| Imperial College Business School

The questions to ask when considering executive education

When investing your time and money into executive education it is important to be sure it will not only stimulate and inspire you, but also deliver positive returns to you and your organisation.

The key to achieving a return on investment (ROI) is to think systematically about your (and your employer’s) goals and motivations and how these will be fulfilled through executive education.

Assessing development needs

Firstly, take a step back and consider your development needs. If you benefit from a performance review process, your development needs may already be well defined.

It is also important to consider emerging leadership skills that you may not have considered, such as has ethics of AI, cyber security and innovation cultures. Professor Nelson Phillips’ gave a webinar that delves into more of these future leadership skills.

If you don’t have a formal personal review process, answering simple questions like the below can help you identify gaps and needs in your professional development:

9 questions for identifying professional skills and knowledge gaps

What situations have frustrated you at work lately (can be the last few days, weeks or year)?
Is this a single issue or recurring issues?
Can you identify what has caused these frustrations?
What excites you about the coming years?
What are you fearful of?
How do you feel your role will change in the next 1-5 years?
What new skills or knowledge might you need?
What areas do you feel comfortable in your knowledge?
Which areas of your organisation/industry do you wish you knew more about?

The next step is to consider whether your organisation has the resources to fill these education gaps in-house or whether you need to look externally at providers of executive education.

All programmes in our open programme portfolio couple the latest technological thinking in leadership, strategy and innovation with sector-specific deep dives in topics such as cyber security, healthcare, risk management and entrepreneurship. We also often customised solutions for companies seeking a tailored solution.

How executive education can deliver ROI for your organisation

It will also be important to determine and demonstrate how executive education will benefit your organisation. Answering questions like the below can help you display ROI for your employer.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of your organisation?
What opportunities and threats does it face?
What are your organisation’s goals for the coming years?
What are your team’s goals for the coming years?
Where are the connections between your company’s corporate goals and the executive education course learning outcomes?
How do you expect your performance at work will be different after you have completed your executive education?

If the executive education course you have chosen is aligned to your personal development goals and your company’s goals then it is likely to deliver ROI.

I hope this article helps you to define your development needs and identify how executive education can be of benefit to you and your employer. Of course, please to contact me or my team if we can be of any assistance.

Find out more

Request a call back from one of our team to discuss which programme is right for you

Request a call back

Seven things you should know about life at Imperial

I have been studying at Imperial College Business School for two months now and come across new things everyday – whether that's new friends, new events or new skills.

Here are the best seven things I’ve discovered in my short-period at the Business School so far on the MSc Strategic Marketing programme.

Programmes are practical

Before I started at the Business School, I worked as a marketing specialist for over two years. Having had business knowledge from my previous job, I found that all the modules at Imperial are very practical and highly relevant to future employment. Lectures are very insightful – the professors are always bringing trending news stories into their teaching, along with interesting campaigns on the forefront of digital marketing.

Learn to handle group work

You will be divided into a syndicate group based on the result of your personality test. Your team will have to work together to finish a series of group work from the first week of new term. Considering students come from more than 100 countries, cultures and working habits, it will be difficult at the beginning.

Hence, group work may not run as smooth as you imagined, which is common in a normal working environment. However, don’t be afraid. It’s a great opportunity to develop transferrable skills, such as leadership and effective communication, so you can be prepared for the future. More importantly, you can learn a lot from each other.

Plan your future career goals

Career planning is a main focus at Imperial College Business School. You will be taught how to write a good CV in pre-study modules, before the first term takes place. During each term, there will be regular career-related workshops discussing a variety of topics, including industry awareness, interview skills and tips for networking.

If you are aiming to be accepted into graduate programmes, you can get personalised help through one-to-one appointments from the Careers service. As a student who already has working experience, I found the workshops on career planning and salary negotiation very useful.

Choose from the variety of societies and clubs

Sometimes, you may feel breathless during your academic study, group work and the job-hunting process. Yes, life at Imperial can be intense, but you can still have a lot of fun in student clubs and societies. Imperial has more than 300 clubs and societies for students.

Regional and industry Career Clubs are very helpful in terms of getting latest industry news and guiding your career. Meanwhile, there are also clubs for sport, debating and food, if you need to blow off some steam. Plus, joining a club is a great way to meet like-minded friends.

Time management is crucial

As I mentioned earlier, life at Imperial can be intense but very interesting. We have lectures, network events, club activities and even internship or part-time jobs. Thus, time management and the ability to multitask are important.

Utilise your Google calendar or notebook to carefully schedule your timetable and to avoid potential conflicts. It’s great for prioritising your personal time too - after writing down ‘have a family call’ on my memo, I’ve never missed bonding time with my family.

English language workshops are available for international students

As an international student, I found it difficult to communicate with English native speakers. I find they speak too fast and sometimes with an accent that I’m not used to, which makes the first few weeks very challenging – especially when trying to make friends.

If you have a similar problem, no need to worry! The Business School has a language workshop for international students. I attended the business news discussion workshop, which helped me to practise speaking English in a very comfortable and relaxing atmosphere, with content provided to practise every day conversation. They also have an academic writing workshop for you to enhance writing skills.

Pack your luggage SMARTLY

Some friends asked me for advice on what kind of clothes they should bring to London. Apart from giving them the weather report, there are a few things to keep in mind. Normally, there is no strict dress code required for daily life at Imperial College Business School.

However, considering the most events are career and networking based, smart casual clothing is good choice for. There’s also a large welcome event in the Natural History Museum in October and a May ball in Spring, so make sure you pack some formalwear too!

Xiaoyu studied Accounting at an international university in China. After graduation, she worked as a marketer in both the transport and e-commerce industry.

Find out more about MSc Strategic Marketing

The Full-Time MBA takes on Edinburgh

A few weeks ago, 27 out of the 70 Full-Time MBA cohort took a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland. Our social chair had organised it, along with some of the other members in class as a lighthearted weekend getaway. We rented out a 30-bed, four floor Airbnb; It was basically a glorified hostel right on the main strip with a pool table and vanity room for all the girls to get ready in.

After class on Friday, we all headed to the train station and jumped on-board, full steam ahead to our journey. The train ride was about five hours, the first hour set aside for class work and the last few set aside for partying, games, and chatting. We took over the café cart the whole way through. Time flew by and before we knew it, we were at our destination.

Once everyone unpacked, we headed out for dinner and dancing. It was great seeing my classmates outside of their normal element. Since most of us haven’t really hung out outside of School, everyone let their guard down so you could really get to know each other better.

Not only that, we saw and met some interesting characters, since Edinburgh is known for stag parties. Along with the stag characters, we danced both nights away. Little did I know that our cohort were dance machines!

During the daytime we visited all the sights - Edinburgh Castle, Queen’s Palace, the National Museum and art galleries. We also went hiking up to Arthur's Seat as well as on a Harry Potter tour. In about 40 hours, we covered just about everything Edinburgh had to offer us. We barely slept as the excitement was running through our veins. I never knew Edinburgh was such a beautiful place, everything felt so quaint and charming. No drama, just good vibes.

There was one issue though. Our Airbnb had a bit of a security issue, but thanks to our newfound knowledge that we learned from our MBA and our diplomatic demeanour, we were able to diffuse the situation. It made for a good story to tell the rest of our classmates and our Organisational Behaviour professor Monday morning. Not to mention the ongoing jokes we have.

Overall, the trip exceeded my expectations. I loved spending quality time with my classmates and getting to know them as more than just my peers, but as friends. I felt connected and have made a new family here in London. We have a few more class trips coming up - I’m excited to see what happens on them. I’m sure they will be adventures packed with lots more memories and laughs.

Full-Time MBA students enjoying a night out in Edinburgh

You can find the author's full profile, including publications, at their Read profile

Find out more about our Full-Time MBA

Keeping up with Imperial

One month into my MSc Strategic Marketing programme, I have been overwhelmed with a multicultural cohort of students from over 100 nationalities, numerous career events, job applications and of course, the programme itself.

Making friends in an unfamiliar environment can be daunting. Let alone the fact that you’re reminded time and time again that the deadlines for all your graduate job applications are approaching. Hence, it comes as no surprise if you find it challenging to strike the right balance between all the opportunities coming your way.

You’re probably wondering what this rant is all about? When do you get to live the true Imperial experience?

My secret sauce to how to cope with all the stress, unfamiliarity and multi-tasking is YOU! You are what defines your Imperial experience. To help you strike the balance between social and academic life, here are some of my top tips:

Make a list of the top five things you want to achieve or attempt

This does not necessarily need to be the cliché “get a job”, “meet deadlines”, “network”, etc. (unless that’s what works for you).

For example, some of the things I have put down for myself would include:

Get to know people from cultures other than my own on a ‘personal level’
Be an active member of two to three sports and Career Clubs – if you haven’t already heard, Imperial has over 300 clubs and societies
Make the most of the career opportunities offered by the university – a wide range of career workshops, sector-specific job fairs and multiple recruitment presentations on campus itself

Allocate your time and resources every week or month

It’s important your find the right balance between work, study and your social life. Trust me; writing down where you need to spend time will help you pin point where you are falling short or perhaps, overdoing it.

Rashi and friends inside the Business School

Identify your career priorities

As you would have identified by now, Imperial places grave importance on the careers front. Hence, it is almost certain that you would be overwhelmed by the career-specific opportunities being offered to you. In my case, particularly, career events tended to take precedence over all the other things that I wanted to do. So much so, I over-stressed about my ability to multitask between job applications and group work commitments and deadlines.

A quick tip – don’t sign up for every single event. Go through the list of events and once again, prioritise! What helped me was making a list of sectors and companies I was particularly interested in and solely focusing on events related to them. This not only helped me improve my sector knowledge but also made room to prioritise other aspects of the programme.

Attend social events

Every programme has a Social Leader, as the name suggests, their main purpose is to bring the cohort together and make the course environment more friendly. They organise multiple events independently or in conjunction with other programmes. Whether you’re a very sociable person or not, these events are the perfect icebreakers to get to know your classmates and other students across Imperial. After all, who doesn’t enjoy making new friends or simply grabbing a drink after class.

I hope I’ve been able to ease that tension as to how to cope with multiple opportunities at Imperial. The next time you hear someone say Imperial is super challenging, you can rest assured that you’re a step ahead.

Rashi Shah is studying MSc Strategic Marketing at Imperial

Find out more about MSc Strategic Marketing

Five dessert places to visit when your MSc is stressing you out

After two months at Imperial studying the MSc Strategic Marketing programme, we can definitely say that Imperial has become our second home in London. It has been fun, yet stressful. During the weekdays most of our time was spent with teammates either in the classroom, the café or the vaults in the Business School. Given the amount of time we have spent at the Business School, it would have made more sense to ‘move-in’ permanently. Through blood (not really), sweat (a tiny bit), and tears (definitely), we have finally submitted three group projects!

To our fellow ‘survivors,’ here are five hand-picked dessert places in South Kensington to help revive your spent energy (and the will to live) when you are feeling stressed out.

Kova Patisserie

A cute little café with a Japanese twist and a selection of cakes, tarts, organic teas, and coffee. I think we stopped in for a sweet treat over 10 times and tried almost everything on the menu. We have come to the conclusion that our all-time favourite drink is the Mango Cheezo -it has two combinations that perfectly balance sweet and salty flavours in one sip. But if you are a fan of bubble tea, we would recommend Dirty Matcha Boba, it is one of the best brown sugar bubble teas that we have ever tried. Kova is not only perfect for tea lovers, but it is also famous for its hand-made cakes including the Mille Crêpes, Strawberry Shortcake and Roll Cake.

Try these: Mille Crêpes, Mango Cheezo, Dirty Matcha Boba, Sea Salt Lava Cheese Cake

Address: 16 Old Brompton Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 3DL

Opening hours: Monday - Sunday 10.00 - 20.00

Venchi

One of the most famous Italian traditions is gelato, and this one uses all-natural ingredients. With a variety of gelato flavours and a selection of chocolate candies, Venchi is a delightful find for chocolate lovers. You can create your own little moment of personalised happiness from a wide range of ice cream flavours. Our favourites are the Stracciatella and Pistachio flavours on a waffle cone. They are rich and sweet, making it a perfect quick all-day treat for us whenever we crave something sweet after a tiring day.

Try this: Stracciatella, Pistachio, Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato

Address: 13 Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2HE

Hours: Friday - Saturday 10.30 - 22.00

Sunday 11.00 - 21.00

Monday - Thursday 10.30-21.00

Tombo

Another Japanese café, Tombo is known for its signature poke bowls (among ourselves we’ve come to a consensus that “Osaka Fire” is the best). While Tombo serves other healthy and delicious menus, do not let that overshadow their perfect soft serve ice cream! It seriously is one of the best you can find in London). The soft serve is smooth and rich; the closest thing to perfection if you ask us. This melt-in-your-mouth creation comes in green tea, but Tombo does special flavors from time to time.

Try this: Green Tea Soft Serve

Address: 29 Thurloe Place, SW7 2HQ
Hours: Monday - Sunday 11.30 - 21.30*
*Last Friday of the month Tombo opens until 22.00

Oddono’s Gelati

If you are craving real Italian gelato, Oddono’s is the place to go! Don’t let the humble-looking store fool you, they serve award-winning gelato that can certainly brighten your day (given how rainy London is, let’s just say we need to get our days brightened wherever we can). They have a variety of flavours to choose from, and the shop assistants are very happy to let you try them before you buy. Rich, yet not too sweet, their gelato will make you wish you lived right next door to the shop. Have a special event coming up? Wanting to treat yourself for your next birthday? No problem! Oddono’s also offers delicious ice cream cakes.

Try this: Coffee, Cookies and Cream, Tiramisu, Oreo Ice Cream Cake

Address: 14 Bute Street, London SW7 3EX

Hours: Monday - Thursday and Sunday 9.30 - 23.00

Friday - Saturday 9.30 - midnight

Brown & Rosie

Walking distance from South Kensington station to Imperial College Business School, you cannot miss Brown & Rosie. This picturesque cafe will make everyone jealous of your Instagram feed (make sure to sit outside for the best photos). Not only are the brunch menus to-die-for, the desserts are as wonderful as the flowers decorations. The waffles are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside - drizzled with chocolate sauce and loaded with M&Ms. If you want a healthier option, go for the acai bowl.

Try this: Next Level Waffles, Acai Bowl

Address: 10-12 Exhibition Rd, Kensington, London SW7 2HE

Hours: Monday - Friday 8.00 - 20.30

Saturday - Sunday 9.00 - 20.00

Ornvara Kasetrsuwan is currently studying MSc Strategic Marketing at Imperial.

Varisa Petcharapirat is currently studying an MSc Strategic Marketing programme at Imperial.

Find out more about MSc Strategic Marketing

Student insights: joining a Careers Club comittee

My name is Anete, I am currently studying an MSc Strategic Marketing programme at Imperial. Looking back, what primarily prompted me study at Imperial College Business School was the emphasis placed on professional development and the facilitation of industry insights. As such, aspiring to work for a startup and drive growth in my family business, I became head of social media of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Careers Club; a dynamic and cosmopolitan community of students from all cohorts of the Business School. In line with the forward-looking spirit of the club, we started working on the first event almost immediately – let’s have a look at how it went.

Themed ‘’Speaker Series: Leading Innovations & Investments’’, the event featured three industry leaders exploring the topics of super-connecting startups across borders, disrupting digital innovation, and the importance of entrepreneurship development and fundraising. ⠀⠀

The event commenced with a speech from the founder of Supreme Factory and Co-Director of Startup Grind, Petar Savic. As a super-connector with a key interest in acceleration within an emerging technology, digital media, blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet environment-bridging the gap between technical, creative and commercial requirements, Petar’s talk focused on his programs including think tanks, due diligence and fundraising.

Next, we welcomed Jonathan Chippindale, a digital entrepreneur with a wide experience of mentoring and advising business and academic institutions around the world, and the CEO of Holition, an award-winning studio with high-profile clients such as Richemont, LVMH, Farfetch and BMW. With over two decades of experience in luxury goods and beauty, Jonathan reflected on his entrepreneurial journey, digital anthropology and being pro-human in the age of digital innovation, using multiple technologies such as AI and machine learning.

Finally, we were joined by Areije Al Shakar, the Senior Vice President of Bahrain Development Bank Group. Areije talked about her process for investing in VC’s, the importance of value and steps to set up VC’s and startups, as well as mentorship and empowerment.

In retrospect, in less than a month’s time since joining the club, I have not only amplified my awareness of the current affairs in entrepreneurship but have also formed beneficial connections through networking both professionally and personally. Most importantly, the club has provided me with the opportunity to shape my Master’s experience in accordance with my future goals.

Find out more about MSc Strategic Management

Partnering with Business School Career Clubs is mutually beneficial for employers and our students

“I believe employers really value seeing leadership skills in action and the fact that those involved in clubs aren’t afraid to mix studies with extra-curriculars even when it gets really busy. I always got asked about my role at interviews, and interviewers found it really interesting”, says Presiyana Karastoyanova, MSc Finance 2018-19 and former VP of the Finance Careers Club. Presiyana has secured a role as an Analyst at McKinsey for January 2020.

This year the Business School has fourteen student-led Career Clubs, of which the Finance Club is one. The clubs bring together MBA and MSc students with shared aspirations and are divided into major industries, interest groups, or geographic locations. They are always keen to work with employers and alumni in their related sector or region.

All of our clubs are led by students and organise or signpost events throughout the year which give opportunities to:

Meet other Business School students with similar interests
Learn from and network with alumni and other professionals
Build links with relevant employers in the sector
Learn more about roles available and the skills needed in the industry and many more.

“Being the President of Consulting Club played a major role in getting my job,” says Vineet Harsh, Full-Time MBA 2017-18 and former President of the Business School Consulting Careers Club. “The Consulting club provided me opportunity to network and connect with people working in consulting. It was helpful to know about their projects, company culture and career progression."

Student members can gain invaluable insight from employers to aid their professional development, whilst employers can use career club events to supplement their recruitment activity - raising brand awareness, showcasing company culture, providing thought leadership or direction on industry hot topics.

For example, Presiyana says:

Employers should leverage this great opportunity to engage with some of the most active students on campus and visit the Business School to share their opportunities. It’s always great when firms send Imperial alumni too, we all love meeting them and get inspired by their work.

Our clubs can also provide a route into the Business School for companies that are not always able to come on to campus. For example, a number of luxury brands or boutique consultancies with which Careers now work very closely had their first interactions on campus as small-scale events with Career Clubs.

Sarah Ranchev Hale, Director of Employer Relations, Careers says:

Career Clubs provide an avenue for employers to connect directly with students, raising their brand awareness and talent-spotting in the process. It’s a win-win for the employer and the students.

The Career Clubs are the student-led extension of Business School Careers – they are:

Consulting Careers Club
Energy & Sustainability Careers Club
FMCG, Luxury Goods and Retail Careers Club
Finance Careers Club (includes Fintech and PE/VC)
Healthcare Careers Club (includes Pharma)
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Club (includes Family Business)
LGBTQ+ Business Club
Social Impact & Responsible Business Club
Technology, Media and Telecoms Careers Club (includes Digital Marketing)

Regional clubs:

Africa Business Club
Asia Business Club
India Business Club
North America Business Club
Latin America Business Club

The most recent club to be created was the LGBTQ+ Business Club and you can read all about the story of it started out

A week in the life: MSc International Health Management student

Monday 21 October

Monday morning is an early start for me, with a 9.00 accounting lecture I’m up earlier than usual. After snoozing two alarms I begin my morning routine. Truthfully, I don’t have to get up as early as I do, but after four years living in the East Midlands of England, I need all the time I can get to adjust to commuting in London. To help in that effort I live by an important maxim; a public transport journey can be either long or stressful, it must not be both.

As I step out of the South Kensington subway, I walk towards the Business School to attend an accounting lecture. Accounting can be a difficult subject, but I think it is a prerequisite for accountants to love what they do – my lecturer shows more enthusiasm at 9:00 than anyone should at that time of day.

With teaching having ended for the day and a nice cup a tea in hand, I meet my syndicate group for our first meeting of the week. This is the second group project of the semester, and it is safe to say that the group is starting to experience teething problems. But that’s natural, right?

With the group meeting finished (running later than expected), I can continue job applications that I have been working on for the past three weeks. One of my reflections about studying at Imperial is how quickly the university Careers team get you focused, and career minded.

Tuesday 22nd October 2019

I love Tuesdays at Imperial for one reason and one reason only - I step out of the South Kensington subway to be greeted by the sweet dancing aroma of the Farmer's Market on the Queen's Lawn. They sell the thickest juiciest burger that you will ever find, a sweet slice of cake or even fresh organic fruits and homemade fruit juice. Trust me, you can afford to forget the packed lunch on a Tuesday.

A quick tip: if you want to avoid long queues, get in early and buy your goodies before 11.00.

Wednesday 23rd October 2019

Wednesday is an unusually busy day, my syndicate group receives our marks for our first ever group project (we got a distinction!). It is just the encouragement we need to finish up the latest group work assignment. I also attend the first Student-Staff Committee of the year. It is privilege to be a part of this and sharing my Imperial experience.

With lectures finishing at 15.00, I have time to finish a job application and, have someone look over it on Thursday during the Careers drop-in session.

Thursday 24th October 2019

It’s another rainy British morning so my friend and I decided to break up the day. Using a big gap between lectures to visit the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A). The V&A is a two-minute walk from the Imperial South Kensington campus and since visiting a museum is a classic rainy day activity, it was the perfect thing to do. Plus, it’s free! It seems surreal to leave the culture, beauty and artistry of the V&A to attend a lecture on Global Healthcare Marketing lecture, but we do exactly that.

Friday 25th October 2019

TGIF! Although truthfully, the week was not that stressful. With another early morning start, I carry that Friday feeling as I get ready for the day, especially since today’s early start means an early finish. In between lectures I make the suggested changes to my job application from the Careers drop-in session and send off my first job application.

Ilerioluwa Adewale is currently studying the MSc International Health Management programme.

Find out more about MSc International Health Management

Three things I've learned on the Imperial Full-Time MBA

I can honestly say, making the decision to apply for the Imperial MBA is one of the best I’ve ever made. These first two months have been intensive but have provided a lot of space for self-reflection and growth.

Here are three lessons I’ve learned so far while studying an Imperial MBA programme.

Find yourself a mentor and coach

As part of the Full-Time MBA, we are matched up with a Careers Consultant and also have the opportunity to connect with a mentor from a past cohort. My Consultant has helped me define my career goals and build a plan moving forward. She challenges me to think of my professional growth opportunities in a new way and further pursue my goals.

My mentor completed his MBA as part of last year’s cohort and provides a unique perspective of how to get the most out of the programme. Both people have given me advice that has helped shaped how I tackle the programme for the rest of the year.

Be open to new experiences

My world has grown since starting the on the Imperial MBA. I’ve found myself in a cohort of people from a variety of backgrounds, both professionally and culturally. I learn something new from my classmates and their past experiences every day. I’ve also been pushed by my Careers Consultant to explore different post-MBA career paths, which has opened doors to jobs and potential opportunities I had never looked at before. This year is a chance to explore new paths and ways of thinking.

Take time for self-reflection

A large part of the induction and early stages of the MBA has been self-reflection. We’ve examined our strengths, how we work in teams and our personal leadership styles. Sitting down and looking at the way that I work has changed the way I approach group work, class assignments and career decisions.

I know how to lean into my strengths and be aware of my weaknesses in order to get work done effectively and be a strong team member. It can be hard to find time for this level of self-reflection in the working world, but the MBA programme has given me a platform to not only reflect, but also think through how I can use this knowledge and reflection in my everyday life.

Yes, the first two months have gone by quickly, they’ve been packed with workshops, classes, networking events and a lot of fun. I’m excited to see what the rest of the year has in store for me.

Carly is currently a Full-Time MBA student. Prior to studying on the Imperial MBA she was working in Chicago at a market research company in sales and account management. Once she completes her MBA programme she hopes to move into the consumer goods industry and work in either marketing or global strategy.

Find out more about our Full-Time MBA

Introducing the Specialised Masters’ students 2019-20

MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management 2019-20

Over the last two months, we welcomed the new cohorts of students to our Specialised Master’s programmes: MSc Business Analytics, MSc Climate Change, Management & Finance, MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management and MSc International Health Management.

These programmes are classified as Specialised’ Masters’ because the programmes equip students with the highly specific skills to achieve their career aspirations. These Master’s programmes are truly unique, as they draw on Imperial’s excellence in data analytics, climate change, healthcare and innovation.

Find out more about these cutting-edge programmes and meet some of the new students.

MSc Business Analytics

Imperial is a leader in data analytics, and our MSc Business Analytics programme is highly in-demand for its practically focused curriculum that prepares graduates for a future of data-driven and evidence-based decision making.

Our MSc Business Analytics was recently ranked fifth in the world in the QS Business Masters Rankings 2019, demonstrating that this programme is truly world-class.

In the new cohort of 82 students, there are 43% female students. There are 29 nationalities represented in the class, the top nationalities students hail from China, France, Singapore and the United Kingdom. The majority of students join from an engineering/technology degree background (30%), followed by economics (22%).

In October, we welcomed the second year of students to the online study mode of this programme, MSc Business Analytics (part-time delivery, online).

Meet MSc Business Analytics students on both study modes

Alana McIntosh Clarke

Nationality: Barbadian
Education: BSc Economics, UCL

“I chose to study MSc Business Analytics at Imperial because both the rankings and the facilities of the Business School are top-notch. When choosing between the programme at Imperial and its competitors, I was attracted to the applicability of the modules and the direct links and applications to industry. The central London location and access to alumni, as well as the exposure to the Data Science Institute and Imperial’s strong reputation in computer science, made the decision quite easy!”

“The MSc Business Analytics cohort is one of the most ambitious, competitive but collaborative cohorts at the Business School. From day one it has been quite a steep learning curve, but the ability to work with my classmates and break down complex problems into clever solutions has been a great challenge and already a huge asset.”

Ricardo Maté Piñero

Nationality: Spanish
Education: BSc Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Alfonso X el Sabio University
Current role: Assistant Manager in Customer Service Program Implementation, International Air Transport Association

“Imperial's MSc Business Analytics (online delivery, part-time) is a perfect combination of unmatched academic quality and flexibility to study at your own rhythm. As someone who works full-time, I really couldn't ask for more. Induction week is as exciting as it gets, you finally get to know your peers and professors while diving right into fascinating subjects. All of this through a world-class online platform!”

MSc Climate Change, Management & Finance

Our MSc Climate Change, Management & Finance truly sits on the cutting edge of business and science. This programme is a partnership between the Business School and the Grantham Institute, whose mission is to translate climate change and environment-related research into real-world impact.

Equipped with the latest business skills and knowledge of climate science and policy, our graduates are set-up to become global leaders on issues relating to climate change and sustainability.

The new class of 67 students are 57% female and represent 20 nationalities, with the top nationalities of students being China, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. 31% of students come from a business/management degree background, followed by art/humanities (21%).

Meet an MSc Climate Change, Management & Finance student

Julia Janka

Nationality: Austrian
Education: BSc Business Administration, Vienna University of Economics and Business

“Climate change not only endangers the environment as we know it but also impacts our economy and businesses. Therefore, it is of the highest importance to understand the science behind it and how to tackle climate change from a business perspective. In my eyes, Imperial is the only university in the UK that offers a Master’s that focuses on this link between science and business.

“After a fantastic induction week with exciting presentations, discussions, a lovely picnic in Hyde Park with our Academic Director and two months of interesting and challenging lectures, I can say with full confidence that I made the right choice. Since I hold a bachelor’s degree in business administration, the science modules allow me to gain a better and more profound understanding of climate change. Apart from academic enrichment, what makes my experiences so far even more special are my classmates, who I can learn so much from, and who have already become very good friends."

MSc Climate Change, Management & Finance 2019-20

MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management

For students with entrepreneurial ambitions, or those who want to innovate from within an organisation, this intensive programme prepares graduates for a wide spectrum of career opportunities.

The new cohort of 85 students represent 36 nationalities, the most diverse out of our Specialised Masters’ and are 42% female. The top five nationalities in the class are China, France, Germany, India and the United Kingdom.

Almost half of the students (46%) on this programme come from a business/management degree background, but they also come from degrees in art/humanities (17%), engineering/technology (14%) and other academic areas. The internationality and diversity of the programme is how the magic happens as it stimulates exciting ideas and innovative thinking.

Meet an MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management student

Niklas Hildebrand

Nationality: German
Education: BA Business Administration, Provadis School of International Management and Technology

“Imperial not only offers a comprehensive programme alongside an outstanding global reputation but more importantly, it allows you to study among students from all disciplines ranging from medicine to chemical engineering. This fosters creativity as well as innovation and for that reason, I decided to study the MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Management programme.

“On my first day I was really nervous but after having finished the first projects, attending the first lectures and most importantly talking to everyone, I realised what Imperial is all about: rigorous debates about digital issues and sustained, ongoing learning throughout a career enabled by a culture of quality, digital agile minds and empowered staff and students.”

MSc International Health Management

MSc International Health Management is another programme that draws on the strengths of Imperial College London as a leader in STEM. Leveraging the College’s medical expertise, the programme is uniquely positioned to offer students the best education in health management.

Out of the 70-student cohort, 77% are female and 26 nationalities are represented, with the top nationalities joining from China, Hong Kong, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

With the health-focused nature of the programme, it is unsurprising that 60% of students come from a science/medicine degree background. This is followed by business/management (17%) and finance/accounting (12%).

Meet an MSc International Health Management student

Zainab Shaukat

Nationality: Pakistani
Education: BA Politics and International Relations, University of Exeter

“I have always known that I wanted to study my Master’s at Imperial College Business School because of its incredible reputation and diverse nature. In fact, I decided to study the MSc International Health Management before I decided on my undergraduate course. Imperial is one of the few top universities to offer this exact programme that I was seeking. The content of this Specialised Masters’ definitely equips me with all the tools that I may need for my career healthcare management.

“Induction week was such a lovely opportunity to meet the cohort and learn more about where everyone was from via the international showcase. Since then, the coursework has kept us very busy but working in out assigned syndicate teams allows the work to feel more realistic and practical, because, in a healthcare setting, we will often find ourselves having discussions to finalise a decision.”