Max is studying a Master’s in Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management at Imperial College Business School. He shares his experience of applying to Imperial and tips for future applicants.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background before you joined Imperial College Business School?
I originally started my undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering in Vienna, but I didn’t enjoy it, so I changed my plans and gained my undergraduate in Design and Photography in Berlin and developed a lot of creative and communication skills during my studies.
During my time studying I had started working part-time for a design thinking agency as a graphic designer and undertook training as a design thinking coach. These experiences enabled me to learn about the innovation sector.
After I finished my studies, I worked as an Innovation Manager and design thinking coach in Austria and I learned a lot. However, I realised I wanted to learn more from an academic perspective, and from here I found the MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management programme at Imperial College Business School.
Why Imperial College Business School?
I was really keen to study in the UK because I had heard such good things about the education system in general, and it seemed that teaching and learning was strongly connected to passion in the subjects, which was something I wanted to be a part of.
Imperial is one of the highest ranked universities which was interesting, of course, but I feel like it’s the people that make it really special. The cohort of students is so diverse and full of open-minded and curious international individuals. I wanted to be part of a creative and productive atmosphere that encourages people to grow and that’s exactly what Imperial is.
The fact that it’s located in London is also a huge plus as not only is it one of the biggest and most influential cities in the world, it also has some of the most promising startups. So being in capital felt like it would offer me numerous possibilities and opportunities every day.
Why did you choose MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Management?
I knew what I wanted to study based on my experience and interests. A lot of universities have programmes that focus primarily on entrepreneurship and founding startups. I knew I wanted a bit of that in my programme, but it was important that there was a right balance between innovation, intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship, and this programme had the unique ability to offer a perfection combination.
I have always strived to become a holistic problem solver with the ability to strategically drive innovations in complex environments, and I felt like this programme and Imperial would equip me with the skills I wanted to develop myself.
How did you find the application process?
The application process started with an extensive online form including your CV, personal statement and career development questions. This helped me to think about what I wanted to do after the programme which forced me to critically analyse my skills and research potential employers. I was pushed to understand what skills potential employers would want, what I already possessed and how the programme would help me to fill any gaps. This experience made me think more in depth about what I wanted to do after my studies which was really valuable.
After this I did a video interview which I found the most challenging part of the application process. I tried to make sure that I summarised what I wanted to tell them and then trusted in my own experience and abilities. After the video interview I didn’t feel overly confident, but I think it’s important to remember that no one does these things perfectly and instead it’s about reacting under stress.
Do you have any tips for other Bright Network members who are think of applying?
- Don’t just focus on what you’ve done and the skills you already have. Try to think about how the programme you’re applying for can help you develop as a personand a professional. They’re looking to see the potential you have to develop, learn and improve.
- Don’t be afraid. Everyone worries that they won’t be smart enough or good enough, but don’t think about that. Try your best and trust in yourself.