RSM Erasmus

Many Asian economies have grown significantly in recent years, which has resulted in growing global interest in the region. Consequently, many nations within the region have fast become popular study destinations for MBA students. Indeed, according to the QS Top MBA Applicant Survey 2014, no fewer than 17% of prospective MBA applicants are open to MBA study in Singapore, putting it in the world’s top-10 study destinations – a position it has maintained for the past two years.

Are you among these prospective MBAs with an interest in the region? Here’s a list of top international scholarships offered at high-ranking business schools in the region for students who could do with some financial assistance.  

Hong Kong

The University of Hong Kong - Faculty of Business and Economics

The University of Hong Kong offers merit-based international scholarships to a number of full-time MBA students each year. Student’s eligibility for the award is assessed on factors such as admission interviews, performance, career background, GMAT score and academic qualification. All applicants are considered for this award automatically upon registration and no separate application is necessary.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

Among the MBA scholarships offered by CUHK is the Young Global Professional Scholarship. This is awarded to young professionals with outstanding work experience, high GMAT scores and strong academic records. Applicants are encouraged to apply for the award, which covers 50% of MBA course fees, early in the admissions cycle. It is also desirable for students to have extensive international or Asian exposure to be eligible for this award.

HKUST Business School

HKUST awards a merit-based scholarship worth between 10-50% of overall tuition fees. The award is given to top candidates who have extensive work experience, strong GMAT scores and excellent references who perform impressively in their interview.

Students who are non-Asian but with language proficiency in Chinese or another Asian language will be at an advantage. It is also desirable that students have an extensive amount of global experience. All students are considered for this scholarship upon enrollment and no further application is required.

Singapore

INSEAD Singapore

An increasing number of students wish to study in Singapore due in part to the high esteem in which its institutions are held.INSEAD Singapore offers a selection of MBA scholarships to students, with its most notable being the Robin Hood scholarship, which is truly a scholarship with a difference. The Robin Hood scholarship is essentially a collaborative effort amongst students to raise awareness and financial backing throughout the academic year for students who struggle to pay the fees.

Students who have been deemed eligible for the scheme are expected to lead the campaign among their peer groups by using their entrepreneurial skills to raise money. The Robin Hood Committee members of each class commit a lot of their time to the fund, and aim to achieve new giving records each year on campus.

Lee Kong Chian School of Business, Singapore Management University

Female students from the Middle East, the Asia Pacific region or Africa who study in Singapore at SMU are all eligible to apply for the MasterCard MBA Scholarships for Women award. The award was set up to encourage more female students to pursue a career in business and offers scholarships to students worth $10,000 each year for female students to study in Singapore. Applicants must be accepted into  the SMU full-time or part-time MBA program and demonstrate strong leadership skills and a record of community service to be accepted. Special consideration is given to those who demonstrate financial need. 

Japan

Waseda Business School

Waseda Business School offers a wide variety of international scholarships to students. Applicants can apply to their preferred scheme during the application process or after acceptance onto a course. The Azusa Ono Memorial Scholarship grants funding to students who are facing financial difficulties, to the tune of just over US$3,250, while the Okuma Memorial Scholarship awards US$8,000 to those with outstanding academic records.

India

Indian Institute of Management Calcutta

The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta offers international scholarships in conjunction with industry. The B.P. Poddar scholarship, India Carbon Scholarship and T. T. Krishnamachari Award are offered through endowment funds and awarded to students who show significant personal and academic merit as stipulated by the sponsors.

Indian School of Business

The Indian School of Business generously awards seven full tuition fee waivers to students awarded on merit, along with 25-30 partial tuition waivers. The admissions committee at the university decides how the awards are distributed. Candidates are automatically pooled for selection once they have enrolled with the university and no separate application is necessary.

China

Beijing International MBA Programs- Peking University

BiMBA aims to offer 30% of its student’s MBA scholarships in 2015. One of the most sought after awards is the Rising Star Scholarship – this is awarded to students with three to five years of work experience, a GMAT score of over 650 and promising career potential. There are four Rising Star Scholarships available each year ranging between US$7,257 and US$13,709.

South Korea

Graduate School of Business, Seoul National University

Seoul National University awards MBA scholarships to students based on their financial needs, prior academic performance and personal merit. The most prestigious award available to applicant’s waivers the entire sum of tuition fees and government fees. International students have first priority in receiving the award and are encouraged to apply during the admissions period.