ESMT Berlin Launches MBA Scholarship For Ukraine's Female Refugees

ESMT Berlin and the BMW Group have partnered to offer up to 10 female refugees from Ukraine the opportunity to join the school’s Global Online MBA program with a full tuition scholarship.

After fleeing their home country, Ukrainian refugees are faced with the overwhelming prospect of having to restart their lives. 

The BMW Group Fellowships For Ukraine initiative is the latest in a series of educational programs set up by BMW to help give Ukrainian refugees a stable, long-term foothold, wherever they want to settle.

By enrolling in the Online MBA program for free, ESMT Berlin and BMW hope to provide women refugees from Ukraine with the management skills they need for post-conflict recovery and economic redevelopment in Ukraine. 

“Responsible leadership has been a focus of our activities since ESMT was founded. We are committed to promoting education for women forced to flee their countries,” says Jörg Rocholl, president of ESMT.

ESMT Berlin’s Global Online MBA & How to apply?

ESMT Berlin’s Global Online MBA focuses on developing effective decision-makers and successful leaders. 

MBA courses include Management in a Connected World, Making Wiser Decisions Under Uncertainty, Understanding Your Market, and Creating Strategic Advantages. 

The program is taught in English and students can study at their own pace, over 24 to 60 months, from any location. 

Among the most generous MBA scholarships available, the scholarship for female Ukrainian refugees covers 100% of tuition. Due to the nature of the part-time, online MBA, students may also be able to work and earn an income alongside their studies.

To apply for the scholarship, you need to provide proof of status as a war refugee from Ukraine with Ukrainian citizenship or a residence permit for Ukraine.

Applicants must also match the typical admission requirements for the online MBA:

- Three or more years of post-graduate work experience.  
- Completion of an undergraduate degree.
 - Good knowledge of English (no formal test required). 

Applications for the September 2022 start date are now open and may be submitted until 28 August 2022. 

Business schools support Ukraine

ESMT is not alone among European business schools expressing support for Ukraine. 

The University of Edinburgh Business School is offering a scholarship for Ukrainian students for its master’s programs. These include Global Strategy & Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Climate Change, Finance & Investment. 

ESCP Business School in France is also committed to helping displaced students and young professionals with its ESCP4U initiative. Part of this involves a certificate program across the school's five European campuses which offers refugees Management and Language courses set to begin in the fall. The program aims to equip refugees to find work or set up businesses in their new countries.  

For ESMT, the scholarship program also focuses on increasing the representation of women in business by targeting prospective female MBA students. Globally, just 32% of senior leadership positions are held by women. 

By partnering with a multinational companies like BMW, schools can further expand their reach and train future female business leaders.

“One of our main priorities is to provide women with access to education and professional qualification programs,” says Ilka Horstmeier, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for HR and Labor Relations.

“I am grateful that we are able to help these women refugees, not only on a personal level but also by improving their professional perspectives.”

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