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."
Michelle Tang
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."
Stanley Cookey
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

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Discover the Full-Time MBA scholarships How to apply to the Full-Time 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.

 

Find out more about Careers How to apply for the Weekend MBA How to apply for the Global Online MBA Apply now
Jon Milnthorpe

About Jon Milnthorpe

Career Consultant

Career Changes and Transitions: What you need to know

Slide from Imperial Women's Network event

What are the key components for a winning career strategy and how can you set yourself up for success? This was the focus of a presentation from Dominie Moss, Founder and CEO of The Return Hub and Helen Cowan, Executive Coach and Founder of The Tall Wall. The event, open to all alumni and guests, was sponsored by Macquarie Bank and hosted by our Imperial Women’s Network. Our thanks to everyone for such an inspiring discussion, and for sharing these key messages from the presentation:

A vision for change

How can you make a successful career change happen? There are key three elements that need to be in place in order to drive change and be successful:

  1. A dissatisfaction with current state – you are unhappy with how things are currently.
  2. A vision of what is possible – what changes do you want to see?
  3. What do the first steps towards that vision look like – can you see a path to success?

As human beings, we are naturally resistant to change, therefore all three of these factors need to be in place before you can make change happen.

It is also important to be rigorous in analysing this desire for change – what is motivating you exactly? If not, you run the risk of finding a new job with all the same problems. Your reasons for seeking an alternative career vary from the simple desire to earn more money, to the complex, such as feeling jaded and unhappy with your current position.

Take a close look at your working life to see which aspects you would like to change, is it the actual content of your job and if so why? The Career Wheel is a useful reflection tool for this, it can help you identify what is important to you and can help narrow down what your dream job would look like. 

Image of a career wheel
The Career Wheel

You can also download a copy of this from The Return Hub.

Selling your strengths

The best strategy to take when considering a career change focuses on where you can add the most value and what are your transferrable skills. You can then ring-fence 3 or 4 key roles you would like to explore.

Review how you can you articulate your value proposition to an employer and reflect on your transferable skills.​ Think about the role from the hiring managers’ perspective – what are they looking for? What challenges are they looking to solve, and how can your experience help them? To ensure a career change is successful you need a positive attitude and a willingness to work hard to make it happen.​

You need to do your research and understand the similarities and the differences between your current industry and your target one, and understand how your skill set will relate to the new sector. 

Transferable skills are often overlooked by career changers, but are desired by employers. For example are you adept at analysis and decision making, do you have good commercial awareness, are you creative with good customer focus, and able to influence and communicate effectively? Team building, leadership, planning, organising and self-management are also key skills.

The best strategy to take when considering a career change focuses on where you can add the most value and what are your transferrable skills.

The next task is to market yourself. Work on your CV, which needs to describe your projected future, not just look back at what you have already done. Place emphasis on the skills and experience that are transferable and will be of value in the new role. It is important to tailor your CV to each new job, ensuring your achievements specifically relate to the job you are applying for. Your CV needs to convince your potential employer that they should give you the chance to succeed in a new field and your desire to change career must seem like the next logical step.​ And as always self-belief is key – you must believe you can make the change in order to make it happen.

​Research and network

It is essential you do your research when applying for a new role, especially one in a new industry.

Learn about the organisation through social media and their website, as well as industry bodies, thought-leadership articles and the press. Are there any professional courses and qualifications that would help you?

In addition, remember the importance of exposure. This is critical for career development if we look at the different elements to success - performance is 10%, impact is 30%, but exposure is weighted at 60%.

In order to increase your exposure, you need increase your networking. It is beneficial for several reasons as it can help you can spot trends and opportunities, increase you collaborative work and therefore enhance your own value, and provide cognitive diversity of thought. When applying for jobs 80% of are sourced through your network.

Your network consists of:

  • Operational network – those who help you do your job efficiently
  • Personal network – those who you have a personal connection with
  • Strategic network – those who understand the strategic direction of the business/sector

By building on your networks, you are investing in yourself and your worth to a potential employer.

Want to know more?

You can view all the presentation slides from the event here. And if you would like to know more The Return Hub will soon be launching The Career Academy – an online career portal offering a wealth of interactive tools and e-learning content to help you navigate the job market including coaching options from The Tall Wall. Please make sure you register to ensure you qualify free membership when it is launched.

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.

My first few months as a part-time student at Imperial College Business School

Cherrie Hui

My name is Cherrie, I’m an MSc Strategic Marketing (online, part-time) student from Hong Kong. I am currently studying the programme from Spain and can’t believe how fast the time has flown! I am already finishing my first semester, yet it felt like only yesterday when I visited London to collect my student card!

cherrie hui blog image 1

While studying the programme, I am also working remotely as a student campus ambassador for the Imperial Enterprise Lab. In this blog, I will share a bit about my experience during my first three months as a part-time student studying at Imperial College Business School.

Study life

The on-campus version of the MSc Strategic Marketing programme has actually been available for quite some time, and I was really excited to join this programme given it is one of the best marketing Master’s in the world (#3 in the 2021 QS Masters in Marketing rankings). Since I live in Spain, I was thrilled to found out that I had the option to study the programme in an online, part-time mode so that I could continue with my personal engagements while still furthering my education.

During the first semester, we studied , Consumer Behaviour, Digital Marketing and Strategic Marketing Management. Most of the study materials are posted on The Hub online learning platform. There is a huge variety of materials such as videos, research journals, and  activities where we can learn from each one other within our peer group.

This is how The Hub looks. I can track my progress and ask a question at any time.

We also have live classes once every week, with both morning and afternoon sessions offered so that students from different time zones can join whichever one best fits their schedule. All of the learning materials are very up-to-date and practical. For instance, some concepts were even taught and applied in the current market situation impacted by COVID-19.

This is what a live class looks like:

My favourite subject is Consumer Behaviour because classes are very interactive even though they are delivered online. We always get timely feedback and we can learn a lot in exercises such as the one shown below where each student was asked to upload a real-life business example of a concept taught by the professor.

We were also assigned to different syndicate groups for some of our projects. In my group we have six people from a range of different nationalities, including American, British, Belgian, Chinese, German, and Singaporean. The group work we’ve been been assigned has been really interesting - for Strategic Marketing Management, we worked together on a marketing plan video to launch a new product, while for digital marketing, we were to analyse the digital marketing strategy of an actual business.

Not only could I apply what I learned in real business situations, it was also a great opportunity to learn how to work in a virtual team effectively, especially when all of us are from such varied backgrounds.

Other engagements

While studying on the programme, I also work as a Student Ambassador in the Imperial Enterprise Lab. The E-Lab provides plenty of support, ranging from ideas surgeries to mentoring services, all offered to both students and alumni of the Business School who are interested in starting their own business. They also organise different regular events such as the How To … Talk series as well as annual programmes like Venture Catalyst Challenge to provide workshops, expertise support and funding to students to make their business ideas come true.

cherrie hui blog image 5

As a student ambassador, I support preparation of social media content and other marketing materials such as the newsletter and news articles going onto the website. This allows me to put into practice what I have learned in my marketing modules and is a  hands-on experience that will undoubtedly help me when attempting to secure a marketing role in the future.

When not fulfilling my duties as a student ambassador, I am also taking Spanish classes in Spain and I have just completed DELE C1 professional level!

One of the things I like the most about the online, part-time format of the programme is that I am able to effectively manage coursework with my other engagements thanks to the flexibility it provides. I am really looking forward to what is coming next and working with other people from my diverse cohort in the next semester!

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Cherrie Hui, MSc Strategic Marketing (online, part-time) 2020-22, student at Imperial College Business School

About Cherrie Hui

MSc Strategic Marketing 2020-21

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Why you should study an online Master’s in Business Analytics over a short course

Illustration of a desktop screen and mobile phone with graphs on the display

I’m Harsha Achyuthuni and I am currently studying MSc Business Analytics (part-time, online) at Imperial College Business School.

In my field of work, business analytics and data science, many data scientists and business analysts do not have formal higher education in the field (many have formal education in other allied fields) and have learned a lot through alternative ed-tech platforms. 

Most of the people who I work with currently, and most of the students I am studying with, have a common question: "why should I take out time and study for a Master’s paying more money when I could get similar knowledge from an alternative online course and other sources/other cheaper Master’s options?"

This blog tries to answer that question, especially for professionals who work full-time. Most of my peers who are studying with me have similar experiences - and have decided to study in this programme for similar reasons. 

My work experience prior to MSc Business Analytics

Three years ago, I started working as a Business Analyst in a consultancy in India. I do not come from a computer science background and am mostly self-taught in coding. I knew the fundamentals of statistics and maths necessary for data science and business analytics.

With ‘learning over knowing’ as my motto, I ventured into the field of business analytics. When I had to work on something new, I use to learn it from online edtech platforms. I would become an "expert" in anything new a couple of nights before implementing it. Although the first few projects that I implemented were not that successful, I slowly got the hang of business analytics and have successfully built various solutions in Machine Learning, A-B testing, prescriptive and predictive analytics.

The changing landscape of business analytics

However, business analytics is a vast field, and it is changing very quickly. The amount of data is increasing, the number and type of problems that could be solved using data are increasing, and the solutions are becoming more and more complex. Looking at the progress made in the last 10 years, I feel that data science and business analytics will be completely alien 10 years from today.

But, my assumption is that the basics will remain the same. We might be coding in a different language, using different technologies and building different models. Still, the fundamentals on which they are built like statistics, business principles and data structures will be the same.

Preparing for the future

To be one step ahead and prepare for the future, I wanted to get a grip on the fundamentals, while understanding the different ways the same fundamentals are applied currently in various businesses. I was thus looking for a programme that is holistic, comprehensive and balanced. I also wanted to study with business analytics professionals across different domains, countries, backgrounds and experiences.

Due to COVID-19 related lockdowns across the world, and the uncertainty following it, I wanted to choose a business school that has experience conducting online programmes, like Imperial College Business School.

Why MSc Business Analytics (part-time, online) at Imperial?

The MSc Business Analytics (part-time, online) programme at Imperial is holistic and structured, it starts from the basics and goes all the way to machine learning and artificial intelligence. It is comprehensive and focuses on learning from first principles. It is also balanced and gives equal emphasis on business, maths and technology. I also chose to do it part-time as it had a good reputation for running as an online programme.

On the part-time programme, my classmates are extremely diverse. They work in industries including finance, technology, consulting, energy, health, education and FMCG. They are working as analysts, data scientists, business analysts, and other subject experts in both senior and junior levels. They come from different countries and different educational backgrounds. Various group activities, assignments, in-class sessions bring unparalleled international exposure. I feel this will create a strong foundation with which I could embrace the fast-evolving space of business analytics.

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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)

The working student: three tips for a smooth transition to studying part-time

Illustration of man at desk working on a laptop

About six months ago I decided to start pursuing MSc Business Analytics (online, part-time), while continuing to work full-time. The programme started on 5 October 2020, so the past few months working full-time while studying part-time and online has been a completely new experience for me. Here’s what you can expect.

The programme structure of each of the modules has been very helpful when organising my learning goals each week. The programme is conveniently broken up into modules, of which I need to complete one per week.

Working through a module requires a variety of activities. These help to prevent the programme from feeling like an endless series of online lectures. A standard week for me generally involves spending time:

  1. Listening to lectures (orange)
  2. Doing assigned readings (dark blue)
  3. Working through interactive exercises (grey)
  4. Attending tutorials with teaching staff (yellow)
  5. Applying new learnings to assignments (light blue)
  6. Collaborating with classmates (green)

Here’s what an average week looks like for me:

A plan of how MSc Business Analytics (online, part-time) student, Adithya Venkatraman plans his week

Tip 1 - You’ll be spending a lot of time at your desk, so invest in a good setup

Combining work and study, I’m spending about 70 hours a week at my desk. My aching shoulders and neck soon made it clear that I needed to start investing in a better desk setup. At its minimum, this includes a monitor, mouse, and comfortable chair. Noise-cancelling headphones are also nice if you live with other people (or have neighbours doing extensive renovations).

This will differ from person to person, so find something that works for you. Personally, I prefer the simplicity of a single monitor and mouse so I can move things if needed as my desk, like for most people, is also my dining table. Also, remember that a good setup includes having an uncluttered workspace.

Here’s a little before and after visual of my workspace. While it’s still far from a slick office setup, the extra screen has been a huge help. I’m hoping to add more bells and whistles with future purchases:

A desk set up for a MSc Business Analytics student with a laptop and desktop display

2. Find a way to mentally switch over from work to study

Jumping straight from a full day of meetings into the intricacies of Linear Algebra is a recipe for frustration. I’ve found the best way to ensure a productive session at the end of the day is to create a routine. For me that has been the process of packing up my work laptop and notes, giving my workspace a quick clear (see above note on an uncluttered workspace), and whipping up dinner.

Taking that one hour to switch over has definitely helped. I experimented with a few different approaches until I found one that worked for me, so do try out a few things until you find what works. 

3. Sometimes it’s okay to take the night off

Work can be unpredictable. Some days things run long, or last-minute tasks need to be dealt with. On those days, I’ve found it’s helpful to give yourself permission to order pizza and watch your favourite show that evening. While sometimes deadlines mean it’s unavoidable, generally I’ve found it’s best to just take the night off.

I’ve found that even on those tough days it’s best to try studying for at least 30 minutes. Getting started is often the hardest part, and once you’re working through say, the mechanics of depth-first versus breadth-first search algorithms, the hours will start to fly by.

It’s still early days, and I expect there will be many more learnings as I continue on my journey of studying MSc Business Analytics (online, part-time). Stay tuned!

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Adithya Venkatraman, MSc Business Analytics (online, part-time) student at Imperial College Business School

About Adithya Venkatraman

MSc Business Analytics (part-time, online)

How to create the perfect balance while studying

Nele Wessels, MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management 2020-21 2020-21, student at Imperial College Business School

Every student knows it's coming and every year it happens again – exam period. It seems like a never-ending story and every year it hits you like a wrecking ball - completely unexpected of course. Exhausted? Lost? Stressed? I feel you – but this year it’s going to be different! I promise.

Ever heard of LAMP listing, Tetris blocking or the Wellness Wheel? Well, here are my top tips to get you through this busy phase in an organised and feel-good way without sacrificing yourself or your friends. It certainly helps me stay on track on the MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management programme.

1. Sleep

Although it is one of the most difficult things to follow, sleep is key. Get the recommended hours a day and you will feel refreshed as if you have just returned from a spa weekend. Everybody is different, some people are most effective at night time, others early in the morning – listen to your body and find your time but be disciplined. Try to establish routines that your body can adapt to.

2. Eat well

Did you know that omega 3 fats can improve your learning and memory? Or that avocados can help reduce stress? Not to forget that dark chocolate and cocoa can boost your mood and enhance memory function as well?

As you can see there are a few levers that you can use to enhance your performance. Apart from that, you can also make food the highlight of the day or week, by finding an evening to cook with your friends or family or use the Sunday to treat yourself with a nice brunch at your favourite café (or delivery in bed in case of COVID restrictions).

3. Study

Studies show that the brain can only focus roughly six hours per day. Well, we all know that the closer it gets to a deadline, the more hours we suddenly find ourselves stuck to our desks. But is that always effective? Often we can get lost along the way and don’t know what to prioritise when it all comes crashing down.

One method to structure your week by is Tetris blocking. Never heard of it? Simply structure your day by blocking hours for every topic you have on your desk. Your calendar might end up looking like a fully filled out Tetris game and that’s just what you want.

By blocking it with personal events or assignments you make sure that nothing is missed. Make sure you take sufficient breaks every now and then: go out, breathe fresh air, run around the block! Lastly, include time you need per day for any unexpected events or administrative work that could distract you from your core work.

4. Work

Whether you are founding your own startup or applying for jobs, it can seem like running a marathon at times, especially when executed simultaneously with university studies. The key here again is to structure your process. In case you are planning to apply to different companies or looking for investors, set yourself a LAMP list – the acronym for List, i.e. name of the company, Alumni, Motivation, Posting – and write down 20 companies that you are interested in.

Then, apply and wait for responses. Sometimes all interviews or startup events happen to be at the same time, so you feel like there’s no time to breathe. I gotcha. But, keep in mind that you can’t always tackle too many challenges at the same time and that is OK. Don’t be too hard on yourself but instead ask: What do I get out of this and does that add value towards achieving my overall goal? If it doesn’t: skip and prioritise, you have better things to do.    

5. Rewards

Yes, we need rewards. They are not only a great motivator, but also increase self-esteem. Whether it is planning ahead for a spa day, a cinema night or an afternoon shopping. The choice is yours! Set yourself rewards every week to keep yourself motivated.

This can also take the form of self-hugs – I know it sounds a bit weird and in the beginning, it may even feel that way, but giving yourself a hug is a method used in psychology in order to imitate the presence or reward of somebody else. Often you will find yourself alone while studying, but giving yourself a hug now and then, can help to boost wellbeing and reduce overall stress.

6. You-time

Ever heard of the Wellness Wheel? Well, with the help of it you will be able to better balance your life and increase overall wellbeing.

It consists of seven categories, emotional, physical, environmental, financial, social, intellectual and spiritual and makes you reflect on each of the dimensions in your life in order to improve the overall balance. Truly analyse yourself and your current situation. One of the things most of us forget during stressful times is time for ourselves and to reflect on ourselves.

However, it is probably one of the most important things to keep track of. My tip is to block a minimum of one hour per day just for yourself.

Whether that means doing one hour of yoga or jogging in the morning before you start off your day (try it out you’ll feel energised) or you take that hour to meditate – it’s up to you! The most important thing is that you do it.

7. Socialising

Yes, we tend to sacrifice our social lives once under stress. However, we must not forget that friends can help you to de-stress. Taking a break from your studies every now and then and meeting with your friends or family for a coffee or a pizza night will help you boost your mental health a lot.

8. Social Media

The hardest one to resist, right? On average you are distracted 40min per day by the buzzing and beeping of WhatsApp, Instagram and co. Did you know that it takes roughly 25min to get refocused once you have been distracted? I guess we don’t have to do the maths here to see that it takes a huge chunk of your day.

Why don’t you try to shut down your phone for the 6 hours that you really can focus? Put it in the wardrobe, underneath the bed or ask your family to keep it for you in a secret place. I know it sounds ridiculous, but that really helps.

9. Repeat

I guess this is self-explanatory. Make sure you get a routine with everything you do, and you will feel less confused and stressed after all. Lastly, don’t forget to smile, laugh and strike a power pose every now and then as this helps to relieve tension and stress tremendously and gets you motivated for the steps ahead. 

 

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Nele Wessels, MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management 2020-21, student at Imperial College Business School

About Nele Wessels

MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management

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How Imperial students are building the next generation of climate business leaders

Waking up to Climate Risk

Written by Valentin Jahn and Alvaro Lara (both MSc Climate Change, Management & Finance 2018 graduates) who discuss how, as students, they worked with the Centre for Climate Finance & Investment to create the Climate Investment Challenge. The competition, currently in its second year, was launched in 2019-20, and is now in the capable hands of a new cohort of students who are leading a global initiative to build the next generation of climate leaders. Not a small feat by any means, but you have to start somewhere. So, what better place than Imperial. 

A graduate competition to innovate against climate change

The team - made up of students from several programmes at the Business School - is leading the global expansion of the Climate Investment Challenge. The Challenge is a pitch competition for graduate students to develop creative financial solutions and innovations to tackle climate change. The competition challenges students to think creatively about how the power of finance and business can be used to fight climate change. The Challenge held its first edition last year launching as a competition exclusive to UK students. While we were lucky to be involved in the Challenge since the beginning, we could not have imagined what the competition would become. 

Creating global connections to deal with the global climate challenge

By all measures, the Challenge was very successful in its inaugural year. In its UK-launch, the Challenge attracted 38 climate investment proposals from 14 different universities across the UK, representing nearly 120 Masters-level students. So, when we prepared to hand-off the baton to the incoming student team, the million-dollar question became: what to do with the Challenge this year? The team did not hesitate. They decided to raise the stakes and expand the competition globally. 

The Challenge is a call-to-action to spell out the business case for climate-aligned investing and to devise ways to capitalise on climate opportunities.

In just a few months, the team has created a global network of university ambassadors championing the Climate Investment Challenge on the ground: with ambassadors in France, Portugal, the US, Canada, Kenya, and China. The team has also directly engaged with universities in Spain, Germany, Austria, Israel, the UAE, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia and Mexico, to name a few. 

Ideas that can develop into real-world financial instruments

While the footprint of the Challenge is now global, the message to graduate students remains the same. The Challenge is a call-to-action to spell out the business case for climate-aligned investing and to devise ways to capitalise on climate opportunities. For students, this is an opportunity to apply state-of-the-art financial innovations to disrupt the industry and to explore new ways to mobilise private capital into climate investments. The Challenge is not only a chance to expose students to the climate challenge, but also to connect them with experienced industry practitioners in climate finance; among those, the competition’s industry sponsors: Standard Chartered, Quinbrook Infrastructure, and Candriam.

"We want the Challenge to be a catalyst for much needed innovation in the climate finance space. Ultimately, we want to see students becoming decision-makers at the companies they go and work for. We want to see their ideas evolve and develop into real-world financial instruments."
Rafael Alonso
MSc Climate Change, Management and Finance student, 2020-21 and Chair of the Climate Investment Challenge
Rafael Alonso, MSc Climate Change, Management and Finance 2020-21

Innovative financial ideas addressing challenges across all sectors 

In the past, the Challenge has attracted financial solutions targeting sectors with an urgent need for innovation – among those; agriculture, forestry, electric mobility, and infrastructure – and across a wide range of financial products – from specialised bonds and funding vehicles, to micro-credit schemes and risk-mitigation insurance products. Since the deadline to participate in the Challenge is not until late-February 2021, we won’t know what financial innovations will be submitted this year for some time. What we do know is that we will be absolutely impressed by the quality and creativeness of students participating. After all, they will be the next generation of climate leaders.

Meet the Management Masters' class of 2020-21

Illustration of Management Masters' 2020-21 students

This year we welcomed a new cohort of intelligent, driven Management students to Imperial College Business School, all eager to develop skills that will help secure their future roles in world-class organisations. At the Business School, we know that within management, there is no one-size-fits-all, every individual has a different path they want to explore. Each programme gives our students the opportunity to build a foundation of their subject knowledge through a set of core modules, electives (dependent on programme) and applied projects.

The Management Masters’ programmes that you can apply for at the Business School are:

All of the programmes provide up-to-date, relevant business knowledge that equips students with the toolkit to become global business leaders. Combining both academic and practical learning, students get to apply the in-depth programme content that they learn in the classroom throughout the year in a variety of tasks such as group work and projects that often involve consulting for real businesses.

What do the new classes look like?

MSc International Management

MSc International Management has been designed for students with an existing background in business. At the heart of the programme, is the opportunity to advance leadership skills with a global outlook. Students can apply their knowledge and immerse in other cultures with the Leadership in Action module*, which includes a live client consulting project, alongside other opportunities to develop their global outlook and leadership capabilities..

MSc International Management class stats - 69 students, 55% female and 19 nationalities represented

This year’s cohort sees 48% of students with an academic background in Business/Management and 32% with a Finance/Accounting degree. MSc International Management is the perfect programme to enhance and accelerate existing business knowledge and learn how to apply it internationally.  

*Subject to COVID-19 travel restrictions

Meet MSc International Management students

Felicia Soon, MSc International Management 2020-21, student at Imperial College Business School

Felicia Soon

Nationality: Singaporean

Education: Business, Nanyang Technological University

Why did you choose to study MSc International Management at Imperial College Business School?

I chose Imperial because it is a school that recognises the importance of technological innovations and solutions in this testing and exciting time. This aligns with my belief that technology should be combined with education to best prepare us for what is to come as future business leaders. Backed by the School’s global reputation for technological excellence, Imperial reflects a forward-thinking institution that produces thought-leaders capable of tackling and analysing the next challenge in any corporation.

What has been your highlight of the programme so far?

I would say that despite having to do the programme remotely now due to COVID-19, the Business School’s multi-modal teaching enables me to continue to be part of the interactive classes. For example, as part of our Leadership in Action module, students had the opportunity to visit a horse ranch. To accommodate the students that were not on-site, we had a dedicated a special class about horses to immerse ourselves in the experience despite the distance.

Mats Brandt

Nationality: German

Education: Business Administration, Hamburg School of Business Administration 

Why did you choose to study MSc International Management at Imperial College Business School?

Imperial’s MSc International Management is the perfect complement to my background: a business-oriented undergrad programme in Germany, followed by two years of full-time experience working at a global FMCG manufacturer.

Firstly, the programme cohort is incredibly international. People from all over the world with very diverse backgrounds joined the programme despite the ongoing crisis. Everyone in our class has unique stories to tell or experiences to share – which is great! It makes me feel like I can truly stretch myself within a global environment, improving my cross-cultural and interpersonal skills.

Secondly, the strongly practical-oriented approach of the Business School prepares us for the job market. Case studies, projects, external speakers, and company visits ensure we are ready for the challenges we will face in the real world. And while the Business School itself is very strong, we can use our year to build relationships with people from the College STEM faculties, developing interdisciplinary skills and work on projects together.

Finally, MSc International Management includes a unique focus on leadership. Our Leadership in Action module runs the entire year and gives great hands-on insights on what abilities and mindsets future leaders need to develop.

What has been your highlight of the programme so far?

The specific focus the programme puts on leadership abilities is something that impresses me a lot. It starts within your first weeks at the School. You will be introduced to tons of leadership opportunities – within your programme as a student leader, but also beyond in clubs and societies. A lot of our sessions touch psychological topics, which might sound weird to one or another. However, it is surprising how much you can and need to learn about yourself on the way to become a future leader. You will start to intensively question yourself, your behaviours, your decisions, mistakes you made and what you can learn from them. You will understand how others perceive you and how you can use your strengths and weaknesses to shape your environment, ultimately leading people around you.

MSc Management

MSc Management is an intensive, one-year programme perfect for those who want to kick start a career in business. The programme is suited to graduates who come from diverse undergraduate backgrounds, with academic content covering all aspects of relevant business knowledge that will prepare you for a career in management, including consulting and professional services.

MSc Management 2020-21 class stats - 163 students, 55% female and 43 nationalities represented

This year’s cohort of 163 welcomes students from 43 different nationalities. This diversity continues in students’ academic background, with 52% having previously studied Arts/Humanities, 21% Economics and 14% Science/Medicine/Maths. This truly diverse class creates the perfect environment for students to learn from one and other.

Meet MSc Management students

Ayotomiwa Ojo, MSc Management 2020-21, student at Imperial College Business School

Ayotomiwa Ojo

Nationality: British

Education: Economics and Philosophy, University of Nottingham

Why did you choose to study MSc Management at Imperial College Business School?

I chose to study MSc Management at Imperial due to its integration of theory with practical application, equipping you to solve real-world business problems. For instance, there are opportunities to work on a Consulting Project for a real client or embark on a Global Immersion. What also appealed to me is the freedom to shape your own pathway within the programme. Lastly, where better to study than at one of the top business schools worldwide? The quality of resources and support from the Programme and Careers team is unrivalled. I live outside of London, and I love that I am exposed to the perks of being in the city – there’s just so much to do! I’ve been drawn to the parks and museums in particular.

What has been your highlight of the programme so far?

My highlight so far has been the array of extracurricular and leadership opportunities available which perfectly compliment the hands-on tasks within the programme. I’ve been elected as Events Director for the Africa Business Club and Student Ambassador for the MSc Management programme. Through these opportunities, I’ve been able to meet a diverse range of people. This has widened my professional network in addition to enhancing my emotional intelligence and teambuilding skills in group projects. Imperial College Business School’s mantra is truly reflected in my experience.

Zach Johnson, MSc Management 2020-21, student at Imperial College Business School

Zach Johnson

Nationality: American

Education: International Relations, Loyola Marymount University

Why did you choose to study MSc Management at Imperial College Business School?

As someone with a desire to enter the business world, despite not studying business in undergrad, enrolling on MSc Management at Imperial College Business School was a logical next step for me. The programme’s interdisciplinary approach, where students are introduced to finance, accounting, and marketing modules (among many others), was a particular draw to me as a way to be introduced to the different aspects of business. The educational opportunities, alongside the international reputation of Imperial, made choosing the programme an easy decision.

What has been your highlight of the programme so far?

While there have definitely been many highlights so far, I think the one I’ve noticed the most is the opportunity I’ve had to meet and network with people from such a different set of nationalities, cultures, and backgrounds. The diversity I’ve seen so far at Imperial has been one of my favourite aspects of attending school in the UK. The experience I’ve had working with such different people is something that would have been difficult to match in my home country.

MSc Economics & Strategy for Business

Integrating cutting edge strategic analysis with contemporary economics, the MSc Economics & Strategy for Business programme will provide you with the skillset for a career in specialist economics and management services and financial services. Taught by faculty involved in leading research and business practice, the programme provides unparalleled insight into global strategy, economics, digital applications, innovation and risk management.

MSc Economics & Strategy for Business 2020-21 class stats - 172 students, 63% female and 35 nationalities represented

172 students joined the 2020-21 cohort, representing 35 different nationalities. As expected, 40% of students have an academic background in Economics and 24% in Finance/Accounting, making this programme a great stepping stone for those wanting to develop their current skillset and secure a role in the economic industry.

Meet MSc Economics & Strategy for Business students 

Hassana Jafiya

Nationality: Nigerian

Education: BSc Accounting and Finance, University of Leicester

Why did you choose to study MSc Economics & Strategy for Business at Imperial College Business School?

My previous work experience at PwC made me aware there was room for growth and improvement for me both personally and professionally. This realisation led me to MSc Economics & Strategy for Business as it is a very unique and diverse programme. It covers a large number of areas which enable me to fit in almost any professional environment. I chose to study here, not only because of its status as a world-leading university but also because of the Imperial community which consists of a driven alumni and stakeholder network.

What has been your highlight of the programme so far?

The people here have been really lovely, and I heard this a lot prior to joining Imperial, but now I can testify to that. I am surrounded by kind, smart and humble individuals. I have really enjoyed working with the diverse Africa Business Club team which I serve as Marketing Director. Also, the amount of support available is phenomenal, from personal to professional to academic and much more. There is a culture of constant development here and so many opportunities to take hold of. Most of the lecturers are also very engaging as they try to make things as practical and understandable as possible, with sometimes the most unexpected examples.

Satriya Willis, MSc Economics & Strategy for Business 2020-21, student at Imperial College Business School

Satria Wilis

Nationality: Indonesian 

Education: Philosophy, Politics and Economics, University of Warwick

Why did you choose to study MSc Economics & Strategy for Business at Imperial College Business School?

I majored in Philosophy, Politics and Economics during my undergraduate degree. My decision to apply to business school was influenced by my lack of exposure to business fundamentals and insights. This skill gap was made apparent during my one-year stint working in venture capital as an analyst; I realised very quickly that I could add much more value to the firm and to startups if I had a better grasp of business and strategy. Choosing MSc Economics & Strategy for Business was a no-brainer for me as it offered a much more ‘applied’ programme compared to other available ones. This has been reflected well in the modules that I have completed - many conventionally academic business fundamentals are taught with a uniquely ‘applied’ mindset, giving me more confidence in my eventual application of them to the real world.

What has been your highlight of the programme so far?

My highlight so far has been attending the various events, talks and discussions that the programme and various departments and societies have held throughout the year. It’s extremely refreshing to be able to get a chance to meet (virtually) and talk to the founders of global billion-dollar tech startups, executives of MNCs and experts in various niche fields that I find very fascinating. Imperial College Business School’s environment is extremely conducive to any kind of inquiry and curiosity, and having it satiated with the world’s leading executives and business founders has been very enlightening.

MSc Strategic Marketing

MSc Strategic Marketing provides a unique take on a Marketing Master’s programme, where marketing fundamentals meet the latest in technology and innovation. The programme is available in two different study modes, a one-year, full-time programme studied on campus in London or as a part-time, two-year programme which can be studied from anywhere in the world, enabling you to continue your career at the same time.

MSc Strategic Marketing 2020-21 class stats, 220 students, 77% female and 41 nationalities represented

In September 2020 we saw 220 students join our on-campus, full-time programme. A large cohort with 41 nationalities makes this group a melting pot of different cultures. The majority of students (39%) have an academic background in Business Management, followed by 22% having studied an Arts/Humanities subject.

Jing Ting Lee, MSc Strategic Marketing 2020-21, student at Imperial College Business School

Jing Ting Lee

Nationality: Singaporean

Education: Management and Marketing, University of Manchester

What is your main motivation for studying MSc Strategic Marketing?

I am passionate about solving the challenges we face and intrigued to learn about the science behind what drives consumer's motivation. Having over two years’ experience in the tourism and hospitality industry, I was seeking a change. I believe pursuing an MSc Strategic Marketing is the right option for me to develop a deeper understanding of the facets of marketing and enhance my knowledge of the marketing sector through the lens of strategy, innovation, and technology. I was sure that this programme at Imperial College Business School was right for me as it challenges my abilities and provides a platform for me to be surrounded by like-minded individuals.

What are your future career plans?

Driven to create a positive impact in the world we live in, I hope to enter the consulting or FMCG sector after graduation. With my marketing knowledge and background, I am keen to help companies attain their objectives and goals, or even impact people's lives through the daily products they use. I trust that the knowledge attained during my time on the MSc Strategic Marketing programme will definitely set me up to excel in these industries.

Henri Cotard

Nationality: French

Education: Management, IE University 

What is your background prior to studying MSc Strategic Marketing?

Living between New Zealand, Australia, France, and the UK in my childhood, I decided to study my undergrad at King's College London to get a broad view of the business world within an international community and a world-leading city. Those business and entrepreneurial skills were deepened last year during my MiM at IE, that also gave me the opportunity to discover Spanish culture, live in Madrid, and work with extremely diverse students and professors. At IE Business School, I nurtured my interest in marketing. Alongside working at Publicis Groupe in London and Paris, I thought that the MSc Strategic Marketing at Imperial would be an amazing chance for me to excel my knowledge in this field whilst meeting future marketers and benefit from London's professional world. I genuinely do not regret this choice!

What are your future career plans?

Similar to my background, I want to work internationally and constantly interact with different cultures, opinions, and mindsets. If my knowledge and experiences are very marketing oriented, I can see myself in any type of role in the coming years and this could be in the marketing department of a marketing-oriented company or in a consultancy firm. The current crisis will force us to become as flexible and adaptable as we can, only to get the best out of us, and I am strongly convinced that working with a smart and dynamic team is the key to my future career plans!

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