In the third part of the Ross MBA series, we cover scholarships, fellowships, loans, and financial aid. Read the first part – Ross MBA Class Profile Trends and Total Fee, and the second part – Ross MBA Curriculum Analysis.
SDA Bocconi MBA tuition fee for the academic year 2023-24 is €75,000. After adding the personal expenses and living costs, it sums up to € 1,00,020 for one year. To help the admitted students cover the tuition fees, SDA Bocconi offers 30 partial tuition waivers and 3 full tuition waivers. Apart from the waivers, students can also fund their expenses with the help of 63 funding options for students from 27 different countries.
Total Cost (HEC Paris MBA) (16-Month)
The Haas Loan Repayment Assistance Programme (LRAP) assists graduates who have incurred large debt from their education and feel restricted in their career choices. Haas LRAP offers a grant, disbursed 6 months after graduation, to cover all the college loan payments in the past half year. Those who are placed within 3 months of graduation typically receive the payment around 1 year after graduation, itemized as the Professional Degree Fee (PDF).
The Belgian American Educational Foundation (B.A.E.F) offers variable number of fellowships for Belgian citizens to study MBA in top US universities.
History
For US citizens and permanent residents pursuing their undergraduate degrees or planning to refinance their loan for a Master’s degree, the MIT Federal Credit Union loan is one of the viable private loans available in the US.
The US education system in the late 1800s catered to the rich and influential families in the society. The first world war revealed the strategic value of the US military in forging superior economic and political position in the world. Understanding the power dynamics, the American legion – a non-profit advocating for the benefit of veterans began persuading the politicians on incentivizing new recruits.
Prodigy offers community funded loans to international MBA students attending top business schools. The loans are funded by a combination of business school alumni investors, the business school community, and institutional investors who have an interest in higher education.
F1GMAT Interviewed Liz Reid - the Student Brand Manager at Prodigy Finance, to learn how they have funded hundreds of international MBA students.
Read the Complete Interview
MBA Loans are hard to come by in Europe, and post-2008 crises, Banks have been extremely cautious. In 2012, the situation worsened in UK after Citibank pulled out of their Citi Assist loan program. Under such hostile environment, a Santander MBA loan is a relief. The loan funds up to £20,000.
Learn more about the Santander Universities MBA Loans & Scholarships (For UK Business Schools)
Applicants get the first taste of the MBA program through Brochures – the condensed information about the program’s history, course structure, cost, funding, testimonials, uniqueness, and statistics. The decision to pursue the marketing team with clarifications and interjections happen after comparing the data in the brochure with inputs from well-meaning alumni and current students.
Can you look much closer and understand what these statistics mean? Here are our recommendations for finding scholarship information and evaluating your chances
HEC Scholarships can be broadly categorized into Merit Based and Need Based scholarships(scholarships on other criteria also exists) .To be eligible for the scholarships, admitted candidates must provide their financial status and details of how they plan to finance their studies.
Details Here..
SoFi is another major loan provider that has entered the $1 trillion Student loan market in the US. Sofi depends on Business School Alumni to fund students. Alumni earn a handsome 5% return on their investment while students get loans at a much better rate than Federal Stafford loan for Graduates (5.41 percent), and the Federal Direct PLUS loan (6.41 percent).
Learn about SoFi Loan Program - Eligibility Criteria and Schools that support the program
France offers several state supported loans, private loans from French Banks and school specific scholarships to meet the tuition fee and living expense, during an MBA program.
Get the details!
CommonBond is a startup founded by Wharton Alumni. Interest rates are just 6.24%, lower than the lowest Federal loan rate of 6.8%. Private loan rates go even higher, averaging around 12%. Learn more about Funding your Wharton MBA.
Students in Australia have a wide range of options when it comes to financing their MBA. While nearly every bank offers a student loan of some sort, the Australian government provides the best interest free loans with flexible repayment options.
Government Loans
FEE-HELP
FEE-HELP (Higher Education Loan Program) is an Australian Government scheme that helps students finance their education. Only tuition fees are covered under this scheme and there is no conventional interest as such. Accommodation, travel and study material are not covered.
Eligibility
1. The university should be an approved FEE-HELP provider
2. Australian citizen or permanent humanitarian visa holder or permanent resident or a permanent visa holder
3. Meet the tax file number (TFN) requirements. If TFN is not available, a Certificate of application for a TFN in necessary
FEE-HELP loan limits: $93,204
• This limit is a lifetime limit. It cannot be altered by any repayments made
• Previous study or other debts does not affect the limit
To apply
1. Request for FEE-HELP assistance form from the university
UK Government supports Management education with Career Development Loan (CDL), Adult Dependents’ Grant, Access to Learning Fund and Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs).
1) Career Development Loan (CDL)
The UK government’s Department for Education and Skills (DfES) facilitates the Career Development Loan (CDL) to fund MBA studies in the UK. This loan allows a maximum funding of £10,000 for up to two years of learning, plus up to one year's practical work experience if it is part of the course. The government pays interest while the course is on, and repayment usually starts one month after the program is completed.
CDLs are currently available through four banks: Clydesdale Bank, Barclays Bank, the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Co-operative Bank.
No collateral is required.
Loan limits: £300–£10,000 in £50 Increments
Eligibility
• 18+ years of age
• Been living in the UK for a minimum of 3 years before the program begins • The right to indefinite stay in UK
• Plan on working in the UK, EU or European Economic Area (EEA) after completing the program
• Good credit history
Repayment and interest
The United States Department of Education offers student loans for graduate studies including the MBA. These loans are offered at lower interest rates, with ?exible repayment terms that include repayment starting after graduation and deferred payments. Loans are awarded in conjunction with the Business School, and payment is made directly to the institution, usually in 2 installments per year. All loan funds must be used only for education expenses. Every Year, the entire Federal Student Aid program disburses more than $150 billion in grants, loans, and work-study funds. Students must complete the Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) form to determine if they are eligible.
Earlier, subsidized loans at less than 4% interest were available, with the government paying the interest until the repayment period. In August 20111, the US Congress signed The Budget Control Act of 2011, which states that graduate studies cannot be subsidized from July 1st 2012 onwards.
Points to note while applying for federal aid:
MIP per l'Abruzzo
MIP, the BUSINESS SCHOOL of Politecnico di Milano, offers a full scholarship “MIP per l’Abruzzo” of 26.000€, corresponding to the entire tuition fee of the MBA program.
BCG - The Boston Consulting Group and ITALCEMENTI Group
No of Awards: 2
Amount: Full scholarships
Criteria: Outstanding Profile
F1GMAT's Winning MBA Essay guide will teach you how to transform your essay into a life journey with trials and tribulations that will move the admission team.
+ Over 245 Sample Essays (Read Previews of F1GMAT's Winning MBA Essay Guide Sample Essays here)
F1GMAT's Essay Guides
Harvard MBA Essay Guide (20 Sample Essays)
Example #1: Persistence Narrative
Background Information: The applicant – a design and music talent, shares her journey through several setbacks. She attributes curiosity to her growth.
Curiosity: Philosophy
Curiosity (Explained): Curiosity as a philosophy is tough to translate into a narrative unless you are from the creative industry or your contributions had an influence on a solution or an initiative.
MBA Essay Strategy: I wanted to capture the humanity of the applicant and her influence in music instead of just highlighting how she overcame multiple roadblocks to gain attention as a designer.
Theme: Persistence
Read: Harvard MBA Curiosity Essay – Life Starts at NO (Growth-Oriented HBS MBA Essay Example)
Example #2: International Community Building
Background Information: The applicant, a Machine Learning (ML) entrepreneur specializing in healthcare diagnostics, shares how his curiosity to learn other ML algorithms’ evolution in diagnosing Alzheimer’s, cancer, and heart disease transformed his platform into a global community.
MBA Essay Strategy: I wanted to show the applicant’s contributions in diagnostic from 2020 to 2024 by citing two events. Such examples build credibility instead of engagements that were recent. The evolution of the platform from an AI development community to a community for discussing the application of AI in diagnostics is captured through a ‘curiosity’ angle.
Read: Harvard MBA Curiosity Essay – Growth through Collaboration (AI in Healthcare) (Growth-Oriented HBS MBA Essay Example)
Example #3: Culture
Background Information: The applicant, an Entrepreneur from India narrates his first entrepreneurial experience – facilitating exchange of stamps in the late 1990s.
Theme: Culture
MBA Essay Strategy: Instead of addressing the biases in the investor community that could turn preachy, I wanted to focus on the applicant and his entrepreneurial journey by citing two entrepreneurial experiences – a platform(club) for stamp collection and his Grocery delivery App.
Read: Harvard MBA Curiosity Essay – The American Dream (Growth-Oriented HBS MBA Essay Example)
Example #4: Addiction
Background Information: The applicant – a beneficiary of the foster home system, captures the sacrifice his adopted grandparents made to save him from a path of addiction. Paying it back through early intervention among teenagers and community engagement is the curiosity narrative.
Theme: Addiction
MBA Essay Strategy: My strategy is to capture a gratitude narrative in the first one-third of the essay to demonstrate motivation for starting the venture and dedicate the latter part of the essay to the unique solution
Read: Harvard MBA Curiosity Essay – Drug Addiction and Gaming (Growth-Oriented HBS MBA Essay Example)
Example #5: Scarcity
Background Information: The applicant, an education major, recognizes that 70% of all students in Kenya don’t have a computer. The curiosity that drives him to pivot from one solution to another is the growth narrative.
Theme: Innovation
MBA Essay Strategy: Often, innovation is captured with a ‘hero’ narrative where the applicant is the sole originator of an idea. I wanted to break that cliché and include a person from whom the applicant learned to use a concept called ‘scaffolding.’
Read: Harvard MBA Curiosity Essay – Scarcity (Growth-Oriented HBS Essay Example)
Example #6: FinTech
Background Information: The applicant captures a vulnerable moment of a beneficiary to compare his journey of side hustle before a technology giant noticed his talent. Although cryptocurrency is not a flavor for the year, capture niches where innovation is still happening.
Theme: Education, Child Welfare
MBA Essay Strategy: Empathizing with a techno solution is tough without a strong backstory around the beneficiary. For the essay, I wanted to clearly establish the beneficiary – Rami, before the applicant narrates the similarities to his journey and finally shares the solution that emerged from his curiosity.
Read: Harvard MBA Curiosity Essay – FinTech as a Tool for Good (Growth-Oriented HBS MBA Essay Example)
Example #7: Learning from the best
Background Information: The applicant – a Remote Engineer in the Oil and Gas industry, reflects on a value that has helped her learn from the best regardless of her geographical limitations.
Theme: Learning
MBA Essay Strategy: The effectiveness of the case-study method depends on the assumption that peers in a Harvard MBA class will help elevate your learning experience. For the essay, I have highlighted the applicant’s recognition of this value proposition with three examples.
Read: Harvard MBA Curiosity Essay – Learning from the Best (Growth-Oriented HBS MBA Essay Example)
Example #8: Military & Search for IMPACT
Background Information: The most common narrative for US military applicants is to quote 9/11 and the reaction your immediate family had while watching the events unfold. The horrifying moment is captured as a motivation to join the Military. On digging deeper, most applicants would share that their motivations were diverse.
Theme: Career Choice
MBA Essay Strategy: I wanted to quickly highlight that the applicant had the choice of entering any industry. One achievement to demonstrate his curiosity that I shared in the first half is the invention of a game. Since the game is mentioned in the resume and verifiable through search, I didn’t quote the name. By clearly highlighting the person’s curiosity and career options, the family legacy is used as a factor in joining the military.
Read: Harvard MBA Curiosity Essay – Career Choice after a Military Career (Growth-Oriented HBS MBA Essay Example)
Leadership-Focused Essay: What experiences have shaped who you are, how you invest in others, and what kind of leader you want to become? (up to 250 words)
Example #9: Small Business Values
Background Information: The applicant - a second-generation Asian American, is familiar with the values of fiscal conservatism, building relationships, and understanding the daily struggles of the community through his family’s department store.
Theme: Customer-Centric
MBA Essay Strategy: The applicant’s role in developing an App for the store is highlighted in the essay at a crucial part of the narrative so that the essay is not all about his father. I have also humanized the journey – by sharing how upset the father was when the revenues fell by 40%. The essay is about the transformation in the applicant’s value from a person chasing productivity and optimization technique to someone who is truly thinking about the customers.
Read: Harvard MBA Leadership Essay – Small Business Values (Leadership-Focused HBS MBA Essay Example)
Example #10: Breaking Away from Family Business
Background Information: A unique challenge that applicants whose parents are public figures or CXOs of businesses or entrepreneurs are the pressure to live up to the parent’s standards or milestones. For the leadership narrative, the burden of legacy is established before the narrative addresses his leadership principles.
Theme: Authenticity
MBA Essay Strategy: For the essay, I want to capture an entrepreneur’s journey to rise above his entrepreneur father’s image. But I didn’t want to make the entire essay about this complex dynamics. The narrative is around the applicant’s focus on customers and surrounding with teams who keeps him grounded.
Read: Harvard MBA Leadership Essay – Breaking Away from Family Business(Leadership-Focused HBS MBA Essay Example)
Example #11: Creativity and Communication
Background Information: When the overall percentage of users with internet access is 62% in South Africa and the inequality accentuated by the rural and urban divide, the applicant endured the lack of digital infrastructure, and spending close to 22% of the family income on gaining relevant information on schools, global exams, and financial assistance.
Theme: Creativity, Communication
MBA Essay Strategy: The strategy is to share why the applicant values no distraction in a child’s home for optimum education experience. Then I highlight the many roadblocks the applicant’s non-profit faced in receiving fee waiver for their cooperative run ISP.
Read: Harvard MBA Leadership Essay – Non-Profit (Telecom) (Leadership-Focused HBS MBA Essay Example)
Example #12: Mental Health
Background Information: The applicant like most didn’t pay much attention to the mental health epidemic until tragedy hit home.
Theme: Communication, Innovation
MBA Essay Strategy: A question we frequently get from applicants is whether they should cite tragedy in the family as a motivation for a venture or a non-profit initiative. As long as you don’t linger too much on the tragedy and offer a balanced narrative, there are no restrictions on leveraging unique stories from your life.
Read: Harvard MBA Leadership Essay – Mental Health (Leadership-Focused HBS MBA Essay Example)
Example #13: Trauma, Healing & Finding Authentic Self
Background Information: The applicant narrates the absurdity of war in the narrative about the duties in Kabul, and the trauma. Instead of wallowing in on the horror, the applicant takes what makes military applicants strong and guides unprivileged children build life and leadership skills.
Theme: Resilience
MBA Essay Strategy: Capturing PTSD in an essay, the healing process, and the cues that helped the applicant are too sacred to be shared in a Harvard MBA application essay. However, with the right motivation and narrative arcs, you can capture the essence of your journey without sharing the darkest secrets. That is what I did by merging two stories – the horrors of the war with a non-profit engagement.
Read: Harvard MBA Leadership Essay – Military & PTSD (Leadership-Focused HBS MBA Essay Example)
Example #14: Addiction, Setback and Leadership Mantra
Background Information: In this narrative, the applicant captures Peru’s Silver mining boom of 2006. The growth experienced in her father’s business shifted the family’s economic status to a new stratosphere. Through the changing economic and family dynamics, the applicant finds her voice in a unique way, initially to record her unheard voice but later as one of the youngest subject matter experts in mining and commodities.
Theme: Failure
MBA Essay Strategy: For the essay, the strategy is to show how life’s unpredictability is a blessing. By narrating two setback events, the essay demonstrates the applicant’s resilience and her acknowledgment of people who made a comeback possible.
Read: Harvard MBA Leadership Essay – Addiction, Setback and Leadership Mantra (Leadership-Focused HBS MBA Essay Example)
Example #15: War, Immigration and Starting Over Again
Background Information: Despite a raging war in Syria, the family of the applicant was unblemished by the chaos. The strategic government assets near the applicant’s house would have made the region an easy target, but it was not. The calmness of her journey is shattered in one event. From the privileges of a cocooned life, the applicant is forced to think about survival, her sister’s future, and her future in the US. The second half of the narrative captures the change that was forced on her.
Theme: Gratitude, Resilience
MBA Essay Strategy: I consciously chose not to start the essay with a dialogue or trauma. Two lines are allocated to set up the narrative before the trauma event.
Read: Harvard MBA Leadership Essay – War, Immigration and Starting Over Again (Leadership-Focused HBS MBA Essay Example)
Harvard MBA Business-Minded Essay: Please reflect on how your experiences have influenced your career choices and aspirations and the impact you will have on the businesses, organizations, and communities you plan to serve. (up to 300 words)
Example #16: Creative or Finance
Background Information: The applicant starts the narrative with the origin of her talents. The unbridled enthusiasm receives a reality check when in high school, the applicant’s father has a conversation with her about academics. While the applicant picked up her quant skills, she was reaching over 50,000 loyal fans, and her videos captured 1 million views.
Theme: Passion, Talent
MBA Essay Strategy: Capturing vulnerability is the toughest part for Harvard MBA applicants. For this essay example, I have captured the applicant’s uncertainty about career choice throughout the essay. Here the goal is to show vulnerability in the career choice essay while for leadership and growth essay, I could capture one example each from creative and PE industry respectively to balance the narrative. So don’t follow this example without a strategy.
Read: Harvard MBA Business-Minded Essay – Creative or Finance (Business-Minded HBS MBA Essay Example)
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