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    - IMD Business School - IMD Business School - IMD Business School
    Backpack scholarship

    Supporting women leaders of the future

    Apply

    Backpack scholarship

    Supporting women leaders of the future

    Apply
    When 2024 date TBD
    Where Online

    Scholarship introduction

    Through the BackPack-Excellence Scholarship for Women, the Swiss foundation intends to help women to obtain the leadership skills they need to advance in business or public life and fulfil their leadership ambitions. 

    The scholarship aims to provide a transformational experience to talented and driven women who have been forced to flee conflict, natural disaster or persecution at some point in their lives, and may have believed that an MBA program was out of reach.

    AmountFull scholarship of CHF 133,500 (tuition, fees & living expenses)
    Number of scholarships1
    Deadline to apply2024 date TBD
    CriteriaPriority will be given to female candidates who have experienced the hardship of being forced to leave their homeland due to conflict or natural disaster, or because they were persecuted for their beliefs.
    EssaySubmit a 500-word essay on the topic:
    “Tell us, how, as a displaced woman, an MBA at IMD will be transformative for you and indirectly for other women.”
    IMD MBA Financial Aid Form and supporting documents needed?Yes
    Recipient confirmed by2024 date TBD

    How to apply for this scholarship

    - IMD Business School

    Scholarship applications are made through your admissions application form.

    Before you apply to the program, we strongly recommend that you evaluate the investment needed and investigate the various financing options available to you.

    An overview of the program fees, payment schedule and estimated living expenses can be found here: https://www.imd.org/degree/mba/financing/fees-expenses/

    To apply for this scholarship:

    • Review the eligibility criteria for the various scholarship offerings to determine which ones you qualify for.
    • Access the Financial Aid form from the finance section of your admissions MBA application form.
    • Complete the form and check the box next to any scholarship(s) you meet the criteria for and wish to apply for.
    • Ensure you submit all the requested documents, including the required essay.

    Please note that typically, participants are only awarded one scholarship, and scholarships are reserved for those who are not sponsored by their company.

    - IMD Business School
    BackPack Foundation Board Statement

    “The successful applicant should be committed to pursuing a meaningful career in leadership, and upon graduation will be expected to draw upon her skills to catalyze positive change,” said the Board’s statement.

    “Beyond contributing to the fulfilment of one purposeful leadership career at a time, Backpack’s aspires to attract women who can become pivotal leaders in their field, acting as role models for others to advance in business or in public life.”

    Read the full story behind the scholarship

    Backpack scholarship video intro

    - IMD Business School
    2:48
    “This scholarship has the potential to transform the recipient’s life and help them develop the leadership abilities which will allow them to have an impact in the future,” Professor Omar Toulan, Dean of the IMD MBA Program.”

    Please contact [email protected] to find out more information about the scholarship. 

    The IMD MBA BackPack-Excellence for Women will be managed and administered by the IMD Scholarship Foundation, established in accordance with Articles 80 of the Swiss Civil Code, with a registered office in Lausanne. The scholarship will be paid directly to IMD to cover the fees. 

    For more scholarship information, kindly refer to the scholarship section on our webpage.