LBS MBA - Curriculum Analysis

In the second part of the LBS MBA Analysis, we cover how the school has designed the curriculum to balance quantitative and soft skills to build a foundational framework for being a dynamic manager, entrepreneur, or executive with strategic insights. To evaluate the class profile and total cost, read the first part of the series – LBS MBA Total Cost and Funding Tips.

LBS (London Business School) MBA Curriculum Analysis covers:

1. Program Duration & Exit Points
2. Year 1: Building Business Fundamentals & Tailored Core
3. Year 2: Global Opportunities and Advanced Electives
4. Experiential Learning
5. Global Learning Opportunities

Program Duration & Exit Points

The MBA at London Business School is structured over 15, 18, or 21 months, with flexible exit points depending on the student’s internship, exchange, and elective plans. The program begins with online pre-term courses in accounting, finance, and statistics, designed to bring all students to a common foundation before the academic year starts in August.

In year 2, from September to July, students can tailor their study with more electives and participate in Business projects, Internships, Global Business Experience, International Exchange, Capstone, and Congregation. Locations for Global Business Experience include São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Johannesburg, Tokyo, Lima, Tel Aviv, Mumbai, Yangon, and Stockholm.

15-Month Exit: is geared toward experienced candidates who want to maximize their learning and network in the shortest time. The schedule is ideal for candidates continuing in the pre-MBA industry/function. Since electives are taught from term three onwards in year 1, students choosing to exit at 15- months must fulfill the remaining three months in year 2 with experiential programs like Leadership Launch and the Global Business Experience. Therefore, in addition to the minimum of 10 elective courses, they would have completed the Business Fundamentals requirement and topics on the tailored Core.

18-Month Exit: The 18-month schedule offers the opportunity to do a summer internship for students interested in an internship. Students choosing the International Exchange program cannot exit at 15 months. Careful planning will allow a student exiting at 18 months the choice to complete an internship – ideal for career switchers and anyone entering the Financial Services/Investment Banking function.

21-Month Exit: Students choosing to exit at 21 months have the added advantage of exchange opportunities with 30 world-class partner schools for one term in their second year of study.

Year 1: Building Business Fundamentals & Tailored Core

The first year starts with core courses that focus on business fundamentals such as finance, accounting, strategy, marketing, operations, data analytics, and macroeconomics. Leadership development is integrated from the outset through courses like Global Leadership Assessment for Managers and “Skills for the Future” workshops.

Tailored Core Options

What sets the LBS MBA apart is its Tailored Core, introduced midway through the first year. This allows students to begin customizing their learning with options like Digital Strategy, Innovation and Technology Strategy, Financial Reporting Analytics, and the LondonCAP client project. The tailored structure bridges core knowledge with early career focus, enabling students to explore electives aligned with their goals.

Summer: Internships and Entrepreneurial Focus

The summer term provides opportunities for 10–12 week internships in industries such as consulting, finance, tech, or ESG. Students interested in launching ventures can opt for the Entrepreneurship Summer School (ESS), a dedicated module that helps test and refine startup ideas with mentorship from founders and VCs.

Year 2: Global Opportunities and Advanced Electives

Students who extend into a second year can access over 100 electives, international exchange programs, and applied business projects. This phase emphasizes global exposure, deeper career specialization, and capstone experiences, culminating in graduation the following July.

Elective Portfolio and Areas

LBS offers over 100 electives across seven academic areas:
•    Accounting
•    Economics
•    Finance
•    Management Science and Operations
•    Marketing
•    Organisational Behaviour
•    Strategy and Entrepreneurship

Electives span technical, strategic, and sectoral domains. Examples include Digital Strategy, Private Equity & Venture Capital, Leading Teams and Organisations, and Managing a Tech-Intensive Business. Most electives are available in modular blocks, allowing students to mix formats and even take electives at global locations like New York or Hong Kong.

Experiential Learning

LondonCAP: Real Consulting in London

LondonCAP gives students the chance to work with London-based organizations across industries, from media and fashion to sustainability and tech. In small teams, students address real client challenges and deliver actionable recommendations. The project aligns with LBS’s strong placement focus within the UK post-Brexit.

Internships: A Core Career Step

Most LBS students pursue a summer internship after year one, especially those aiming to change sectors. While consulting and finance internships follow structured timelines, industries like ESG, startups, and healthcare often require early outreach, club involvement, and networking. The Career Centre provides preparation support throughout the process.

Entrepreneurial Learning: TEL & ESS

Students interested in startups or venture building engage through two main pathways:

•    The Entrepreneurship Lab (TEL): Students collaborate with active startups on growth, funding, or go-to-market strategy. Past projects have supported ventures in fintech, AI, digital health, and sustainability.

•    Entrepreneurship Summer School (ESS): For those with early-stage ideas, ESS offers a structured setting to test assumptions and receive feedback from mentors and VCs.

Purpose-Driven Projects: Aasha & Digital for Impact

LBS also offers impact consulting experiences:
•    Project Aasha involves fieldwork with Indian social enterprises, especially in rural areas.
•    Digital for Impact helps African SMEs with tech adoption and strategic growth.

Both emphasize business for social good and cross-cultural engagement.

Student Leadership in Practice

LBS clubs offer students the opportunity to lead initiatives, manage teams, and organize conferences. Over 160 students take on formal leadership roles each year. Some join the Student Leadership Incubator, where they develop skills in team management and peer influence.

Luxury Sector Immersion: Walpole

Through LBS’s partnership with Walpole, students interested in luxury gain access to projects and mentorship with top UK brands like Harrods and Alexander McQueen. It’s a key avenue for those targeting careers in luxury strategy, brand management, or high-end retail innovation.

Global Learning Opportunities

International Exchange Program: Expanding Horizons through 31 Global Partners

LBS students on the 18- or 21-month track can join the International Exchange Program in their second year, studying up to four electives at one of 31 partner schools across the globe. The exchange aligns with post-MBA goals, e.g., those targeting luxury marketing in Europe may opt for HEC Paris. Around 30% of second-year students participate, gaining exposure to new teaching styles, regional business hubs, and global networks.

Global Business Experience (GBE): Faculty-Led Immersive Learning in Global Economies

For those on the 15-month track or not doing an exchange, the GBE offers a one-week, faculty-led consulting project in locations like India, China, or South Africa. Each project focuses on a local business issue, such as informal entrepreneurship in Johannesburg, giving students hands-on, cross-cultural problem-solving experience in a compressed format.

International Competitions: Testing Theories in Real-World Scenarios

LBS actively supports student participation in international competitions, providing platforms to apply classroom learning and network with top firms:

•    Wharton Buyout Case Competition – Finance-focused, with LBS securing first place in 2017.
•    A.T. Kearney Global Prize – A strategic consulting challenge with high industry visibility.
•    Telos Partners Essay Competition – Highlights communication and analytical writing.
•    Tata Crucible Quiz – Business and logic quiz popular among future consultants and general managers.

Social Trips: Cultural Immersion Beyond the Curriculum

Apart from formal academics, LBS students organize international Social Trips to destinations like Japan or India. These informal, peer-led experiences mix travel and cultural exploration, helping students form strong social bonds and broaden their global perspectives.

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Reference

LBS MBA