Scholarships and automatic awards make your Full-time MBA more affordable by lowering the tuition you need to pay. With options to fit all profiles, we encourage outstanding MBA candidates to apply.
Full-time MBA Scholarships & automatic awards
There are two types of tuition reduction you may receive: awards and scholarships.
Awards
Awards are automatically granted if you meet the criteria. You do not have to submit an essay to receive an award, but you may be required to provide proof of test scores. You can be awarded more than one and they can be combined with a scholarship.
Scholarships
Full-time MBA scholarships are applied for as part of your application to the program. Each scholarship has a specific question you need to answer in the application form. While you can apply for up to three scholarships, you may only receive one. Scholarships are awarded on merit and only self-funded MBA candidates are eligible.
We recommend applying for scholarships early as they are limited.
Scholarships and awards apply solely to tuition fees.
Full-time MBA awards
You will automatically be granted an award if you meet the criteria. Find out more about relevant award deadlines on the Admissions page.
Test score excellence award
If you submit a test score at the 85th percentile or higher, you will receive a €3,000 award that celebrates your success.
Eligibility: Applicants will be considered after submitting a completed application to the Full-time MBA program that must include official results from one of the tests mentioned below.
The scores required are:
- GMAT: total score of 690 or higher
- GMAT Focus: total score of 645 or higher
- GRE: verbal score of 160 or higher and quant score of 165 or higher
- BAT of 16 or higher
- EA of 157 or higher
Requirements: Applicants must submit official test results, no older than five years from the date of application.
German Language
Non-native German-speaking applicants can be considered for awards based on their German language ability.
Value:
- German language level A1 – €500
- German language level A2 – €1,000
- German language level B1 – €2,000
- German language level B2 – €3,000
- German language level C1/C2 – €5,000
Eligibility: Applicants will be considered for this award after submitting a completed application to the MBA program including test results from an official test of the German language.
There are two points at which you can demonstrate your language level: during the application process, and after acceptance but before program start.
- During the application process: official test results must be submitted as part of your application. Your offer letter will include the scholarship pertinent to your proven language level at the time of application.
- Before program start: if you submit an official test score before program start, your scholarship amount will be updated to reflect your German language ability.
Requirements: Applicants must submit official test results from either the telc, TestDaF or Goethe language tests.
- Results submitted with an application must be from within the past two years.
- Results submitted before program start must be from after you were accepted into the program.
Full-time MBA Scholarships
To apply for a scholarship, you will need to answer the specific question associated with it. You can find examples of the questions listed below. Please submit your response(s) as part of your Full-time MBA application.
The following conditions apply:
- You can apply to up to three Full-time MBA scholarships
- You can only be awarded one scholarship
- Applying for scholarships does not guarantee a scholarship award, irrespective of how many you apply for
- Scholarship values are used to reduce the total cost of tuition
Diversity scholarships
Gender Pay Gap Scholarship/Women in Leadership Scholarship
At ESMT we encourage women to step into leadership roles and work towards continual advancement. To help more women to explore business education, to address the gender pay gap, and to encourage diversity, we offer a women in leadership scholarship for the Full-time MBA.
Eligibility: You identify as a woman.
Scholarship value: €8,000.
Essay questions: Please ensure you answer the correct question for your preferred intake.
- Essay question for intake starting Jan 2027: What do you believe are the biggest systemic barriers preventing more women from reaching senior leadership roles? How might businesses innovate to overcome them, beyond traditional diversity initiatives?
Please note: on the application form, this scholarship is called the Gender Pay Gay Scholarship.
- Essay question for intake starting Jan 2028: How have your experiences as a woman influenced the way you approach leadership, opportunity or professional advancement? Please give an example and explain what perspective you would bring to the ESMT MBA cohort.
Please note: on the application form, this scholarship is called the Women in Leadership Scholarship.
Rainbow Scholarship
The Rainbow Scholarship supports ESMT’s commitment to diversity. Special consideration will be given to self-identified LGBTQIA+ applicants.
Eligibility: You are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community
Scholarship value: €5,000.
Essay questions: Please ensure you answer the correct question for your preferred intake.
- Essay question for intake starting Jan 2027: How have you contributed to LGBTQIA+ causes and impacted the community?
- Essay question for intake starting Jan 2028: How have your experiences as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community shaped the perspective you would bring to the ESMT MBA cohort?
Regional Scholarship
Regional scholarships will be awarded to those with extraordinary academic and/or professional profiles, leadership skills, and growth potential. You will be expected to be an ambassador for ESMT.
Eligibility: You are resident in one of the following regions, and you can display extraordinary academic and/or professional profiles, leadership skills, and growth potential.
- Africa and the Middle East – two scholarships of up to €25,000 are available
- Latin America – two scholarships of up to €10,000 are available
- Asia – two scholarships of up to €8,000 are available
- Europe – two scholarships of up to €6,000 are available
- North America – two scholarships of up to €2,500 are available
Essay question: What does being an ambassador for your region in the ESMT community mean to you; and how will you be an ambassador for ESMT in your home region?
Impact scholarships
Dean’s Excellence Scholarship
Awarded on the basis of excellence, the Dean’s Excellence scholarship rewards students with strong academic credentials and demonstrated achievements. Beneficiaries are expected to be active members of the ESMT community and ambassadors for the school.
Eligibility: You can display excellent academic credentials, significant professional achievements, and demonstrable leadership skills.
Scholarship value: Two scholarships of €15,000 are available. One each for a male and female candidate.
Essay questions: Please ensure you answer the correct question for your preferred intake.
- Essay question for intake starting Jan 2027: What impact would you like to have as an ambassador of ESMT?
- Essay question for intake starting Jan 2028: What is the most significant professional achievement of your career to date? Describe your personal contribution and outline evidence demonstrating the significance of the result.
Responsible Impact Scholarship
Change can be accelerated when social issues and business are aligned. The responsible impact scholarship is for applicants who have had and will have, a positive impact in making the world a better place.
Eligibility: You have created a positive social impact by addressing one or more of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals OR You are either working at an organization where generating positive social or environmental outcomes is part of the business model, or it is a formal core responsibility of your job.
Scholarship value: €5,000
Essay questions: Please ensure you answer the correct question for your preferred intake.
- Essay question for intake starting Jan 2027: How have you positively impacted society or the environment?
Please note: on the application form, this scholarship is called the Impact Scholarship.
- Essay question for intake starting Jan 2028: Describe the most significant social or environmental outcome you have personally helped produce. What was your responsibility, what changed, and what evidence demonstrates the result?
Please note: on the application form, this scholarship is called the Responsible Impact Scholarship.
Panzer scholarship
The Panzer scholarship supports emerging leaders from Africa in creating impact, driving change, and shaping the future of business and society.
Eligibility: Citizens and current residents of a country in Africa, 30 years old or younger, who have founded a business or social enterprise.
Scholarship value: One scholarship of €20,000 is available.
Essay question: By 2035, what will your business/enterprise have contributed to Africa's future? Describe what you will have accomplished, and the impact it will have.
BMW Group Change Maker Fellowship
The BMW Group Change Maker Fellowship is for ambitious young mathematics or technology professionals from, or holding permanent residence in: Germany, India, Portugal, Romania, Brazil, China, the United States, and South Africa. Individuals with recognized refugee status in Germany are also eligible.
Two BMW Group Change Maker Fellowships of €45,000 are available.
Eligibility:
Applicants must:
- Be applying for the Full-time MBA intake starting January 2027
- Hold an undergraduate degree or be currently employed in mathematics and/or technology (e.g., computing, information technology, automation, digitalization).
- Be a citizen or permanent resident of Germany, India, Portugal, Romania, Brazil, China, United States, or South Africa; those holding refugee status in Germany are also invited to apply.
- Be aged 30 years or younger on September 1, 2026.
Essay question: BMW Group seeks to actively shape the future of mobility; what aspect of a digital future fascinates you the most and why?
Network scholarships
e-Fellows scholarship
ESMT has a partnership with e-Fellows and members may apply for this scholarship (proof of membership is required). Those who have attended an e-Fellows event are also eligible.
Unlimited number of scholarships of €10,000 are available for self-funded applicants answering the below essay questions along with your proof of membership or attendance at an e-Fellows event.
Essay question: How will you positively contribute to the learning environment of your peers at ESMT? How did e-Fellows influence your decision to apply?
Bundeswehr and former military scholarship
ESMT is pleased to offer scholarships to all German Bundeswehr Officers who are exiting the military.
Unlimited scholarships of €15,000 are available.
Question: What skill, developed during your service with the Bundeswehr, will help you and your fellow students most as you study for an MBA, and why?
The more I'm learning about my friends and my peers, I think these opportunities are really helpful for attracting diversity.
It is scary going into a potential year and three months without an income. So having scholarships that are accessible from a variety of different of different sources…it enabled me to come study here.
