Forté MBA Fellowships 2025

The Forté MBA Fellowships 2025, offered by the Forté Foundation, are prestigious, competitive awards aimed at advancing women and diverse candidates in business leadership through MBA education. Established to increase women’s representation in business schools, the fellowship supports students at over 50 partner business schools across the United States, Canada, and Europe, including Harvard, Stanford, INSEAD, and Oxford.

The scholarship provides partial tuition funding, varying by school (up to USD $25,000 or GBP £30,000), and grants access to Forté’s extensive network, leadership conferences, and career resources. With over $475 million awarded to more than 19,000 fellows since 2003, the program fosters exemplary leadership, diversity, and a commitment to empowering women in business. Fellows join a lifelong community, enhancing their professional and personal development.

To be eligible for the Forté MBA Fellowships 2025, applicants must:

• Be admitted to a full-time, part-time, executive, dual-degree, or online MBA program at one of Forté’s partner business schools (e.g., Harvard Business School, INSEAD, University of Oxford, University at Buffalo).

• Demonstrate exemplary leadership in one or more areas: academic, team, community, or creative leadership.

• Represent diverse educational and work backgrounds, career goals, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, or gender identities/expressions.

• Show a commitment to Forté’s mission of advancing women in business through education, opportunities, and community involvement (e.g., personal mentorship, community engagement).

• Meet the specific criteria set by the admitting business school, which may include alignment with the school’s mission, academic excellence (e.g., average GPA 3.61, GMAT 712 for Class of 2025), and professional achievements.

• Be of any nationality or gender identity (while historically focused on women, some schools, like Columbia and Simon Business School, consider all MBA candidates).

• Exclusions:

  • Applicants not admitted to a Forté partner school’s MBA program are ineligible.

  • Students receiving full-tuition scholarships from other sources may be ineligible, depending on school policies.

  • Candidates who fail to complete the Forté Fellow Registration by October 15, 2025, may not receive fellowship benefits or recognition.

• Fellowship Value: Varies by partner school, typically up to USD $25,000 (e.g., at U.S. schools like NYU, Georgetown) or GBP £30,000 (e.g., at Oxford’s Saïd Business School) for the program duration, applied as a tuition fee waiver.

• Disbursement: Awarded directly by the partner school, typically as a tuition credit split over the program duration (e.g., two years for full-time MBAs, longer for part-time/executive programs).

• Duration: Covers the MBA program length, renewable annually based on academic progress and adherence to Forté’s expectations (e.g., participation in Forté events).

• Additional Benefits:

  • Lifetime Forté membership (valued at $50/year), including access to webinars, workshops, and the Forté Access Network.

  • Inclusion in the Forté Fellows resume book, distributed annually to over 100 corporate partners (e.g., Fortune 500 companies).

  • Invitations to Forté’s MBA Women’s Leadership Conference and Financial Services FAST Track Conference, offering networking with executives and alumni.

  • Access to exclusive job openings, leadership programs, and mentorship opportunities within the Forté network.

  • Membership in Forté Fellows LinkedIn and Facebook groups for peer networking.

• Note: The award covers tuition only and does not include living expenses, travel, or other costs. Schools like Columbia may designate all scholarship recipients as Forté Fellows, while others (e.g., Oxford) limit awards to a few (up to three). Total aid cannot exceed tuition costs, and external scholarships must be reported to the school.

No separate application is required for the Forté MBA Fellowships; candidates are automatically considered upon MBA program admission. Follow these steps:

1. Apply to a Forté Partner School: Submit an MBA application to a participating school’s full-time, part-time, executive, dual-degree, or online program via the school’s admissions portal (e.g., www.hbs.edu for Harvard, www.sbs.ox.ac.uk for Oxford) by the school’s deadline.

2. Submit Required Documents:

   • Academic transcripts and degree certificates (bachelor’s or equivalent).

   • GMAT/GRE scores (optional at many schools but recommended; average GMAT 712 for Class of 2025).

   • English proficiency scores for non-native speakers (e.g., IELTS 6.5+, TOEFL iBT 88+).

   • Resume/CV detailing professional experience (average 6.46 years for Class of 2025).

   • Essays, personal statement, or motivation letter (per school requirements).

   • Two or more recommendation letters (academic or professional).

   • For schools like INSEAD, complete the Forté Fellowship essay question (Rounds 1 and 2).

3. Interview: Participate in the school’s MBA admissions interview, if shortlisted, to assess leadership, fit, and commitment to Forté’s mission.

4. Receive Offer and Fellowship Notification: Admitted students are notified of Forté Fellowship awards in their offer letter or separately by the school, typically in Spring 2025 (e.g., April for Round 2 at Oxford).

5. Complete Forté Fellow Registration: Accepted fellows must register on the Forté Foundation portal (www.fortefoundation.org) by October 15, 2025, to access benefits and be recognized as Forté Fellows post-graduation.

6. Enroll and Activate: Enroll in the MBA program by the school’s deadline (e.g., September 2025 for most) to activate the fellowship.

Note: Contact the school’s admissions office (e.g., admissions@chicagobooth.edu for Chicago Booth) to express interest in the Forté Fellowship and inquire about additional requirements (e.g., essays at INSEAD). Early application (e.g., Round 1 or 2) increases chances, as funds may be limited in later rounds.

• MBA program application form (via the partner school’s portal).

• Academic transcripts and degree certificates (bachelor’s or equivalent, certified and translated if necessary).

• GMAT/GRE scores (optional, but average GMAT 712 for Class of 2025 fellows).

• English proficiency scores for non-native speakers (e.g., IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 88, PTE 59).

• Resume/CV (detailing 6+ years of work experience, leadership roles).

• Essays or personal statement (per school requirements, e.g., Forté-specific essay at INSEAD).

• Two or more recommendation letters (academic or professional).

• Note: Documents are submitted during the MBA application process. No additional documents are needed for the fellowship unless specified by the school (e.g., INSEAD’s Forté essay). Originals may be requested post-admission.

• MBA Application Deadlines: Vary by partner school and round. Examples:

  • Harvard Business School: Round 1: September 9, 2024; Round 2: January 6, 2025.

  • Oxford Saïd Business School: Round 1: September 9, 2024; Round 2: January 6, 2025.

  • INSEAD: Round 1: September 10, 2024; Round 2: November 5, 2024.

  • University at Buffalo: February 1, 2025 (priority for scholarships).

• Forté Fellow Registration: October 15, 2025, for accepted fellows to access benefits.

• Scholarship Notification: Included in MBA offer letters or separately, typically Spring 2025 (e.g., April for Round 2).

• Enrollment Deadlines: Vary by school (e.g., August/September 2025 for Fall intake).

• Note: Deadlines differ by school and program type (full-time, part-time, executive). Check school websites (e.g., www.hbs.edu, www.sbs.ox.ac.uk) or contact admissions offices for exact dates. Apply early (Round 1 or 2) to maximize fellowship chances, as funds may be limited later.

• Forté Foundation:

  • Email: Contact via www.fortefoundation.org/contact

  • Phone: +1 (512) 535-5157

  • Address: Forté Foundation, 12708 Riata Vista Circle, Suite A-114, Austin, TX 78727, USA.

  • Social Media: www.facebook.com/fortefoundation

• Partner School Admissions (examples):

  • Harvard Business School: admissions@hbs.edu; +1 (617) 495-6128.

  • Oxford Saïd Business School: mba@sbs.ox.ac.uk; +44 (0)1865 288800.

  • INSEAD: mba.info@insead.edu; +33 (0)1 60 72 40 00.

  • University at Buffalo: mgt-admissions@buffalo.edu; +1 (716) 645-3204.

• Office Hours: Vary by school; typically Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM local time.

• Website: www.fortefoundation.org

• Competitive Selection: Fellowships are highly selective, with schools prioritizing candidates who demonstrate leadership, diversity, and alignment with Forté’s mission. Profiles of 2025 fellows show diversity (55% U.S. citizens/permanent residents, 45% international; varied ethnicities) and strong credentials (GPA 3.61, 6.46 years’ experience).

• School-Specific Awards: Award amounts and numbers vary (e.g., Oxford offers up to three fellowships at £30,000; Buffalo’s awards are smaller but broader). Some schools, like Columbia, may designate all scholarship recipients as Forté Fellows, while others, like INSEAD, require a specific essay.

• Non-Financial Benefits: Fellows gain lifetime access to Forté’s network, including over 19,000 alumni, corporate partners (e.g., Goldman Sachs, Deloitte), and events like the MBA Women’s Leadership Conference. The resume book enhances job prospects with Fortune 500 firms.

• Gender Inclusivity: While traditionally for women, some schools (e.g., Simon Business School, Columbia) consider all MBA candidates, reflecting evolving inclusivity. Male applicants should demonstrate commitment to Forté’s mission (e.g., empowering women in business).

• Application Tips: Highlight leadership and diversity in your MBA application essays and interviews. Contact admissions offices to express Forté interest and inquire about school-specific criteria. Avoid relying solely on GMAT/GPA; emphasize mentorship or community involvement with women/girls.

• Related Programs: Forté’s MBALaunch (applications open August 2025, fee $675–$750) supports MBA applicants, but participation is not required for fellowships. Explore school-specific scholarships (e.g., INSEAD Women’s Scholarship) or external awards like the Nehru Study Abroad Scholarship for complementary funding.