IESE Excellence Scholarship recognizes the top 7–10% of students admitted to IESE’s full-time MBA. IESE Business School selects recipients for academic and/or professional achievement, personal merit and alignment with its values. The award supports MBA study based in Barcelona, with overseas options available within the program.
Scholarship candidacies are submitted inside the MBA application and reviewed after admission. Recipients join an excellence scholar group, engage with IESE senior leadership and may share ideas on the MBA’s future development.
Benefits & funding
- IESE does not publish an Excellence Scholarship-specific amount; individual IESE MBA scholarships typically cover 10%–50% of tuition.
- Living expenses are not covered by IESE scholarships.
- Scholars receive special engagement with IESE senior leadership, connect with other Excellence Scholars and may contribute ideas for future program development.
Eligibility
- Applicants must apply to IESE’s full-time MBA and must be admitted before the scholarship application is considered.
- MBA applicants must hold an undergraduate degree and submit a valid GMAT or GRE score.
- Applicants whose first language is not English and who lack the stated study or residency exemptions must meet IESE’s English-language requirement.
- IESE publishes no nationality, residency or gender restriction for this scholarship; international candidates may apply for IESE scholarships.
- IESE recommends three to ten years of work experience for MBA applicants, but does not state this as a hard scholarship minimum.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Education required
Bachelor
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Application process
- 1Complete the IESE MBA application for one of the four published admission rounds.
- 2Submit the required scholarship essay within the MBA application and indicate up to three scholarships that fit your profile.
- 3Upload the MBA application form, transcripts, CV, GMAT or GRE result, applicable English test, recommendation and mandatory essays, and pay the €200 application fee.
- 4Complete the four-question Kira video essay by the application-round deadline after receiving the link.
- 5If admitted, wait for the Scholarship Committee’s round review; IESE usually communicates the scholarship decision with the admission decision or within two weeks, and no later than June 30.
Program timeline
Round 1 application deadline
September 23, 2026
Round 1 final decision by this date
November 23, 2026
Round 2 application deadline
January 7, 2027
Round 2 final decision by this date
March 15, 2027
Round 3 application deadline
March 9, 2027
Round 3 final decision by this date
April 30, 2027
Round 4 and final application deadline
May 6, 2027
Round 4 final decision by this date
June 11, 2027
Any later scholarship decision issued by this date
June 30, 2027
MBA program starts
September 2027