How to apply

You can apply online through the University of Leeds applicant portal. Applications for courses starting in September 2024 are now open.

When to apply

Due to high demand for places, Leeds University Business School operates a staged admissions process for Masters courses with selection deadlines throughout the year.

Deadlines for applications to courses starting in September 2024 are shown in the table below.

If you apply before the Application deadline for a particular stage, as shown below, you will normally receive a response on or before the Decision by date.

Offers to outstanding applicants will be made on an ongoing basis, whilst the majority of applications will be held until the stated selection date for their stage, when a proportion of the places available will be allocated to applicants. Given the high level of competition for available places, many good quality applicants may be unsuccessful. 

If you do not receive an offer in a particular stage, you will be notified either that your application has been unsuccessful or that it has been carried forward to be considered in the next stage. Applications will only be carried forward once.

We receive a high volume of applications, therefore we may need more time to assess your application. If this is the case, we will carry your application to the next stage and notify you of this.

In some cases, where an application is unsuccessful for the initial course but there is evidence of a good fit with another course at Leeds University Business School, an alternative course may be offered. 

Stage Application deadline Decision by
1 Thursday 14 December 2023 Monday 12 February 2024
2 Friday 1 March 2024 Wednesday 10 April 2024
3 Friday 19 April 2024 Friday 17 May 2024
4 Final international deadline: Thursday 27 June 2024 Final international places awarded: Friday12 July 2024
5 Final UK deadline: Friday 16 August 2024 Final UK places awarded: Friday 23 August 2024
  • All deadlines are 23:59 UK time
  • Applications for each stage open immediately after the deadline for the previous stage

Conditional offers

You do not need to have fulfilled all entry requirements before applying. Provided your application satisfies all other entry requirements, a conditional offer may be made on the basis of a predicted result: for example, the final mark of your first degree or an English language test. You must provide your final results before an unconditional offer can be made. The deadline for meeting your conditions is Friday 9 August 2024, 23:59 UK time.

This is to allow applicants who need a Student route visa time to be confirmed as unconditional, and to pay the tuition fee deposit or provide the sponsor evidence that is required for us to issue a CAS in support of the visa application. 

Unconditional offers

If your offer has been confirmed as unconditional, the deadline for paying your deposit is Wednesday 21 August 2024. For more information, see our guidance on how to pay your deposit, or provide deposit exemption.

What do I need to include in my application?

Please check your qualifications match the entry requirements for the course you are applying for.

When reviewing applications, particular attention will be paid to academic performance and the personal statement. Given the competition for places, preference will be given to applicants who have or who are projected to exceed our minimum requirements.

A GMAT score is not a mandatory requirement; however, we do encourage candidates who have undertaken the examination to submit their scores for consideration. Please upload a copy of your official GMAT score report in the qualifications section of your online application – we do not accept paper copies by post. We look for a well-balanced score over 600 and will only accept scores which are still valid (attained within the last five years) by the time of entry to the programme.

Your application must include the following:

  • A copy of your degree certificate and transcript, or a partial transcript if you’re still studying
  • A personal statement (please read the guidance note on personal statements at the bottom of this page)
  • Contact details for two academic references (please read the guidance note on references at the bottom of this page)
  • An up-to-date CV
  • Your approved English language test* (if applicable)
  • A letter of sponsorship, if you need one.
  • CAS, visa and BRP – International students that have previously studied in the UK on a student or Tier 4 visa (where applicable). 

As part of your online application you will be able to upload scanned documents.

* Applicants who have not yet completed an approved English language test may apply for a Masters course prior to taking a test.

Interviews do not form part of the Business School’s standard admissions process. However, in some cases, an applicant may be invited for an interview if it will help inform whether an offer should be made.  

Admissions Policy

Please see our Taught Admissions Policy.

If you have any questions about our admissions process for Business Masters, you can contact our admissions team on masters@lubs.leeds.ac.uk.

Important guidance for personal statements

In the statement, we are looking for evidence of the qualities that you will bring to the programme and student community.  We also want to understand how studying a programme at Leeds University Business School will help you meet your career aspirations. Please ensure that you address the following in your personal statement:

  • What skills, qualities and experiences would you bring to the programme and how will they help you succeed?
  • How will the opportunity to study at Leeds University Business School help you in your academic, personal and professional development?
  • What are your career aspirations and how will successful completion of this programme help you achieve them?

Your personal statement should be no more than 500 words in length, be written in English and be your own work.

Important guidance for references

You will be required to submit contact details of two referees when completing your application who have knowledge of your academic and/or professional ability.

These should usually be a lecturer or supervisor at your last educational institution, however, it may be appropriate to select referees from your professional area of work if you have been out of education for more than 5 years or are applying with evidence of work experience.

Our Admissions Teams may request references where required to support your application, and these will be requested directly from your referees by the University, using the details you provide.

It is your responsibility to ensure that the referees you nominate are able and willing to provide a reference where required.