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How to Fill In Your Business School Application Form
Find your PERFECT BUSINESS PROGRAM
Whether you've just completed undergraduate business studies, or are returning to study after an extended break and aiming for a postgraduate qualification – be it a masters , MBA or PhD – in business, your choice of study program and approach to the application form is critical. Competition is fierce to get into the best business courses, and the quality of your application form can be a deciding factor in whether you make the cut or not.
Applying to postgraduate business programs
A critical task in the progression of your postgraduate business studies at a business school, whether it's a private business school or a state one is the application form. This is no simple exercise and it requires a significant amount of dedicated time on your behalf. Most business schools expect you to complete the form online, with the ability to save details as you go along and complete it across several sessions. Supporting attachments such as your CV and referee comments will have to be uploaded and submitted using standard formats such as Word, RTF or PDF files.
While there's a lot of standard information to be captured in the business school application, your opportunity to stand out from the crowd will come from your response to personal statements , application essays and other supporting documents. Important are as to focus on are your unique attributes, interpersonal skills and experience, and how these correspond with aims and objectives of the study program.
Standard required information
Most business studies programs (masters, MBA, PhD) across the UK and Europe require similar information. The following describes the standard type of detail you can expect to provide, though of course there may be variations between different faculties.
Personal details
Expect to complete the usual personal details - name, address, nationality, passport and visa details, etc.
Previous education and qualifications
Obviously as you are pursuing a postgraduate course, you should have already obtained an undergraduate degree or comparable qualification. You may be required to supply details of your secondary education as well. Other information to supply includes any relevant professional qualifications you hold, and membership of relevant industry and professional associations.
Education exceptions
Some business schools will consider applicants who have not achieved an undergraduate qualification but instead have excellent relevant work experience. For example, some schools offer places to people who have a solid business background and high-level managerial responsibilities.
Skills and work experience
Typically, you will need to detail paid and unpaid work roles you have performed, and provide the usual dates of work, employer details, job role and responsibilities. Relevant voluntary work should be described as well – this is the kind of information that will really help you stand out from the crowd so it is a good area to tease out any particularly relevant skills, life and work experience you have that match stated aims of the study program. For example, some schools have a strong focus on working in multicultural groups, while others emphasise a European perspective, and others focus on global and international business exposure.
Supporting personal documentation
Business programs place a strong emphasis on your personal statements and supporting documents. Assessors want to see what qualities and skills you will bring to the study program, and what you want to achieve from it.
To support your personal documentation, most schools will require you to supply:
A CV / resume (keep this to no more than two pages)
2 or 3 referees (choose these carefully – seek favourable referees that have a successful business background where possible. Work context is more important than a personal one.
Certified Transcripts of your educational achievements
Visa requirements – If you're not a national, ensure you can fulfil any visa requirements and can provide details of the type of visa and duration.
Personal statements
The personal statement generally requires a description of your:
*Motivation for undertaking the course of study
*Career goals
*Specific areas of interest
*Relevant skills and experience, and
*Ability to work in both groups and independently.
Application essays
Some business schools prefer a response to a series of stated questions, than a personal statement. For example, 'How will you use the business qualification in your future?' It is important to answer questions like these in an effective, succinct and interesting manner.
Tests
Another component of the application is often a test. The GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) is a common test that students are expected to pass, and their score is considered as part of the course application.
Make sure you meet the application deadlines
Work backwards from the deadline of your postgraduate business masters program to make sure you have all necessary attachments to support your application. Chasing down referees and other pertinent documents can take longer than you expect, so pad the timeframe around these key activities.
Also make sure you schedule in time to sit the GMAT or any other required test, if the scores need to be submitted at the time of application.
Submitting the completed form
Last, but not least, you will have to pay the application fee. With this, you can finally hit that submit button, heave a sigh of relief, and look forward to hearing about your interview date.
Good luck!
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