Profile Evaluation for LBS MiF --- B.Com (Hons) degree and CFA Level 1, but no full-time work experience?

Question

I graduated in 2023 with a B.Com (Hons) and cleared CFA Level 1 last year. I don’t have any full-time work experience yet, but I’ve done two internships in equity research and corporate banking. I’m aiming for the LBS MiF pre-experience track, but I’m not sure if not having work ex will hurt my chances. Do they expect at least 1–2 years of experience, or do strong academics and CFA help balance it out?

Divakshi Arora · Accepted Answer

Getting into LBS MiF with a B.Com (Hons) and CFA Level 1 is very realistic, even without full-time work experience. The Early Careers MiF track is designed for applicants who have 0&ndash;2 years of experience, and internships are treated as valuable exposure. Your equity research and corporate banking internships show direct finance relevance, which is exactly what the admissions team looks for.
What LBS prioritizes is strong quant ability, clear motivation for finance, and evidence you can handle London recruiting right after graduation. To show this, you&rsquo;ll want to highlight in your essays how your equity research internship built skills in valuation and financial modeling, and how corporate banking gave exposure to credit analysis or deal structuring. Linking those experiences to the technical modules at LBS (like Capital Markets or Advanced Corporate Finance) makes the &ldquo;why now&rdquo; argument much stronger. The CFA Level 1 signals technical ability, while your internships add practical context. Lack of full-time work doesn&rsquo;t disqualify you, but connecting past experience with immediate post-MiF goals is what makes the profile stand out.

Hema A · Answer

A lot of people think LBS MiF is only for candidates with 2&ndash;3 years of banking experience, but that&rsquo;s not true for the pre-experience route. Fresh graduates with strong academic and internship records are admitted every year.
&bull; A B.Com (Hons) degree with an 8+ CGPA or first-class standing is already competitive. &bull; CFA Level 1 is a strong differentiator for applicants from commerce backgrounds, especially when paired with finance internships. &bull; The admissions team expects some kind of practical exposure, and your stints in equity research and corporate banking cover that box. &bull; What you&rsquo;ll need to highlight is career clarity &mdash; showing how the MiF is the logical step right now, not after a job.
So no, they don&rsquo;t expect you to have full-time experience for this track. The strength of your academics plus relevant internships puts you in a good position to apply.
For more details you can read this blog on "LBS MFin"