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One-Year MBA: How Can You Make The Most Of Your Experience?

Imperial College Business School admissions director, Amy Duckworth, explains how to take full advantage of an intense, immersive one-year MBA program

Tue Nov 16 2021

BusinessBecause
In this Applicant Question, Amy Duckworth, director of admissions at Imperial College Business School, gives her top tips on making the most out of your one-year MBA program. 

There are many benefits of doing a one-year MBA program, starting with the fact that it only requires 12 months out of employment.  

A one-year program represents a high-energy, accelerated learning environment, so it’s important that students are ready to hit the ground running. 

There are several things you can do to make the most of what can feel like a very intense and enriching period in your life. Here are three top tips.


1. Plan ahead

Firstly, you can give yourself a head-start before the program even begins by engaging with your future classmates, alumni and the careers service, which can help you maximize the value of your program.

At Imperial, our admitted students can access the careers service several months before the program starts, so you could be having a one-to-one with an Imperial careers consultant well in advance of officially joining us in September. 

This is particularly important if your post-MBA target role and organization has an early application deadline. 

Similarly, if you talk to current students and research the opportunities available before you join the program, you’ll have a good idea of what activities you’d like to get involved in. 


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2. Use your time wisely

Secondly, prioritize your time. There is so much on offer at your chosen institution that it’s simply impossible to take advantage of every opportunity. 

I would encourage you to think about what you really want to get out of the experience and ensure that you allocate your time accordingly. 

At Imperial there’s a huge amount on offer, and our students also have access to opportunities within the wider College, for example with Imperial’s Enterprise Lab  and the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment

We also have a wide variety of careers clubs and student leadership opportunities. There’s often a temptation to say yes to everything for fear of missing out, but students who do that run the risk of spreading themselves too thin and becoming overwhelmed. 

It’s important to manage your time well and be realistic about how much you can take on. 


3. Be adaptable

The ability to adapt your plans and priorities is vital. Being at business school could open up possibilities that you didn’t know existed. 

We have just updated our Full-Time MBA program so it now offers more opportunity for personalization and specialization, with a reduction in the number of core modules and the introduction of Flexcore modules, so you can really tailor your learning journey. 

You may join the MBA with an initial plan, but as you go through the program this could change and your electives will give you the opportunity to expand your horizons and explore new areas. 

Similarly, when it comes to your career goals, you might start at Imperial convinced that you want to join one of the big consulting firms, but end up dedicating time to developing a business idea at the Enterprise Lab instead. 

It’s important to keep an open mind and try out new things.


Read another Applicant Question:

Self-Paced Online MBA: Pros & Cons

Student Reviews

Imperial College Business School

Sakshi

Verified

5/11/2023

On Campus

Innovative, Immersive and an Excellent Curriculum

The MSc Strategic Marketing course opens many avenues into the business world at Imperial. The coursework consists of group-based assignments, individual reports, and sometimes, examinations. The Careers team helps you with your CV, Cover letters, and other job application support. Imperial truly lives up to its name!

Shiyun

Verified

19/05/2020

Very applicable courses

I enjoyed studying here for my master degree as I could feel that I was surrounded by very clever people, and I did learn a lot of knowledge that I could directly put into use into my current internship

Student

Verified

9/05/2020

Diversity and Professional Development

Imperial College London is an innovation hub with expertise across multiple industries. The international student body exposes students to endless cultures and experiences. Furthermore, the Careers team at Imperial is second to none as directors help guide students to the career paths of their dreams.

Student

Verified

20/04/2018

Business School

Imperial college business school has amazing facilities, amazing staff. I particularly like the business school cafe although it would be nice if they added a few more power sockets in the open space and heating for winter. The course is really good too. Very interactive classes and highly diverse environment.

Student

Verified

8/07/2020

Career Services

Very strong university with good quality faculty and a very strong career services team that prepared students well for the jobs market. Very nice facilities in the city center. Good sessions organised with employers.

Student

Verified

29/05/2020

Chinese students majored in English- now strategic marketing

My undergraduate major was English back in China and now an MSc student in strategic marketing at Imperial. For Chinese students who share similar experiences with me, you can get as much/deep as you want about marketing with some challenging group works and inspiring lectures. At the same time, if you just want to get the degree anyway with less effort, it's possible as well... ...

Student

Verified

3/11/2024

On Campus

Academic Modules and Environment

The program at Imperial College Business School is exceptionally informative and beneficial for students. Each session is not only engaging but also inspiring, fostering a dynamic learning environment. I appreciate how the content is carefully tailored to cover complex yet practical topics, ensuring that we can apply what we learn in real-world scenarios. We have several classes each week, and the structure includes a mix of group and individual assessments. This approach not only enhances our understanding but also encourages collaboration and critical thinking among peers.

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