Top Accredited Online Universities for International Students in 2025

An international MBA can turbocharge your career—but the price tag (often £60,000–£120,000/$80,000–$200,000+ plus living costs) stops many talented candidates at the application page. The good news: fully funded MBA scholarships abroad exist. Some cover full tuition and a stipend; others combine a full‑tuition award with travel/health/allowances; and a growing number of employers will pay most or all of your tuition for accredited programs.

This guide maps the most credible fully funded MBA options across regions, explains what “fully funded” really means for MBAs, shows you where to find and verify awards, and gives you a 90‑day plan to apply—and win.

What you’ll learn:

• What “fully funded” means for MBAs (tuition vs. stipend vs. top‑ups)
• A vetted list of fully funded (or full‑tuition) MBA scholarships in the UK, USA, Europe, Asia, and beyond
• Global/government schemes that include MBAs (and those that don’t)
• Application timelines, required documents, and selection criteria
• Funding stack strategies (school + government + external + employer)
• FAQs, checklists, and copy‑paste email templates to confirm coverage

Disclaimers: Award scopes and eligibility change every cycle. Always verify on official scholarship and university pages and obtain a written award letter before relying on coverage.

What “fully funded” means for MBAs (set expectations)

For postgraduate business degrees, “fully funded” usually falls into one of these buckets:

• Full tuition + living stipend (+ travel/fees)
  • The best-case scenario: your tuition and a monthly allowance are covered, sometimes with health insurance and flights.
• Full tuition (no stipend)
  • Your tuition bill is zero; you cover living costs. Many “distance” or school‑funded full awards look like this.
• Full‑tuition via partner top‑ups
  • A government award (e.g., Chevening) covers most tuition; the business school adds a “Partner Award” to fully cover the remainder.
• Employer‑funded (effectively fully funded for you)
  • Your company pays 50–100% of tuition (often direct‑bill). When paired with a reasonably priced MBA, your net cost can be ~0.

Pro tip: Many programs use “full scholarship” to mean full tuition (not living costs). Read the award letter carefully to see what is and isn’t included.

At‑a‑glance: standout fully funded MBA scholarships abroad

Use this table as a quick map. Details change—confirm each cycle.

Scholarship/Provider	Region	Coverage (typical)	Notes
Chevening + Chevening Partner Awards	UK	Full tuition + stipend + flights (for MBAs, often via partner top‑ups)	1‑year master’s; partner schools fully cover high‑fee MBAs—verify your target MBA is a partner
Skoll Scholarship (Oxford Saïd)	UK	Full MBA tuition + living stipend	For proven social entrepreneurs; highly competitive
Oxford Pershing Square (1+1)	UK	Full fees (MSc + MBA) + living grant	Two‑year MSc+MBA for leaders tackling global challenges
Knight‑Hennessy Scholars (Stanford)	USA	Up to 3 years tuition + stipend + travel	Covers Stanford GSB MBA if admitted to both KHS and GSB
Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship	USA	Approx. full tuition support	For Indian citizens; return‑to‑India intent encouraged
Chicago Booth/Wharton/MIT/LBS full‑tuition school fellowships	USA/UK	Full tuition	Limited in number; merit‑competitive; by invitation/selection
ADB–Japan Scholarship Program (ADB‑JSP)	Asia‑Pacific	Full tuition + monthly subsistence + travel + insurance	At designated partner universities; select MBAs eligible—check partner list
Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları)	Türkiye	Full tuition + monthly stipend + accommodation + flight	MBA covered at eligible Turkish universities
CSC (Chinese Government Scholarship)	China	Tuition + stipend + accommodation/allowance + insurance	Select English‑medium MBAs are included by some universities—verify program eligibility
MEXT (Japan) – University‑recommended	Japan	Tuition exemption + stipend + travel	A minority of MBA programs nominate candidates; confirm with the university
Fulbright Foreign Student Program	USA	Tuition + living stipend + travel (levels vary)	Some MBAs fully funded when the host school tops up; vary by commission/university
JJ/WBGSP (World Bank)	Global partner schools	Tuition + monthly stipend + travel (development‑related fields)	A few management/leadership programs are eligible; check current host program list
Generous need‑based fellowships (HBS, Stanford GSB, Yale SOM, etc.)	USA	Large need‑based grants (some approach full tuition)	Combine with external awards; not guaranteed “full,” but can get close

Note: Some well-known schemes exclude MBAs (e.g., many Commonwealth Master’s/Shared Scholarships; Erasmus Mundus rarely funds MBAs). Always read the current call.

Fully Funded MBA Scholarships Abroad

UK & Europe: fully funded MBA scholarships to target

Chevening (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) with Partner Awards

• Coverage: Tuition, stipend, travel, visa fees; for MBAs, schools often provide Chevening Partner top‑ups to cover full tuition where Chevening has a cap.
• Eligibility: Citizens of eligible countries, 2+ years’ work experience, leadership/networking potential, return intent.
• Strategy:
  • Shortlist UK MBAs that are Chevening Partners (many top schools are).
  • Apply to the MBA in early rounds; apply to Chevening Aug–Nov.
  • Obtain a conditional offer in time to submit to Chevening.

Oxford Saïd: Skoll Scholarship (full funding + stipend)

• Who it’s for: Social entrepreneurs with a track record of scaling impact.
• Coverage: Full MBA fees + living stipend.
• Notes: Separate Skoll essays/interview; extremely selective.

Oxford Pershing Square (1+1) Scholarship (full fees + grant)

• Who it’s for: High‑impact leaders admitted to both a partnering MSc and the MBA.
• Coverage: Full fees for both years + living grant.
• Notes: Early application essential.

School‑funded full‑tuition awards (competitive)

• LBS, INSEAD (France/Singapore), HEC Paris, IE/IESE/ESADE (Spain), Imperial, Cambridge, Warwick, Manchester, Cranfield:
  • Most awards are partial; a small number of full‑tuition scholarships exist each year (women’s leadership, regional excellence, donor‑named funds).
  • Action: Apply early (Round 1/2), present a standout GMAT/GRE and quantified leadership impact, and ask admissions which full‑tuition awards match your profile.

United States: global fellowships and large school grants

Knight‑Hennessy Scholars (Stanford University)

• Coverage: Up to three years of tuition, stipend, and travel for Stanford graduate degrees—including the MBA (if admitted to GSB).
• Notes: Separate KHS application; leadership and civic engagement are central.

Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship

• Coverage: Tuition support roughly equivalent to full tuition for the MBA (exact amounts vary with fees).
• Eligibility: Indian citizens; preference for those who will return to India.
• Notes: Apply before/alongside the MBA application; very competitive.

School‑specific full‑tuition fellowships (examples)

• Chicago Booth, Wharton, MIT Sloan, Columbia, Kellogg, Yale SOM:
  • Offer a limited number of full‑tuition merit fellowships (e.g., named dean’s/leadership fellowships).
  • Action: Apply in earliest rounds; a very strong GMAT/GRE and unique leadership narrative help.

Generous need‑based packages

• Harvard Business School, Stanford GSB, Yale SOM, others:
  • Need‑based fellowships can cover a substantial portion of tuition; combined with external awards, some students effectively reach full tuition.
  • Action: Submit full financials; leverage external scholarships (Forté for women, regional foundations).

Fulbright Foreign Student Program (country‑specific)

• Coverage: Tuition, living stipend, travel; final amounts vary by country/university.
• MBA angle: Some Fulbright commissions fund MBAs fully, especially with university top‑ups. Confirm with your local Fulbright office and target schools.

Asia‑Pacific, Middle East, and beyond: government & multilateral funding

ADB–Japan Scholarship Program (ADB‑JSP)

• Coverage: Full tuition, monthly subsistence allowance, housing, books, health insurance, airfare.
• Eligible programs: Development‑related master’s at partner universities in Asia‑Pacific; select MBAs are eligible (e.g., Asian Institute of Management and other designated partners—check the current list).
• Eligibility: Citizens of ADB borrowing member countries, with work experience and a demonstrated commitment to development.

Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları)

• Coverage: Full tuition, monthly stipend, public dorm accommodation or allowance, one‑off flight ticket, health insurance.
• MBA eligibility: Yes—MBAs at eligible Turkish universities are covered.
• Notes: Centralized application; competitive and country‑quota based.

CSC (Chinese Government Scholarship)

• Coverage: Tuition, monthly stipend, on‑campus accommodation or housing allowance, health insurance.
• MBA eligibility: Select English‑medium MBAs at Chinese universities accept CSC; verify with the host university’s CSC page.

MEXT (Japan) – University‑Recommended

• Coverage: Tuition waiver, monthly stipend, airfare.
• MBA eligibility: Some national/university MBA programs nominate MEXT candidates (not universal). Confirm at the target school.

JJ/WBGSP (Joint Japan/World Bank)

• Coverage: Tuition, monthly stipend, travel/insurance for development‑related master’s at approved host programs.
• MBA eligibility: A few management/leadership programs in the host list may be MBA or MBA‑adjacent—check the current host directory.

Gulf scholarships (Qatar/UAE/KSA) via campus partners

• HEC Paris in Qatar, global campus partnerships:
  • Offer institutional scholarships; occasionally full‑tuition awards exist for outstanding candidates from priority sectors. Confirm with the specific campus.

Are Commonwealth, Erasmus, or DAAD options available for MBAs?

• Commonwealth Master’s/Shared Scholarships
  • Often exclude MBAs; they prioritize development‑focused programmes. Always read the call—exceptions are rare.
• Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s
  • Not typically MBA; these are joint academic master’s with Erasmus funding.
• DAAD scholarships (Germany)
  • DAAD EPOS funds development‑related postgraduate courses; a small number are MBA or MBA‑like management programmes. Check the current EPOS course list to confirm MBA eligibility.

External foundations and near‑full options

• Forté Fellowships (women in business)
  • Offered via partner schools worldwide (UK/US/EU). Amounts vary; combine with school awards to approach full tuition.
• Aga Khan Foundation
  • Postgraduate scholarships (50% grant/50% loan) for citizens of eligible countries; MBAs can qualify. Not “free,” but can fully cover costs with favorable terms.
• Rotary and regional foundations
  • Occasionally fund MBA candidates tied to specific geographies/causes (usually partial). Stack them.

How to verify a scholarship is truly “fully funded” (10‑minute checklist)

1. Find the official page and award PDF

• Search “site:.edu [school] MBA scholarship full tuition” or “[scholarship name] MBA eligible courses”.

2. Confirm MBA inclusion

• Some schemes exclude MBAs or only fund certain MBA tracks (e.g., 1‑year, development focus).

3. Read the coverage lines closely

• Tuition? Stipend? Insurance? Travel? Fees? Duration? Any caps?

4. Check partner top‑ups

• For Chevening/Fulbright, ask if the school supplies a partner award to cover higher MBA fees.

5. Ask admissions/scholarship office in writing

• “Does this scholarship fully cover tuition for the [year] MBA intake? Are living costs included? Please send a PDF award summary for visa/CAS.”

6. Save everything

• Keep PDFs and emails to present to visa authorities and for your own records.

Copy‑paste email:

• Subject: Confirmation of Full Funding – [MBA Program], [Your Name]
• Body: Hi [Name], I’m applying to the [MBA] and [Scholarship]. Could you confirm whether the award covers 100% of tuition (and any stipend/travel) for the [year] intake? If so, can you share a PDF outline for my scholarship/visa documentation? Thank you!

What selection committees look for (and how to stand out)

• Leadership with quantified impact
  • Use metrics (revenue grown, costs reduced, jobs created, communities served, policy changes). “Led a team” is weaker than “Scaled a 7‑person team to 23 and grew ARR by $6.8M.”
• Academic and analytical readiness
  • Strong GPA; GMAT/GRE can materially boost merit odds—even at test‑optional schools. A 700+ GMAT or equivalent GRE quant score helps.
• Mission alignment
  • Chevening: leadership + return intent. Skoll: social entrepreneurship. ADB/JJ/WBGSP: development outcomes. KHS: leadership + civic mindset.
• Contribution to diversity
  • Geography, gender (Forté), sector, socio‑economic background, underrepresented communities.
• Clear “why this school”
  • Tie your goals to specific centers, labs, geographic footprint, sector strengths, and employer network.

90‑day plan to win a fully funded MBA abroad

Days 1–7: Targeting & verification

• Shortlist 6–10 MBAs (mix of UK/US/EU/Asia).
• Map scholarship fits: Chevening partners; Skoll/Pershing Square; KHS/Stanford Reliance; ADB‑JSP/JJ/WBGSP; Türkiye; CSC/MEXT; school full‑tuition fellowships.
• Email to confirm MBA eligibility and coverage.

Days 8–21: Materials that win

• One‑page leadership CV (impact bullets).
• Essays: Goals, leadership, “why school,” contribution plan.
• GMAT/GRE/EA: schedule or improve; a 20–40 point gain can unlock thousands.
• Referees: brief with your achievements; share your resume and bullet points.

Days 22–45: Apply early

• Submit Round 1/2 MBA applications; upload scholarship essays/forms.
• If Chevening‑eligible: complete Chevening essays (Aug–Nov).
• If KHS/Stanford Reliance: follow their separate deadlines.

Days 46–70: Interviews & stacking

• Prepare for behavioural + case/leadership interviews.
• Apply to external awards (Forté, regional foundations).
• Approach your employer for tuition support; attach an ROI memo (projects/skills you’ll deliver during the MBA).

Days 71–90: Offers & proof

• Negotiate respectfully (share competing awards or improved scores).
• Request updated award letters reflecting coverage for visa/CAS/financial proof.
• Plan housing/insurance (if not covered) and budget for any remaining fees.

Documents & deadlines (what you’ll typically need)

• MBA application: Online form, essays, CV, transcripts, test scores (GMAT/GRE/EA, plus English—IELTS/TOEFL/PTE if needed), two recommendations.
• Scholarship extras: Leadership statement, development/return intent, project proposal (Skoll/ADB/JJ/WBGSP), financial need statement (if applicable).
• Deadlines: MBA Rounds (Sep–Apr); Chevening (Aug–Nov); KHS (Oct); ADB/JJ/WBGSP (varies by host; often Dec–Mar); Türkiye (Jan–Feb); CSC (Dec–Apr via university/embassy); MEXT (varies by university).

Funding stack: cut your net cost to ~£/$0

• Full‑tuition award (school/government) + living stipend → genuine “fully funded”
• Chevening + school partner top‑up → full tuition + stipend
• ADB‑JSP/JJ/WBGSP/Türkiye/CSC/MEXT → usually full tuition plus stipend/allowances
• School full‑tuition fellowship + employer contribution → tuition covered; stipend not typical
• Need‑based fellowships (HBS/GSB/Yale SOM) + external awards → near full tuition

Add travel/health where needed and confirm coverage windows (e.g., arrival, internship periods).

Common pitfalls (and easy fixes)

• Assuming all government awards fund MBAs
  • Many don’t. Chevening yes; Commonwealth Shared often no; Erasmus rarely; DAAD EPOS only some.
• Missing early rounds
  • Scholarship budgets are front‑loaded. Apply in the first two rounds whenever possible.
• Overlooking partner top‑ups
  • A government scholarship may require a school partner award to reach full tuition—ask admissions explicitly.
• Weak leadership evidence
  • Quantify. Use metrics, milestones, budgets, markets, and headcount.
• Visa documentation gaps
  • Ensure your award letter states amounts and duration so your CAS/I‑20 reflects correct funding.

Sample email templates

Scholarship eligibility confirmation (MBA included?):

• Subject: MBA Eligibility for [Scholarship Name]
• Body: Hello [Name], I’m applying to the [School] MBA [intake]. Could you confirm whether [Scholarship] covers this MBA (full tuition and/or stipend)? Please share the current rules or a PDF summary. Thank you!

Partner top‑up confirmation (Chevening/Fulbright):

• Subject: Chevening Partner Award for MBA – Coverage Confirmation
• Body: Hi [Name], since Chevening may cap MBA tuition, does [School] offer a Chevening Partner Award that fully covers remaining MBA tuition for [intake]? Could you confirm amounts and conditions? Best, [Your Name]

Scholarship reconsideration (after offer):

• Subject: Scholarship Reconsideration – [Your Name], [MBA Intake]
• Body: Thank you for my admission. Since applying, I [raised my GMAT to ___/received [Award X]/was promoted to [Role]]. Could the committee review my scholarship level in light of these updates? I remain deeply committed to [School] and its [focus]. Sincerely, [Name]

FAQs: Fully Funded MBA Scholarships Abroad

Q: Do true “full rides” for MBAs exist?

A: Yes, but they’re rare and highly competitive. Examples include Oxford’s Skoll Scholarship, Oxford Pershing Square (1+1), Stanford Knight‑Hennessy, school‑specific full‑tuition fellowships at top US/UK programs, and government/multilateral schemes like ADB‑JSP, Türkiye Scholarships, and some CSC/MEXT cases. Chevening + partner top‑ups can also fully cover UK MBA tuition.

Q: Does Chevening fund MBAs?

A: Chevening funds 1‑year master’s including MBAs. For high‑fee MBAs, Chevening may apply a tuition cap; partner schools often top up the difference through Chevening Partner Awards. Confirm with your target school.

Q: Which US programs most often approach full funding?

A: Stanford (Knight‑Hennessy, Reliance Dhirubhai), Chicago Booth/Wharton/MIT Sloan (select full‑tuition fellowships), and large need‑based packages at HBS/GSB/Yale SOM (often near full tuition when combined with external awards). You still need outstanding academics and leadership.

Q: Are Commonwealth/Erasmus/DAAD options good for MBAs?

A: Commonly, no—many exclude MBAs. DAAD EPOS includes a limited number of management/MBAs tied to development; verify the current EPOS list.

Q: Can I get a stipend for an MBA?

A: Some schemes include stipends (Skoll, ADB‑JSP, Türkiye, CSC, MEXT, certain Fulbright/JJ/WBGSP). School‑funded full‑tuition awards often do not include living stipends.

Q: How important is GMAT/GRE for scholarships?

A: Very. Even at test‑optional schools, a strong score (e.g., GMAT 700+) can materially increase merit odds and award size. It’s not the only factor—leadership impact and fit matter—but it’s a lever you control.

Q: Can employer funding stack with scholarships?

A: Usually yes. Many schools allow stacking with employer tuition assistance, and some even match employer contributions. Confirm stacking rules before enrolling.

Q: Are online MBAs eligible for fully funded scholarships?

A: A few full‑tuition distance awards exist (e.g., some university “Global Online” schemes). Government awards with living stipends typically target on‑campus degrees. Employer funding is common for online MBAs and can make them effectively fully funded.

Q: How early should I apply?

A: As early as possible—Round 1/2 for MBAs. Chevening opens Aug–Nov (the year before). KHS has autumn deadlines. Government schemes like ADB‑JSP/JJ/WBGSP vary by host (often Dec–Mar). Funding is front‑loaded.

Make a world‑class MBA affordable—with the right stack

Fully funded MBA scholarships abroad are real—if you target the right programs, apply early, and present a quantified leadership story that matches each funder’s mission. Focus on schemes that truly cover MBAs (Chevening partners, Skoll, Knight‑Hennessy, ADB‑JSP, Türkiye, CSC/MEXT in select cases), and layer them with school fellowships, external awards, and employer tuition support. Confirm coverage in writing, align deadlines, and you can turn a top MBA into a financially sound investment.