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Latin American MBA Scholarships | Paying for your MBA | Merchant Blog

Written by Merchant MBA | 3/13/19 12:06 PM

In short

MBA scholarships are real—and they're often easier to win when you treat them as part of your admissions strategy (positioning, school selection, and timing), not a last-minute search. This guide highlights a few well-known scholarship pathways that are especially relevant for women and Latin American applicants, and it links to official pages so you can verify eligibility, award value, and deadlines. Because scholarship policies change, use this as a starting shortlist and always confirm details directly with the awarding organization or school.

How To Use This List Without Wasting Time

Scholarship research can create timeline drift if you don't control it. Use a simple process: (1) shortlist scholarships that match your profile, (2) confirm whether you are automatically considered or need a separate application, (3) track deadlines, and (4) keep application execution moving in parallel (essays, recommendations, interviews).

Below, we include only scholarships where we can point you to an official source page for details.

Forté Fellowships (Many Schools)

The Forté Fellowship program exists to advance women in business and recognizes MBA candidates selected by Forté member schools. Award amounts and eligibility details vary by school; Forté Fellows are selected by member schools based on leadership, background, and commitment to Forté's mission.

Official Source: Forté MBA Fellowships (Official)

The Forté Fellowship program was created with the idea of increasing the number of women in MBA programs.

Key nuance: Forté is a recognition and fellowship pathway administered through member schools, so the funding amount and selection process are school-specific.

If you want to maximize odds, focus on the same drivers as admissions: leadership proof points, clarity of goals, and fit with the school's community—and validate each school's Forté Fellow process.

London Business School Latin America Scholarship

LBS offers a Latin America Scholarship for its MBA program. Official details include value (up to 50% of tuition fees), that eligible candidates are automatically considered, and that recipients are expected to contribute to the School's marketing efforts in the region.

Official Source: LBS Latin America Scholarship (Official)

SDA Bocconi Scholarships And Tuition Waivers (Verify Region-Specific Notices)

SDA Bocconi publishes detailed scholarship and tuition waiver "notices of competition" and also describes partial merit-based tuition waivers for its Full-Time MBA, plus potential higher-value awards. Because criteria can be tied to specific notices and deadlines, treat the official page as your source of truth.

Official Source: SDA Bocconi Full-Time MBA Fees And Scholarships (Official)

Boustany Harvard MBA Scholarship (External)

The Boustany Foundation's Harvard MBA Scholarship is granted once every two years for a two-year course at Harvard Business School. The official scholarship page states financial aid amounting to 75% of tuition fees, plus travel and accommodation expenses related to the internship. It also specifies a two-month unpaid internship with the Foundation and provides its own submission deadline and award timing.

Official Source: Boustany Harvard MBA Scholarship (Official)

The scholarship strategy that works: start with scholarships that are automatically considered (school-funded) and then add a small number of external scholarships where you clearly match eligibility and timing.

Don't let scholarship hunting replace execution. Your strongest scholarship lever is still a high-quality application narrative.

There's no reason to pay more than you have to for an MBA program, especially when someone out there might jump at the chance to pay for you.

What We Removed Or Updated (So This Stays Reliable)

The original draft included several precise figures and requirements (for example, fixed tuition percentages, test-score cutoffs, and a Kelley "Global Fellowships" amount) without stable official sourcing. Scholarship details change frequently, so we kept the list focused on items we can anchor to official pages and verifiable language.

If you want us to include additional scholarships, the best input is the official scholarship URL from the awarding body or the school.

FAQ
Are MBA Scholarships Mostly Merit-Based Or Need-Based?
It depends on the school and the scholarship type. Many MBA program scholarships are merit-based, while some top programs emphasize need-based aid. The fastest way to know is to check the school's financial aid page and confirm whether awards are automatic or require separate applications.
Do I Need A Test Score To Win Scholarships?
Some scholarships consider standardized tests, while others focus on leadership, background, and mission alignment. Requirements vary and can change; confirm on the official scholarship page. If you are taking an exam, verify whether GMAT Focus Edition (and other accepted options) are valid for your target programs.
Are Scholarships Negotiable?
Sometimes schools will reconsider awards when you provide a competing offer or updated information, but there is no universal negotiation process. The most reliable lever is still a strong original application. If you request reconsideration, be precise, professional, and time-bound.
How Do I Protect My Admissions Timeline While Chasing Scholarships?
Set decision dates and limit scholarship research to a short weekly cap. Keep essays, recommendations, and interview prep moving in parallel. If scholarship research isn't changing your school decisions or submission plan, stop expanding scope and execute.
Does Merchant MBA Offer GMAT Or GRE Services?
No. Merchant MBA focuses on admissions strategy—school selection, positioning, and execution across essays, resume, recommendations, and interviews.

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