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Tips on Applying for Further Study at Imperial

4 students in a seminar room, looking at a laptop

Tips on Applying for Further Study at Imperial

Alumnus James Low gives his advice on applying to an MSc course in Economics at Imperial College London.

1. Have you got any advice on how to make a successful application to an Imperial MSc course?
Focus on your application/personal statement. Besides your undergraduate grades and extracurriculars, the college places the most weight on the motivational questions in the application, so I would definitely recommend focusing on that.

2. What is your advice for getting a good academic reference from Warwick?
Get references from people who know you well. A personalised reference letter is much more impactful when it's from someone who knows you. I obtained mine from my RAE tutor, Amira Elasra, and Jeremy Smith, with whom I worked with during my time at the Warwick Economics Summit.

3. What knowledge and skills did you highlight for your application to Imperial?
Highlight your professional and extracurricular experiences, as well as personal interests and hobbies- I wrote about my experience at the Warwick Economics Summit as an Overall Coordinator. A 2:1 and above from Warwick will meet the minimum requirement for the course, but a well-crafted application that focuses on your experiences and aspirations will set you apart.

4. Would you have done anything differently?
Apply early. If I could go back in time, I would definitely apply earlier. I only decided to pursue a master's in May during my final year exams, which made the whole process more stressful than necessary!

5. What were the highlights of your MSc course?
Consider this course if you want a good blend of business, finance, and economics. There was also excellent career support, such as access to resources and coaching, and I learned how to do the bulk of my consulting interviews there.

6. Did your undergraduate degree at Warwick prepare you well for your MSc?
Absolutely, especially the content that I covered in economics and statistics.

James Low, BSc Economics (2019-2022) at the University of Warwick and MSc Economics and Strategy for Business (2022-2023) at Imperial College London.