The MBA Class of 2019-20 comprises 70 students with an average age of 28. They represent 26 nationalities. Female students form 33% of the class.

The cohort started classes in September. The students aired their views in a blog post on the B-school website.

Why would you join the Imperial One Year MBA Class 2019-20?

Students Weigh in on the Imperial MBA

Australian national Oscar Buckle worked as Improvement Lead Project Engineer at BHP prior to enrolling for MBA at Imperial. He said he realized that innovation and productivity were becoming more important for companies to stay relevant and profitable in today’s fast-changing business environment.

“I am passionate about helping to solve some of the toughest problems we face, and I believe the next generation of business leaders will be required to embrace technology, innovation, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Imperial’s focus on these aspects and the diversity of the cohort made it an obvious choice for me,” he added.

He rates Imperial as one of the world’s most innovative technology and engineering universities. Having joined several clubs, including the innovation and entrepreneurship club, he hopes to broaden his knowledge outside his field of expertise. He is also happy to attend lectures by “some of the best professors in the world.”

MBA for Broadening Horizons and Career Options

For British national Hollie Dobson, who worked as Freelance Program Manager,  Facebook, the need for an MBA was felt as she took on more senior roles to broaden her horizons and career options.

“My background and passion remain at the intersection of arts and technology, so the easiest part of the MBA journey was choosing to study at Imperial College Business School. Imperial’s reputation for technology and innovation was a big draw, as well as its location in London, my favorite cultural melting pot,” she added.

Hollie wants to be closely associated with the Imperial Enterprise Lab. The lab supports startup collaborations and creates an environment for meeting and working with a diverse range of students across both the Business School and the wider university.

“I plan to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and strategic skillset to help teams take their ideas further. My previous experience in large corporations has been an incredible journey, and I am ready for something small and dynamic,” she says.

MBA for Strategy and Management

Xabier De Aretxabala from Chile was FX Trader at Santander Chile prior to enrolling for MBA. He felt the degree was necessary for career advancement, for achieving results and effectively leading teams.

He expressed the hope that Imperial, with its intensive curriculum of core modules and numerous electives, will help expand his knowledge in Finance to become a leader in strategy and management.

Xabier found the relevance of group projects ‘amazing’ as “from day one you start developing tools and networking, necessities for the success of the different group projects, such as the Group Consulting Project.

“Furthermore, the small class sizes foster a collaborative learning environment where I can build lasting relationships and share my viewpoints with people from around the world and enjoy memorable moments, for example, the Global Experience Week,” he added.

MBA for Global Professionals

Arushi Gupta from India was Consultant at KPMG before enrolling for MBA. She said she wanted to hone up her leadership skills and critical thinking ability by working in an intensive and challenging environment.

She said she found that the school, through its well-crafted curriculum, was building an ever-growing community of influential leaders. “Imperial’s focus on the global industry also resonates with my motive of pursuing an MBA to grow as a global professional.”

Arushi said she was looking forward to the Business Insights in Europe trip to Copenhagen and the Global Experience Week in Zambia.

MBA for Expanding Networks

Julio Axel Millan Hollsten from Mexico had worked as Operations & Logistics Manager at Uber Eats. For him, an MBA was necessary to obtain the necessary skills and knowledge to become a leader within the technology industry.

He expressed the hope that he would be able to expand my network and get exposure to different perspectives and solutions to the challenges that communities are facing in a digitized world.

MBA for Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship

Rhea Singhla from the United States was a Senior Consultant at Virtusa. She decided to enroll for an MBA to learn accounting and finance fundamentals while sharpening her leadership and management skills in a global environment.

“Imperial’s MBA program stood out to me because the School is a reputable leader in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, which aligns perfectly with my pre- and post- MBA goals.

“Outside of the MBA program, I plan on taking on leadership roles for some of the various clubs and organizations such as the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Club. Amongst that, I will be actively involved as an ambassador to the Forté Foundation where I will use this platform to promote women in business, build contacts, and find job opportunities for others and myself.

“Finally, following my passions for innovation and social impact, I plan on starting at least one company with the help of my fellow peers, using resources like the Imperial Enterprise Lab to do so,” she says.

Imperial MBA Class 2019-20: Employment Background

With an average of six years’ work experience, the class comes from varied industry backgrounds.

The majority of 21% is from Banking/Finance followed by Consulting/Professional Services 19%, IT/Tech/Telecom 17%, Energy and Pharma/Biotech/Healthcare at 10% each, Engineering 9%, Consumer/Retail 7%, Other 4%, FMCG and Media/Entertainment 1% each.

Imperial MBA Class 2019-20: Nationality by Region

Asia/Pacific had a representation of 47% followed by North & South America 20%, Europe 10%, United Kingdom 9%, Africa/the Middle East 7%.

Imperial MBA Class 2019-20: Education Background

The highest proportion of students was from engineering, followed by business/management, economics and science/medicine. It also highlights the draw of the Business School’s connection to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) as part of Imperial College, London.

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The Imperial College of Business School has teamed up with five other members of the Future of Management Education Alliance, to deliver hologram lectures in an effort to bring a more interactive and classroom-like atmosphere while cutting the travel and accommodation costs of the faculty. Apart from the novelty aspect, hologram lectures also help the traditional programs compete with online courses offered at cut-rate tuition fees.

Imperial College Business School students have become the first in the world to have live lectures delivered to them via hologram, the school said in a press statement.

The technology, developed by Toronto based hologram company AHRT Media and adapted by the school’s Edtech Lab, will enable faculty and guest speakers to present to students in real time, via a hologram link, from studios located in a variety of global locations including the US, Canada and Singapore.

The hologram will enable lecturers and visiting speakers to appear as 3D, life-size entities within one of Imperial’s lecture theatres. Rather than simply projecting a pre-recorded message, the technology enables those appearing via hologram to engage with their audiences in real-time, responding to audience reactions and taking questions via a camera link in the same manner as if they were physically present in the lecture theatre.

The technology will also make it possible for Imperial College Business School to host lectures in multiple classes and locations simultaneously, as well as discussion panels and round-table events with a mixture of both in-person and virtual speakers present.

“Introducing hologram technology to the classroom will break down the limitations of traditional teaching by creating an interactive experience that benefits both students and academics.” Edtech Lab Director Dr David Lefevre said.

Technology venture Insendi is involved in digitising existing degree programs offered by the other alliance members, ESMT Berlin, BI Norwegian Business School, Singapore Management University’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business, France’s Edhec Business School, and Ivey Business School in the US.

Edhec dean Emmanuel Métais says the initiative also aims at changing the perception of digital education as a sub-standard alternative to classroom-based programs.

The system is also claimed to be cheaper than others in the market as the holograms could be created using a standard broadband internet connection along with conventional cameras and projection equipment.

The technology will also make it possible for Imperial College Business School to host lectures in multiple classes and locations simultaneously, as well as discussion panels and round-table events with a mixture of both in-person and virtual speakers present.

Other recent innovations at Edtech Lab include a new robo-tutor, an AI chatbot to support distance-learners on Imperial’s MBA programmes and an online Masters in Business Analytics.

“Investing in new technology is a vital part of our strategy to create more flexible and inspiring learning experiences for our students. Being part of Imperial College London, we are keen to grow our digital visibility as a business school and the new hologram represents the pioneering work our Edtech Lab is undertaking in this area,” Dean Prof Francisco Veloso said.

The hologram technology was debuted on November 1 at a special event for Imperial students, “Women in Tech: The Inside Story”.  A number of guest speakers participated via hologram from Los Angeles, New York and London. They included Marily Nika – Google Woman of the Year 2018 and Imperial alumna, Tracey Welson-Rossman – Founder of TechGirlz and Co-chair and founder of the Women in Tech Summit and Diane Morgan – Global MD of Trilogy and member of the Board of Directors at the Forte Foundation.

The hologram will be used to teach students at Imperial College Business School during the current 2018/19 academic year.

The 74-member batch began classes in the first week of September. Program Director Professor Andreas Eisingerich greeted the new class on the first day with an introduction to the Business School and what they could expect from the program. He also highlighted the valuable network of classmates from diverse backgrounds with whom they will be working with over the year.

The satellite was launched on May 11, 2018, from the International Space Station. He has also co-founded the Space Systems Laboratory at the university, the first laboratory of its kind in Central America and the Caribbean.

Marco Gomez, who has joined the program after working as a Professor and Researcher at the Costa Rica Institute of Technology in his home country, says he received a key piece of advice from this speech. “During his opening words to the cohort, Andreas compared us to a tribe that will support each other throughout the year and our careers. After only spending a few days with them, I am sure I will form many meaningful, long-term friendships.”

Gomez had earlier completed his MSc Degree in Aerospace Engineering at the Delft University of Technology. He had worked as Project Manager of Irazu, a project to design, build and launch Costa Rica’s first satellite to monitor rainforest growth.

The satellite was launched on May 11, 2018, from the International Space Station. He has also co-founded the Space Systems Laboratory at the university, the first laboratory of its kind in Central America and the Caribbean.

Paveenuch Sritragul, an Equity Research Analyst at Thai brokerage firm Bualuang Securities Public Company Limited, says she joined the program for “the best experiential learning in a very concise timeline. Within one year you get both theoretical and practical learning, and at Imperial, you can tailor the journey of the MBA however you want it to be,” she adds.

The class has 88% of the students from outside of the UK. As many as 30 nationalities are represented in the class who speak 24 different languages.

Less than a third of the students come from the banking and finance or consulting and professional services industries. The cohort comes from sectors that range from engineering, energy and pharma, biotech and healthcare to consumer and retail, law and government and the public sector. The average age is 28 and they have an average of six and a half years of work experience.

Katia Fox, a recipient of a Forté Foundation Scholarship, is impressed by the diversity of the cohort’s background and future aspirations. “The fact that it is 45% women is fantastic, and it’s incredibly diverse with people from all over the world, with every kind of experience and background. Everyone had different jobs before, and everyone is going in different directions too, which is exciting.”

The class have had a packed induction schedule which runs over two weeks, with daily activities, workshops and networking events designed to accelerate their relationships as a cohort and cover contemporary business topics, such as resilient leadership, networking skills and unconscious bias.

During their first week, the class heard from Cath Bishop, an Olympic-medal-winning rower and diplomat. They also took part in a Careers kick-off day. The class had an opportunity to build their professional and personal network with students across the school at a South Kensington Tea Party. They also had a team building away day, during which they indulged in teamwork activities, creative problem solving and decision-making skills on high ropes and climbing towers course.

Core modules, Careers Week and a welcome reception at the neighbouring Natural History Museum are also scheduled in the first term.

All self-funded candidates are automatically considered for scholarship schemes for which they meet the eligibility criteria and application deadlines, the London-based school says.

The Riley Family Scholarship of £51,000 is for self-funded candidates who demonstrate exceptional academic merit and come from a disadvantaged background.

For this scholarship, you have to submit the MBA application and an essay by January 26, 2018. The essay topic is “What life experiences have shaped who you are today and how have you overcome adversity to excel in education? How do you think these experiences will help you in today’s rapidly changing world?” (700 words maximum).

The Advisory Board Scholarship of £51,000 is for self-funded candidates who demonstrate exceptional academic merit and financial need. You should have an excellent track record of professional achievement as well as a high and well-balanced GMAT score. The application, along with the essay on the abovementioned topic must also be submitted by January 26, 2018.

The Brilliant Minds MBA Scholarship up to £51,000 is for candidates who demonstrate exceptional academic and professional achievement.

The Forté Fellowships up to £25,500 are for female candidates who demonstrate outstanding leadership potential. The application deadline is January 26, 2018.

For the scholarship, the MBA application is to be submitted by January 26, 2018, for the first decision committee or March 16, 2018, for the second decision committee, along with the essay.

The Future Leaders MBA Scholarship of up to £51,000 is for candidates who demonstrate outstanding leadership potential. You have to submit your MBA application by January 26, 2018, for the first decision committee or March 16, 2018, for the second decision committee, along with the essay.

The Entrepreneurship Scholarship of £25,500 is for candidates who demonstrate a strong track record of entrepreneurship and the potential to launch new and exciting ventures in the future.

To be considered for this scholarship, you must have applied for the Full-Time MBA and submitted your answers to two questions by March 16, 2018. The questions are: Why are you the perfect entrepreneur for Imperial College Business School to offer a scholarship for the Full-Time MBA and How would you use the MBA to further your entrepreneurial ambitions?

The answers could be submitted in the format of your choice (such as a written statement, PowerPoint presentation or video) either as part of your application or via email to mba@imperial.ac.uk by the deadline.

Emails should state ‘Entrepreneurship Scholarship application’ and your CID number in the subject line. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to an additional interview before the final decision.

The Intrapreneurship Scholarship of £25,500 is for candidates with a strong track record of intrapreneurship and the potential and ambition to drive future innovation. The application along with answers to specific questions is to be submitted by March 16, 2018.

The Forté Fellowships up to £25,500 are for female candidates who demonstrate outstanding leadership potential. The application deadline is January 26, 2018.

In addition to the financial support provided, Forté Fellows have access to a number of unique resources from Forté Foundation including participation in the annual Forté MBA Women’s Leadership Conference on June 15-16 in the United States.

They will have access to exclusive networking groups of Forté Fellows, Forté Fellow Alumnae and sponsor companies on social media and through Forté Fellow listservs.

They will get special e-introductions to Forté sponsor companies and inclusion in the Fellow résumé book, which is distributed to all sponsor companies besides free lifetime Forté Foundation Premium Membership.

Women students can also apply for a stipend to attend the annual Forté MBA Women’s Leadership Conference, organised by the Forté Foundation. The conference is a great opportunity to meet like-minded women, develop leadership skills and build your professional network.

The Imperial Women’s Scholarships (variable amounts) are for those who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and professional excellence. The application deadline is May 4, 2018.

The Imperial Loyalty Bursary of £10,200 is open to graduates of Imperial College. The application deadline is June 22, 2018.

The Imperial Business Scholarships (variable amounts) are for candidates who demonstrate excellence in their academic background and career achievements. The application deadline is June 22, 2018.

The GMAT Excellence awards of £5,100 are open to all candidates who achieve a GMAT score of 750 or higher. The application deadline is June 22, 2018.