5 Reasons To Study An MBA In London

London has historically been regarded as one of the most bustling thoroughfares in Europe, drawing trade from virtually every corner of the globe. Today, with a population of over nine million, and home to one of the world’s largest tech hubs, the city’s possibilities remain endless. 

This appealed to Sarah Walker (pictured right), a US-born government consultant who spent six years working for the state of Virginia. After making the decision to change career and pursue an MBA, the melting pot nature of the city proved to be exactly what she needed. 

“I think it is such a cool place to live, a center where things are happening. It’s like the door to the rest of the world,” Sarah says.

In her search for the right fit program, she quickly came across the Full-time MBA at Bayes Business School at City, University of London. 

Not only was the 12-month course situated in the center of Europe’s largest metropolis, the school’s quick response time and amiable atmosphere appealed to Sarah as an ideal place to develop her business skills. 

Now a transformation manager for IAG Loyalty—a dynamic UK-based airline company—it’s clear the MBA has empowered Sarah to (literally) elevate her career.  

But how can studying in London help other professionals do the same?

To find out, we asked both Sarah and the Bayes Full-Time MBA course director, Dr Dimitris Paraskevopoulos (pictured right), about why the UK’s most eclectic city is also an ideal place to learn business. 

1. Learn from an experienced faculty

One of the most important aspects of any business program is the quality of the teaching.

At Bayes, faculty are renowned members of their respective fields comprising academics, policy makers, entrepreneurs, and business practitioners.

“Our faculty are elite researchers,” Dimitris explains. “So, the students are not being taught dated theories from the 80s or the 90s, but are being exposed to up-to-date knowledge.”

The program’s core courses—which include modules such as Accounting and Financial Reporting and Organizational Behavior—are highly strategy focused, which prepares students for an ever-changing business landscape. 

2. Develop strong team-building skills

One of the stand-out features of the degree is the emphasis placed on teambuilding. 

In their first three weeks of term, the MBA cohort are sent to the countryside for a leadership development course, where they bond by participating in various group activities and games, such as ‘Capture The Flag’.

Emphasis placed on cultivating a community not only encourages networking, it also allows international students, such as Sarah, to form new friendships.

“You have this built in network of friends, which is great,” she says.

3. Make diverse connections in a global city

With over 300 spoken languages—more than any other city in the world—London truly takes the crown as one of Europe’s most multicultural urban centers. 

It’s an element that’s strongly reflected in the Bayes MBA, given that over 80% of students come from outside the UK.

“Everybody in the class comes from really unique backgrounds, which is really cool to explore,” Sarah says.

Plus, living in a city filled with a wide variety of cultures makes it even more imperative for business students to learn how to work and communicate with people from all backgrounds.

“Business is global nowadays, and London is multicultural. As soon as you're in London, you have acquired a diverse experience through it,” Dimitris says.

4. Gain international experiences 

Taking advantage of London’s position as a gateway to Europe and beyond, Bayes offers MBA students numerous opportunities to travel abroad to diversify their business knowledge.

One such opportunity occurs during International Consulting Week, which is hosted in different cities across the world each year and enables students to connect with top global companies. 

“You get to explore a new culture with your entire class,” Sarah says.

Equally, students also have the option to choose an international elective, where they the chance to spend several days abroad learning about international business practices. 

One of Sarah’s favorite memories from the course is the four-day adventure she spent in Dubai as part of her UAE elective: complete with educative trips, sightseeing, and sand-biking in the Arabian desert.  

“It was such a good mix of learning and seeing all the different things that are happening in UAE, like tourism, sustainability, and shipping,” she enthuses.

5. Access top job opportunities 

Given its status as a global hub, London attracts top corporate players in the world of finance, tech, and consulting. 

To give them a competitive edge, the Bayes careers team works closely with students throughout their MBA by providing them with one-on-one advice, mock interview practice, and access to networking events. 

“Bayes does a phenomenal job of providing you with touch points with actual companies so that you have the opportunity to really sharpen your consulting skills by interacting with clients,” says Sarah. 

Plus, the ability to tap into a strong and varied alumni network means that students are exposed to roles that they may not have been otherwise. 

Sarah landed her current job with IAG Loyalty in part because she was able to ask for interview tips from a Bayes alum. She still maintains contact with many alumni to this day.  

Reflecting on her entire experience on the London MBA, Sarah feels one of the biggest lessons the program has taught her is to be open to new experiences, as it can expand your career horizons.

“A year goes by really quickly, so just dive into it,” Sarah says.