MBA scholarships for women have become one of the most effective pathways for aspiring female leaders to access top business schools without the heavy financial burden. As more institutions commit to closing gender gaps in leadership, opportunities for women pursuing MBAs continue to expand across universities, foundations, and global organizations. Whether you’re an early-career professional, an entrepreneur, or a mid-level manager aiming for executive roles, understanding the best scholarships available — and how to win them — is essential. This guide breaks down the top programs, eligibility criteria, application strategies, and proven tips to help women secure MBA funding and advance their careers.
Everything you need: high-impact fellowships, school awards, application strategy, timelines, sample essays, and a checklist to maximise your chance of winning.
Why focus on MBA scholarships for women?
Women are still underrepresented in leadership roles across industries and at top business schools. Scholarships targeted at women do more than lower the financial barrier — they also provide tailored leadership programming, mentorship, and employer connections that disproportionately accelerate careers. Pursuing these awards can be strategic: many are funded by foundations and schools with clear commitments to gender equity and come with networks that last a lifetime.
This guide covers the most influential fellowships and scholarship programs aimed at women, how those awards are administered, the eligibility norms you’ll encounter, and step-by-step tactics to submit winning applications.
How scholarships for women change outcomes
Beyond tuition support, women-focused MBA scholarships often include career coaching, leadership workshops, and corporate introductions that lead directly to internships and full-time roles. Many programs actively champion recipients with employer-facing exposure, which can translate into higher placement rates and faster career progression after graduation.
Quick fact: Some large programs (for example, the Forté Fellowship network) combine financial awards with an institutional network that spans dozens of business schools and thousands of alumnae — amplifying both money and career access for recipients.
Top MBA scholarships & fellowships for women (high-impact)
Below are widely recognized awards or funding sources that women MBA applicants should know. Depending on your citizenship, the MBA program you target, and your profile, some will be a better fit than others.
1. Forté Foundation — Forté Fellows
What it is: The Forté Foundation runs a global network that partners with business schools and employers to offer fellowships to women applying to MBA programs. Forté Fellowships are awarded by participating business schools to applicants who demonstrate leadership and a commitment to advancing women in business.
Why it matters: Forté is widely regarded as the leading women-focused MBA network: recipients gain access to a professional community, leadership programs, employer relationships, and often substantial scholarship awards offered directly by schools that participate in the Forté network. Because awards are administered by schools, details (amounts, deadlines) vary and many applicants are automatically considered when they apply to member schools.
Tip: When applying to a school that is a Forté partner, make sure your application highlights leadership, impact, and specific examples of how you’ll advance or champion women in business — those criteria are frequently considered in Fellow selection.
2. AAUW International Fellowships (American Association of University Women)
What it is: AAUW International Fellowships support women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents to pursue full-time graduate or postdoctoral study in the United States. The program is competitive and targets women who will return to their home countries to apply their expertise.
Why it matters: For international women seeking master’s-level or doctoral study in the U.S. — including MBAs at U.S. schools — AAUW can be a valuable funding source. Awards often include living stipends and other support. Check the AAUW site for exact eligibility and up-to-date deadlines.
3. P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship (IPS)
What it is: The P.E.O. IPS Fund provides scholarships for international women to study at accredited institutions in the U.S. and Canada. The fund supports graduate-level study (including MBAs) and prioritizes applicants from outside the U.S./Canada.
Why it matters: The IPS award is particularly useful for candidates from developing countries who are accepted to North American programs and need tuition or living support. Awards and eligibility specifics vary by year — consult the P.E.O. website for the latest application windows and amounts.
4. School-specific women’s scholarships (examples)
Many business schools offer scholarships specifically for women — sometimes in partnership with the Forté Foundation or independent donors. Examples include named fellowships at individual schools that fund leadership programming and tuition for women applicants with strong leadership or community impact profiles.
Because these awards are administered by schools, amounts, criteria, and application processes vary widely — always check the financial aid or fellowships pages of the MBA programs you target for up-to-date details. For a curated and timely list of women-focused MBA scholarships, look at reputable MBA news sources and school websites.
5. Other funding sources to consider
- MPOWER Scholarships — MPOWER runs scholarships for international students (including MBA candidates) and occasionally awards targeted funding for graduate business study.
- Regional and subject-specific scholarships — organisations in your country (foundations, employers, professional associations) sometimes have women-focused graduate awards. Local governments and NGOs also sometimes subsidize MBAs for women leaders working in priority sectors.
- School merit and diversity scholarships — many schools provide automatic or application-based awards supporting diversity, including gender-based support; some of these are packaged as “women’s scholarships.”
How these fellowships are awarded (mechanics)
Understanding how awards are distributed helps you target applications effectively. Most women-focused MBA awards follow one of these models:
- School-administered fellowships: The business school selects recipients from its pool of admitted applicants (Forté Fellows are typically chosen this way by participating schools).
- External fellowships: The foundation or organization (e.g., AAUW, P.E.O.) accepts applications and selects awardees directly — these may be open to applicants before they enroll or conditional on admission to a program.
- Combination: Some awards combine school and external selection — for example, a foundation sets criteria and member schools nominate candidates or automatically consider applicants.
Key practical rules
- Many school-administered awards require you to have applied by the school’s priority or fellowship deadline — sometimes earlier than the general application deadline.
- External awards (AAUW, P.E.O.) may require additional documentation: transcripts, letters of reference, and a personal statement explaining how you’ll use the degree to benefit your home community or profession.
- For Forté Fellowships, check whether you’re automatically considered when you apply; for many partner schools, simply applying as a woman will enter you into consideration. However, your application still needs to show leadership impact.
1. Identify the right awards for your profile
Map awards into categories: those you qualify for now, those you qualify for if accepted to a particular school, and external fellowships for which you can apply independently of admission. Prioritize based on award size, prestige, and the network that comes with it.
2. Start with your MBA application — make it fellowship-ready
Many school-based awards select recipients from admitted applicants. Treat your MBA application like a scholarship dossier:
- Leadership evidence: Use quantified impact (e.g., “Led a 10-person team to increase revenue by 18%”) and describe the strategic thinking behind actions.
- Community & advocacy: If you’ve worked to advance women or underrepresented groups, highlight programs you created or led and measurable outcomes.
- Employer or community letters: Get recommenders who can speak specifically about leadership, influence, and potential for broader impact.
3. Prepare targeted scholarship essays and materials
External fellowships typically require a separate essay. Use these tactics:
- Answer the prompt directly: Start with a concise thesis sentence that answers the question, then build evidence-rich paragraphs.
- Use the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result — especially effective for leadership prompts.
- Quantify outcomes: Numbers, reach, and timelines make impact believable and memorable.
- Explain “why”: For women-focused programs, explaining your commitment to gender equity — and how the MBA enables that mission — strengthens your case.
4. Timing & deadlines
Track three calendars: (A) school admissions deadlines, (B) school fellowship/priority deadlines, and (C) external scholarship deadlines. Some fellowship decisions are made months before matriculation and require early application or nomination by the school — missing those windows will cost you eligibility.
5. Interview prep
If you are shortlisted for a competitive fellowship, you may be interviewed by school representatives or the funding organization. Prepare to answer:
- Why an MBA — and why now?
- How will you use the degree to benefit women or your community?
- Examples of leadership under ambiguity or constraint.
Suggested timeline — 12 months before matriculation
This timeline assumes you plan to start an MBA in the fall and will apply in typical Round 1/Round 2 cycles. Adjust according to your target schools and scholarship deadlines.
- 12–10 months before: Research scholarships and compile a master deadline list. Register for tests (if needed) and begin drafting your CV and essays.
- 9–7 months before: Draft MBA application essays and scholarship essays in parallel. Identify recommenders and brief them on which scholarships you’ll pursue.
- 6–4 months before: Apply to schools in Round 1/Round 2 as appropriate. Submit external scholarship applications with early deadlines.
- 3–2 months before: Schools make fellowship decisions (varies). If shortlisted, attend interviews and gather any follow-up documents.
- 1 month before: Confirm any fellowship acceptance deadlines and answer conditions (e.g., sign-up forms for Forté Fellows). Plan finances — scholarships may not cover all costs, so arrange supplemental funding if necessary.
Sample scholarship essay structure & examples
Below is a template and short sample excerpts demonstrating tone and structure. Use the STAR method and keep paragraphs tight.
Template (400–700 words)
1. Opening (1 paragraph): 40–60 words — Thesis: What you will accomplish with the MBA and why this fellowship matters for that plan. 2. Leadership story (1–2 paragraphs): 150–250 words — Situation + action + measurable result. 3. Impact on women/community (1 paragraph): 100–150 words — Evidence of impact or planned initiatives. 4. How the fellowship will help (1 paragraph): 80–120 words — Specifics: mentorship, network, financial relief, opportunities. 5. Closing (1 short paragraph): 30–50 words — Reaffirm commitment and future contribution to the fellowship community.
Short sample excerpt
Opening: “As a product manager at a fast-growing fintech startup, I’ve led cross-functional teams to design services that increased financial inclusion for small businesses. An MBA will enable me to scale those solutions across markets — and the Forté network would provide the mentoring and corporate connections necessary to turn pilot programs into industry-standard offerings.”
Leadership story (example): “When we discovered 40% of potential clients could not complete our onboarding due to language and UX barriers, I launched a volunteer usability team, conducted user interviews across three regions, and redesigned the flow; onboarding conversion rose 27% within four months.”
These compact, impact-first paragraphs perform well in scholarship essays because they align evidence with outcomes and then connect the MBA/fellowship to future scale. Tailor each piece to the specific fellowship prompt.
FAQs — short answers to common questions
Are Forté Fellowships only for U.S. schools?
No. Forté partners with schools across the U.S., Europe and beyond; award availability depends on the participating school. Always verify participating schools and specific fellowship terms on Forté’s official site.
Can I apply for AAUW if I’m from outside the U.S.?
Yes — AAUW International Fellowships are explicitly for women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents and who seek graduate study in the U.S. Eligibility details and deadlines are posted on AAUW’s site.
Do Forté Fellows get automatic scholarships at partner schools?
Not automatically in a single standard amount. Forté Fellowships are administered by member schools and award amounts vary by school. In many cases, applicants are considered automatically, but selection criteria differ by institution.
What if scholarships don’t cover full costs?
Plan for a funding mix: partial fellowships + loans + employer sponsorships + personal savings. Many recipients combine awards with school merit scholarships. If needed, explore part-time/online MBA options or external lenders that specialise in international student loans.
Scholarship application checklist
- Map all target scholarships and deadlines (calendar).
- Tailor your MBA application statement to highlight leadership & impact.
- Prepare a scholarship-specific essay and a short “why this fellowship” paragraph.
- Secure two or three strong recommenders and brief them with specific examples.
- Collect official transcripts and any translations early.
- Practice interviews for competitive fellowships.
- Prepare a budget showing how scholarships + savings + loans will cover total costs.
Real outcomes — why networks matter
Many recipients report that the network and employer introductions that come with fellowships yield internships or direct recruitment. For example, Forté Fellows frequently cite employer access via Forté-sponsored events as a major career accelerant; similarly, school-run women’s scholarships often include programming that connects recipients with alumnae mentors and corporate partners. If funding and network access are both priorities, prioritize awards that explicitly describe structured employer engagement.
Curated resources & next steps
Start here to find the most current information and to apply:
- Forté Foundation (official): Fellowship overview and participating schools.
- AAUW (International Fellowships): Application details, deadlines, and eligibility.
- P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship: Program page with eligibility and application instructions.
- BusinessBecause: Recent article with a curated list of women-focused MBA scholarships and program highlights.
- MPOWER: Scholarships for international graduate students (including MBAs).
- Scholars4Dev & Scholars lists: Aggregated lists of MBA scholarships for international students.
Tip: Bookmark the official fellowship pages and subscribe to their newsletters — award details and deadlines can change year to year.