If you have missed the first part of the series - INSEAD MBA vs London Business School MBA Program, read it here
6) Curriculum
London Business School: During the first year, London Business School covers the fundamentals of Management Education: Corporate Finance, Data, Models and Decisions, Financial Accounting, Managerial Economics, Strategy, Operations Management, Marketing, Managing Organisational Behaviour and Management Accounting.
Second year emphasis is more on understanding Business in a Global Context with courses like Global Business Experiences, where students will work with Businesses across the world. For Entrepreneurial students, the course Discovering Entrepreneurial Opportunities will give tools and skills required to discover opportunities in established companies or in start-ups.
Students can also choose 10 to 12 electives in areas like Accounting, Economics, Finance, Languages, Management Report, Management Science and Operations, Marketing, Organisational Behaviour, Strategy and Entrepreneurship and a special University College London electives.
INSEAD: The program is divided into five periods, each lasting two months. During the first half, the core courses are covered. They include Financial Accounting, Organisational Behaviour, Financial Markets and Valuation, Prices and Markets, Uncertainty, Data and Management, Corporate Financial Policy, Marketing Management, Managerial Accounting, Process and Operations Management, and Strategy.
From third period onwards, students can choose electives from the following areas: Accounting & Control, Decision Sciences, Economics & Political Science, Entrepreneurship & Family Enterprise, Finance, Marketing, Organizational Behaviour, Strategy, and Technology and Operations Management.
For the complete analysis of Top MBA programs in the UK - Read MBA in the UK (2018)
For the breakdown of the curriculum in France (Top MBA) - Read MBA in France (2018)
7) Teaching Methodology
The teaching methodology at LBS is a mix of lectures & discussions, Group Work, Role Plays, Field Visits and Talks from successful Managers & Entrepreneurs. Leadership Development and Experiential learning are also the key focus for London Business School.
INSEAD, on the other hand, looks at the net result in terms of learning rather than the tools for learning. The students are divided into groups of 5 to 6 based on age, experience, gender, nationality and background. There is no single tool for learning. The faculty utilizes
case studies, study tours, simulations and role-plays to make the point.
For students who are interested in experiential learning, LBS has several options. Read Experiential Learning at LBS.
8) Exchange Programs
INSEAD MBS Students has to select one campus as their home campus and then select one of the other campuses in France, Singapore or Abu Dhabi as their exchange campus or bid for Wharton or Kellogg. For Students entering during December class will have some additional seats for Wharton during Period 5.
In addition to Kellogg and Wharton, LBS MBA Students can choose from over 30 partner institutes from India, China, USA, Canada, Europe, Latin America and Africa. Some of the other top schools include HEC Paris, IESE Business School, SDA Bocconi School of Management, China Europe International Business School, Indian School of Business, Columbia Business School, MIT Sloan School of Management and Fundacao Getulio Vargas.
LBS is way ahead of INSEAD when it comes to the number of partner schools and flexibility in terms of selecting one school. For INSEAD, there are seat constraints and there are no guarantees that you would be able to be part of Kellogg or Wharton over INSEAD’s other campuses.
9) Alumni & Networking
LBS has 34,000+ alumni spread over 130 countries. In addition to the vast alumni network, speaker series, conferences and events conducted in LBS campus gives students the opportunity to interact and build contacts with some of the best in industry, finance, media and government.
INSEAD’s Alumni Association has 42,000 members worldwide, and is spread over 160 countries. The school also offers networking opportunities not only through workshops, roundtables and panel discussions but also with recruiters from consulting, financial, healthcare and high-tech sectors.
Conclusion
There is very little to choose between INSEAD and LBS but if your focus is on a career in Finance, London Business School is a better choice. However, if you are planning for a career in Consulting, especially in Management Consulting, INSEAD is your best bet.
Recommended Downloads
MBA in the UK (2018) - Industry Analysis, MBA Comparison and Funding
MBA in France (2018) - Industry Analysis, MBA Comparison and Funding
Question 1: Provide a summary of your career since graduating from university, explaining the rationale behind your key decisions and career progression. Include a description of your current (or most recent) role, covering the scope of your work, major responsibilities, employees under your supervision, budget size, clients/products, and any notable results achieved. (500 words)
Question 2: Describe your short and long-term career aspirations, including your target geography, industry, and function. How do you plan to bridge the gap between your current position and these goals, and how will INSEAD help you achieve them? (300 words)
Question 3: Give a candid description of yourself as a person and a leader, emphasising the strengths and weaknesses you recognise in yourself. Explain how you are actively working on your development, sharing key experiences that have shaped you, providing specific examples where relevant. (500 words)
Question 4: Describe a highly stressful situation you faced and how you managed it. What did this experience teach you about yourself and your interactions with others? (400 words)
Question 1 (500 words): What are your post-MBA goals and how will your prior experience and the London Business School program contribute towards these?
Question 2. (200 words): What makes you unique?
Question 3 (500 words): (This question is optional) Is there any other information you believe the Admissions Committee should know about you and your application to London Business School?
About the Author
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