Cambridge Judge MBA Essays: Analysis & Tips for 2025-26
Known for its one-year intensive program, Cambridge Judge attracts ambitious professionals from across the world. Apart from global reputation, Judge MBA carries with it the legacy of the University of Cambridge. Like most top business schools, Cambridge Judge MBA essays offer a window into your goals, experiences, and personality. In this post, I am going to break down each essay, and share tips on how to approach them.
Career Objectives
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?
How to approach this essay
This is essentially your “Why MBA, Why Cambridge, Why now?” essay, with added questions about the research you have done and how prepared you are for the program.
Short-term and long-term goals:
- Be specific with your short-term goals – name the function, industry, and ideally the geography. For instance, “I want to transition from infrastructure project management in India to strategy consulting with a focus on renewable energy in London”
- While long-term goals don’t have to be specific, they must be alignment with and a natural progression of your short-term goals. The adcom doesn’t expect you to have it all mapped out, but they do want to see a sense of direction. Be ambitious but realistic
Why Cambridge MBA
- Go beyond generic points like “diverse cohort” or “strong brand.” Instead, highlight Cambridge-specific advantages: the one-year format, experiential projects (like the Global Consulting Project), ties to the wider university ecosystem, and the Cambridge Venture Project for entrepreneurship-minded applicants
- Demonstrate how these offerings connect directly to your goals
Evidence of research
- Judge expects applicants to dig deeper into their target industries. Speak to alumni from your target industries, attend info sessions, or research MBA employment reports.
- For example: “Through conversations with two Judge alumni (Ms. A, class of ___, and Mr. B, class of ___) working at BCG in London, I learned that consulting recruiters value strong problem-solving skills, but also expect MBAs to demonstrate resilience in high-pressure client engagements”
Readiness and self-awareness
- The adcom wants you to honestly reflect on where you stand. Mention skills you already have (leadership, analytical ability, sector knowledge) and how you are acquiring skills needed for your goals (case interview practice, coding basics, financial modeling, or presentation skills)
- Balance confidence with humility – show belief in your ability, but also openness to growth
Tip: Structure this essay clearly, addressing each of the questions from the prompt concisely and coherently. That makes it easier for the reader to follow. Read this article on how to define post-MBA career goals in your application.
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Required Essay 1
Tell us about a time when you made a professional mistake. How could it have ended differently? (up to 200 words)
How to approach this essay
Judge is not looking for perfect high achievers but for real people who have made mistakes and learned from them. Be vulnerable and show that you are capable of learning and growing.
- Pick a right story with real consequences, but not a catastrophic one that would put your capabilities into question. Example: missing a deadline, misunderstanding a stakeholder’s expectations, or failing in a presentation.
- Focus more on your learnings than the incident itself. What were the repercussions of your mistake? How did you improve as a result – did you become more detail-oriented, learn to communicate and collaborate better, be proactive and seek help?
- Be careful not to shift the blame to external agencies. Instead, show that you took responsibility and grew from the experience
Tip: Structure the essay like: situation – mistake – consequence – learning – how you applied the learnings later.
Required Essay 2
Tell us about the best team you worked with. What made the team successful? (up to 200 words)
How to approach this essay
Teamwork is essential to succeed at any top MBP program. The adcom wants to see how you perform in group settings, contribute to team work, and recognize what makes a team effective.
- Pick a team that really worked well together. This could be a cross-functional project, a startup team, or even a team outside work setting (NGO, hobby clubs)
- Highlight collaboration, not just results. Talk about what made the team work so well together, like communication, trust, diversity of thought, or conflict resolution
- If the team was small, explain what each member brought to the table and how they inspired you
- Show how you contributed. Subtly convey leadership and collaborative skills by demonstrating how you facilitated communication, resolved conflicts, bridged gaps, took initiatives, or supported a team member
Tip: Avoid focusing only on outcomes – “we delivered X in Y months”. Instead, focus on what made the team dynamic special.
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Required Essay 3
Provide an example of when someone else positively impacted your life. What did you learn from this experience? (up to 200 words)
How to approach this essay
This is a values-driven question. Judge wants to understand who inspires you and how they shaped your values.
- Pick someone meaningful. It could be a mentor, colleague, family member, or even a community leader
- Focus on how they inspired you specifically rather than their own legacy. For example, a manager who showed empathy under pressure might have taught you the power of compassionate leadership
- Connect it to your growth. Show how their actions and values shaped your decisions, mindset, or leadership style
Tip: Keep the spotlight on the person, but end with how their influence continues to guide you.
Re-Applicant Essay
Describe any relevant developments since you last applied to the Cambridge MBA. (up to 200 words)
How to approach this essay
Re-applicant essays should focus on progress. Judge wants to see that you have strengthened your candidacy since your last application.
- A promotion or expanded responsibilities at work
- International projects or experiences
- New skills or certifications
- Seminars, conferences, or presentations that increased industry exposure
- More defined career goals, backed by industry research and networking
- Continued engagement with Judge (conversations with students, visits, info sessions)
Tip: Show growth and increased self-awareness of how Judge is the right fit for you.
This article on reapplication strategies might be useful.
Final Thoughts
The Cambridge Judge MBA essays require deep introspection and thought.
The career essay tests your clarity of goals and readiness, while the shorter essays look for authenticity, self-awareness, and values. The best way to approach them is with honesty and specificity.
Use stories from your experience to demonstrate growth and leadership. Show that you have clearly thought out your future, Judge is the right fit for you, and you will both contribute to and benefit from the Judge community.
Also read this article on the best MBA programs in the UK: LBS vs Oxford vs Cambridge vs Imperial.
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