FAQs

Please read our frequently asked questions as the first steps in your research.

The Sloan Fellowship MSc has been designed to prepare experienced senior managers for their next career challenge. It is a 11-month, full-time degree programme leading to an MSc in Management that is highly respected throughout the business community and beyond. The curriculum mixes core skills and a choice of electives. It includes an international assignment and an individual project.

The programme is offered by three world-class business schools: Stanford, London Business School and MIT, where the programme has merged with the Management of Technology programme to become the MIT Sloan Fellows Program in Innovation and Global Leadership.

The Sloan Fellowship programme began at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1931. It was the idea of Alfred P. Sloan Jnr, Chairman of General Motors, who believed that the best kind of leader was one who had a cross-functional understanding of management, and that this understanding was best acquired after some years' experience in organisations.

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There is a difference between the Sloan degree designation, which is an MSc in Management and an MBA.

The MSc in management offered for the Sloan Fellowship covers all the key areas of general management and electives.  However, the curriculum is a refined version of that offered to MBAs, and includes programme specific courses such as Understanding Top Management and the Personal Planning and Development components, which are designed for managers and professionals with substantial experience.  Those studying on the Sloan Fellowship are undergoing a period of transition, looking to change career direction, accelerate their career path, or even start their own successful venture and these courses are designed specifically to help with these challenges.

The Sloan Fellowship is for those who have significant and strategic experience and would like to study with a group of peers with similar depth and breadth of experience.

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Sloan Fellows have significant work experience at strategic levels. They are undergoing a period of transition, looking to change career direction, accelerate their career path, or even start their own successful venture. Beyond that, the diversity of their backgrounds means there is no such thing as a typical Sloan Fellow.

Our current class* looks like this:

*This is a current profile only. Our admissions decisions are taken in accordance with best equal opportunities practice.

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The Sloan Fellowship is a full-time 11-month programme run over three academic terms. The curriculum is a four-part programme model designed to cover aspects of general management and personal development.

The four-part programme model:

• core knowledge – core courses

• core skills – personal and professional effectiveness workshops

• special interest – electives and individual project

• personal planning and development – cross-disciplinary courses

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The Sloan Fellowship starts once a year in September.  We recommend candidates apply early to ensure they allow enough time to make arrangements before commencing the programme.

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What is the purpose of the core courses?

To achieve a leadership position in any organisation, there are certain things you must know. Sloan core classes balance the theoretical elements that underpin the behaviour of individuals, firms, markets and economies, and many applied and practical aspects of the various business disciplines. They will provide you with an understanding of all the key areas of general management.

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Sloan Fellows are not able to waive core courses as recognition of prior learning and we do not accept credits from other educational institutions. We believe it important for Sloan Fellows to complete all core courses offered as part of the Sloan curriculum to ensure continuity and consistency of learning, and to promote the ethos of collaborative learning as part of a diverse cohort.

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You will be assigned to a group of approximately six people at the beginning of the programme, and you will work with them throughout the first term for core course study. The study groups are put together based on a series of psychometric tests undertaken by students as part of pre-programme. We also aim to make each group as diverse as possible in terms of nationality, and educational and professional backgrounds to ensure the learning experience is as enriched as possible.

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Sloan Fellows take elective courses during the second and third terms of the programme. Students are required to complete three electives but may take up to five. Electives are chosen from the School's wide-ranging portfolio of over 70 courses.

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At the end of the first term, Sloan Fellows go on an international assignment to study a particular regional economy and the factors that contribute to its development and success.  Students visit a number of different companies, both national and multinational, meet with local business leaders and are briefed by government representatives and resident academics.

In the third term, Sloan Fellows complete an individual project, carried out with a company.  Students present their findings to their chosen company and are required to submit a 10-20,000 word thesis as part of their assessment.  This is due at the end of July each year.

The programme also includes a number of skills workshops as part of Sloan personal planning and development.  Sloan Fellows may tailor these to their individual needs.

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Each course on the Sloan Fellowship is assessed using some or all of the following tools: individual projects/essays/reports, examinations, class participation, group assignments/reports and class presentations.

In order to successfully complete the degree, students must complete nine core course credits, between three and five elective course credits and the individual project, which is worth two credits.

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Successful Sloan applicants are executives, professionals and entrepreneurs who can demonstrate significant levels of achievement in their career and experience of decision making at strategic levels. Sloan Fellows typically have between 8-22 years managerial experience.

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It is very unusual for Sloan Fellows not to have an undergraduate degree, although we do occasionally offer places to people with an exceptional career history and a high GMAT score.

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The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is one of the many criteria we use when assessing an applicant's suitability, since it provides useful information about quantitative and verbal reasoning abilities. It also gives us a useful benchmark to judge applicants across degree subject, academic institution and nationality.

All candidates for the programme are required to sit GMAT.

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We do not set a minimum required GMAT score. However, we tend to consider scores of 600 and over and the average score of our most recent class is 650. GMAT is an essential part of the admissions criteria but not the only criteria we consider when assessing a candidate. A high score does not guarantee admission, and equally, a below average score does not automatically discount your candidacy.

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You may be required to take TOEFL/IELTS if English is not your first language and you have not worked or studied in an English-speaking environment. This is judged on a case-by-case basis by the admissions team.

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We operate a rolling admissions process, with applications reviewed in the order in which they are received. The admissions process usually takes up to eight weeks and the sooner you submit your application the sooner you will receive your final decision. We strongly recommend that you apply as early as possible to provide yourself with plenty of time to finalise arrangements with your organisation and colleagues and, if necessary, to arrange relocation to London with your family.

Once the class is full, we operate a waitlist system with priority given according to the order in which applications are received. Many wait listed candidates are successful in securing a place on the programme. We will do everything we can to help you with the application process. For further information, please contact: Balbir Guru, Admissions & Marketing Officer on: +44 (0)20 7000 7478 or email bguru@london.edu

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The application fee is £120 and should be made payable to London Business School. The fee can be paid by downloading the Application Fee Payment Form (download Word document 57KB) or be paid online as part of an online application.

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London Business School offers free application to graduates of fellow University of London colleges and graduates of our partner institutions Columbia University and the University of Hong Kong. You must request that we waive the fee at the time of application and provide a copy of your college transcript.

Candidates recommended by a London Business School alumni may also be exempt from the application fee. Alumni wishing to recommend a candidate should email sloaninfo@london.edu stating their relationship with the candidate and their reasons for the recommendation. Recommendations must be received before the application is submitted.

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Candidates are required to provide two references as part of their application to the Sloan Fellowship. One referee should be somebody who can comment on your career progress, strengths and areas of development and will typically be from your workplace. The other can be somebody who knows you outside of your work.

Download the Reference Form (download Word document 65KB)

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Candidates are required to submit academic transcripts from their undergraduate or graduate educational institutions. If the original transcripts are not in English, please also provide certified translated copies.

Download the transcript request form (download Word document 26KB)

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Candidates should apply online and send their supporting documents, including references and academic transcripts, to the Sloan admissions team.

Before applying, we recommend you read the relevant application instructions (download PDF 30KB)

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You will receive an initial decision on your application within two to three weeks of submission. If successful, you will be invited to attend an interview with Senior Admissions staff or Sloan Fellowship alumni. Following this, you should receive a final decision within two to three weeks with a deadline in which the offer must be accepted. The whole process generally takes six to eight weeks.

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The Sloan Fellowship tuition fees for 2006/2007 are £41,250.

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Sloan Fellowship fees include tuition, core course textbooks and reading materials, elective course reading materials and flights and accommodation for the international assignment.

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All candidates are asked to pay a commitment fee of £5,000 upon accepting their offer of a place on the programme. Self-sponsored students are required to pay the remainder in three equal payments at the start of each academic term. Companies sponsoring an employee pay the balance in one payment before the commencement of the first term.

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What other costs should I budget for?

If you are not based in London, you should budget for living expenses, which will vary according to your circumstances and lifestyle. There is no accommodation available at London Business School and you will need to budget between £20,000-£35,000 for a family and between £15,000-£20,000 for a single person if sharing accommodation.

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Does London Business School offer a loan for undertaking the programme?

All accepted Sloan Fellows are entitled to apply for the London Business School-HSBC Loan Scheme which covers tuition and living expenses. The loan is designed to cover tuition fees and living expenses up to a limit of two-thirds of salary earned by the participant in the 12 months prior to the programme start, or £10,000 – whichever is the greater sum.

See the Fees and financing webpage for further loan information.

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In conjunction with Saatchi & Saatchi and Spencer Stuart, the Sloan Fellowship offers a Women's Scholarship.  The scholarship awards one fully funded place worth £41,250 and a programme of career mentoring with Spencer Stuart to the woman candidate who best exemplifies the characteristics of business leadership.

Please see the Fees and financing page for more information.

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If you are a UK resident, you may contact the Association of MBAs +44 (0)20 7837 3375 for information about Career Development Loan options.

The Sloan Fellowship is also eligible for loans administered under the US loan schemes. US Federal Stafford and State Loans can be applied for by eligible students from the US. The majority of loans are under the Sallie Mae MBA loan scheme which includes private loans.

For overseas residents, please contact the British Council office in your country for details of the Chevening Scholarship and other funding sources.

See the Fees and financing webpage for further loan information.

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Once you have reviewed the website and the Sloan Fellowship brochure, we recommend you attend an on-campus information session in London, or visit us at one of the many global sessions held by both Schools around the world. For forthcoming sessions, please see our information sessions page.

We are also happy to answer any questions you may have, and arrange a visit to the School. Email us at sloaninfo@london.edu We look forward to hearing from you.

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I cannot attend an information session as I am not based in the UK. How can I find out more about the Sloan Fellowship?

We realise it is difficult for some people to attend one of our campus-based information sessions and there are several alternatives for meeting or speaking with London Business School representatives.

If attending a campus information session is not possible for you:

• the School holds an extensive portfolio of overseas information sessions and we would be delighted if you could attend one of these. To see a listing of the cities we visit, and to reserve a place at an event, please visit our Global information sessions page

• we are happy to schedule a telephone conversation with you. Please email us with a preferred contact number and we will be pleased to telephone you and answer any questions you may have about the programme and London Business School: sloaninfo@london.edu

• we can put you in touch with current students or alumni. If you would like to speak directly with students or alumni, please send your CV to sloaninfo@london.edu so that we can match you with a suitable contact. We are unable to put you in touch without viewing your CV

• email us at sloaninfo@london.edu with any questions you have about the Sloan Fellowship or London Business School.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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