Financing an MBA can be difficult for all candidates, but sometimes women find it even more complex due to the gender pay gap and lack of representation at the top of the career pyramid.
Many top schools, aware of this gender gap and the shortage of women in leadership positions, have created MBA scholarships exclusively for women.
The provision of merit-based MBA scholarships for women is intended to encourage exceptional professional women to enrol on MBA programs and gain the leadership skills they need to advance in the world of business.
Below is a selection of scholarships for women offered by some of the best business schools in the world.
MBA Scholarships for Women | |||
Business School | Scholarship Name | Eligibility | Amount |
AGSM Emerging Female Leaders Scholarships | For high achieving female leaders in the first five years of their career. | Minimum of two scholarships, each with a value of AUD$50,000 (approx. US$34,605) | |
AGSM Women in Leadership Scholarships | For high achieving female leaders. | Minimum of two scholarships, each with a value of AUD$50,000 (approx. US$34,605) | |
The 30% Club Female Business Leaders Scholarship | Female candidate showing exceptional academic achievement, work experience and senior leadership potential. | One full fee scholarship and mentorship | |
Alliance Manchester Business School Women in Business Scholarships | Female students of all nationalities are eligible, awarded on a rolling basis as part of the admissions process. | 10-25 percent of tuition fees | |
Women of the World Scholarship | This scholarship is available to women of all nationalities and backgrounds. Special consideration will be given to candidates with proven financial need. | Unspecified | |
The ESADE Women in Business Scholarship | Open to MBA women candidates from all nationalities with significant and relevant work experience in business. | Unspecified | |
Scholarship for Women Leaders | Specifically designed for MBA women candidates from all nationalities who have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills throughout their professional lives. | Unspecified | |
MBA in International Management Scholarship for Women Leaders | Open to all self-funding female applicants to the MBA in International Management program who demonstrate excellence in leadership. | €15,000 (approx. US$16,782) | |
Women in Management Scholarship | Female candidates with outstanding academic achievement and professional excellence. | Up to €10,000 fee reduction (approx. US$11,188) | |
IE Women Scholarship and Mentoring Program | Offered to MBA candidates, among others. | 40 percent of tuition plus six months mentoring program | |
IE Women’s Leadership Scholarship | Admitted to MBA (or any other) at IE. | 30 percent of all costs | |
IE Women’s Scholarship | Open to women admitted to any master’s program. | 40 percent of Tuition | |
Queen Rania Foundation Scholarship for Women Leaders | Any master’s for Jordanian women. | Three Scholarships of 40 percent of all costs | |
Stewart Hamilton Scholarship for Women | Open to female candidates of developing countries with a strong overall application. | One scholarship of CHF50,000 (approx. US$49,802) | |
Nestle Scholarship for Women | Preference is given to women from developing countries. | One scholarship of CHF50,000 (approx. US$49,802) | |
Imperial Women’s Scholarships | Female candidates who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and professional excellence. | Variable | |
INSEAD Judith Connelly Delouvrier Endowed Scholarship | Women candidates who have been admitted to the MBA Programme or invited to admissions interviews. | €20 000 to €25 000 (approx. US$22,376 to US$27,970) | |
INSEAD Groupe Galeries Lafayette Endowed Scholarship for Women | Women candidates who have been admitted to the INSEAD MBA programme who identify with the goals and ambitions of Groupe Galeries Lafayette (retail industry). | €12,000 (approx. US$13,425) | |
INSEAD Alumni Fund (IAF) '68 Scholarship for Women | Meritorious women candidates with financial need. | €10,000 to €20,000 (approx. US$11,188 to US$22,376) | |
The 30% Club Scholarship | Open to all successful female first year MBA applicants. | First year fees | |
London Business School MBA Scholarships for Women | Open to all successful female MBA applicants. | Ten awards of various amounts, from £20,000 up to full fees, £82,000 (approx. US$25,343 to US$103,906) | |
London Business School MBA Scholarship for UK Women | Open to all successful MBA women from the UK. | Two awards of various amounts, up to half fees | |
Carlsson Family Scholarship | Open to all successful female MBA applicants. | One award of £20,000. (approx. US$25,343) | |
Monica and Navin Valrani Scholarship | Open to Indian women. | One award of £29,000 (approx. US$36,747) | |
Muna Al Gurg Scholarship | Open to female candidates for the MBA programme and EMBA Dubai programme who are from the Middle East. | One award of £50,000 (approx. US$63,357) | |
Global Leadership Council (GLC) Scholarships for Women | Awarded to one female candidate based on academic excellence. | £30,000 (approx. US$38,014) | |
The Oxford Executive MBA Scholarship for Women in association with the 30% Club | Awarded to one woman per Executive MBA intake. | 50 percent of program fees | |
30% Club Partial Tuition Waiver | Outstanding female candidates. | One merit-based tuition waiver up to €28,500 (50 percent of tuition fees) (approx. US$31,885) & mentorship program | |
Partial (up to 70%) Tuition Waiver | Outstanding female candidates with a minimum 680 GMAT score. | One merit-based tuition waiver up to €39,900 (70 percent of tuition fees) (approx. US$44,640) | |
Partial (up to 50%) Tuition Waiver | Outstanding female candidates. | One merit-based tuition waiver up to €28,500 (50 percent of tuition fees) (approx. US$31,885) | |
American Association of University Women (AAUW) | Separate awards for both US and International students. | Up to US$30,000 | |
P. E. O. International Peace Scholarship | Female international students who want to study in a graduate program in the United States or Canada. | US$10,000 | |
The Wallman Fellowship | Awarded to students demonstrating outstanding leadership, academic, and extracurricular achievements and a commitment to advancing the interests of women in business. There is a strong preference for women from underrepresented minority groups. | Full tuition | |
Janet “Ginger” Gelb (MPMM 1984) Scholarship | Merit based. | Unspecified | |
It’s also worth looking into the Forté Fellowship, which is offered by many world-leading business schools. Forté Fellowships are awarded each year to outstanding female students who demonstrate exemplary leadership academically, professionally or creatively, as well as a proven commitment to the empowerment of women in education or the workplace. Fellowship amounts vary according to the individual and the school.
Schools associated with the Fellowship include:
Saïd Business School, HEC Paris MBA, London Business School, Imperial College Business School, Alliance Manchester Business School, The Wharton School, University of Virginia (Darden), Owen Graduate School of Management, Columbia Business School, The University of Texas at Austin - McCombs School of Business, The Kellogg School of Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University, NYU Stern School of Business, Yale School of Management, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Kelley School of Business, Kenan-Flagler Business School, Tepper School of Business, Tuck School of Business, McDonough School of Business, MIT Sloan School of Management, Judge Business School and more.
