Application Tips For European Business Master's Programs In 2024
Business schools in Europe offer a wide range of specialist master's degrees designed to prepare the next generation of leaders for the future of work. For example, you could enroll on the Master in Climate Change and Sustainable Finance at EDHEC Business School in France, or perhaps the Master in Analytics and Artificial Intelligence at ESMT Berlin.
Whichever business master's degree you pursue, you will upskill, broaden your network, and gain valuable work experience that can help you stand out to employers.
To secure a spot at your target business school, it's essential to have a stand-out application.
We spoke to admissions directors and representatives from some of Europe's top business schools, who gave us their top application tips for the next intake of students.
1. Preparation, preparation, preparation
Amy Janssen-Brennan, executive director of recruitment & admission at Rotterdam School of Management
“My top tip for students who are applying for admission to a business school is preparation, preparation, preparation. You can never be too prepared.
“So make sure you look at the website, because business schools always put a lot of time and effort into the information that they’ve put there. Familiarise yourself with the admissions process, the requirements, and the deadlines.”
2. Exemplify your varied skill set
Sophie Dimich-Louvet, director of recruitment and sales strategy for master’s programs, HEC Paris
“Having a strong balance in hard and soft skills is really what makes a candidate stand out. These skills don’t necessarily have to be related to business. We want to know that the student has gained concrete, practical knowledge in any previous experiences and knows how to discuss them clearly and coherently in an interview."
3. Show your drive and team spirit
Alexandra Barnett, recruitment and admissions director, London Business School
"We want students who have passions, who can share their successes as equally as their setbacks, who despite any challenges keep going and see the opportunities in doing so, who are driven for their own success but also that of others.
“We want students who will balance their academic commitments, their job coaching and search, with the student clubs, treks, academic projects, and experiential programme elements —which we know will only help enrich their world view.”
4. Consider your unique contribution to the cohort
Brice Roubardin, executive director of strategy and development for pre-experience programs, HEC Paris
"We’re looking for strong, interesting personalities with a diversity of thought. Our programs are open to all cultures, academic backgrounds, and internship experiences. Consequently, we’re looking for students who have pushed themselves to think and act differently in these experiences as they will be able to make the most of the richness and diversity offered on our campus, and at the same time to be a significant, relevant, addition to the cohort.”
5. Be frank about what makes you different
Anne-Flore Maman Larraufie, academic director at ESSEC Business School
“You have to be frank, you have to acknowledge your weaknesses, you have to be very honest with yourself and with the interviewer.
“We are looking out for diversity at the school, especially we are seeking people with different types of profiles, different types of expertise and different types of attitudes towards business environments, from charity, to social entrepreneurship, and including finance or project management in industry.”
6. Prepare for the interview... but remain natural
Virginie Fougea, global director of admissions at INSEAD
"One key tip is to remain authentic, confident, and not to rehearse too much prior to the interview. We have seen a few applications where the candidate appeared robotic in their answers and almost like [they were] reading from a script. It was a missed opportunity to get to know them. It is important that applicants convey true examples of how they would like to contribute to the rich exchanges that will happen in and outside of class.”