MBA and EMBA Scholarships

What you'll receive

Whether you're an aspiring leader or an experienced executive, our MBA programs will help you reach your full leadership potential to create a positive impact in your organisation and community.

Offered by the Graduate School of Business, these scholarships support leaders from diverse backgrounds and industries to gain their MBA or Executive MBA.

Women in leadership excellence

This scholarship is designed for women with senior or executive-level leadership experience who are seeking to further enhance their leadership skills and drive meaningful impact in their organisations and industries. Recipients will receive a 100% or 50% tuition fee waiver for the Executive MBA (Brisbane and Canberra). Supported by UN Women Australia, the scholarship aims to promote diversity and gender equality by empowering accomplished women to take the next step in their leadership journeys and make a broader impact within their communities and professions.

Selection criteria:

1. Leadership impact: Provide specific examples of how your leadership has driven significant change or innovation within your organisation, industry or community.
2. Commitment to diversity and gender equality: Describe your leadership in initiatives or programs that promote diversity and gender equality. Detail how you have championed or supported women in leadership within your organisation, industry or community.
3. Leadership vision: Outline your long-term leadership goals and how the Executive MBA will help you achieve them. Discuss how you plan to further expand your leadership influence and drive positive social or organisational change.
4. Impact of the Executive MBA: Explain how undertaking the Executive MBA will enhance your leadership capabilities and create a wider impact in your industry or community.

Female executive leaders

This scholarship is designed to support women at all leadership levels - emerging, middle management, and senior leaders - who are looking to expand their skillset and lead with confidence. Whether you are an aspiring leader or already in a senior role, this scholarship offers a 25% or 50% tuition fee waiver for an MBA or Executive MBA. It aims to empower women to enhance their leadership potential, drive organisational success, and make a lasting impact in their industries and communities.

Selection criteria:

1. Leadership experience: Describe your leadership skills and highlight key achievements that demonstrate your potential for continued growth and leadership impact. Provide examples of how your leadership has contributed to the success of an organisation, industry or community, and how you have led strategies that resulted in positive outcomes.
2. Commitment to women in leadership: Explain your commitment to supporting and advancing other women in leadership, either within your organisation or in the wider community. Include any initiatives or efforts you’ve been involved in that promote gender equality or mentor future female leaders.
3. Impact of the MBA or Executive MBA: Explain how completing the MBA or Executive MBA will enhance your leadership abilities and drive your career forward. Describe how you plan to apply the knowledge and skills gained from the program to advance in your career and drive positive change.

Female entrepreneurs

This scholarship is aimed at empowering women who are entrepreneurs or business founders, offering a 50% tuition fee waiver for an MBA or Executive MBA. It supports women driven by innovation and passionate about shaping the future of business. The scholarship seeks to help female entrepreneurs advance their ventures, develop strategic skills, and drive growth in their industries. To be eligible, the applicant’s business must be ABN registered.

Selection criteria:

1. Entrepreneurial leadership: Provide an overview of your entrepreneurial journey, detailing the challenges you have overcome and how your business has grown and evolved. Highlight your leadership in driving innovation, sustainability, and positive change within your business.
2. Community impact and leadership: Explain how your entrepreneurial work has contributed to the broader community, particularly in supporting and empowering other women. Describe any initiatives you've led or participated in that foster collaboration, mentorship, or positive social impact beyond your business.
3. Impact of the MBA or Executive MBA: Describe how the MBA or Executive MBA will help you expand your business’s positive growth and influence, not only within your industry but also across broader communities. Include how you will use your enhanced skills and knowledge to support other female entrepreneurs and contribute to economic and social development.

Not-for-profit leaders

This scholarship is designed to support leaders directly employed by registered not-for-profit (NFP) organisations, aiming to further empower their communities and address significant social, economic, and environmental challenges. The scholarship offers a 50% tuition fee waiver for an MBA or Executive MBA, providing NFP leaders with the tools and knowledge needed to enhance their impact and effectiveness in their roles.

Selection criteria:

1. Leadership in the NFP sector: Describe and provide examples of how you have demonstrated leadership in the NFP sector. Highlight specific achievements, projects, or initiatives that have made a positive impact on the organisation and the communities it serves. Describe your efforts to support and mentor other professionals within the NFP sector that aim to develop leadership skills or enhance the capabilities of others in the sector.
2. Contribution to social impact: Provide details on how your leadership has contributed to addressing social, economic, or environmental challenges through your NFP organisation. Outline your long-term goals and vision for your role within the NFP sector.
3. Impact of the MBA or Executive MBA: Describe how the scholarship will support you in achieving your goals and how the MBA or Executive MBA will help you address future challenges and opportunities in your work. Discuss the specific skills, knowledge, or perspectives you expect to gain from the program and how these will be applied to drive positive change.

Indigenous leaders

This scholarship is designed to support Indigenous Australians who are in, or aspiring to be in, leadership roles within their organisation or community. It recognises leadership in cultural, educational, community-based, or professional settings and offers a 50% tuition fee waiver for an MBA or Executive MBA. The scholarship aims to empower Indigenous leaders to enhance their capabilities and drive positive change within their communities and professions.

Selection criteria:

1. Leadership experience:  Describe your leadership and provide examples of how you have made a significant impact within your organisation or community. Highlight specific achievements and initiatives that demonstrate your leadership capabilities.
2. Contribution to Indigenous communities: Provide details of your involvement in activities, projects, or programs that benefit Indigenous communities. Explain how your leadership has contributed to the advancement of cultural, social, or economic outcomes for Indigenous peoples. Describe your efforts to support and mentor other Indigenous leaders.
3. Impact of the MBA or Executive MBA: Explain how the MBA or Executive MBA will enhance your leadership skills and contribute to your future goals. Discuss the specific skills, knowledge, or perspectives you expect to gain from the program and how these will be applied to drive positive change and growth within your community or organisation.

Rural and remote leaders

The Rural Leadership Scholarship is designed to support leaders located in rural Australia by providing a 50% tuition fee waiver for an Executive MBA. This scholarship aims to empower leaders in rural and remote communities to enhance their skills, drive regional development, and address unique challenges faced in rural areas. For the purposes of this scholarship, applicants must meet the rural or remote classification as per the Modified Monash Model and/or equivalent as per the Australian Statistical Geography Standards.

Selection criteria:

1. Leadership role and impact: Describe your current leadership role in a rural community or organisation and provide examples of how your leadership has positively impacted your community or region. Explain the unique challenges you have encountered as a leader in a rural setting and discuss the strategies and solutions you have implemented to address these challenges and their outcomes.
2. Community engagement: Detail any involvement you have had in supporting or mentoring others within your rural community. Highlight how you have contributed to building capacity or fostering leadership among peers or emerging leaders in your community.
3. Impact of the Executive MBA: Describe how the Executive MBA will benefit your role and contribute to your community. Discuss the specific skills, knowledge, or perspectives you aim to gain from the program and how these will be applied to enhance your leadership capabilities and address regional issues.

Paralympians and Olympians

This scholarship is designed to support current and former Olympians and Paralympians as they transition from elite sports to new roles and opportunities. It offers a 50% tuition fee waiver for an MBA or Executive MBA, providing elite athletes with the skills and knowledge needed to explore new career paths and make a successful transition into other professional areas.

Selection criteria:

1. Athletic leadership: Describe your accomplishments as an Olympian or Paralympian and how you demonstrated leadership in your sport. Highlight any community involvement or mentorship roles you have taken on, both during and after your athletic career. Explain your goals for transitioning into new roles or opportunities.
2. Community contribution: Detail any initiatives or contributions you have made to support or inspire others. Explain how you intend to leverage your unique experiences and leadership skills to positively impact communities or industries beyond sports and how you intend to positively impact communities or industries beyond sports.
3. Impact of the MBA or Executive MBA: Outline how completing the MBA or Executive MBA will aid in your career transition and enable you to make meaningful contributions beyond your immediate sector. Discuss how you will use the knowledge gained to inspire and support others, create broader social impact, or lead initiatives that benefit communities outside of your sport.

Applicants from low-income households and backgrounds

This scholarship is designed to support students from low-income households who are seeking to complete postgraduate study. It offers a 50% tuition fee waiver for an MBA or Executive MBA to alleviate the economic burden and provide opportunities for those who demonstrate financial need and academic potential. Eligibility for this scholarship requires the applicant to be a current recipient of means-tested income support through Centrelink.

Selection criteria:

1. Academic and career goals: Outline your academic and career aspirations and how obtaining an MBA or Executive MBA will help you achieve these goals. Discuss how the scholarship will enable you to pursue your studies and the impact it will have on your future career prospects.
2. Commitment to overcoming adversity and challenges: Provide examples of how you have demonstrated resilience and determination in overcoming financial or personal challenges. Explain how your experiences have shaped your goals and how receiving the scholarship will assist you in achieving your objectives despite these challenges.
3. Impact of the MBA or Executive MBA: Explain how the MBA or Executive MBA will contribute to your personal and professional development. Detail the specific skills, knowledge, or opportunities you expect to gain from the program and how these will help you overcome challenges and advance in your chosen industry.

Eligibility

How to apply

MBA scholarships

To apply for an MBA Scholarship, you must submit the following application artefacts prior to the advertised closing date and time, and complete your application for the MBA or Graduate Certificate in Business Administration.

• A cover letter addressed to the Selection Panel, containing a personal statement of no more than 1,000 words outlining your membership to one or more of the scholarship categories, and what you hope to achieve by completing the MBA program.
• You must submit separate applications if you are applying for more than one scholarship.
• First Nations applicants who have not previously verified their Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Descent with the QUT Oodgeroo Unit, and who are applying for an identified scholarship from the list above, must also complete the Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Descent (CATSID) process to determine eligibility. Please send the CATSID coversheet (DOCX file, 33.5 KB) with your documentary evidence to information.oodgeroo@qut.edu.au
• Scholarship applications for the MBA are submitted to mba@qut.edu.au

Executive MBA scholarships

To apply for an Executive MBA Scholarship, you must submit the following application artefacts prior to the advertised closing date and time, and complete your application for the Executive MBA or Executive Graduate Certificate in Business Administration.

You will need to include a personal statement of no more than 1,000 words about your capabilities and skills in the areas listed, to support your application.

• A cover letter addressed to the selection panel, containing a personal statement of no more than 1,000 words outlining your membership to one or more of the scholarship categories, and what you hope to achieve by completing the Executive MBA program.
• You must submit separate applications if you are applying for more than one scholarship.
• First Nations applicants who have not previously verified their Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Descent with the QUT Oodgeroo Unit, and who are applying for an identified scholarship from the list above, must also complete the Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Descent (CATSID) process to determine eligibility. Send the CATSID coversheet (DOCX file, 33.5 KB) with your documentary evidence to information.oodgeroo@qut.edu.au
• Scholarship applications for the Executive MBA are submitted to emba@qut.edu.au

Application deadlines

• Apply by 9am, Monday 15 July 2024 for the MBA September 2024 intake.
• Apply by 9am, Monday 18 November 2024 for the Executive MBA (Brisbane and Canberra) January 2025 intake.

What happens next?

The scholarship selection panel will assess your application based on:

• the degree to which you meet the scholarship profile
• the documentary evidence provided to support your case
• your personal statement of no more than 1,000 words
• your work history
• detailed CV
• referee reports.

We'll contact you to let you know if you've been shortlisted. This may take a few weeks.

If you're shortlisted, you will be invited to attend an interview with the panel.

After your interview, we'll let you know if your application is successful. If it is, we'll send you a letter with confirmation and further details.

Conditions

You must:

• maintain a passing grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 or above throughout your studies (with the exception of graduate certificate students who must achieve a minimum GPA of 4.5 to articulate into the MBA or Executive MBA)
• get approval if you're deferring your studies for more than one teaching period
• agree (if applicable) to articulate directly from the graduate certificate program to MBA or Executive MBA program
• maintain satisfactory course progress and fulfill the course requirements
• agree to assist the Graduate School of Business to promote these offerings by providing testimonial and being available for speaking engagements as required, throughout your program.

The tuition fee waiver:

• applies to unit fees only (student amenities fees and study tour costs are not included)
• is for the time limit of your course completion. Any leave of absence or other approved leave that you take will be included in calculating time limits
• does not apply to units that you might take outside the MBA or Executive MBA program
• does not apply to units that you fail or withdraw from with financial penalty.

Those who are unable to meet these conditions, as per their scholarship agreement, will forfeit their entitlements.