IESE allocates €5.5 million for scholarships amid COVID-19 pandemic

IESE will dedicate €5.5 million to scholarships for young professionals and high-potential managers who are unable to finance their studies because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The scholarships will go toward people who are in the process of admissions to programs and whose personal financial situation has changed because of the pandemic, and to exceptional candidates working in sectors most impacted by COVID-19 and who at this time cannot assume the cost of management training.

With this aid, which raises by 15% the normal amount the school dedicates to scholarships, IESE seeks to ensure that talented individuals who could contribute to the economic recovery in the coming years are able to receive the education and professional development they need.

“We don’t want anyone with a talent for leading companies to interrupt their education and development because of the impact of COVID-19,” said Dean Franz Heukamp. “Now more than ever, our commitment to society prompts us to work to continue developing leaders who will contribute to resolving economic and social problems. We are especially grateful to the generosity of our partner companies and alumni, who with their support make these scholarships possible.”

For those hardest hit by crisis

IESE has identified sectors and profiles most affected by the pandemic.

Young talent has been particularly affected by the pandemic because it is facing a weak labor market in which hiring has declined. Because of this, nearly half of the COVID-19 scholarships will go to young people between the ages of 23 and 30, who are interested in pursuing a Master in Management (MiM) or an MBA. For the MBA, scholarships will be available starting with the Class of 2023. 

Among working professionals, mid-level managers and those at SMEs have seen their opportunities for promotion and growth curtailed by the pandemic. Thus, scholarships are also offered to mid-level managers with high potential, who work for the five sectors hardest-hit by the crisis: automobiles, tourism, airlines, distribution, and textiles and fashion. The programs involved are the Executive MBA, PDD (Programa de Desarrollo Directivo) and Program for Management Development (PMD).

Conditions and applications

The COVID-19 scholarships will cover between 25% and 50% of program fees.

Applications will be accepted starting July 8, 2020, and will continue throughout the 2020-21 academic year, depending on the start dates of each program. This only applies to the MiM and Executive Education programs. For the MBA, this will apply to the Class of 2023. 

Interested candidate can consult the conditions to apply to the COVID-19 scholarships on IESE’s financial aid page.

IESE earmarks more than 6% of its revenue from academic fees to its scholarship and aid programs. In addition to the COVID-19 scholarships, the school has specific scholarships for different programs and groups, including help for entrepreneurs, women and people working in the social sector. For this, IESE counts on the support of more than 120 partner companies and friends, to which it is grateful for their generosity and support.