London Business School Launches New MBA Program With Unique Entry Requirements

The UK's top-ranking London Business School announced the launch of a new accelerated MBA program featuring unique entry requirements

Earlier today, the UK’s prestigious London Business School announced the launch of a new accelerated MBA program that will debut alongside its longstanding MBA degree.

Launching in August 2025, the program will take place over just one year, significantly shorter than the flagship degree which can be completed in either 15 or 21 months.

Currently, LBS—which announced the appointment of a new dean last week—is home to the UK’s top-ranked MBA program, listed among the world’s top 20 MBAs...

ancial Times and fourth in Europe overall.

LBS will open applications for the new program in July 2024 to candidates with three-years of work experience and who already possess a Master in Management (MiM) degree from a top institution accredited by AACSB, EQUIS, or both. MiM graduates from University of London member institutions—including the likes of King’s College London and University College London—can also apply.

The launch of the new program reflects shifting demand among professionals considering studying at business school. A recent survey from the Graduate Management Admission Council found prospective students valued one-year MBA degrees above the more traditional two-year format for the first time.

In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Julian Birkinshaw, vice dean of masters programs at LBS, said streamlined courses were now a more popular option among candidates.

While there are a number of business schools across Europe offering accelerated MBA programs—including the likes of IE Business School in Spain, the UK’s Oxford Said Business School, and INSEAD’s program which is taught in Paris and Singapore—LBS is the first European school to require an MiM degree for admittance.

Graham Hastie, associate dean, Degree Education, LBS, said: “The new program is an exciting way to meet the demand from top quality Masters in Management graduates for a one-year program, in a way that is complementary to our flagship two-year MBA and that maintains the world-class LBS learning experience.”

To ensure students’ readiness to complete the degree, they will have to undertake a pre-program before arriving on campus, teaching fundamental concepts that will inform their understanding of later course materials.

Students will also have to complete core courses focused on modern business issues and concentrated within three subjects: ‘The changing business environment’, ‘The changing role of business and society’, and ‘How to be an agent of change in business’.

“We are particularly excited about the opportunities the innovative core courses will give students to apply their learning to contemporary business issues,” added Hastie.