The Laidlaw Scholars Program supports women admitted to the HEC Paris MBA who show leadership potential and demonstrable financial need. HEC Paris and the HEC Foundation run the scholarship with the Laidlaw Foundation.
Scholars complete the 16-month MBA in Jouy-en-Josas, France, and join an alumni mentoring program intended to strengthen their leadership development and professional networks. The scholarship is offered annually.
Benefits & funding
- Up to 10 scholars per graduating class receive a scholarship covering 100% of MBA tuition.
- Each selected scholar must pay a €5,000 deposit to confirm her place; HEC Paris reimburses it when classes resume.
- Scholars cover their own living expenses, estimated by HEC Paris at €25,000 for the 16-month program.
- Scholars also receive mentoring from accomplished women in the HEC Paris alumni network.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be women who have already been admitted to the HEC Paris MBA and demonstrate strong leadership potential, character, competence, courage, and financial constraints.
- The published material sets no nationality or residence restriction.
- Double- or joint-degree candidates cannot receive this scholarship.
- The standard MBA route requires an undergraduate degree from an accredited university; candidates without one may qualify through a secondary-school certificate plus at least five years of professional experience, including three years in management, or through national-level athletic representation.
- HEC Paris states no absolute work-experience minimum for applicants with an undergraduate degree, although it strongly encourages at least two years.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Gender requirement
Female
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Application process
- 1Connect with the HEC Paris MBA recruitment team for profile feedback and state your financial need.
- 2Submit a complete MBA application through the online system by a listed admissions deadline.
- 3If admitted, use the private link sent by HEC Paris to complete the Laidlaw form, including financial questions and motivation essays.
- 4Submit the Laidlaw form within one week after the MBA admission result; selected scholars then sign the scholarship contract and pay the reimbursable deposit.
Program timeline
Next listed MBA application deadline.
Sep 20, 2026
MBA decision date for that application round.
Oct 23, 2026
Within one week after the MBA result
Laidlaw application deadline.
One week after the MBA admission result
Laidlaw decision shared.
MBA intake options; the opened pages do not publish an exact program start or end date.
January or September