Business, economics, MBA scholarships: criteria and experience

🔄 Cập nhật lần cuối: 08/10/26

Business, economics, finance and management are always among the majors chosen by Vietnamese international students. Tuition fees for these programs, especially MBA, are often high, so MBA scholarships and business scholarships are a big concern of many candidates. This article summarizes scholarship sources, criteria the council often evaluates, and practical experience in making applications.

Sources of scholarships in business and economics

Government scholarships

Many government scholarships accept candidates in economics, public policy, finance, and administration. For example, the Fulbright scholarship for Vietnamese people studying for a master's degree in the US welcomes applicants in many fields, including tuition, living expenses, insurance, and round-trip airfare. However, each program has a priority list of majors and may limit certain types of programs (e.g. MBA costs are very high), so read each year's announcement carefully. Reference Fulbright scholarship to study abroad in the US and Chevening Scholarship.

Business school scholarships

This is the most popular source for MBA. Most business schools automatically consider merit-based scholarships, some have additional scholarships by region, by industry (e.g. for candidates from the nonprofit sector) or for women in business. The scholarship is usually a portion of the tuition fee; full scholarship for MBA is quite rare.

Corporate scholarships and workplace sponsorships

Some companies sponsor employees to study MBA with a commitment to work after returning. There are also private scholarships and professional associations. See article Corporate and private foundation scholarships.

Specialized bachelor's and master's scholarships

For specialized master's degrees (Finance, Business Analytics, Management) or bachelor's degrees in business, school scholarships are usually based on GPA, foreign language certificates and extracurricular activities. At the doctoral level in economics and finance, many programs have full funding with stipends like other sciences.

Criteria for considering MBA scholarships

The MBA committee evaluates candidates comprehensively. Factors often focused on:

Many top MBA programs require or expect several years of full-time work experience. Newly graduated candidates are often more suitable for a specialized master's degree (Master in Management, Finance).

GMAT, GRE and foreign language certificates

The current GMAT (GMAT Focus Edition) includes three parts: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights, each part 45 minutes, total time 2 hours 15 minutes. Many schools accept the GRE as well. Some schools have GMAT/GRE waiver policies under certain conditions – check the admissions page.

Note: even if exempted, a good GMAT/GRE score can still help increase your chances of receiving a merit-based scholarship, because this is an easily comparable index among international applicants. About English, see article Choose IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo.

Experience in making competitive profiles

1. Apply early in the first round: many MBA schools consider rounds (Round 1, 2, 3), and the scholarship fund may be even larger in the first rounds. Please check each school's policy.
2. Quantify achievements: "increase online channel revenue by 35% in 12 months" is more convincing than "in charge of online sales".
3. Tell a consistent story: from past experiences, reasons for needing an MBA, to short-term and long-term goals. See Scholarship essay structure.
4. Choose a direct manager as a reference: someone who understands your work and can give specific examples.
5. Prepare for the interview thoroughly: the question "Why MBA? Why now? Why this school?" almost certainly appear. Reference 30 scholarship interview questions.
6. Compare multiple offers: If you receive multiple scholarships, compare them based on total self-care expenses and career opportunities. See receive multiple scholarships at the same time.

Frequently asked questions

Are there full scholarships for MBA?

There are but very few and highly competitive. Most MBA scholarships are part of tuition. Combine multiple sources: school scholarships, outside funds, corporate sponsorship.

Can I apply for a business scholarship without work experience?

Yes, at bachelor's and master's levels. With MBA, work experience is almost an important condition to compete for scholarships.

Should I take GMAT or GRE?

If you only apply for MBA, GMAT is a familiar choice. If considering a master's in economics or an interdisciplinary program, the GRE is more flexible. Check to see if the school accepts both before studying.

Is it more economical to study an MBA for one year or two years?

One-year MBAs (popular in Europe and Asia) often cost less in tuition and opportunity costs; Two-year MBA (popular in the US) has a summer internship to help change majors. Choice depends on career goals.

Conclusion

MBA and business scholarships require you to demonstrate both academic ability and professional achievement. Prepare early, quantify all achievements and submit in the first round. Once you have an invitation letter, VeDuHoc is ready to support air tickets and luggage via hotline/Zalo 090.1800.918.

📚 Articles on the same topic

Study abroad scholarshipIELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo: which English certificate to choose to apply for a scholarship15/12/25 · 6 phút đọcStudy abroad scholarshipRetaining a scholarship throughout the course: retention conditions and risks of termination20/11/25 · 6 phút đọcStudy abroad scholarshipScholarships for STEM majors: great opportunity for engineering and technology students14/07/25 · 6 phút đọcStudy abroad scholarshipScholarship interview: 30 frequently asked questions and how to score answers31/12/22 · 7 phút đọcStudy abroad scholarshipStudy in Australia economically: scholarships, part-time work and actual living expenses09/11/22 · 6 phút đọcStudy abroad scholarshipReceive multiple scholarships at once: how to compare and choose the most beneficial offer09/01/21 · 6 phút đọc