Durham Business School

Durham, UK · Public · 1-year full-time (September/October start), pathways in Entrepreneurship, Consultancy or Technology

Program tuition: £54,200 (full program)

Essays

Personal statement (500 words)

A 500-word personal statement which should include - your reasons for choosing the course, the modules/areas of study you are particularly interested in, the skills and knowledge you are hoping to gain, and a demonstration of your relevant skills and experience.

Editor's notes

There are no rounds, but there are soft deadlines: end of July if you need a visa, end of August if you don't, and Durham can close the programme when it's full. Scholarship money is automatic for offer holders, so the real incentive is to apply soon after applications open on Oct. 1, 2026. There are at most 35 awards.
No GMAT is required, which puts more weight on your managerial record and your interview. Durham asks for three years in roles with significant managerial responsibility. Show people or budgets you actually managed, in your CV and in your statement.
The Global Leadership Scholarship is worth £20,500, but only self-funded applicants qualify and you won't write a separate essay for it. That means your application is the scholarship case. The criteria reward leadership responsibility, career progression and what you'll add to the cohort, so write to those.
Durham's AI rule is specific: using AI to research or brainstorm is allowed, but every sentence you submit has to be yours. Treat the personal statement as something you'll be asked about in the Teams interview, because you will be discussing that same background.

Durham Business School

Essays

Personal statement (500 words)

Editor's notes

Sources