The Imperial MBA has a reputation for being highly competitive. The school recently incorporated iPad technology into the course and the programme exposes students to intellectual property projects that need commercial development.
It also plans to introduce a three minute elevator pitch, made via video link, to its application process from next November!
Phil talks to us about the unique features of the programme and how interested candidates can get in on the action.
How would you differentiate the Imperial MBA from other programmes?
The innovation and entrepreneurship side of things. By that we don’t mean that the programme is only reserved if you want to start your own business. We explore service innovation, low cost innovation, and embedding an entrepreneurial culture into businesses to make them more innovative and efficient.
Our programme attracts typical Imperial types and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) people but it also attracts people who want a chance to foster their ideas.
We are regularly ranked in the top ten for entrepreneurship in the world and students come with raw ideas that they want build. Some of them may be lacking in networks, partners, or marketing skills. Others may come from a sector where they’ve recognized the need for a product or service that they want to develop.
The culture of collaboration also makes us stand out. We put a lot of focus on interdisciplinary learning and this is something that attracts our students because they can easily benefit from our science and engineering departments.
Are there funding opportunities? London is an expensive city.
We have a range of scholarships on offer and most of them are open to all applicants with a good first degree, good GMAT, good work experience and leadership potential. There are special scholarships for women, US nationals, Indian nationals and many other categories. We significantly increased funding this year and interested applicants can see what’s available on our scholarships website.
Has the state of the UK job market reduced the number of international students applying to Imperial?
We have had more international students than ever. People still want to work in the UK and there are opportunities if we can establish that the fit is right, however, the desire to work in the UK is not as strong. Our career services communicates with applicants to make sure that our MBA is the right way to achieve their ambitions. If it isn’t, we’re brutally honest about it.
We’re really careful about those we select to make sure that our resources are right for them. A slightly lower percentage of graduates remain in the UK after the MBA so we’re internationalizing our career services to help students find jobs in emerging markets.
What do you think students like most about the programme?
I think its the practical and collaborative side of things. We believe an MBA should be a broad degree so we stress working with diverse people and students love this collaborative atmosphere with colleagues from medical backgrounds, engineering, and creative fields.
Students really enjoy being involved in the practical projects that are offered throughout the year. Current students have an average of six years of work experience so the need for an internship is not as great as for those who have less work experience.
The project on the Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Design course runs for half the year and takes an idea that then grows into a business plan, and finally into a venture that can be taken off the ground.
What makes for a successful application?
The application has to be personal, demonstrate leadership experience and communicate how our MBA fits in with your goals. We sometime get quite vague motivational statements saying things like ‘I want to start my own business’, without really saying what that is. Everyone has that dream at one point or another! We appreciate people who can flesh out how their strengths fit their ambition.
Where possible, we encourage applicants to visit the campus, and to speak with current students and alumni. We can arrange for serious applicants to be put in touch with alumni and to sit in on a lecture; although we manage that very carefully and only give that option to candidates who we have already formed a bond with.
We host online info sessions every month so that students can learn as much about the programme before they put in their applications.
We want applicants to use the knowledge they’ve gained from all these interactions when making their applications. If they’re a year or two from applying, look at how to build on your leadership abilities. It could be by volunteering, starting your own organization, getting more creative with hobbies or taking advantage of social opportunities.
We get a lot of technically strong applicants but it's the well rounded applicants who stand out more.
Letters of recommendation are also important. Your referee needs to know you well through sustained work. A lot of people go for a referee who has an impressive job title but that should be balanced with someone you’ve worked closely with.
Will you be making any changes to the application process in the future?
From November 2013, part of the application process will be a three minute elevator pitch done by video. This embracing of technology reflects the true nature of Imperial. Our education technology department is an award-winning team, and all our course booklets are delivered on iPad technology.
We’re not doing this because it's fancy but because we are keeping pace with innovation in the business. 93% of fortune 500 companies use iPads for their senior management.
Read more about student, alumni and programmes Imperial College Business School here
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