Global Executive MBA Scholarships 2025

The WU Executive Academy Global Executive MBA Scholarships 2025-2026, offered by the WU Executive Academy at the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Vienna) in partnership with the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, support high-potential international students pursuing the part-time Global Executive MBA (GEMBA). This 16-month, triple-accredited (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS) program, ranked 12th in the QS Executive MBA Ranking 2025 for Joint Programs, provides a 360° global perspective through international residencies in Latin America, Asia, and the US. The scholarships, including the general scholarship and the Female Leaders Scholarship, offer partial tuition fee waivers of up to 35% (approximately €22,820 of the €65,200 tuition fee). The program, designed for working executives, emphasizes leadership, globalization, and strategic management, with a Global Team Project uniting participants from WU, Carlson, and Lingnan (University) College (China). Scholarships aim to alleviate financial barriers, fostering diversity and career advancement, with access to a global alumni network of over 5,000 members from 85 nations.

To be eligible for the WU Executive Academy Global Executive MBA Scholarships 2025-2026, applicants must:

• Be admitted to the Global Executive MBA program starting in Spring 2026 (March/April 2026).

• Hold a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent, e.g., diploma, master’s) from a recognized institution.

• Have at least 5 years of professional work experience, including leadership experience or potential.

• Demonstrate English language proficiency (no formal test like GMAT or TOEFL required, but proficiency is assessed during the application process).

• Show financial need, as the scholarships prioritize applicants for whom financing the tuition fee (€65,200) is a challenge.

• Be self-funded or partially sponsored by their employer (up to 50% of tuition).

• For the Female Leaders Scholarship:

  • Be a female applicant (open to all nationalities).

  • Demonstrate a strong career track record, leadership potential, and financial need.

• Meet additional evaluation criteria, including:

  • Motivation and career goals.

  • Social competence and ability to work in teams.

  • Analytical skills and potential contribution to peer learning.

  • Diversity contribution to the cohort.

  • Previous career track and development potential.

• Exclusions:

  • Scholarships are only available for the Global Executive MBA starting in Spring 2026, not other WU Executive Academy programs (e.g., Executive MBA Bucharest, Professional MBA).

  • Cannot be combined with other WU Executive Academy scholarships or full employer sponsorship.

  • Applicants must apply in the designated application periods (Early Bird or regular deadlines).

• Value: Partial tuition fee waiver of up to 35% (approximately €22,820 of the €65,200 tuition fee for 2025-2026).

• Disbursement: Applied as a tuition fee reduction across the four payment installments over the 16-month program, starting in Spring 2026.

• Duration: Non-renewable, covering the entire 16-month Global Executive MBA program.

• Additional Benefits:

  • Early Bird Discounts: €5,000 for applications by September 30, 2025, or €2,500 by December 15, 2025, combinable with the scholarship (reducing tuition to as low as €37,380 with maximum scholarship and Early Bird).

  • Access to the WU Executive Academy alumni network (over 5,000 members from 85 nations) and the Carlson School’s global connections, including Fortune 500 companies.

  • Career support through the MBA Career Accelerator Program, offering self-assessment, peer feedback, and personalized career planning.

  • Participation in international residencies (Latin America, Asia, US) and the Global Team Project, enhancing global business exposure.

• Note: The scholarship does not cover living expenses (estimated at €1,200–€2,000/month in Vienna), travel costs for residencies (approximately €5,000–€7,000), or additional fees (e.g., administrative costs). Total financial aid cannot exceed the tuition fee, and adjustments may be made if combined with employer sponsorship or other funding. Education loans are available through WeMakeScholars for Indian nationals or other financial institutions (e.g., SBI, Bank of Baroda).

The scholarship application is integrated into the Global Executive MBA application process, with additional financial need documentation. Follow these steps:

1. Apply for the Global Executive MBA:

   • Submit an online application via the WU Executive Academy portal (executiveacademy.at/en/programmes/mba/global-executive-mba/apply) for the Spring 2026 intake.

   • Required documents:

     • Curriculum Vitae (CV).

     • Motivational letter (1–2 pages) outlining career goals, leadership potential, and reasons for pursuing the GEMBA.

     • Two reference letters (one from a direct supervisor, one from a person of the applicant’s choosing).

     • Diploma copies and grade transcripts (original and certified English translation if not in English).

     • Photocopy of passport.

     • Recent digital photo.

2. Indicate Scholarship Interest:

   • Select the scholarship type (General or Female Leaders) in the online application form.

   • Provide proof of financial need, including:

     • Payslip, income statement, or company confirmation.

     • Documentation of extraordinary financial burdens (e.g., medical expenses, family care costs), if applicable.

3. Interview: After submitting documents, shortlisted candidates are invited to a personal or virtual interview to assess motivation, leadership potential, and fit with the program’s global cohort.

4. Evaluation: The WU Executive Academy Scholarship Committee evaluates applications based on:

   • Financial need (primary criterion when profiles are similar).

   • Academic merit and professional achievements.

   • Motivation, social competence, and team-working ability.

   • Analytical skills and contribution to cohort diversity.

   • English proficiency and career development potential.

5. Notification: Successful applicants are notified via email by February 2026, prior to the program start in March/April 2026.

6. Accept and Enroll: Accept the scholarship offer, confirm enrollment, and arrange payment for the remaining tuition (potentially via installments or education loans).

Note: Apply by September 30, 2025, for the €5,000 Early Bird discount or December 15, 2025, for the €2,500 discount. The final application deadline is January 31, 2026. International applicants should apply early to account for visa processing (Austrian student visa required for non-EU/EEA students). Contact gemba@wu.ac.at or wuea-female-leaders-network@wu.ac.at (for Female Leaders Scholarship) for support. A free profile check is available at executiveacademy.at before applying.

• Completed online application form for the Global Executive MBA (via executiveacademy.at).

• Curriculum Vitae (CV).

• Motivational letter (1–2 pages).

• Two reference letters (one from a direct supervisor, one from a person of choice).

• Diploma copies and grade transcripts (original and certified English translation if needed).

• Photocopy of passport.

• Recent digital photo.

• Proof of financial need (e.g., payslip, income statement, company confirmation).

• Documentation of extraordinary financial burdens (e.g., medical expenses, family care costs), if applicable.

• Note: Documents must be in English or accompanied by certified translations. Submit digital copies via the application portal. A laptop with administrator rights and good MS Office skills are required for the program’s e-learning platform.

• Early Bird Discounts:

  • €5,000 discount: September 30, 2025.

  • €2,500 discount: December 15, 2025.

• Scholarship and Program Application Deadline: January 31, 2026 (final deadline for Spring 2026 intake).

• Notification: February 2026.

• Enrollment Deadline: March/April 2026 (program start).

• Note: Deadlines are based on the 2025-2026 cycle (executiveacademy.at, WeMakeScholars). Verify on executiveacademy.at/en/programmes/mba/global-executive-mba or contact gemba@wu.ac.at. Early application is recommended due to limited scholarship availability and visa processing for non-EU/EEA applicants.

• Email: gemba@wu.ac.at (general and scholarship inquiries); wuea-female-leaders-network@wu.ac.at (Female Leaders Scholarship).

• Phone: +43-1-31336-6300 (WU Executive Academy).

• Address: WU Executive Academy, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Welthandelsplatz 1, 1020 Vienna, Austria.

• Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM (CET).

• Website: executiveacademy.at/en/programmes/mba/global-executive-mba