Overview
A detailed guide to applying for the Bayes Business School (City, University of London) Executive MBA, available in London (Evening/Modular) and Dubai.
About Bayes
Bayes Business School (formerly Cass, part of City St George's, University of London) sits on the edge of the City's financial district, giving its MBA and EMBA cohorts walk-to-work access to banks, insurers and fintechs.
Based in London, Bayes draws applicants targeting finance, insurance, shipping & trade careers. The United Kingdom pairs centuries-old academic prestige with efficient one-year master's degrees and direct access to London — Europe's largest finance, consulting and tech hiring market.
Why Bayes stands out
Every school on a shortlist claims excellence; what matters is the specific edge you would actually use. For Bayes, that edge is concrete — A Square Mile address with four decades of City finance connections. For a candidate whose goals run through finance or insurance, that translates into recruiters who already know the program, faculty who work in your field, and alumni a warm introduction away.
- Campus minutes from the Bank of England and City employers
- Long-standing strength in finance, insurance and shipping
- One-year MBA plus modular and Dubai EMBA options
The EMBA at Bayes
A part-time or modular Executive MBA for senior managers and leaders who keep working full-time while studying on weekends or in intensive blocks.
24-month Executive MBA in evening or weekend blocks in London, with a Dubai cohort option.
What you'll learn
The curriculum covers the full general-management core — strategy, finance, operations, marketing, leadership — but taught to a room of experienced managers, so the real learning compounds through peer exchange. Most participants apply each module to their own organisation the following Monday, which is why employers co-fund these programs. Bayes's academic centre of gravity sits in:
Who is eligible
What the committee looks for
- Strong analytical and quantitative skills.
- Proficiency in English (IELTS/TOEFL if applicable).
Tests & admission requirements
- GMAT or GRE is typically required.
- Waivers may be available for candidates with significant senior experience and academic credentials.
- Bayes may offer its own internal admissions test in some cases.
Contact the admissions team early to check your eligibility for a GMAT waiver.
What you'll submit
- Online Application Form
- Personal Statement / Essays
- CV / Resume
- Two Professional References
- University Transcripts
Essays focus on your motivation ('Why Bayes?'), your career objectives, and your potential contribution to the cohort. Be prepared to discuss a recent professional achievement and how you handled a challenge.
How the process works
- Submit the Online Application.
- Review by the Admissions Panel.
- Interview (usually with a faculty member or senior staff).
- Offer of Admission (typically within a few weeks of the interview).
Application timeline & prep
- Build your profile (12–18 months out)
Map your story to what Bayes actually values — finance and insurance — and close obvious gaps in leadership evidence, academics or career progression before you apply.
- Take your tests (9–12 months out)
Typical expectation: GMAT ~640+ typical (GRE accepted). Book early enough to allow one retake without missing a round.
- Shortlist and visit (6–9 months out)
Compare Bayes against 4–6 peer programs on placement in your target lane, net cost and location. Speak to current students and alumni — admissions teams notice informed applicants.
- Essays and recommendations (3–6 months out)
Draft essays that make one coherent argument for why this program, why now. Brief your recommenders with specific stories rather than adjectives.
- Submit and interview
Apply in the earliest round you can be genuinely ready for — earlier rounds usually mean better admission and scholarship odds. Prepare interviews around your own application, not a script.
- Decision, funding and visa
Leave 3–4 months post-admit for scholarship negotiation, financing and your United Kingdom student visa.
Fees, scholarships & ROI
Plan around ≈£51k tuition for the one-year MBA, plus living costs, insurance and visa fees. Figures are indicative — always confirm current fees on the school's own site before applying.
One-year formats cut both tuition and opportunity cost, making the UK one of the fastest routes to a positive return on a graduate degree. Merit scholarships, external fellowships and — for executive formats — employer sponsorship can materially change the arithmetic, so build your shortlist around net cost, not sticker price.
When you model ROI, count all three costs: tuition, living expenses, and the salary you give up while studying. Then set that against the realistic post-EMBA salary in your target lane — not the program-wide average, which blends high-paying and low-paying paths. A shorter format or a strong scholarship often beats a marginally higher-ranked school on this arithmetic.
Get a realistic read on your Bayes chances
A free 1-on-1 evaluation of your profile against recent Bayes EMBA admits — where you stand, what to fix, and which rounds to target.
Careers after the Bayes EMBA
Graduates of EMBA programs like Bayes's typically move into C-suite readiness, P&L leadership, board roles and career pivots at the senior level. Bayes's distinctive edge is in finance, insurance, shipping & trade — if your target career sits in one of those lanes, the school's recruiting relationships and alumni network compound in your favour.
Treat the careers office as a channel, not a guarantee: the students who convert a EMBA into the outcome they wanted start recruiting from week one, use alumni for referrals rather than information, and arrive with a story that explains why this exact role is the logical next step. The brand opens the door; preparation walks through it.
Rankings & outcomes
EMBA is ranked #55 in the Financial Times Executive MBA Ranking 2025. The figures below come from that ranking and describe the surveyed cohort — treat them as a directional read on outcomes, not a promise.
- #55
- Overall rank
- $233,295
- Salary today (US$)
- 66%
- Salary increase
- #84
- Career progress rank
- 66%
- Aims achieved
- #96
- Alumni network rank
Insider tips
- Leverage the London location; explain how being in 'The City' benefits your goals.
- Demonstrate 'Curiosity' - a core value of the rebranded school.
- Highlight your ability to contribute to the diverse, international cohort.
How we help you get in
Moving from functional expertise to general management.
Understanding the impact of technology on business models.
Studying in the UK: work rights & visas
The UK's Graduate Route visa gives international graduates 2 years of open work rights (no employer sponsorship needed) after finishing their degree. Work-rights certainty is often the biggest single factor in whether an international degree pays back, so weigh it alongside rankings and cost.
Day to day, you'll be based in London — factor its housing market, commute and cost of living into your budget alongside tuition, because they differ sharply between college towns and major capitals.
- One-year degrees for faster ROI
- 2-year Graduate Route post-study work visa
- London access for finance, consulting and tech careers
Who should apply
Bayes is the right target if you are senior professionals with 8–15+ years of experience and your goals point toward finance or insurance. If your priorities differ — a different specialisation, budget band or geography — compare the peer schools below before locking your shortlist. The best application strategy usually pairs one or two ambitious targets with schools where your profile sits comfortably above the class average.
How Bayes compares
Rankings compress a dozen dimensions into one number; your decision only needs three — placement strength in your target lane, net cost after scholarships, and the location where you want to build a network. Against its UK peers, Bayes's case rests on finance and insurance. Start your comparison with Alliance MBS, Cambridge Judge, Cranfield — each leads in a different lane.
Frequently asked questions
What is the tuition fee?
Tuition is approximately £50,000 - £55,000 (check official website for the specific program and year).
What formats are available?
Evening EMBA (twice a week), Modular EMBA (one long weekend a month), and Dubai EMBA.
Is GMAT mandatory?
It is generally required, but waivers are possible for senior candidates.
Where are classes held?
London (Bunhill Row campus) or Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
Ready to apply to Bayes?
Work 1-on-1 with mentors who've guided admits into Bayes and its peers — from shortlist and tests to essays, interviews and scholarships.