You may be wondering how you will acclimatise to the academic standards of an Imperial Business School programme. Before the programme begins, you must complete a series of online pre-study modules. This will help to ease your transition.

The Hub

You will find all pre-study modules as well as information and documents relating to your programme, (such as timetables, programme materials and past exam papers) on The Hub: the Business School’s virtual learning environment. 

The Hub has been purpose-built to give you access to the information you need and keep you connected. You will receive regular communication about important careers events, social events and volunteering opportunities. It’s a great way to stay in the loop with all that’s going on at the Business School! 

When you log into The Hub, you’ll see an instructional video, guiding you through the areas of The Hub.  

Before you can access the Hub, you will need to activate your ICT account. Instructions of how to do this will be emailed to you very shortly, if they have not been sent already. We will contact admitted students via email when they are able to access modules on the Hub. 

If you have been contacted about Hub access but experience problems with your Hub account, please contact thehub@imperial.ac.uk.

Pre-Study programme modules

We release programme specific modules throughout the summer. You will receive detailed information regarding the module requirements from your relevant Admissions team. Assessment methods vary between programmes and can be a combination of online quizzes, tests and evidence of the completion of modules. We design these modules to give you a basic knowledge of areas which will be covered in the programme. 

Top tip: please give yourself plenty of time to complete the modules!  

Your first month at the Business School will be extremely busy, so it is advisable to complete these modules before you commence the programme. Some of the programme modules can take longer than others to study depending on your familiarity with the topics and previous experiences, such as the Accounting Primer, which can take between approximately 15-20 hours to complete. You will find that you benefit more from the experience if you are able to work through the material at a steady pace and give yourself time to become comfortable with the content. 

Pre-Study Careers modules

Lisa Umenyiora, Executive Director of Careers & Student Life at the Business School: 

Get career ready! Did you know most of your target employers typically open for applications in August? Get a head start on your career today with our Careers Primer on The Hub. The Careers team have designed a Careers Primer that will help you to be prepared for the Careers opportunities available to you throughout your time at Imperial – over five thousand students have completed the Careers Primer over the last six years and now it’s your chance to join them. 

The Careers Primer has been designed for Imperial Business School’s students to fulfil career ambitions, produce a class leading CV, Cover Letter and to give you an edge in Interviews and Assessment Centres. 

Updated for the 2021-22 cohort, this key resource is available to Admitted Students four months before you start on your programme in September. Admitted Students can take advantage of priority access to this significant resource, giving you a crucial head start in the early applications round that occurs before the September start. It is strongly recommended that you complete this before you arrive to ensure you are ready for early employer engagement. 

The Careers pre-study modules include Foundations for Careers Success, which will help you develop your sector knowledge, career strategy, understand how to effectively market yourself and ultimately find a career that is right for you. 

You’ll also have the opportunity to undertake a Writing Your CV & Cover Letter module. Once completed, you will gain access to VMock, our CV Enhancement Platform. VMock uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to assess your CV and make suggestions for how it could be improved. 

Symplicity 

Once you have worked through the Careers Modules, you’ll be able to access Symplicity, our Careers Management System. Symplicity can be used to book one-to-one career appointments, employer events and workshops. You will be able to log in to Symplicity using the same log in credentials you use for the Hub. All the main employers will visit Symplicity to post job advertisements. The Careers team will approve all the jobs posted on Symplicity, so you can trust the opportunities that you see advertised. There’s no limit to when you use Symplicity – you will be able to access information about graduate jobs after your course has finished and beyond! 

Top tip: Make sure you fill in your personal profile on Symplicity, as this is key to ensuring your profile appears in searches! 

We hope you enjoy this first stage of your study with the Business School. We look forward to welcoming you on onto the programme soon! 

With the start of term rapidly approaching you will now be looking to meet all your conditions, including any English language requirements to make sure you are ready for the start of term. As there is often high demand for places on tests such as IELTS over the summer months, it is important that you start preparing as early as possible! If you are not sure what test to take, please make sure you have had a look at the English language requirements page as this provides detailed information about the tests that we accept and the level that we require.

Test scores are valid for 2 years and MUST be valid on the start date of your programme, so if you have previously taken a test, please do check the date before relying on it to meet conditions.

Preparing for your English Language Test

Many of the English language test providers offer free online resources such as practice tests, test tutorials and short courses to help you with your test preparation. Depending on what test you are planning on taking, you should find the following sites useful:

• IELTS: Prepare for IELTS
• TOEFL iBT: Prepare for the Test
• Pearson Test of Academic English (PTE): PTE Academic Preparation
• Duolingo: Prepare to do your best

British Council IELTS and Future Learn open up a *free, 6 week online course Understanding IELTS: Techniques for English Language Tests which offers test preparation guidance from ‘a video tutor and a team of experienced IELTS educators’ as stated on the FutureLearn website. Whilst completion of the course can’t be used to satisfy the Business School’s English language requirement, it should prove useful whilst you prepare to take the test. 

(*using the free trial option!)

Satisfying your offer condition

Admitted students should aim to meet the conditions of their offer by 7 August 2023. If you require a visa, it is advisable to aim to meet your conditions as early as possible to ensure that there is enough time to prepare for a visa application once CASs begin to be issued. As such, when booking your test, please keep in mind that the processing times for results vary between test providers. On their website, IELTS list a 13 day processing time (3-6 days for some online tests), TOEFL iBT lists a processing time of approximately 4-8 days, PTE advise you to contact them if you have not received a result within 5 days and Duolingo results can be available 48 hours after completing the test.

If you have booked a test, good luck! If you have not yet booked a test, please try and do this as soon as possible. Finally, if you have completed a test that satisfies our English language requirement, please have a look at the Next Steps page to see how and where to submit your results. If you think getting a test in on time is going to be a problem, please do let us know as soon as possible as we may be able to recommend an alternative!

We hope to see you on one of our programmes!

Hannah Salton is a Career Consultant at Imperial Business School, as well as a freelance Career Coach. In this blog she talks about the unusually dubbed – FOMOMG or ‘Fear Of Missing Out on My Goals’.

‘Fear Of Missing Out on My Goals’ was originally coined in 2018 by model Leomie Anderson and has been discussed and debated on other platforms since.

It seems FOMOMG is particularly prevalent in fellow millennials, who have a tendency to set themselves ambitious life or career goals, and feel frustrated if the milestones aren’t hit. This resonated with me a lot. I am generally a big fan of goal setting, however I’ve also experienced a heavy sense of deflation and demotivation if these goals aren’t achieved.

It is easy to slip into the pattern of comparing your professional progress with that of your peers, made worse by constant exposure to other people’s successes so widely broadcast on social media. This can have a huge effect on our motivation and confidence, and leave us feeling like we’re failing at life. 

So, how can we use goals for what they’re meant for (quantifying, inspiring, and motivating) rather than using them as tools to beat ourselves up with?

Here are my top 5 tips on how to minimise fear of missing out on your goals:

1) Examine the motivation of the goals you set yourself

Do you definitely want to set yourself a rigid target of being in a new job in 3 months’ time? It might feel exciting to make such a commitment, however you could end up rushing into a new job you’re just as unhappy in. It may be better to commit instead to creating clear and specific criteria of what you want from you next job, or dedicating a certain amount of hours per week to job hunting. Both of these will ensure you are progressing, without forcing you into a decision you aren’t sure is right for you.

Be sure that any goals you do set align with your needs and priorities, and aren’t driven by wanting the external validation and praise that often comes with a big career move.

2) Beware: The comparison trap

It’s so easy to compare ourselves negatively and positively to others, and it rarely serves us well. Everyone is on a different journey, with different goals, networks, challenges and advantages.

Your school friend may have been given a promotion, but you have no idea the hours they may have put in, or how much they really like their job. Your ex-colleague may have got a job at your dream company, but you never know what connections they have or sacrifices they may have had to make. Even our close friends may not share the full picture when it comes to the ups and downs of their career.

Comparing ourselves to others is natural and inherently human, however it often results in us feeling inferior. Be aware when you fall into this common trap, and turn your attention to more productive things.

3) Use social media to inspire, not torture

Linking to the point above, be mindful of your social media use, and reflect on what content frustrates you rather than motivates you to take action.

Decide what social media platforms you want to use, be aware of how much time you spend online and reflect on how it could be affecting your productivity and motivation. Unfollow people and pages that don’t serve you.

I read a great book last year called ‘How to Break up with your Phone’ if you want to learn more about how to manage your technology use.

4) See set backs as learning opportunities

This one is easy on paper, hard in practice. In 2018 I set myself the goal of writing a small amount every day. Suffice to say I did not manage that last year. Or this year (yet). I’ve tried to reflect on why this goal didn’t work for me, and how I can modify it in the future to inspire action, rather than use it as a stick to beat myself up with.

When I fail to achieve a goal or target, I sometimes dwell a little too much on the failure, rather than turning my attention away to potential solutions. Some analysis of failure and set backs can be useful, but after a certain amount of reflection focus your energy and attention on future possibilities, rather than past failures.

5) Write down your successes, both big and small

It’s easy to write endless to do lists and action plans, but how often do you make time to record the stuff that goes well? At the end of each day, write down what you have done well, and celebrate even small successes like starting a new project, or contributing in a meeting.

This may feel weird and a bit over the top, but there’s a lot of evidence to support the idea that encouragement leads to better results than criticism.

In the first term of the Full-Time MBA, Imperial Business School Careers host a Careers Week with all students on the programme. An important aim of the MBA at Imperial is not only to provide students with a foundation in business, but to also equip them with the leadership skills to launch into meaningful and successful careers.

This formative week feeds into the Personal Leadership Journey, which runs for the duration of the MBA to help students identify their strengths and areas for development in terms of their leadership capability and professional effectiveness.

Careers Week comprises of a mix of compulsory sessions for all students and tailored events and workshops that they can choose depending on their career interests. We look at three of the key events run during Careers Week: the development centre, Entrepreneurs Day and tailored careers sessions.

Development centre

The Full-Time MBA 2018-19 Careers Week kick-started with an intensive two-day development centre, compulsory for all students on the programme. This session is deliberately scheduled early in students’ MBA journey as the intense experience draws out the competencies that are so critical for candidates to work on throughout the MBA.

While we have designed the centre for learning development, MBA students enjoy the element of competition and relish the opportunity to achieve success and win the competition!

At the end of the two-day Development Centre, each student receives individual feedback on their strengths and areas for development from a Careers Consultant who has observed them in action.

The areas that are assessed in the centre are:

• Communication and impact
• Interpersonal skills and teamwork
• Commercial awareness and drive to achieve
• Resilience
• Creative and analytical thinking
• Leadership

Marie-Jo said, “Without a doubt, this is the highlight of Careers Week for most students. They really value the opportunity to try out new leadership styles, practice their creative and analytical thinking and hone their team working skills; and getting specific feedback is particularly helpful.”

Entrepreneurs Day

Developing an entrepreneurial mindset is the cornerstone of the Imperial MBA, so it’s only fitting that we dedicate a whole day during Careers Week to entrepreneurship. Imperial Enterprise Lab runs Entrepreneurs Day; they are a College-wide hub who are at the heart of Imperial’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

“We were delighted to run the Entrepreneurs Day masterclass at Enterprise Lab as part of the Full-Time MBA Careers Week. It was great to be able to give these talented MBA students the opportunity to explore what it means to be entrepreneurial in both a corporate and startup setting. These skills are crucial in the development of the next generation of business leaders.”

Vidhi highlights some of her learnings from the day:

• The Lean Canvas concept – how to recap your entire business on one small page
• The importance of knowing your early adopters, i.e. those who desperately need the solution you are willing to provide
• Being an entrepreneur is not about having the perfect idea but rather having the strength to fail, try again and the knowledge and discipline of going through the right process
• As Professor Davide Turi says, the key is to NEVER fall in love with your first idea

She concludes, “I will always look back on this day at the Enterprise Lab for inspiration for new ideas or challenges in my future career. The learnings of the day are a perfect way to start fresh and think out of the box.”

Tailored careers sessions

With such a diverse class, we offer students a highly personalised and tailored Careers service to suit each students’ needs and interests. During the week, we hosted a variety of specialised sessions for them to choose from.

Whether students want to get into consulting, finance or technology, our employer sessions throughout the week brought in representatives from companies in a range of sectors. This year’s line-up featured Alix Partners, EY, PA Consulting and Amazon. These sessions give students the chance to get a real insight into these industries and explore jobs opportunities in the companies.

Additionally, the Careers service also ran drop-ins for sector-specific careers guidance, skills sessions on interview preparation and panels with professionals from various industries.

Following Careers Week, students meet with their Careers Consultant to complete an Action Plan assignment to reiterate their learnings from the week and form a plan that will put them on their path to becoming a global leader of business and society.

Careers Week is just one element of our MBA students’ Personal Leadership Journey and Careers services available to students. More information on Full-Time MBA Careers.

When applying to our MSc programmes, it is important to consider how the admission process works for the programme you are interested in, and if it involves application deadlines. In addition to deadlines, it is also good to understand the amount of time it could take before you receive a decision on your application. 

Although not all programmes have application deadlines, it is always beneficial to apply early. This post will explain the advantages of applying early and will guide you through how application deadlines work for the programmes that have them.

Applying for your visa

Our Admissions team are experienced with the Student Visa process and this experience has given us a good understanding of what to expect each year. Visa applications can sometimes be fairly time-consuming, therefore the best way to avoid any complications and delays with the issuing of your visa is to make sure that you apply to our MSc programmes sooner, rather than later. It is also important to have considered the time it could take for us to provide you with a decision on your application, as you must have an unconditional offer before the visa process can begin.

We always try to make sure as few students as possible experience any difficulties with acquiring their visas but applying early truly is the easiest way to avoid any disappointment.

Network and meet your classmates early

One of the most exciting reasons to apply early is to start to experience the social benefits this can bring. We organise a range of exclusive events and activities for our admitted students. This means that you can get to know your future classmates sooner and start to feel a part of the Business School community before you have even officially enrolled on your programme. We also provide a platform for you to connect and interact with your future classmates so you can begin making friends straight away.

Make use of our Career Service

On a professional level, our Careers service is an extremely popular feature of joining the Business School. Access to the team’s support, advice and guidance that is tailored to your own specific career needs, is also available for our admitted students, who can gain use of the service in the months leading up to the start of your programme. This expert support can boost your professional development, help you to prepare for summer internships before joining us, as well as assist you with the application process for post-MSc graduate roles. Importantly, many large firms that hire graduates set their job application deadlines very early on in the academic year, so it is good to get ahead of the game as early as you can.

Scholarship deadlines

If you are hoping to be considered for one of our scholarships, you must ensure that you apply early, and specifically, by the scholarship deadline.

Similarly, if you’re applying for an external scholarship, it’s important to consider both the scholarship deadline and our application deadlines to ensure you don’t miss the opportunity to study with us.

How do our application deadlines operate?

Programmes included:

• MSc Business Analytics
• MSc International Management

For the programmes listed above, there are several admission rounds throughout the year. If you submit a complete application by one of the application deadlines, then we will guarantee you a decision by the decision date specified. In between the application deadline, and decision date, applicants for MSc Business Analytics and MSc International Management will also be expected to complete their online interview. This must be completed on time for you to be considered in the admission round in which you applied.

For most of these programmes you will hear the decision on your application at the end of each round, which is approximately 1 month after the application deadline. Please check the relevant webpage above to find out the specific deadlines for your programme.

Which programmes do not have application deadlines?

• MSc Finance
• MSc Finance & Accounting
• MSc Investment & Wealth Management
• MSc Risk Management & Financial Engineering
• MSc Financial Technology
• MSc Economics & Strategy for Business
• MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management
• MSc International Health Management
• MSc Strategic Marketing
• MSc Management
• MSc Climate Change, Management & Finance
• MSc Strategic Marketing (online, part-time)

These programmes do not have application deadlines. You can submit at any time while applications are open. Although there are no specific application deadlines our programmes are all highly competitive, so we recommend you apply as early as possible. Our typical response period for these applications will be around 8-12 weeks.

We hope to receive an application from you soon!