01 · Class profile
Who is in the LBS MBA class
MBA2027, the latest class profile on LBS's Who attends page. They entered in August 2025. The profile for the class that entered in August 2026 (MBA2028) is not published yet.
LBS's pages differ on average work experience: five years on the Who attends page, 5.4 years on the MBA overview page and 5.5 years in its FAQ. This page uses five years.
Test scores
| Test | Average | Median | Range |
|---|
| GMAT | Around 645 | Not published | 555 to 805 |
| GRE | Not published | Not published | Not published |
LBS's pages differ on the typical GMAT class range: 555 to 805 on its FAQ and apply page, 555 to 755 in its Admissions Blog post on GMAT and GRE preparation (June 2025). This page uses 555 to 805.
LBS says the minimum GMAT is usually around 555. It does not say whether scores are GMAT Focus or Classic, and ties them to "the MBA class" rather than a named year.
LBS gives no class GRE average. Its Admissions Blog post on GMAT and GRE preparation (June 2025) suggests 163 and 164 in both the verbal and quant sections as a good ballpark equivalent to aim for.
The LBS FAQ says it prefers scores of over 160 in both verbal and quantitative, and it has no preference between the GMAT and the GRE.
Where the class comes from
Central and South America
20% Share of the MBA2027 class by region, from LBS's world map. LBS does not give an India-only figure.
LBS says about 10% of the class is from the UK and about 90% from 60 to 70 countries.
Where the class worked before
Technology and telecoms
9% Share of recent students by industry, from LBS's Who attends page. LBS titles the chart "Background of recent students" and shows it under the MBA2027 class profile.
Other: LBS does not break this group down.
| Industry | Also includes |
|---|
| Technology and telecoms | Fintech |
| FMCG and retail | Luxury goods and e-commerce |
| Public sector and NGO | Government and not-for-profits |
| Manufacturing | Industrials and transport |
| Media and leisure | Sports, entertainment and marketing |
Work experience required
LBS's programme comparison page lists “a minimum of two years' work experience” under the MBA's entry requirements. Its Admissions Blog post on references says it requires at least 2-3 years of work experience.
LBS's FAQ says under three years may be granted with superior academics and outstanding leadership.
Where do you sit in this class? Enter your score, experience and profile and see your position and interview risk.
Check my chances02 · Placements
Where LBS MBA graduates go
£41,000
other compensation
Class of 2025 (MBA2025, 488 students, 98% reporting rate), from LBS's MBA Employment Report 2025, the latest report. The Class of 2026 report is not published yet.
86% accepted an offer and 88% received an offer within three months of graduation. The report prints percentages only, so there is no count of accepted offers.
Salary and other compensation
| Pay | Mean | Maximum | Minimum |
|---|
| Salary | £91,928 | £237,682 | £22,465 |
| Other compensation | £41,000 | £210,000 | £3,370 |
The report's table is headed "Salary information" and gives the mean, maximum and minimum. It publishes means only, with no median.
Other compensation, which the report says includes sign-on and end-of-year bonus where it has enough data, is shown separately. 83% of students who accepted an offer received other compensation.
The report also gives the figures in US dollars and international dollars.
Students returning to a sponsoring employer are not in the employment rate, and salary data does not include sponsored or self-employed students. Sector and employer lists do include sponsored students.
Mean salary and other compensation by sector
| Sector | Mean salary | Mean other compensation |
|---|
| Consulting | £98,856 | £48,777 |
| Finance | £93,406 | £59,058 |
| Technology | £83,287 | £27,231 |
| Diversified | £87,289 | £35,984 |
Mean salary within finance and technology
| Sub-sector | Mean salary |
|---|
| Private equity (finance) | £100,905 |
| Banking (finance) | £102,968 |
| Investment management (finance) | £88,063 |
| Venture capital (finance) | £97,983 |
| Fintech (technology) | £86,404 |
| Information technology (technology) | £82,655 |
Where graduates work: mean salary by job location
| Job location | Mean salary |
|---|
| North America | £143,262 |
| Africa and Middle East | £106,108 |
| Oceania | £102,611 |
| UK | £88,516 |
| Europe | £79,344 |
| Latin America and Caribbean | £78,784 |
| Asia | £68,417 |
LBS's report does not publish an India-specific salary line. In the report, mean salary by job location runs from £68,417 (Asia) to £143,262 (North America).
Class of 2025 by sector
Share of the Class of 2025 by sector.
Diversified: industrials 3%, energy 2%, consumer and retail 1%, healthcare 1% and other 4%.
Class of 2025 by job location
South East and East Asia
12% Africa and Middle East
11% Latin America and Caribbean
10% Share of the Class of 2025 by job location. Graduates worked in 39 locations.
44% changed location, 45% changed sector and 32% changed both.
21 graduates started their own business. The average salary increase for the class was 34%, calculated in international dollars.
Employers
Employers the report names include Bain and Company, Boston Consulting Group, McKinsey and Company, Deloitte, Oliver Wyman, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citi, Amazon, Google, Meta, Mastercard, Revolut and Uber. LBS says 524 unique employers hired its graduates, and that more than 500 companies hired for full-time and internship roles.
Internships
The report's section on the MBA2026 class says 97% of students seeking an internship accepted an offer (95% reporting rate), and the mean weekly compensation was £1,062.
03 · Fees and scholarships
What it costs, and how to pay less
LBS's fees page and FAQ give the £123,950 tuition for the 2026 intake. Its programme comparison page shows £123,950 without naming an intake.
Tuition covers the whole 15 to 21 month programme whichever exit point you take, and is the same for international and UK students. It does not cover programme-related travel such as the Global Experience.
A Student Association fee of £400 is charged in addition and paid with the first tuition invoice.
You pay the £3,500 commitment fee about one month after the offer (LBS's FAQ says normally three to four weeks), and the £6,500 reservation fee at the end of May before the class starts. Both are non-refundable and deducted from tuition. LBS says its deadlines can change each year. Tuition can be paid in instalments, one at the start of each term. The £200 application fee is paid by credit card with the application.
LBS scholarships
| Scholarship | What you get and who it is for |
|---|
| LBS Fund Scholarships | LBS's largest general group of MBA awards, in variable amounts, for admitted applicants with clear academic and professional merit. Considered automatically. |
| Ajay Arora Scholarships for Indian students | £50,000, one award, for Indian students on the MBA. Considered automatically. |
| BK Birla Scholars Programme | Ten awards of variable amount, from the Aditya Birla Group, for academic excellence and leadership potential. Considered automatically; usually decided at the end of the admissions year, just before the class starts. |
| Scholarships for women | From £20,000 up to full fees, multiple awards, for successful women applicants. Considered automatically. LBS also lists a 30% Club Scholarship (up to 50% of tuition, one award) and a scholarship for UK women (up to half of fees, one award). |
| Laidlaw Women's Leadership Fund | Twelve MBA awards of 50% or 100% of tuition for women who show financial need. You apply separately, by invitation, after you are invited to interview, with three 250-word answers. LBS's pages refer to programmes starting in 2024 (fund listing) and 2025 (fund page); neither states the 2027 window. |
| Other named awards | Entrepreneurship, technology and engineering (up to 50% of tuition, one award each), sustainability (up to 50% of fees, one or two awards), military (up to £30,000), African (£20,000), China (up to 50%), Reaching Out MBA Fellowship (£20,000, separate application) and others. |
Most LBS-awarded MBA scholarships say all eligible candidates are considered automatically, so there is no separate form. LBS does not state a decision date for them on the pages we read (Laidlaw decisions are sent with programme decisions where possible). LBS does not publish a share of students on aid or a total scholarship value. The Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship Programme is listed by LBS for Indian nationals residing in India below the age of 30 who demonstrate a consistently high academic record; LBS says to visit the scheme's website to apply.
Loans
LBS says a wide range of loans is available. Its funding database lists lenders such as Prodigy Finance, ICICI Bank, Lendwise, Poonawalla Fincorp and Sallie Mae, and says the list is for reference and not a recommendation. The fees page also has a section on asking your employer for support.
Could your profile earn a scholarship? Check where you stand before you apply.
Check my chances04 · Rounds and deadlines
Which round, and by when
Round 13rd Sep 2026
- Interviews:
- Mid-Oct to early Nov 2026
- Decision:
- 26th Nov 2026
Round 26th Jan 2027
- Interviews:
- Early Feb to early Mar 2027
- Decision:
- 1st Apr 2027
Round 322nd Mar 2027
- Interviews:
- End of Apr to mid-May 2027
- Decision:
- 3rd Jun 2027
These are the rounds for the August 2027 intake (class MBA2029). All deadlines are at 17:00 UK time, and the reference must be in by the same deadline.
Invitations to interview: Round 1 sent 8th Oct 2026, Round 2 on 9th Feb 2027 and Round 3 on 15th Apr 2027.
LBS emails decisions on the decision date, by 23:30 UK time, and the email may arrive outside working hours. Outcomes are an offer, a rejection (you may reapply in the next cycle) or a waitlist.
LBS does not publish a deposit date for each round: the commitment fee comes about one month after the offer.
Applications for the August 2027 intake are open. Round 1's deadline of 3rd Sep 2026 has passed.
The apply page says the Admissions Committee reviews applications for each deadline, and the Regional Admissions Manager then starts finding an interviewer for successful applicants. You can apply to only one LBS programme at a time. The programme starts in early August with an orientation week.
Not sure which round to aim for? We look at your file and tell you.
Check my chances05 · Clubs and activities
Life outside class
LBS's clubs page shows 80+ student clubs, 1000+ club events every year and 150+ student leaders. LBS does not group the clubs into official categories, so the list below is a selection from its featured clubs. The India Club is on LBS's clubs site (clubs.london.edu/india).
| Club | What they do |
|---|
| Consulting Club | One of the largest communities on campus, with over 4,800 student and alumni members. Supports students going into consulting. |
| Private Equity and Venture Capital Club | A network of 6,000 including 1,000 current students. Regular events with recruiters and sector leaders. |
| Tech and Media Club | 1000+ current members and over 5000 alumni. Events and global treks to tech hubs. |
| Entrepreneurship Club | A forum to network and share ideas, and to develop your own business idea. |
| Impact Consulting Club | Hands-on global projects for clients to create positive impact. |
| Women in Business Club | Described by LBS as one of the biggest clubs on campus. Runs an annual flagship conference and events with recruiters, entrepreneurs and alumni. |
| Out In Business Club | A professional support network for the LGBTQ+ community, with 900+ members. |
| Black in Business Club | Promotes the representation, well-being and advancement of the Black business community. |
| Regional and sector clubs | LBS also names the Africa, China, Latam and Middle East clubs, the Retail and Luxury Goods Club and the Social Impact Club. |
| Interest clubs | The Sailing Club (over 1300 members), the Foodie Club and the Photography Club. |
Student Association and events
The Student Association represents students, runs social events and supports the clubs, and its officers are elected by students. Annual events include the multicultural festival Tattoo and the Summer Ball. Its £400 fee covers the whole programme. Over three quarters of clubs are free to join. Sports teams, some professional clubs, social events, flagship conferences, travel and treks can cost extra.
Beyond clubs
LBS says 30% of second-year students spend a term abroad at one of 29 partner schools, and the exchange courses count for up to four electives. Fifteen- and eighteen-month students have limited exchange opportunities. The partners include HEC Paris, IE, IESE, SDA Bocconi, AGSM, CEIBS, HKUST, HKU and Hitotsubashi. The Global Experience, a week of travel with faculty to places such as Johannesburg, Lima and Riyadh, is required to graduate. LondonCAP is an extended group project with London organisations.
As LBS describes them on its clubs, learning experience and FAQ pages. Club membership numbers are LBS's own and may include alumni.
06 · Process
From application to decision
Apply
Complete the online application, which you can save over several sessions: essays, a one-page CV, referee details, a GMAT or GRE score, proof of English, transcripts and the £200 fee. You apply to one programme only.
LBS does not review an application in detail until the reference has arrived.
Review and invitationBy email, on the round's invitation date
The Admissions Committee reviews your application. If it is successful, your Regional Admissions Manager starts finding an interviewer for you. Invitations are selective.
LBS also mentions a video submission. It publishes no format for it.
Interview
Alumni or senior admissions staff of the MBA programme interview you in the region where you are based. Depending on interviewer availability, you may be asked to travel.
LBS does not say whether the interview is in person or online, or how long it lasts.
Decision
LBS combines the interview feedback with your application. The outcome is an offer, a rejection or a waitlist.
Some waitlisted applicants are later offered a place in the current class, and sometimes the following year.
After an offer
Pay the £3,500 commitment fee about one month after the offer and the £6,500 reservation fee at the end of May. Non-UK nationals may need a visa to study in the UK.
07 · What you need
What goes into the application
1. Eligibility
A degree in any discipline. LBS says it also considers non-graduates with an excellent career record. LBS's programme comparison page lists “a minimum of two years' work experience” under the MBA's entry requirements, and its Admissions Blog post on references says it requires at least 2-3 years of work experience. The average is about five years (LBS's pages say 5, 5.4 and 5.5). LBS says candidates with under three years of experience may be admitted with superior academic credentials and truly outstanding evidence of leadership. You can apply to only one LBS programme at a time.
2. Test score
A valid GMAT or GRE score, less than five years old, is required before you submit. Request your official score from the test body and upload the test-taker copy or a screenshot. LBS may ask you to retake before an offer. LBS mentions no test waiver and does not list the Executive Assessment. Its pages do not say whether it means GMAT Focus or Classic. The usual GMAT minimum is around 555, and LBS prefers GRE scores of over 160 in both verbal and quantitative.
3. English proof
Required unless your first language is English and you have always been a citizen of, and primarily resident in, a majority English-speaking country on the UK visa list. LBS accepts IELTS (7.0 overall, 6.5 in each part), TOEFL, Cambridge CAE or CPE, PTE and Duolingo, with minimums set in its English language information sheet. The test must be within 2 years of the August start. LBS may waive it if you completed a full-time degree taught entirely in English in a majority English-speaking country within 5 years of the start. Exchange years do not count. LBS says your English may be continually assessed during the admissions process, and you may be asked to take or retake a test.
4. Essays
LBS's apply page lists three questions.
Essay 1: Post-MBA goals (required, 500 words)
What are your post-MBA goals and how will your prior experience and the London Business School programme contribute towards these?
Essay 2: What makes you unique (required, 200 words)
What makes you unique?
Essay 3: Other information (optional, 500 words)
Is there any other information you believe the Admissions Committee should know about you and your application to London Business School?
Reapplicants: Strengthening your candidacy (300 words)
How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please comment on how you have grown personally and professionally
The reapplicant question is from LBS's Admissions Blog post on essays (June 2025). The apply page for the August 2027 intake does not list it, so it is unconfirmed for this cycle. If you are reapplying, check the portal.
LBS allows AI tools on essays and the application for checking and editing, but you must fully disclose that use within the application. AI, outside resources and help from others are strictly prohibited in the interview and in the video submission.
5. CV, transcripts and fee
A one-page CV uploaded in the application form, with reasons for any significant gaps in your employment history on a separate sheet. A transcript from each university you attended, with a certified English translation if it is not in English. LBS asks for the original or a certified copy of your transcript if you get an offer. The application fee is £200, and the application stays incomplete until it is paid.
6. One recommendation
One referee, entered in the online application. LBS emails the referee a login to its online reference system, and the reference must be completed online. It can be your current employer, a colleague if you do not want to use your line manager, a former employer, a long-standing client or someone who knows you well at work. LBS says it asks for just one referee and will not take extra materials, except that students and alumni can send recommendations separately. LBS's reference instructions give apply.mba@london.edu for this, and its Admissions Blog post on references says to email mba@london.edu to get the form. The reference is due by the application deadline. LBS may contact the referee for more information.
| No. | Question your referee answers |
|---|
| 1 | How do you know the applicant and for how long? |
| 2 | What are the applicant's key strengths and talents? |
| 3 | What are the applicant's key weaknesses or areas for improvement? |
| 4 | How do the applicant's performance, potential and personal qualities compare with others in similar roles? |
| 5 | What might this person be doing in ten years' time, and why? |
The referee also rates the applicant on twelve qualities, including quantitative skills, leadership, team skills and oral and written English.
The instructions PDF that LBS links from its apply page is named 2021, so check the form in the portal.
7. Video submission
LBS's FAQ mentions a video submission and says AI and outside help are not allowed in it. LBS does not publish a format, questions, preparation time, answer time or date for it on the pages we read, so we do not describe it. Check your application portal for the instructions. No candidate account we hold describes it either.
08 · What LBS wants
How LBS reads your file
LBS's Who attends page lists these five descriptions under "Is it right for me?". They are LBS's self-selection prompts, quoted exactly, not an admissions checklist. Here is what each means for your application.
| LBS lists | In plain words |
|---|
| You're ambitious and driven, with a global outlook | Your goals are specific, and you can show why a school in London with a mixed class fits them. |
| You want a new challenge in a new industry, function or country | A change of direction is welcome, and your essay should explain it. |
| You want an enhanced global skill set to accelerate your career | Say what skill you lack today and how LBS closes the gap. |
| You want to develop your start-up idea or build a family business | Say where the idea or the family business stands today. |
| You have a strong track record of achievement and success | Back your claims with results from your work and studies. |
LBS describes its MBA as aimed at people with some high-quality work experience who are at a relatively early stage in their career. It says the GMAT or GRE is one of several criteria: a high score does not guarantee admission, and a below-average score does not always rule out a candidate. LBS says it reviews applications holistically, looking at test score, academics, work experience, essays and the reference together. It combines the interview feedback with the application for the decision.
LBS does not publish weights for these elements and says no one element matters more than the others.
See how your file reads against these points before you spend weeks on the essays.
Check my chances09 · Interview questions
What LBS interviewers typically ask
These are candidates' own accounts of their LBS alumni interviews, not an LBS list. Five questions that show the pattern. The tag says how likely that type of question is: high means it comes up in close to half of candidate accounts or more, medium in roughly a quarter to just under half, and low in fewer than a quarter. Nobody gets a fixed list, and many questions are follow-ups to your own answers.
| Topic | Chance | How it is usually asked |
|---|
| Why London Business School | HIGH | “Why LBS rather than the other programmes you are considering?” |
| A short case or presentation, with about 5 minutes to prepare | HIGH | “You have five minutes to prepare: choose one prompt and present your answer.” |
| Behavioural and leadership stories | HIGH | “Tell me about a time you spoke up and it did not go well.” |
| Post-MBA goals and a backup plan | HIGH | “What is your short-term goal, and where do you see yourself in twenty years?” |
| Working across cultures and in diverse teams | MEDIUM | “How do you handle conflict that comes from different cultural backgrounds?” |
The accounts are recalled by candidates and come from a small group, so treat the tags as directional. The interviewer and the match with your background change a lot from one interview to the next.
10 · Interview experience
What the interview is actually like
What LBS says
| Topic | What to expect |
|---|
| Who interviews | By invitation only. Alumni or senior admissions staff of the MBA programme interview you in the region where you are based, and you may be asked to travel depending on interviewer availability. |
| Mode and length | LBS does not publish whether the interview is in person or online, how long it lasts or how many you have. |
| Video submission | LBS mentions a video submission and does not publish a format. No candidate account we hold describes it. |
What candidates report
| Topic | What to expect |
|---|
| Interviewer | Candidates describe one alumnus or alumna, one-on-one, often matched to you by country, industry or goals. No panel is described. |
| Mode and length | Candidates describe mostly video calls, with some in person in their own city, at a coffee shop or an office. Reported lengths run from about an hour to about two hours, and some ran longer, with a long stretch at the end for your questions. |
| Shape | A loose pattern: your CV and why an MBA, why now and why LBS; then behavioural questions from your own experience; then a short case or presentation; then time for your questions. |
| Case or presentation | Reported by candidates, not described by LBS. You get a prompt, about five minutes to prepare (pen and paper allowed), then speak for a few minutes and answer follow-ups. Prompts are business-judgement and opinion questions, sometimes matched to your industry or your country. Candidates say no business knowledge is needed and that a clear structure and a defended view matter more than the content. |
| Tone | Mostly warm and conversational, though some candidates describe a fast or demanding pace. Candidates say the tone does not predict the result. |
Candidates' accounts are a guide to the pattern, not a promise.
No written test or group discussion is described by candidates, so there is nothing of that kind to prepare for.
11 · FAQs
Questions students ask about LBS MBA
Is there a minimum GMAT or GRE score for the LBS MBA?
LBS says the minimum GMAT is usually around 555, the class average is around 645 and the typical range is 555 to 805. It does not say whether these are Focus or Classic scores. For the GRE it prefers over 160 in both verbal and quantitative. A valid score less than five years old is required, and LBS has no preference between the GMAT and the GRE.
How much work experience do I need for the LBS MBA?
LBS's programme comparison page lists “a minimum of two years' work experience” under the MBA's entry requirements, and its Admissions Blog post on references says it requires at least 2-3 years of work experience. The average is about five years (LBS's pages say 5, 5.4 and 5.5). Candidates with under three years may be granted admission with superior academic credentials and truly outstanding evidence of leadership.
What are the LBS MBA essay questions?
Essay 1 (500 words, required) asks about your post-MBA goals and how your experience and LBS contribute. Essay 2 (200 words, required) asks what makes you unique. Essay 3 (500 words) is optional and asks for anything else the Admissions Committee should know. A one-page CV is also required.
How many recommendations does LBS need?
One. You enter your referee's details in the application and LBS emails them a login. The reference is completed online by the application deadline, and LBS will not take extra letters, except that students and alumni can send recommendations separately. LBS's reference instructions give apply.mba@london.edu for this, and its Admissions Blog post on references says to email mba@london.edu to get the form.
How does the LBS interview work?
It is by invitation only. Alumni or senior admissions staff of the MBA programme interview you in the region where you are based, and you may be asked to travel. LBS does not publish the length or whether it is in person or online.
Which round should I apply in?
LBS has three rounds for the August 2027 intake: Round 1 on 3rd Sep 2026 (closed), Round 2 on 6th Jan 2027 and Round 3 on 22nd Mar 2027, all at 17:00 UK time. Decisions are due on 26th Nov 2026, 1st Apr 2027 and 3rd Jun 2027.
How much does the LBS MBA cost?
Tuition is £123,950 for the full 15 to 21 month programme: LBS's fees page and FAQ give it for the 2026 intake, and its programme comparison page shows the same figure without naming an intake. A £400 Student Association fee is added, and the application fee is £200. Programme-related travel is extra.
Are there scholarships for Indian students at LBS?
LBS lists the Ajay Arora Scholarships for Indian students (£50,000, one award, considered automatically) and the BK Birla Scholars Programme (ten awards of variable amount). The Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship Programme is listed by LBS for Indian nationals residing in India below the age of 30; LBS says to visit the scheme's website to apply.
What is the LBS video submission?
LBS's FAQ mentions a video submission and prohibits AI and outside help in it. LBS does not publish a format, questions or timing on the pages we read, so check your application portal for instructions.
What do LBS graduates earn?
For the Class of 2025, LBS reports a mean salary of £91,928, with other compensation such as sign-on and end-of-year bonus shown separately (mean £41,000). It publishes means only, not medians, and the figures exclude sponsored and self-employed students. 86% accepted an offer within three months of graduation.