Could you give our readers some information on your MBA programs? (FT MBA, Executive MBA, EMBA-Global, Sloan Masters)

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  London Business School''s full-time MBA course is a 21-month programme with an annual October intake of around 300 students. Participants come from 65 countries to attend the internationally-focused course. The programme has a strong practical element and emphasises cross-cultural team project work. The programme is especially strong in strategic leadership and entrepreneurship.

• Masters in Finance (MiF)
  The School''s Masters in Finance is becoming established as a ''must-have'' qualification for finance professionals around the world. It is taught by the School''s world-renowned finance faculty and can be completed in two years part-time or nine months full-time. The programme has a vocational bias and is practically oriented, designed for those already pursuing, or planning to pursue, careers which require an in-depth knowledge of finance.

• Executive MBA Programme (EMBA)
  The Executive MBA Programme lasts two years. Participants start in January or September. They remain in full-time employment and attend classes on consecutive Fridays and Saturdays twice a month with a block week every term. A highly practical approach allows students to apply knowledge and skills directly to their work and participants may, if they wish, complete a substantial project related to their own organisation.

• EMBA-Global
  London Business School''s newest executive MBA programme is part of a strategic alliance between London Business School and Columbia Business School and began in May 2001. EMBA-Global participants gain access to two schools, two cultures, two international networks and dual MBA degrees. The programme is a five-term, twenty-month programme with a global schedule. Year One alternates between London and New York. In Year Two, company and project work can be undertaken in either or both cities and the international seminar is held in Asia.

• Sloan Masters Programme (MSc)
  The prestigious Sloan Masters Programme is unique in Europe and is offered by only two other institutions in the world - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford, both in the USA. Sloan Fellows are successful managers and professionals who are geographically and culturally diverse, and who represent many industry sectors. This mix of seniority and diversity provides a unique learning environment in which Sloan Fellows can prepare for the most senior positions in business and industry.

What type of candidate are you looking for?

The MBA is aimed at people who normally have some experience in the world of work, but who are at a relatively early stage in their career. The programme is suitable for people who want to increase their knowledge of business and management either to:
-  enhance their existing career and accelerate their promotion prospects
-  or change career by changing function, or industry
-  start their own business

The highly international nature of the programme also makes it suitable for people who want international mobility. Above all, it is a preparation for general management with a global outlook rather than US-centric or Euro-centric.

How does your full-time MBA program work?

The London Business School MBA is a 21-month programme designed to develop multi-skilled professionals who are comfortable in an international culture; who know how and when to make decisions; are able to lead people and manage processes; to think strategically, and who also know how to manage themselves. For the first 9 months (3 academic terms) students follow 15 required courses (core courses). In the second year, students choose 12 elective courses from a portfolio of over 80.

What are the benefits of a partnership with Columbia Business School (EMBA-Global)?

The unique once-a-month structure means that students can immerse themselves in the 20-month Programme without losing sight of work commitments. High-calibre participants will learn from one another as well as from faculty members and research, building global networks of peers and mentors. Students gain two MBAs from world-leading business schools and have access to two faculties, two alumni networks and two programmes of elective subjects. The curriculum has been specifically designed to allow students to master the foundations of business and develop complete leadership skills that will differentiate them as global leaders.

What makes your MBA unique among business schools?

• A highly international class - 85% from outside the UK, from over 70 countries
• A co-operative atmosphere with the emphasis on team work
• A 21 month programme
• 14 core courses in the first year
• Over 70 electives allowing breadth and depth of study
• An emphasis on projects and out of classroom learning (including the shadowing project and the major paid second year project)
• The opportunity to learn a language
• Continuous innovation in curriculum and support services - most recently a new Career Management Centre
• Enhanced career mobility and prospects
• the establishment of a brand new and innovative Entrepreneurship Summer School.

What is your school doing to remain at the forefront of business and management thinking?

Quite simply we want London Business School to be the most important and most respected international business school, comprising a community of celebrated faculty, students, alumni and colleagues whose creative work transforms the learning and practice of management by key business leaders world-wide.

We have a strong foundation on which to build. Located in the heart of London, one of the world''s foremost financial and business centres, we are a graduate school of London University. Our flagship MBA programme was introduced in 1965, the year in which we were established. In 1968, we became one of only 3 institutions in the world, and unique in Europe, to offer the Sloan Masters programme. 17 years later in 1982 we became the first business school to offer a part-time option which has evolved into the Execuitve MBA Programme.

This achievement still stands. To keep pace with our increasing programme portfolio the School moved to our present site - a magnificent 19th century Nash terrace overlooking Regent''s Park - in 1969. The addition of the Masters in Finance programme in 1993, not available at any other top business school, further enhanced our degree programme offerings. At the same time, our Executive Education programmes have grown 70% in the past three years. Recent clients include Chase Manhattan, Ericsson, IBM, Orange, Nortel Networks and Sarah Lee.

In an unprecedented collaboration between two of the world''s top business schools, London Business School and Columbia Business School have joined forces to offer the EMBA-Global. The EMBA-Global provides graduates with a dual MBA degree from both institutions, as well as access to two highly distinguished faculties and alumni and student networks. The first class began in May 2001.

The opening of Taunton Place - a £12 million building housing the School''s information and IT facilities and fully equipped sports complex - in 1998, completes the well-balanced learning and recreational environment we offer our students.  

Do you encourage your full-time students to participate in extra curricular activities? How?

Club life is just as important a part of postgraduate experience as lectures and seminars. Clubs drive much of the activity of the school, so whether students have interests in consulting or finance, or possibly the new arenas of e-commerce, start-ups and new media, then London Business School is the place to be. Of course we can't forget the non-academic pursuits of rugby, football and dining! In any one year the portfolio of clubs reflects the ambitions and interests of the members of that year. They feature a combination of professional, social and sporting clubs. If it's not there, then a student can start it.

What type of financial package can your school offer to someone who is accepted at your school?

London Business School strongly advises applicants to its MBA Programme to research all available financing options well in advance of submitting an application. All potential applicants should aim to minimise their debt and increase their borrowing capacity. In addition, we encourage students to manage remaining debt and build up savings.

When researching the cost of the MBA Programme, students should take into account the potential earning opportunities whilst on the programme.

2001 summer job salaries averaged £1163 per week.
MBA2003s earned an average of £3000 for their Second Year Project
Scholarships. Each year several scholarships are awarded to outstanding candidates.
Bank loans. These include the HSBC-London Business School loan, which unlike most loan schemes, can provide funding to cover not only tuition fees, but also living costs.
Other funding. Apart from the loans and scholarships that are available to incoming students, many outside sources can provide financial aid to MBA participants.