrova MSc Strategic Marketing 2013
Julia Osetrova, MSc Strategic Marketing 2013

"Gender equality is on the agenda of many organisations nowadays, however, only a few are taking the actual steps to address the issue, from recruitment to promotion and retention of women. More actionable plans for all types of organisations could ensure that equality is not just a “buzzword” for them.

"We can proactively take the steps, however small, to call out bias, even when it comes from people who are close to us, and question the stereotypes that still hold us back."

Tennesee Watt
Tennessee Watt, MSc Management 2018

"Working towards gender equality is important, because inequality and discrimination negatively impact women in several areas of life; education, the workplace, and in gaining access to opportunities they deserve. It’s important to fight for equal treatment and the rights of all women, acknowledging the intersections and nuances of experience that occur.

"I try to challenge gender bias in all that I do. I make it known that I’m a video gamer, I work in technology, and have a Master’s degree - all things that are typically not expected of young women.

"I’ve especially emphasised these traits when I’ve experienced unconscious bias in the workplace. Little actions like this can go a long way in changing stereotypes and expectations."

Virginie Bauman (MSc Strategic Marketing 2014)
Virginie Bauman (MSc Strategic Marketing 2014)

"I #ChooseToChallenge all women to rise up and not settle for less than they deserve - be it work, relationships or life in general."

Vivian Tam (Distance Learning MBA 2016)
Vivian Tam, Distance Learning MBA 2016

"From societal gender role stereotype to patriarchy, it is difficult to explicitly name the biggest challenge in overcoming gender inequality. I believe a way to overcome the challenges we face today is ensuring women are at the core of decision making, diversifying perspectives and reframing longstanding organisational and societal norm.

Whilst progress has been made, it is up to each and everyone of us to take on the challenge, to enact collaborative positive changes toward addressing gender inequality."

IB Logo
Elizabeth Petykowski, Full-Time MBA 2020

"I #ChoosetoChallenge workplaces that have splashy diversity campaigns without tangible plans for how to address gender inequality. 

"I #ChoosetoChallenge my own imposter syndrome and recognise that I do deserve a seat at the table. 

"I #ChoosetoChallenge myself and others to celebrate the achievements of our women colleagues."

Rhea Singhla Full-Time MBA
Rhea Singhla, Full-Time MBA 2020

“For me #ChoosetoChallenge means to stand up and question the status quo to fight for what you believe in.”

IB Logo
Anastasia Malakhova, MSc Finance 2020

"For me, #ChooseToChallenge would be about challenging yourself. There are always moments when you are unsure, when you think you might not be good enough for a particular role or that you don't have enough experience for a task / challenge that you've never done before. By choosing to challenge ourselves we get rid of a possibility of "regret that you didn't do it". And in nearly all cases, a new challenge means that you would prepare well and do much better than expected."

Hannah Slagsvold
Hannah Slagsvold, MSc IWM 2020

"I believe #ChoosetoChallenge means: Ignore norms and other background noise, focus on how you can use your strengths to reach the goals you set." 

"Everything we do is consistent with the #ChoosetoChallenge ethos. Our Athena SWAN work consistently identifies and challenges gender bias and inequity."

Karen Tweddle, Director, Education Quality at the Business School and member of the Business School’s Athena SWAN committee, discusses the work of the group and why the School is committed to supporting female students and staff.

Applying for a scholarship to Imperial’s Full-Time MBA: advice from students

Full-Time MBA Student Smiling in a lecture

Imperial College Business School offers significant scholarship funding to outstanding applicants to the Full-Time MBA.

A wide range of scholarships are available, and all self-funded candidates are automatically considered for all scholarship for which they meet the eligibility criteria and application deadlines.

Below, we find out more about some of last year's scholarship recipients, including the benefits of receiving a scholarship and their advice to applicants and future students.

Our scholarships recognise students for academic excellence and community engagement, as well as diversity-oriented scholarships for students from specific regions, LGBTQ+ students and those coming from disadvantaged background and/or have overcome adversity.

Michelle Tang

Forté Foundation scholarship

"I was very fortunate to receive a 50% scholarship from the Forté Foundation as a Forté Fellow. Forté accelerates women through advanced education so we can have a voice at the table. They allow us to connect with likeminded talented women and previous Forté Fellows at influential companies and leading business schools."
Full-Time MBA 2021-22
Michelle Tang Full-Time MBA 2021-22

Advice to prospective students:

My advice would be to do your research. Know your goals and what you want to achieve after the MBA and plan for them to happen. Leverage the resources at Imperial as much as possible, which includes taking up leadership roles, expanding alumni networks, and committing to the Personal Leadership Journey to better understand yourself. Secondly, talk to people and ASK! Nothing is more valuable than listening to others sharing their own experiences. Build your connections even before the start of the programme, which includes getting familiar with incoming and previous cohorts as early as possible. Finally, trust that you are making the right decision and be ready to ‘unlearn and relearn’. As MBA students we often come to the programme with lots of industry knowledge, but you should still be open-minded enough to learn from new experiences that can potentially shape the future.

 

Stanley Cookey

Riley Family Scholarship

"I am fortunate and humbled to be a recipient of the Riley Family Scholarship which covers my tuition. In addition, I had also received the Dean’s Impact award and Africa Regional award, which although not additive, went a long way to highlight the platform the Imperial provides to help prospective students achieve their dreams."
Full-Time MBA 2021-22
Stanley Cookey, Imperial Full-Time MBA student

Advice to prospective students:

  1. Aim high. Go for the best schools. You will often find that you have what it takes to get in.  
  2. Don’t think about funding at the beginning. Somehow, these things have a way of sorting themselves out eventually. 
  3. Be open-minded. You will find yourself changing your mind about a lot of things several times over and that is okay. 
  4. Network even before you start. Talk to current students and alumni. They are incredible resources to leverage during the application process.

Sanjana Sahal

ROMBA scholarship

Advice to prospective students:

My top tips to anyone thinking of applying to the Full-Time MBA:

  • Embrace the change! Be open-minded and accepting towards the new way of life
  • Build meaningful bonds and friendships
  • Get involved in activities outside the MBA and connect with the wider Imperial community - take advantage of all that it has to offer
  • Be open to learning
  • Time management is key!
  • Participate in all the networking opportunities provided by the School
  • Don’t take yourself too seriously and enjoy the experience!

Scholarships available for entry to the Full-Time MBA September 2022 intake include:

  • Advisory Board Scholarship
  • Africa Regional Scholarship
  • Black Future Leader Award
  • Dean’s Impact Scholarship
  • Forté Fellowships for women
  • Imperial Excellence Scholarship
  • LATAM Regional Scholarship
  • Reaching Out MBA (ROMBA Fellowship)
  • Riley Family Scholarship
  • Sainsbury Management Fellows’ Award

Listen to our podcast, Inside IB, to learn more about funding your MBA

How to achieve your career goals while studying for your part-time MBA

Illustration of women balancing her time with images of a phone, a clock, a calendar and a laptop surrounding her

At the forefront of taking on the challenge of a rigorous part-time MBA programme like the Global Online MBA or the Weekend MBA is a goal. A goal to improve skills, abilities and develop personally and professionally to support long-term career progression. 

The Careers team at Imperial are the tool that every student needs to unlock their career potential, especially when juggling a busy schedule. The Global Online MBA and Weekend MBA is just part of a student’s life. Studying needs to fit alongside a busy work schedule, family commitments and downtime. So making time for the support offered by the Careers team is paramount to reaching post-MBA your career goals, even if you have a lot on your plate.

As part of your career development as a Global Online MBA or Weekend MBA student, you will embark on a Personal Leadership Journey, which provides a structured approach to growing leadership potential through a range of expertly crafted exercises, workshops and one-to-one career coaching sessions. Careers Consultants, like myself, are experts in our field and use our wealth of experience to provide personalised support to help you achieve your career goals while studying at Imperial.

As a Career Consultant for students on the part-time Global Online MBA and Weekend MBA programmes, I share my advice on how to make the most of career development at Imperial.

 

  1. Engage with your dedicated Careers Consultant

As a Careers Consultant, our job is to help students make the most of their MBA and achieve whatever their version of success is, whether that’s a promotion, a transition to a new sector, a new function, starting a business or something else – the possibilities are endless.

Each student starts the programme with their own aspirations. We work with them on whatever their challenges are to get to where they want to be. In practice, that means a dedicated Careers Consultant for each student who provides in-depth psychometric assessment feedback and supports all aspects of developing career progression from CVs, interviews, networking to ongoing development coaching.

There are also great speakers on senior leader competencies and opportunities to network with alumni and across cohorts. We encourage students to make the most of all Imperial resources so they can explore different career paths, even if they turn out not to be the right ones for them. We want students to have knowledge of as many options as possible before deciding which is the most suitable for them.

 

  1. Work out what you want to achieve

Lots of students on the Global Online MBA and Weekend MBA want to perform more effectively in their current role and use the MBA for that.  A large proportion of students are also interested in switching some aspect of their career. Imperial’s part-time MBA programmes help with that in many ways, from having a network of peers in many top companies to using the knowledge gained in class to unlock new career opportunities.

Sometimes the career direction students go down in is not what they expect at the start of the MBA programme as they get exposed to new subjects. It is important to stay open-minded throughout the programme.

I recently worked with one Weekend MBA student who had spent most of her career working for a small London recruitment company – rising to become it’s Managing Director. She was looking to move on to a new sector for the first time and we spent a lot of time focusing on her interview technique to make her recruitment experience relevant to other sectors. She has just joined a (non-recruitment) multinational organisation to lead its operations in a new city and country which she is delighted with and is the perfect next step for her.

 

  1. Carve out time for career research and reflection

While studying your MBA, the Careers team are a voice of reason in your ear, reminding you to think about your career progression throughout the programme.  Good planning and time management are also important of course. There are gaps in the academic calendar which many students use to research, reflect on or make career decisions.

 

  1. Think about the long-term

We often see students use their MBAs to enter new sectors long after their studies have finished. I recently worked with an MBA alumnus who graduated three years ago and moved into a Product Manager role for a major tech firm having never worked in Product Management before and moving from a telecoms company. The Weekend MBA opens your eyes to a wealth of industries, roles and new opportunities, it’s not always the first role post-MBA that defines you.

 

  1. Expand your horizons outside of the classroom

Join societies relevant to your interests, attend employer presentations or sector insight sessions (even those you might not be interested in) to understand career opportunities. Use all the opportunities provided to network with alumni or other guests and develop your competencies by attending webinars and workshops on areas such as leading, public speaking or developing your personal brand, amongst other things.

 

Jon Milnthorpe

About Jon Milnthorpe

Career Consultant

What is the long-term impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) on healthcare?

healthcare

What will be the long-term impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) on health and healthcare? Imperial College Business School thought leadership suggests that digital leadership, agile and frugal innovation, and patient engagement particularly around data privacy should be important focus areas for healthcare leaders.

  1. Digital leadership

In 2019 the NHS Long Term Plan aimed to make digitally-enabled primary and outpatient care mainstream across the NHS by 2030. This long-term ambition has suddenly become an immediate necessity. Telehealth - or healthcare at a distance - has become the norm for many during the pandemic. In June 2020 it was estimated that 85% of primary care consultations in the UK were being done remotely.

As the first lockdown took hold, Imperial’s Professor James Barlow and Melody Ni argued that telehealth had finally ‘come of age’. This has since been backed by an emerging pool of evidence. In June 2020 a BMA survey of General Practitioners in the UK found that nearly 90% believed remote consultations are likely to be a permanent feature of how health care is provided in the future. Analysts forecast significant growth in market segments such as the online doctor consultation market.

But implementing telehealth and other digital innovations at scale for the long term must be done sensitively, focussing on inclusivity, quality and patient experience. Health Watch has collated patient experiences of digital interactions with healthcare professionals during the pandemic. The findings show that technology can be alienating - particularly for those who cannot access digital tools due to disability or lack of access to the internet. Further research has stressed the limits of telemedicine: for example touch is an important aspect of patient assessment and care that cannot easily be replicated. Imperial’s Institute of Global Health Innovation is exploring these important issues in a project led by Dr Ana Luisa Neves supported by Imperial’s COVID-19 Response Fund.

  1. Agile and frugal innovation

The urgent need for action in response to Covid-19 inspired many remarkable advances and Imperial has been at the forefront of innovation. It is pioneering a new approach to vaccine development based on self-amplifying RNA and using a new social enterprise-based innovation model to accelerate global vaccine distribution at affordable prices.  The UK Government has ordered nearly 6 million of Imperial Professor Chris Toumazou’s 90 minute lab-free Covid-19 tests, a technology brought to market at rapid pace during lockdown.

Barlow and Ni think the urgent need to innovate at pace during the pandemic could inspire new approaches to accelerating healthcare innovation.  But Imperial economist Dame Professor Carol Propper foresees that the health sector will face even greater long-term budget and staffing pressures as a result of the pandemic without increased investment. Therefore frugal innovation will be a watchword. Lean innovation models such as those used by financially constrained startups could become more widely adopted, along with innovation frameworks such as the Lean and Agile Multi-dimensional Process (LAMP) developed by researchers at Imperial College London. 

  1. Patient engagement and data privacy

Covid-19 and initiatives such as contract tracing have put healthcare data in the spotlight. Accurate and comprehensive data are vital for rapid policy making and fuel innovation in areas such as healthcare AI.

But for data-driven innovation to happen, the healthcare sector must build patient trust and confidence in data science and associated technologies. According to the report by the Business School and Imperial’s Data Science Institute, ‘Privacy, Adoption and Truthful Reporting: A Simple Theory of Contact Tracing Applications’, uptake of Covid-19 contact tracing apps is determined by perception of risks to the individual and social preferences, rather than the wider health benefits to society. Systems for collecting and sharing patient data must be consent based and their necessity and value to individuals communicated.

There are many further major barriers to facilitating widespread data-driven innovation – for example Imperial research in 2019 showed that in the UK almost a quarter of hospitals still use paper rather than electronic records. Those that did have electronic records used different systems, hindering data sharing.

Learning opportunities for health and care professionals

Business School academics are applying their expertise to understand unprecedented implications of the pandemic for the economy, business, technology, health and the environment.

Our courses can be studied via a range of study modes both online and on-campus to provide flexibility for leaders to learn, debate and develop their skills safely in this rapidly changing world.

Q&A with Executive MBA career coach Mila Komarova: supporting EMBA students to achieve their goals

Mila Komarova, Executive MBA Careers Consultant at Imperial College Business School

A crucial aspect of the Executive MBA is nurturing the potential of our students to help them grow into truly exceptional leaders. The Careers component of the Imperial Executive MBA is just as important as the academics.

Through the Executive Leadership Journey careers track that runs for the duration of the programme, students are assigned an executive career coach. This coach works with them over the two years on their personal and professional development, helping them better understand themselves so that they can reach their full leadership and career potential.

In this Q&A, we speak to Mila Komarova, one of the Executive MBA coaches. She gives an insight into how she supports our Executive MBA students to achieve their career aspirations through support from Imperial College Business School Careers.

Can you tell us about your background and journey that led you to become a career coach?

My background is in consulting – prior to joining Imperial, I spent nine years at Finalta, a McKinsey data analytics company. While I was following the ‘classic’ consultant career path, I was finding coaching and mentoring to be the most rewarding parts of my role. I was also increasingly approached by people outside of the company for career coaching, and what started as a side project became my full-time occupation in 2019. At the moment I’m working with the Executive MBA, Global Online MBA and Weekend MBA students at Imperial alongside my own coaching practice.

What is the role of Imperial College Business School Careers and how do you support Executive MBA students throughout their programme?

We all know that simply doing a great job does not automatically lead to promotions and the best career opportunities. You also need to actively manage your career, build your network and promote yourself in the right way – something that senior leaders know all too well, and something that the Careers team help Executive MBA students to achieve. 

Throughout the programme, students work with dedicated executive career coaches to define their goals and progress towards them. Part of this work could be strengthening their self-presentation via CVs and interviews. Students are also supported in expanding their networks through targeted events and training – a critical element of effective career transitions. Knowing where Executive MBA graduates tend to go, we help them meet potential future employers through panel events and access to executive recruiters.

For students interested in entrepreneurship, there is additional support through the Imperial Enterprise Lab where they get feedback on their ideas and on-going mentorship to help bring those to life faster.

Executive MBA candidates have a different profile to someone studying an MBA full-time – the candidates you work with are still working full-time and are in senior roles. What specialist support do you provide to EMBA students?

Executive MBA students work with executive coaches who understand specific challenges involved in a senior role and are experienced in supporting development and job searching at senior levels. Candidates also benefit from sector-based support around senior roles in industries such as finance, consulting and tech – through dedicated events and working one-to-one with industry specialists.

Something that actually surprised me a little when I started working with Imperial Executive MBA students is how engaged they are with all things careers. I think this reflects how they are used to managing intense schedules, but also a testament to the quality of support they get from the Careers team.

How does the relationship between an Executive MBA student and their personal coach develop over the programme?

All students get a dedicated executive coach who works with them throughout the programme on one-to-one and group basis. This work is completely bespoke: sometimes more specific and immediate, e.g. helping the student prepare for an interview, and other times more in-depth and long-term – such as supporting them in progressing to a C-level position.

The Executive MBA programme requires intense self-exploration and at times brutal honesty with oneself – ‘who are you as a leader?’ ‘what makes you stand out?’ and ‘what parts of you get in your way?’ These are all million-dollar questions, and ones that can make all the difference between an average career and a brilliant one – so we are committed to helping students address those.

Can you tell us about an exceptional Executive MBA student who you have worked with at Imperial - how did they used your support and the programme to achieve their career goals?

I recently worked with a very talented legal professional who wanted to become one of the youngest in the office to be promoted to Partner. Spoiler alert – he made it. He mentioned three things that have been particularly helpful to his success. Firstly, the programme helped him improve his understanding of the business’ strategy and ability to contribute at a level above his own. He felt more confident in important stakeholder meetings, and it showed. Another crucial step was to construct a clear action plan for his promotion application, focusing on ways to showcase his strengths and build some key relationships that influenced the outcome. Finally, we had a few meetings to get him ready for the interviews, giving him the opportunity to practise in a safe (but challenging) environment, get feedback and make tactical amends which eventually helped him feel more confident and relaxed in his real interview.

What piece of advice would you offer someone who was considering pursuing an Executive MBA in 2022?

At the moment I am speaking to many leaders whose career plans have been put on hold, or made uncertain, because of the pandemic. I believe that in times like these, one of the best things anyone can do professionally is to stay on top of new and relevant trends, continuing to develop themselves and, most importantly, their networks.

As I mentioned before, simply doing a great job might not be enough to have a competitive advantage in the (tough) job market. I think that those who will make the effort to consciously manage their career, strengthen their value proposition and their network in these uncertain times, will be rewarded.

How can the Imperial Executive MBA impact your career?

Which Finance Masters’ programme am I eligible for?

Entry requirements

With five programmes to choose from our Finance Master's programmes, it’s not surprising that this is one of the most frequently asked questions we hear from prospective applicants. Unfortunately, we are unable to advise on individual eligibility without seeing a complete application. However, we can recommend some of the tools available to help you acquire a strong understanding of the entry requirements for the programme you wish to apply to.

We’ve put together this post to help you ensure your profile aligns to the entry requirements for your chosen Finance programme(s):

Academic entry requirements

Each Finance programme has slightly different academic entry requirements and this is due to the level of quantitative knowledge required for each programme. For a more detailed comparison of these programmes please see our comparison table.

Our Finance Masters’ are not conversion programmes. Therefore, if you have any doubts about your quantitative background we recommend taking our online self-assessment maths test to determine your eligibility (this test does not apply to MSc Finance & Accounting, our least quantitative Finance programme).

The academic requirement is an integral requirement to our programmes and is in place to ensure the success of future students on our Finance Masters’. We receive a lot of international applications to these programmes and so the listed recommended academic degree titles are general – it will depend on the individual degree you have studied and number of quantitative modules you have taken as to whether you will ultimately be suitable for the programme you have applied for.

All applicants must meet the minimum academic requirements in full in order to be considered and we do not consider anyone who falls below these requirements, regardless of their GMAT scores, CFA, work experience or anything additional to their application.

English language requirements
Big Ben, London, UK

English language requirements

Imperial College Business School has higher English language requirements to the rest of Imperial College London. We also expect all home, EU and overseas applicants to demonstrate English language proficiency – you either will be eligible for an English language interview or will need to provide an English language qualification.

For MSc Finance, MSc Investment & Wealth Management and MSc Financial Technology, if you are eligible for your English to be reviewed via interview, we will do this with your Kira Talent interview assessment.

For MSc Finance & Accounting and MSc Risk Management & Financial Engineering, if you are eligible, we will invite you to attend a Skype interview with one of our Global Skills Consultants. To check if you would be eligible for an English language interview assessment, please see our English language requirements.

You do not need to our meet English language requirements prior to applying; however, if you were to be made an offer for the programme, this would be made conditional on you meeting our English language requirements.

As the Finance programmes are so competitive, submitting an English language qualification with your application which meets our requirements will add weight to your application.

Career planning questions

As part of our assessment for all Finance programmes, your career planning questions and internships/work experience will be considered.

On applications for Finance programmes we would expect to see that you are committed to a career in the finance sector. Your CV and career planning questions are where you can evidence to the Academic Selection Committee that you’ve been building relevant professional experience and knowledge throughout your undergraduate degree. The Finance programmes are highly competitive, and this is the area where you can really make yourself stand out!

Unlike some other MSc programmes, we do not have a limited internship/work experience time frame requirement and we will consider applicants with years of work experience. However, most students on Finance programmes are recent graduates (mostly under three years since graduation). If you are interested in studying at Imperial College Business School and have over three years of work experience, you may like to consider our MBA programmes.

Female student on laptop studying for the GMAT
Preparing for GMAT

GMAT/GRE

GMAT/GRE are not compulsory for any of our Finance Masters’; although, a strong result above the 85th percentile, particularly in the quantitative section, can add weight to your application. GMAT/GRE is highly recommended for candidates from less quantitative degree backgrounds.

If you would like your GMAT/GRE results to be taken into consideration, we recommend you provide the score report at the point that you submit your application. We cannot guarantee that your GMAT/GRE results will be considered if they are not submitted with the rest of your application materials. If you have sat the exam, please attach a scanned copy of the score report with your application.

 

Indicating additional preferences

When completing your application you will have the opportunity to indicate which other areas of finance are of interest to you. If you are unsuccessful for your selected programme, we will automatically consider you for alternative programmes within the Finance Suite. We will take your area(s) of interest and eligibility into account when considering you for alternative programmes, so make sure you read the entry requirements for each programme carefully. For example, if you are interested in MSc Financial Technology, we will look closely at your experience of programming and computer software packages so you should ensure you provide full details of this in your application.

 

Other useful resources:

Besides the entry requirements, you also should make sure the programme content aligns to your career goals – we’ve listed some useful resources below:

  • Chat to our Finance programme Student Ambassadors online – they will be happy to answer your questions and provide an insight into life at Imperial College Business School
  • Read our Class Profiles and Student Profiles to understand who is studying on our programmes and what kinds of backgrounds they have
  • Attend a recruitment event – at our recruitment events, we often go into more detail on our Finance programmes together and in context of one another
  • Research the content of each programme – have a look at our Finance Programme pages on our website and also the Programme Handbooks for this year for an insight into the kinds of modules you could be studying
  • Read our Employment Reports for the Finance programmes for an insight into the kind of roles students have gone on to pursue since completing their study at Imperial College Business School

 

Student Ambassadors Natural History Museum
Student Ambassadors at the Natural History Museum

We hope you have found the above information insightful and are feeling more comfortable identifying which Finance programme is right for you. We look forward to receiving your applications!