We get many questions on when to apply for scholarships, how the Scholarship Committee selects aid recipients and what to do if the candidate finds themself applying late in the process for Financial Aid. Hopefully the tips below will help you better manage your applications for financial assistance. We’ve organized the tips into a Question and Answer (Q&A) format for ease of reference.
Question: I’m admitted to a master program at IE however it starts soon and I’m worried it’s too late to apply for aid, what should I do?
Answer: It is preferable to apply well in advance of the start date of the program intake, and as soon as you have definitive admissions to an IE program. However the Scholarship Committee does review applications throughout the year, and the waiting period for a decision is 2-6 weeks. If you need financial assistance and have a great profile, then apply.
Question: I’m planning on starting the International MBA in November however it’s very late in the process and I’m concerned about not being awarded aid because I wasn’t able to apply earlier, what should I do?
Answer: If you really do need financial assistance and have a great profile, then apply; we’ll do our best to help. However, resources are limited so it may be smarter to take another approach: think about moving to the following April intake. Why? Well, simply put, by moving to the April intake (5 additional months of professional experience and savings time…) you’ll convert yourself into one of the “first to apply” for assistance instead of being one of the “last to apply”.
Question: How does the Scholarship Committee decide to award scholarships and fellowships to?
Answer: The Scholarship Committee evaluates much the same characteristics taken into account during the Admissions process, with a special eye to helping the most well-rounded cases who have demonstrated financial need. A well-rounded profile would be one that has excellent past academic results and/or professional track record, someone who brings something unique/diverse to the classroom (uncommon nationality, special expertise, valuable knowledge, experience as a successful entrepreneur, etc) and someone who has done well on the IE Admissions Test or other standard admissions test accepted by IE.