The pandemic has increased the appeal of a degree that was already popular for the opportunities it offers to enter a wide variety of industries and roles. With graduate job prospects hampered by lockdowns and economic uncertainties, many students are opting to stay in higher education and study for a masters in management. For graduates starved of chances to travel, a MiM also holds out some hope of international mobility, visa rights and potential employment.

“Students feel it is a worthwhile investment in terms of career placement and business education, especially in times of uncertainty,” says Sophie Dimich-Louvet, director of student recruitment at HEC Paris, which has seen an 80 per cent increase in applications.

In Tomorrow’s Masters, a report published in the spring by education consultancy CarringtonCrisp and accreditation body EFMD, just over half of respondents surveyed said they planned to study for a business masters because they were concerned that there were fewer jobs for new graduates than before the pandemic.

FT Masters in Management ranking 2021 — top 100

A lecture at London Business School
London Business School is ranked fourth in the league table

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

That research follows the Graduate Management Admission Council’s Application Trends Survey, published in late 2020, which confirmed that applications for business masters degrees across all schools had risen 14 per cent year on year, compared with 5 per cent in the two previous years. Applications for MiMs were up almost 18 per cent.

While some schools are now inviting applicants to campus for interviews, others have created websites for virtual meetings and interviews. The rise in applications means stiffer competition for places, so how can candidates stand out? Course and recruitment directors offer their tips.

Do your homework early

Going to business school marks the beginning of an adventure and a new life, says EMLyon MiM director Sylvie Jean, who has just published Business School: Suivez le Guide!, which provides advice and practical exercises (in French) on preparing for business school. “Business schools tend to use marketing language and acronyms that are often difficult for students and their families to understand, but you need to be as informed and prepared as possible,” she says.

Talk the talk: Sylvie Jean advises getting up to speed on the acronyms and marketing language of business schools © Olivier Ramonteu

Checking basic information, such as course entry requirements, is essential, but also consider optimising the range of experiences and achievements on your application by taking language classes or a summer internship. This will require advance planning, so it is a good idea to start a year before graduating from your undergraduate degree.

“Concentrate on taking small actions every day, and before you know it, you’ll have gathered lots of information, insights and experience,” says Massimo Garbuio, associate professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Sydney Business School. “This will give you clarity and direction for your MiM, but looking further ahead, it is also something employers want in their businesses.”

Emphasise your differences

Strong grades and admission test scores will take you only so far, warns Dimich-Louvet. “Solid professional experiences and extracurricular involvement increase a student’s chances of admission,” she says.

Students from around the world have comparable levels of education and language abilities, which means about two-thirds of applications are very similar, agrees Céline Foss, director of the masters in management in international business programme at Grenoble Ecole de Management in France. “What impresses and stands out are examples of engagement and activity with organisations such as charities and community groups, and other evidence of being proactive and having a wide range of interests.”

Candidates should consider everything they have done in their adult lives and sift it for strengths and skills that might interest a future employer, advises Roland Siegers, director of early careers programmes at ESMT Berlin. “Good business schools will already look at your future employability, beyond classic academic indicators. Did you lead a club? Did you participate in a successful project? Anything that is ‘off the beaten track’ can be relevant and interesting.”

Evidence that applicants have explored and understood that the value of studying for a MiM is more than just the academic programme also counts. Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of the school’s wider activities and initiatives, such as its corporate social responsibility engagement and the student clubs it supports.

Seek the perfect match

Potential students will want to show why a particular MiM and school are the right fit for them. “Have a clear vision of why you want to study this specific masters programme and how it can help you,” says Maren Kaus, director of career services at Frankfurt School of Finance and Management in Germany. “It’s an exercise that will prepare you well for the application and admission process.”

Applicants should think about what they would like to learn personally as well as professionally, suggests Victoria Bressers, senior career and personal development adviser at Nyenrode Business University in the Netherlands. “Ask yourself, what can you bring to the table as a MiM student and what can others learn from you?”

Dig deeper than the basic MiM information on a school’s website to learn more about its pedagogical approach and employability statistics, for example, advises Jean at EMLyon. “Sign up for the school’s webinars, follow its social media accounts and contact some of its alumni on LinkedIn to get their opinions. By having a good all-round knowledge of the programme, you’ll be able to put forward convincing personal and professional reasons for your application.”

Rita Järventie-Thesleff, director of the masters in global management at Aalto University School of Business in Helsinki, advises: “Think about the content of the programme in relation to your own values, learning and career goals.” She says that, above all, applicants should let their personality and motivation show through the entire process.

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