Thanks for your interest! What's next?

Learn more about the course and register today to secure your spot! You’ll receive an email from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) soon with more information.

MBA Essentials

Online certificate course

Next start date

21 January 2026

10 weeks of online weekly modules

8-12 hours of self-paced learning per week

Earn a digital certificate from LSE

Multiple payment options available

This course is for you if you want to:

Apply new skills

Develop and improve your effectiveness as a leader, with enhanced managerial and business knowledge.

Grow your career

Advance your career, with key MBA skills and validation in the form of an LSE certificate.

Move into a new role

Transition into a new role, organisation or industry, with inspiration and ideas to make a positive impact from day one.

Prepare for an MBA

Build your foundational knowledge to complete an MBA at some point in the future.

Register in three easy steps

1

Review selection and pricing

You’ll be taken to your cart on GetSmarter, LSE’s online education partner.

2

Create an account

Create a student profile on GetSmarter, then add your billing details.

3

Complete registration

Choose your preferred payment option to register and pay for the course.

“The content was practical, engaging, and immediately applicable to real-world challenges in my work as a strategy consultant. The online learning experience was smooth and flexible, allowing me to balance study with a full-time role.”

–– Jaz E. | Strategy Consultant

Choose a flexible payment plan

We offer accessible financing options so that nothing stands in the way of your success.

Payment options


Pay in full before course starts

Split payment plan
You may opt for a three-part payment plan, with the first installment due prior to the course start date.

Get sponsored by your employer
Of our past students, 37 percent of our students have received employer assistance, and you can too. All you need to register is your sponsor’s name, email, and billing address. They’ll receive an email with instructions.

Need help asking your boss? Check out our guide here.

Need help? Contact us

An Enrolment Specialist can answer any questions you have about the course, learning outcomes, and payment options.

Phone: +44 1223 790 603

Email: lseonline@getsmarter.com

How you’ll learn

Every course is broken down into manageable, weekly modules, designed to accelerate your learning process through diverse learning activities:

Work through your downloadable and online instructional material.

Interact with your peers and learning facilitators through weekly class-wide forums and reviewed small group discussions.

Enjoy a wide range of interactive content, including video lectures, infographics, live polls and more.

Investigate rich, real-world case studies.

Technical requirements

In order to complete this course, you’ll need a current email account and access to a computer and the internet, as well as a PDF Reader. You may need to view Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, and read and create documents in Microsoft Word or Excel.

We recommend that you use Google Chrome as your internet browser when accessing the Online Campus. Although this is not a requirement, we have found that this browser performs best for ease of access to course material.

Certain courses may require additional software and resources. These additional software and resource requirements will be communicated to you upon registration and/or at the beginning of the course. Please note that Google, Vimeo, and YouTube may be used in our course delivery, and if these services are blocked in your jurisdiction, you may have difficulty in accessing course content. Please check with an Enrolment Specialist before registering for this course if you have any concerns about this affecting your experience with the Online Campus.

Your success team

GetSmarter, with whom LSE is collaborating to deliver this online course, provides a personalised approach to online education that ensures you’re supported throughout your learning journey.

Head tutor

A subject expert who will guide you through content-related challenges.

Success advisor

Your one-on-one support is available during University hours (8am to 5pm GMT) to resolve technical and administrative challenges.

Global success team

Available 24/7 to solve your tech-related and administrative queries and concerns.

Why GetSmarter?

The London School of Economics and Political Science is collaborating with online education provider GetSmarter to create a new class of learning experience – one that is high-touch, intimate, and personalised for the working professional.

GetSmarter delivers online education from world-leading universities and institutions to transform the lives of thousands of students across the globe. GetSmarter’s online certificate courses are designed to advance your career and fit in with your busy lifestyle. Each course is expert-led, fully supported and community-based, helping you build career-critical skills. GetSmarter is owned by 2U.

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is a leading dedicated social science university. LSE was founded in 1895 with the aim of understanding the causes of things for the ‘betterment of society’. LSE seeks to make research and teaching practical and relevant to the real world. The School counts 20 Nobel Prize winners and 40 world leaders amongst its alumni and staff. LSE has students from over 160 countries, and over 100 languages are spoken on campus.

LSE is dedicated to addressing global issues through research and education, and is the most international of all British universities. By offering online certificate courses designed by expert LSE faculty members, the School aims to make its state-of-the-art social sciences research and insights available to a wider global audience. The supported, interactive online learning model allows participants to study from anywhere in the world, at times of their convenience, while still interacting with peers and teaching staff alike.