Electives

Electives are courses that help you fine-tune your skill set, following on from your pre-programme materials and core courses. The elective portfolio lists more than 80 electives, drawn from across a variety of subject areas. You will choose the elective courses that suit your professional goals and the schedule to complete them that suits you.

Over the year, you’ll complete a minimum of eight full credit electives to fulfil your programme credits. 

Electives are usually taught in three-hour lessons once a week, over 10 weeks. There are also a number of intensive week-long block electives that are taught outside term time as well as evening and 5-week courses. 

The elective portfolio is open to all London Business School degree students so you will be studying alongside students from the Masters in Finance, Masters in Management, Executive MBA (EMBA), EMBA-Global and Sloan programmes, as well as students from more than 30 exchange schools and our partner institutions. 

Elective courses and the spaces on them are subject to availability. Initially, you will use the School’s elective bidding system to express your elective preferences. Then you will be able to amend these preferences continuously during your studies, and tailor it to your interests and career goals.

Most teaching takes the form of structured lectures and case studies. The style is participatory and classes frequently include case analysis and discussions. There are also many projects and group work, field investigations and visits, as well as individual research and simulations.

We have a duty to you, our alumni and future students to maintain the integrity and standard of the degrees we award through a rigorous assessment system. The purpose of the various assignments and examinations we ask you to complete is not simply for assessment: these are also intended to help you to structure your learning to help you gauge your progress through the programme. 

The assessment system makes use of elements like course assignments, projects, group work, class participation, examinations and simulations. You will be expected to prepare for and attend class and participate actively in discussion both in class and in your group. The precise assessment model for each course - for example, whether class participation and oral report presentations count towards your final grade - will be set out clearly from the outset. 

You must successfully pass all core courses. Your grades will be adjusted to a grade curve from A+ to C, with a maximum of 10% of the class achieving A+. The decision to Pass or Fail is a matter of academic judgement, and there is no obligation to fail any students. 

To earn your degree, you must complete all the requirements of your programme. This includes both courses and programme elements.

Yes. Faculty consulting and research activities are brought into the class in the form of case studies. Faculty frequently share their latest thinking in electives as well as through additional lectures. A small number of students may also have the opportunity to apply for an elective and work on a research project with guidance from a faculty member.