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Master in Management Updates

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The pandemic has made a degree that was already popular for its opportunities to enter a variety of industries and roles more attractive. With bans and economic uncertainties hindering career prospects for graduates, many students choose to stay in college and study for a Masters in Management. For graduates who no longer have travel options, a MiM also offers hope for international mobility, visa rights and potential employment.

“Students consider it a worthwhile investment for internships and commercial training, especially in times of uncertainty,” says Sophie Dimich-Louvet, director of student recruitment at HEC Paris, who has recorded an 80 percent increase in applications.

In Tomorrow’s Masters, a spring report by education consultancy CarringtonCrisp and accreditation body EFMD, just over half of those surveyed said they were studying a Masters in Business because they feared there were fewer jobs for new graduates than before the pandemic .

FT Masters in Management Ranking 2021 – Top 100

The London Business School ranks fourth in the ranking

Find out which schools are listed in our ranking of Masters programs in Management. Learn how the table was made and read the rest of our coverage at www.ft.com/mim.

This study follows the Graduate Management Admission Council’s application trends survey published in late 2020, which confirmed that applications for business master’s degrees across all faculties were up 14 percent year-over-year, compared with 5 percent in the previous two years. Applications for MiMs rose by almost 18 percent.

While some schools invite applicants for interviews on campus, others have created virtual meeting and interviewing websites. The surge in applications means increased competition for places, so how can candidates stand out from others? Course and recruiting directors give their tips.

Do your homework early

Attending a business school is the beginning of an adventure and a new life, says Sylvie Jean, director of EMLyon MiM, the current business school: Suivez le Guide! which provides advice and practical exercises (in French) to prepare for business school. “Business schools typically use marketing language and acronyms, which are often difficult for students and their families to understand, but you need to be as well informed and prepared as possible,” she says.

Talk the talk: Sylvie Jean advises familiarizing oneself with the acronyms and the marketing language of business schools © Olivier Ramonteu

It is essential to check basic information, such as study access requirements, but you should also consider optimizing the range of experience and performance in your application with a language course or a summer internship. This requires planning ahead, so it’s a good idea to start a year before you graduate from your undergraduate degree.

“Focus on taking small actions each day and before you know it you will have a lot of information, insight and experience,” said Massimo Garbuio, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Sydney Business School. “This gives you clarity and guidance for your MiM, but looking to the future, it is also something that employers want in their business.”

Emphasize your differences

Strong grades and entrance test results will only get you so far, warns Dimich-Louvet. “Such professional experience and extracurricular commitment increase the students’ chances of admission,” she says.

Students from around the world have a comparable level of education and language skills, which means around two-thirds of applications are very similar, agrees Celine Foss, director of the Masters in Management in International Business at Grenoble Ecole de Management in France. “What impresses and stands out are examples of engagement and activity with organizations such as charities and community groups, as well as other evidence of proactivity and a wide range of interests.”

Anything [in an application] that is ‘off the beaten path’ can be relevant and interesting

Candidates should consider everything they have done in their adult life and look for strengths and skills that might interest a future employer, advises Roland Siegers, Director for Early Career Programs at ESMT Berlin. “Good business schools already consider your future employability beyond classic academic indicators. Did you run an association? Have you participated in a successful project? Anything that is “off the beaten track” can be relevant and interesting. “

Evidence that applicants have researched and understood that the value of study to a MiM is more than just the academic program also counts. Applicants should be aware of the school’s broader activities and initiatives, such as its commitment to corporate social responsibility and the student clubs it supports.

Find the perfect match

Potential students will want to show why a particular MiM and school is right for them. “Do you have a clear idea of ​​why you want to study this special master’s degree and how it can help you,” says Maren Kaus, Director of Career Services at the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management in Germany. “An exercise that will prepare you well for the application and admission process.”

Applicants should consider what they would like to learn both personally and professionally, recommends Victoria Bressers, Senior Career and Personnel Development Advisor at Nyenrode Business University in the Netherlands. “Ask yourself what can you bring with you as a MiM student and what can others learn from you?”

Have a clear idea of ​​why you would like to study this Masters program and how it can help you

Dig deeper than the basic MiM information on a school’s website to learn more about their educational approach and employability statistics, advises Jean at EMLyon. “Sign up for the school’s webinars, follow their social media accounts, and contact some of their alumni on LinkedIn to hear their thoughts. With good all-round knowledge of the program, you can convincingly justify your application personally and professionally. “

Rita Järventie-Thesleff, Director of the Masters in Global Management at Aalto University School of Business in Helsinki, advises: “Think about the contents of the program in relation to your own values, learning and career goals.” Applicants should above all theirs Show personality and motivation through the entire process, she says.