Goldberg Leadership Award of Excellence 2025

The Goldberg Leadership Award of Excellence at the Schulich School of Business, York University, is a prestigious merit-based scholarship for incoming full-time MBA students starting in September 2025. Valued at CAD $12,500, this award recognizes exceptional candidates who demonstrate outstanding leadership potential, academic excellence, and significant contributions to their professional or community environments. Established through the generosity of alumni and donors, the scholarship supports students at Schulich, ranked #1 in Canada by The Economist and #48 globally in the QS Global MBA Rankings 2025. The Schulich MBA, offered at the Keele Campus or Miles S. Nadal Downtown Management Centre in Toronto, is a 16–20-month program with 20 specializations, including Finance, Marketing, and Sustainability, and boasts a 90% placement rate within three months (average salary: CAD $105,000). The award aims to attract high-caliber candidates to this triple-accredited program (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS), fostering future business leaders with a global impact.

To be eligible for the Goldberg Leadership Award of Excellence 2025-2026, applicants must:

• Be admitted to the full-time MBA program at Schulich School of Business for the September 2025 intake (Keele Campus or Miles S. Nadal Downtown Management Centre).

• Demonstrate exceptional leadership potential through:

  • Significant workplace leadership roles (e.g., managerial or strategic responsibilities).

  • Community or extracurricular involvement showcasing initiative and impact (e.g., volunteer work, leadership in student organizations).

• Exhibit academic excellence, typically evidenced by:

  • A bachelor’s degree or equivalent with a minimum GPA of 3.3/4.0 (B+ or 80% average) in the last two years of study.

  • GMAT (average 660 for Class of 2025) or GRE scores (optional but recommended for scholarship consideration).

• Have at least two years of full-time postgraduate work experience (average for Class of 2025: 5 years), preferably in managerial or professional roles.

• Be open to all nationalities (domestic and international students).

• Exclusions:

  • Not available for part-time MBA, Executive MBA, Master of Management, or other Schulich graduate programs.

  • Candidates receiving full employer sponsorship or forgivable loans may be ineligible.

  • Cannot be combined with other Schulich entrance scholarships (e.g., Tanna H. Schulich MBA Entrance Scholarship, Robert Krembil Scholarship of Merit), but may be paired with external funding (e.g., Ontario Graduate Scholarship) if total aid does not exceed the cost of attendance.

• Value: CAD $12,500 per recipient (approximately USD $9,000 at 1 CAD = USD 0.72), awarded to one or more candidates annually.

• Disbursement: Credited directly to the student’s tuition account upon enrollment in September 2025, reducing the program fee (CAD $59,000/year for international students, CAD $36,046/year for domestic students).

• Duration: Non-renewable, covering the first year of the MBA program (16–20 months for full-time study).

• Additional Benefits:

  • Recognition as a Goldberg Leadership Award recipient, enhancing professional credentials.

  • Access to Schulich’s global alumni network of over 34,000 across 90 countries.

  • Career services, including the York Consulting Group and networking with top employers (e.g., Amazon, Deloitte, IBM).

• Note: The scholarship offsets tuition fees only and does not cover living expenses (estimated at CAD $20,000–$25,000/year), accommodation, or other costs. Total financial aid cannot exceed the cost of attendance, and adjustments may be made if combined with other funding sources.

The Goldberg Leadership Award of Excellence requires a separate application through the Schulich School of Business’s Financial Aid, Awards, and Scholarship (FAAS) application process. Follow these steps:

1. Apply for the Full-Time MBA: Submit a complete application for the September 2025 intake via the Schulich online portal (schulich.yorku.ca/apply).

2. Submit MBA Application Documents:

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

   • GMAT (660 average) or GRE scores (optional).

   • Resume/CV detailing at least 2 years of work experience.

   • Two essays (e.g., career goals, leadership experiences, typically 500 words each).

   • Two professional recommendation letters.

   • English proficiency scores for non-native speakers (e.g., IELTS 7.0 overall with no subskill below 6.5, TOEFL iBT 100).

   • For international students: Passport copy and financial documentation for Canadian study permit.

3. Receive MBA Admission Offer: Secure admission to the full-time MBA program (decisions by May 2025 for Round 3).

4. Complete FAAS Application:

   • Access the Financial Aid, Awards, and Scholarship (FAAS) Application via the Schulich Student Portal or by contacting financialaid@schulich.yorku.ca.

   • Submit a 500-word essay demonstrating:

     • Exceptional leadership potential (e.g., workplace initiatives, community impact).

     • Academic excellence and alignment with career aspirations.

     • Contributions to Schulich’s learning environment or broader community.

   • Provide additional documentation if requested (e.g., proof of leadership activities).

5. Evaluation: The Schulich Scholarship Committee evaluates candidates based on leadership achievements, academic excellence (e.g., GPA 3.7+, GMAT 700+), professional experience, and essay quality. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for a virtual or in-person interview.

6. Notification: Recipients are notified via email by June 2025, alongside financial aid decisions.

7. Accept and Enroll: Accept the MBA offer, pay any required deposit, and enroll full-time by September 2025 to activate the scholarship.

Note: International students should apply by Round 2 (January 15, 2025) to allow sufficient time for study permit processing and to maximize scholarship consideration. The final MBA application deadline is February 19, 2025.

• For MBA Admission:

  • Completed online MBA application form (via schulich.yorku.ca/apply).

  • Official academic transcripts and degree certificates.

  • GMAT or GRE scores (optional).

  • Resume/CV detailing 2+ years of work experience.

  • Two essays.

  • Two professional recommendation letters.

  • English proficiency scores for non-native speakers (e.g., IELTS 7.0, TOEFL iBT 100).

  • For international students: Passport copy and financial documentation.

• For Goldberg Leadership Award of Excellence:

  • FAAS Application form (via Schulich Student Portal).

  • 500-word essay on leadership potential, academic excellence, and community contributions.

  • Additional documentation (if requested, e.g., proof of leadership activities).

• Note: Documents must be in English or accompanied by certified translations. Unofficial documents are accepted initially for MBA application, but official versions are required upon admission.

• MBA Application Deadlines (September 2025 Intake):

  • Round 1: September 10, 2024 (decision by November 2024).

  • Round 2: January 15, 2025 (decision by March 2025, recommended for international students).

  • Round 3: February 19, 2025 (decision by May 2025).

• Goldberg Leadership Award of Excellence Deadline: March 20, 2025 (tentative, verify with financialaid@schulich.yorku.ca).

• Notification: By June 2025, alongside financial aid decisions.

• Enrollment Deadline: Enroll by September 2025 for the MBA program start.

• Note: Deadlines are subject to change. Verify on schulich.yorku.ca or contact financialaid@schulich.yorku.ca. Early application (Round 1 or 2) enhances scholarship chances due to limited awards.

• Email: financialaid@schulich.yorku.ca (scholarship inquiries); admissions@schulich.yorku.ca (MBA inquiries).

• Phone: +1 (416) 736-5060 (Schulich Student Services & International Relations).

• Address: Schulich School of Business, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada.

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

• Website: schulich.yorku.ca