What’s it like to study at elite business school, Imperial College Business School?

Seerat Sindhu is an MBA student at Imperial College Business School, ranked 21st in the world in the QS Global MBA Rankings 2022.  

The elite business school is a leader in science and technology, driving global business and social transformation with innovative thinking and insight. It was that focus on innovation and entrepreneurship that drove Seerat to choose Imperial College for her MBA.  

As a strategy consultant, Seerat was looking to bridge the gaps in her skillset to amplify her career in the short- and long-term. She said: “Feeling disconnected in strategic implementation due to a lack of perspective, I decided to move into corporate strategy.  

“To do this, I realised I’d have to learn and understand the academic knowledge and theories relevant to real-life business scenarios, gain exposure to international and domestic markets and industries, as well as nurture a strong network of colleagues globally. 

“Imperial College has fulfilled all these needs and more, giving me the crucial skills to become a successful senior leader.”    

What does a typical week look like for you? 

“While I strongly believe each week on the full-time MBA is unique, the basic structure remains the same. I study at the South Kensington Campus from Monday to Saturday attending classes and workshops, doing independent study and having group discussions,” Seerat said. 

“I’m heavily involved in student leadership positions in the school and at the weekend, I run errands, socialise and explore London. Every day there is something new to do and I’m trying to make the most of my time in the city before I return to India to launch an enterprise in the finance and banking industry.”  

In what ways do you feel like you’re studying at one of the world’s top MBA programmes? 

Seerat said: “Imperial College Business School (ICBS) has a unique advantage in Europe because it’s part of the larger community of Imperial College London. While the business school is independent, the common campus and increased interaction, both within and outside the classrooms, helps facilitate cross-field collaboration and innovation. 

“The school is world-renowned, and I’ve had one too many ‘fan moments’ in the MBA classroom thanks to my professors who are true geniuses, top of their fields and making tangible global impact.” 

Imperial College also invested and developed a wide range of resources/initiatives for students to develop their skills and experience, particularly in the fields of innovation, tech and entrepreneurship. These include the Enterprise Lab, Scale Space, Hackspace, Imperial Innovation Challenge and more. 

Seerat said: “The school also offers a range of networking activities and skills development sessions to help enhance our employability. One of my favourite events is Breakfast with the Board, where MBA students are given access to interact with global leaders who serve as board members or advisors across different industries.”  

What are your relationships like with your academics and classmates? 

“The Full-Time MBA is a demanding programme which places a lot of importance on teamwork, diversity and inclusivity,” Seerat said. “The majority of modules place high importance on group work, and so the academics rely on your ability to collaborate with your classmates. 

“As a brand, Imperial College commands superior academic performance, but luckily this doesn’t translate into competitiveness within the classroom. Instead, we all are able to learn from each other and gain from our varied experiences. My cohort consists of around 50 highly -diverse students and we are able to build lasting bonds. 

“My faculty are world-renowned, and I’ve been taught by experts who used to work at companies like the Bank of England, who provide their insight from real-life experiences with real-time examples.” 

What opportunities have you had outside of the classroom? 

“Imperial College’s Full-Time MBA involves a range of activities beyond the classroom. The programme includes two international trips, each focused on a theme. I travelled to Abu Dhabi for Global Experience Week where I worked with Etihad Airways for a short project focused on diversity. The next trip is to Rotterdam in the Netherlands with a focus on sustainability in business. 

“You can also get involved with other projects as a consultant, working with companies to help them tackle issues in real- time, or an entrepreneurial journey where students have the opportunity to design and develop a business plan and go-to market strategy for our ideas.” 

Seerat has chosen to engage in a consulting project and is working with one of the UK’s largest telecom companies on a niche process engineering project.  

Why would you recommend the MBA at Imperial College to others? 

“I would recommend studying an MBA at Imperial College to those who are looking to spend a year on an intense academic program while still having fun all the way. This MBA programme is for those who are ready for the adventure of a lifetime, which will pivot their expertise and interests – all in the best way possible!”