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August 26, 2025 1,070 views

Tuesday Tips: Cambridge MBA Essays and Tips for 2025-2026

Cambridge MBA

If you’re targeting the Cambridge MBA at Judge Business School, the essay prompts for 2025–2026 are here—and we’ve got expert guidance to help you stand out. As part of a world-class campus in a global hub for technology and business, Judge Business School offers an MBA program with international reach and powerful recruiting connections.

(Our post Getting a European MBA: A Unique Experience explains the many benefits of studying across the pond.)

To learn more about the Cambridge MBA program, you can connect with current students, read student blogs, and attend virtual admissions events. The Judge admissions team seeks ambitious, innovative, and confident candidates with strong interpersonal skills.

International experience is another essential attribute for Cambridge MBA applicants. While the essays don’t directly ask about global exposure, you can and should work your international perspective into one or more responses.

Are you curious about your chances of gaining admission to Cambridge’s Judge Business School? Contact us to talk strategy with a free 15-minute advising session with an SBC Principal Consultant. 

Cambridge MBA Essays

You must complete the career objectives statement and three shorter essays:

Please provide details of your post-MBA career plans. The statement should not exceed 500 words and must address the following:

  • What are your short and long-term career objectives? How will the Cambridge MBA equip you to achieve these?

  • Looking at your short-term career goal, describe the research you have done to understand how this industry/role/location recruits MBA talent and what they are looking for in a candidate?

  • How confident do you feel about meeting your short-term career goal? What skills/characteristics do you already have that will help you to achieve them, and what preparation are you doing now?

This essay is the centerpiece of the Cambridge MBA application, and the AdCom expects a clear, well-researched career vision. Begin by defining your short- and long-term career goals, ensuring they are both ambitious and realistic. Be specific—“consulting in sustainability” is better than “consulting,” and “becoming CFO of a European healthcare startup” is more compelling than “leadership in finance.”

Next, explain why you need an MBA now and why the Cambridge MBA is the right choice for you. Draw connections to Judge’s one-year format, its global consulting project, concentrations, or exposure to the Cambridge Cluster of technology and biotech firms. Showing you’ve researched Cambridge’s ecosystem—not just its rankings—will give your essay credibility.

Listen to B-Schooled Podcast #56: An Overview of European MBA Programs

Then, address the research you’ve done on your short-term goal. Strong applicants go beyond generic Google searches. Mention informational interviews with alumni, conversations with recruiters, or deep dives into job postings that reveal the skills in demand.

Demonstrate you understand the recruiting landscape in your chosen industry, role, and geography. For example, consulting in London might emphasize case interview preparation and industry networking, whereas product management in Berlin might require fluency in agile methods and prior experience with technology.

The final piece is self-assessment and preparation. Be candid about what you bring to the table—your analytical skills, leadership experience, or international exposure—and what gaps remain. Then, show how you’re already working to close those gaps (taking a data analytics course, seeking stretch assignments, or improving your language proficiency). The Judge AdCom appreciates applicants who are both ambitious and grounded enough to recognize what they still need.

The strongest essays will therefore strike a balance between vision, research, and reflection. You want the reader to come away believing: this applicant has a clear plan, knows how the Cambridge MBA will accelerate it, and is actively preparing to succeed.

Required Essay 2

Tell us about a time when you made a professional mistake. How could it have ended differently? (up to 200 words)

Judge isn’t looking for perfection—they’re looking for resilience, humility, and the ability to learn quickly. Pick an example that shows stakes (a missed client deadline, a flawed analysis, a poor communication decision) but doesn’t raise red flags about your judgment.

Be concise in outlining the situation: What happened, why it happened, and what the immediate consequences were. Don’t linger on excuses. Instead, spend most of your word count on how you handled it and what you learned. Did you take accountability in front of a client or manager? Did you create a new process to prevent repeat errors?

The strongest essays show growth in action. For example, “After underestimating how long it would take to gather cross-border data, I developed a global reporting checklist that my team still uses.” That demonstrates maturity, problem-solving, and leadership potential.

Finally, make sure you reflect: how did this experience prepare you for the collaborative, high-pressure environment of the Cambridge MBA? That shows the AdCom that you can turn setbacks into assets.

Q&A with the Cambridge Judge MBA Admissions Director

Required Essay 3

Tell us about the best team you worked with. What made the team successful? (up to 200 words)

The Judge School of Business values collaboration across cultures and disciplines, so this essay is your chance to highlight how you thrive in diverse groups. Choose a project where the team dynamic—not just the outcome—was exceptional. For instance, a cross-border product launch, a nonprofit initiative, or a high-stakes client pitch.

Explain briefly what the team was tasked with, then pivot to what made the group effective: clear communication, trust, complementary skill sets, or innovative problem-solving. Weave in your role—did you mediate conflicts, introduce a new tool, or motivate peers when things got tough?

Judge will want to see how you bring out the best in others. For example, “I noticed a quieter teammate had deep expertise, so I created space for her to present, and her insights ultimately reshaped our strategy.” That shows empathy and leadership without needing a formal title.

Link this to what you value in teamwork and how you’ll contribute to the Cambridge MBA program, where projects demand tight collaboration in a one-year, fast-moving environment.

Punting in Cambridge

Required Essay 4

Provide an example of when someone else positively impacted your life. What did you learn from this experience? (up to 200 words)

This prompt is an opportunity to showcase humility and openness—two traits that the Judge AdCom prizes. Don’t overthink it: the story could be from childhood, university, your career, or community life.

Focus on a moment where someone else’s influence shifted your perspective or trajectory. A mentor who coached you through a significant decision. A colleague who modeled resilience under pressure. A friend who exposed you to a new culture or worldview.

The key is to go beyond simply praising that person—make it clear how you changed as a result. For example, “A supervisor encouraged me to present early in my career, which built confidence that later empowered me to lead client meetings.”

Close with reflection: how has this person’s influence shaped the way you interact with others? Has it inspired you to mentor colleagues, volunteer in your community, or support diversity and inclusion at work? The Cambridge MBA program seeks to admit candidates who not only benefit from others but also pay it forward.

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For more information on applying to the Cambridge MBA, visit the school’s admissions page. To talk to Stacy Blackman Consulting about your Cambridge MBA essays, don’t hesitate to contact us!  We offer multiple services to meet your MBA application needs, from our All-In Partnership to hourly help reviewing your MBA resume, essays, and more. Contact SBC today for a free 15-minute advising session to talk strategy with a Principal SBC consultant. 

Here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on our SBC team.

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