With an increase in conflicts across the world in recent years, the UNHCR – the UN’s refugee agency – predicts that in 2024 they expect to support over 130 million displaced and stateless people, in their Global Appeal report 2024. 

In such troubled times the significance of World Refugee Day has grown immensely, helping bring attention to the plight and resilience of refugees worldwide, and encourage action to improve their circumstances.  

It’s important to remember that virtually anyone in the world can become a refugee. Whether it be due to conflict, natural disasters or for political reasons, people can find their normal, routine lives turned on their heads through no fault of their own. For safety and survival they are given little option but to abandon everything familiar to seek refuge away from home.  

As such, it’s not uncommon for refugees to have had previously successful careers, a wealth of qualifications, hold important business roles, and have hopes and aspirations to become future leaders, before their circumstances threw them off track. Not only do refugees need to seek a new country and home in which to settle, it’s likely they’ll need to start over with their careers too. This is where access to education, retraining and upskilling becomes vital. Unfortunately, for many its not just their homes they’ve lost, but everything else too.

That’s why for many refugees who are academically bright and good candidates for business school programmes, it is the cost of higher education that can be a significant barrier.

Scholarships, fellowships, and financial awards are essential tools that enable ambitious, promising, and deserving refugees to access education. As the focus on inclusivity and support for refugees grows within society and educational institutions, so too does the availability of funding for those aspiring to lead and make a difference. 

In recognition of World Refugee Day, we have curated a list of 15 top scholarships for refugees considering an MBA or business school programme. These scholarships are designed to support refugee’s journey towards leadership and advocacy in the business world. 

Corporate partner offerings

• Institution: Open Society Foundations
• Scholarship: Soros Refugee Fellowship 
• Programme: Various Business Programmes  

The Soros Refugee Fellowship has been established in collaboration with prominent educational institutions and is dedicated to fostering the development of refugee leaders.

Recipients of the Soros Refugee Fellowship receive substantial financial support, typically being awarded up to $25,000, along with access to exclusive leadership development programming, including mentorship programs and leadership training. Furthermore, fellows benefit from access to a broader range of conferences and workshops where they can engage with industry leaders, participate in panel discussions and connect with fellow professionals. 

The Soros Refugee Fellowship is highly regarded within the academic community, with prestigious institutions such as Harvard University, Stanford University, the University of Oxford, and the University of Toronto among those which offer it to students.

• Institution: STAR (Student Action for Refugees)
• Scholarship: STAR Refugee Scholarship 
• Programme: Various Business Programmes

The STAR Refugee Scholarship is UK-focused and dedicated to refugee scholars pursuing higher education. 

Recipients benefit from substantial financial support, typically gaining full tuition coverage along with access to leadership and mentorship programs, along with advocacy training.  

The STAR Refugee Scholarship is offered by institutions such as the University of Cambridge, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Manchester, and King’s College London amongst others.

In Europe…

• Institution: BI Norwegian Business School
• Scholarship: Refugee Financial Aid Award 
• Programme: All business programmes

BI Norwegian Business School is committed to providing access to education for applicants who have settled in Norway under collective protection/refugee status. The School initially established the Financial Aid Award in response to the invasion of Ukraine and has now expanded the eligible applicants to include any individual who is in Norway under collective protection.  

For the admission intake 2024, BI will support up to 10 applicants with a tuition waiver for applicants to full-time studies for their master’s (up to two years) or bachelor’s degree (maximum three years). 

• Institution: Oxford Saïd Business School 
• Scholarship: Refugee Academic Futures Scholarship
• Programme: All business programmes   

The Refugee Academic Futures Scholarships offer financial support to pursue graduate study at Oxford to students who are refugees or other people with lived experiences of displacement. 

The University has been able to offer scholarships to refugees and other forced migrants since the 2016-2017 academic year. These awards have been offered through the Oxford Student Refugee Campaign and the Oxford Refugee Scheme, and have now been incorporated into the Academic Futures programme, through the creation of the Refugee Academic Futures scheme. 

The scholarships are open to all academic subjects. Each scholarship will cover refugee’s course fees and will provide them with a grant for living costs. Scholars are offered opportunities to receive mentoring and a bespoke programme of pre-arrival, on-course, and post-completion support. 

• Institution: ESMT Berlin 
• Scholarship: ESMT Berlin Refugee Scholarship
• Programme: Part-time MBA 

Recipients of the ESMT Berlin Refugee Scholarship receive substantial financial support, typically being awarded up to 50% reduction in the fee for the School’s part-time MBA programme. Additionally, fellows are provided with access to exclusive leadership development opportunities, such as mentorship and career coaching.

Scholarship recipients also gain a network, through access to a broader range of conferences and workshops where they can engage with industry leaders and fellow students. They are also invited to participate in panel discussions with other professionals. 

• Institution: Trinity Business School 
• Scholarship: Asylum Seeker Access Provision (ASAP) scholarships 
• Programme: All business programmes

Trinity College Dublin in the Republic of Ireland provides Asylum Seeker Access Provision (ASAP) scholarships. These scholarships cover all fees, provide an annual stipend, a laptop, on-campus food allowance, and public transport costs.  

Without scholarships such as this, asylum-seekers and refugees are treated as ‘international students’ and would be liable for fees, even beyond the amount paid by Irish and other EU students. This additional support can make be the different between being able to attend higher education and not. 

• Institution: Católica Business School 
• Scholarship: Refugee Scholarship programme 
• Programme: All business masters programmes 

The refugee scholarship programme at Católica Business School is intended for students in a humanitarian emergency, with documentation proving the situation. Under the programme, 14 vacancies will be open for bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes with exemption of tuition fees.  

The Católica Refugee Scholarship Programme reflects UCP’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and providing opportunities for those facing displacement or hardship. It stands as a testament to UCP’s dedication to fostering academic excellence and empowering individuals to overcome barriers and achieve their educational aspirations. 

• Institution: Imperial College Business School 
• Scholarship: Imperial Business School Sanctuary Scholarship 
• Programme: Business Masters programmes  

Recipients of the Imperial Business School Sanctuary Scholarship receive substantial support, typically being awarded full tuition for the programme, alongside coaching and mentorship opportunities tailored to their Masters studies.

The Imperial Business School Sanctuary Scholarship is highly regarded within the academic and business community, with Imperial College Business School’s reputation for excellence and innovation reinforcing the impact of this support for refugee scholars. 

• Institution: EDHEC Business School 
• Scholarship: Refugee or Conflict Zone Scholarship
• Programme: Numerous masters programmes 

The EDHEC Refugee or Conflict Zone Scholarship is a special initiative by EDHEC Business School aimed at providing financial support to individuals affected by conflict, displacement, or other challenging circumstances. This scholarship offers 75% tuition and is designed to assist those who have faced significant adversity and wish to pursue higher education at EDHEC Business School. 

Recipients of the EDHEC Refugee or Conflict Zone Scholarship receive financial assistance to cover tuition fees and, in some cases, living expenses during their studies at EDHEC. The scholarship is open to candidates applying to various programs offered by the business school, including undergraduate, graduate, and executive education programs. 

• Institution: University of Bath School of Management 
• Scholarship: Appleton Sanctuary Scholarship 
• Programme: All business programmes  

The Appleton Sanctuary Scholarship at the University of Bath is a vital initiative aimed at supporting displaced individuals in their pursuit of higher education. This scholarship is specifically designed for those seeking taught postgraduate degrees at the university and provides comprehensive financial assistance to cover tuition fees and living expenses.  

Recipients of the Sanctuary Scholarship receive not only funding support but also access to academic and pastoral support services, ensuring they have the resources they need to thrive academically and personally during their studies. 

• Institution: London Business School 
• Scholarship: Refugee and Displace Person Scholarship programme 
• Programme: Numerous business programmes 

The Refugee and Displaced Persons Scholarship, offered by London Business School, provides financial support to refugees and displaced persons who wish to pursue higher education through distance learning programs offered by the University of London member institutions. This scholarship aims to enable individuals who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, or other circumstances to access quality education and enhance their future prospects. 

Recipients benefit from funding to cover tuition fees and, in some cases, living expenses associated with their studies. The scholarship is open to applicants from around the world and supports a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs offered through distance learning by University of London member institutions. 

• Institution: Adam Smith Business School 
• Scholarship: Sanctuary Scholarship 
• Programme: All business programmes 

Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow is offers up to 20 Sanctuary Scholarships for applicants to the University, who have been forced to travel to the UK for humanitarian reasons and are facing challenges in progressing onto Higher Education. The scholarship is open to prospective postgraduate programmes in the business school, and the scholarship will meet the cost of tuition fees for the duration of your programme, for applicants who are unable to access mainstream funding. 

The Sanctuary Scholarship also provides a £5,000 per year stipend, to assist with study costs. In addition, if the eligibility criteria for university accommodation is met, this will also be provided for the duration of the degree, if required.  

In North America…

• Institution: Columbia Business School  
• Scholarship: Scholarship for Displaced Students 
• Programme: All business programmes 

The Columbia University Scholarship for Displaced Students was launched in 2019 in an effort to combat the refugee crisis by providing displaced students with the opportunity to pursue higher education at Columbia. In doing so, Columbia aims to shift the global dialogue surrounding displaced persons – from one that views them as a burden to one that recognises them as vital contributors to society.  

The Scholarship, which is administered by Columbia Global in partnership with participating schools, provides accepted students with full tuition and assistance with non-tuition expenses, and can be utilised for all Columbia Business School programmes.

• Institution: Brandeis International Business School, Massachusetts
• Scholarship: Peace Scholarship Fund 
• Programme: All business programmes 

The Peace Scholarship Fund at Brandeis International Business School was launched in response to the humanitarian needs caused by the war in Ukraine. The scholarship aims to support students who have been displaced from and forced to leave their country due to violent conflict or persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, or membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. 

The scholarship fund will support up to 10 students over the next several years. 

• Institution: Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, the University of Waterloo 
• Scholarship: David Johnston Waterloo Awards for Refugee Students 
• Programme: All business programmes 

The David Johnston Waterloo Awards for Refugee Students is available to graduate refugee students who are sponsored by the World University Service of Canada at Waterloo (WUSC) or any other students who are recognised by the Canadian government as being refugees or protected persons.  

The funds are intended to assist students who are no longer receiving sponsorship support and who have a demonstrated financial need. Candidates must be in satisfactory academic standing. The value of each award varies depending on financial need and available funds.  

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