Thinking of applying for the MW study programme?
There’s a huge difference between the skills you need to pass your WSET Diploma (a pre-requisite for applying for the IMW’s study programme) and those that are required by MW candidates.
The first taste most MW students get of the challenges that lie ahead comes during the week of their first-year residential seminar, and many candidates talk about how they wish they’d been better prepared ahead of time.
Our four-day bridging course guides potential MW candidates through everything they need to take on board before they sit the IMW’s application exam (which takes place early in summer each year) and embark on the first year of studies.
The course covers practical information, including the pathway to becoming an MW (from entrance exam through to graduation), the costs involved in studying for the exams, and how non-native English speakers can deal with language issues. Participants will learn the critical thinking skills and analytical approach essential to addressing the needs of both the theory and practical exams. They will be taught the dark arts of effective essay writing, including insights into the crafting of compelling introductions and conclusions, as well as how to gather and use illustrative examples effectively. Practical skills will be honed, too, and participants will be shown how to move from descriptive tasting notes to ones that create a clear analysis of the wines based on evidence from the glass. There will be plenty of time for participants to ask questions throughout.
Bridging courses will take place on a regular basis from spring 2026 onwards, with the first session due to take place in London (and elsewhere on demand).