MBA Programs

Laidlaw Scholars Program Laidlaw Scholars Program

ELIGIBILITY

Only admitted candidates are eligible for this scholarship.

Recipients for the Laidlaw Scholarship are exceptional women candidates with strong leadership potential who demonstrate the character, competence, and courage to change the world.

Through the HEC Paris partnership with Laidlaw Foundation, we look to encourage exceptional women with strong leadership potential who, due to demonstrable financial constraints, might not have otherwise been able to consider or afford to pursue an MBA degree.

We seek to help build a pipeline of outstanding women from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and provide them with access to a top-tier business program with enhanced career opportunities and networks. We strive to increase the number of women with influential roles in business, leaders demonstrating ethical and exemplary leadership, who will help build a more diverse and inclusive business environment, helping to inspire and sponsor future generations.

Kayra Castillo, MBA 2026 quote: "Leadership has always been my path--II sought it, built it, and pursued it relentlessly. But the Laidlaw Scholarship has been a game-changer, not in making me a leader but in expanding the horizons of what leadership can be. It has sharpened my vision, given me confidence to dream even bigger, and surround me with extraordinary women who inspire me everyday. Through new place, new challenges and new opportunities, I am not just leading, I am transforming, growing and shaping

SELECTION CRITERIA

Step 1: Connect with Us – introduce yourself and obtain informal and personalized feedback on your MBA profile from your dedicated recruitment manager. Be sure to express your financial need.

Step 2: Prepare and submit a complete application, including the essays dedicated to the Laidlaw Scholarship. Please ensure the essays are uploaded as additional documents together with the submission of your application. Uploaded document should be in PDF format and should include your full name and email address.

Please provide answers to the following two essay questions:

1. Describe what becoming a Laidlaw Scholar would mean to you (200 words)

2. As a future Laidlaw Scholar, how will you contribute to helping develop a new generation of leaders? (200 words)

Scholarships will be awarded to well-rounded candidates with academic accomplishments, demonstratable career progression, leadership potential, and international exposure as well as specific career objectives and strong interpersonal skills. Candidates must be in touch with their marketing and recruitment manager prior to application and must be admitted to the HEC Paris MBA program. Candidates will be assessed based on the Laidlaw Scholarship essays as well as their demonstrated financial need.

Marie Lydie Magne Tedom, Cameroon, MBA 2026 quote: "Being a Laidlaw Scholar has freed my dreams from constraints of financial limitations. Coming from Cameroon, I once thought an MBA at HEC Paris was impossible. But with the suppport of the Laidlaw community, I now have the confidence to break boundaries and lead with purpose. With Laidlaw, I am not just waiting for a seat at the table, but building a table where others, especially African women, can rise, lead, and dream big. I am forever grateful to Laidl

AMOUNT AWARDED

The HEC Paris MBA, via the HEC Foundation, and in partnership with the Laidlaw Foundation can offer up to 10 full tuition scholarships per graduating class.

Full tuition scholarship (100%). To confirm their place in the HEC Paris MBA program, Laidlaw Scholars will need to sign the contract and pay a 5,000 EUR deposit (reimbursed upon class resumption). Recipients will also be responsible for covering their own living expenses for the duration of the program (estimated at 25,000 EUR for a 16-month period).

IMPORTANT: It is not possible to receive a Laidlaw Scholarship if you plan to pursue a Double or Joint Degree program.

Pyone Myint, Myanmar, MBA 2026, Laidlaw scholarship recipient quote: "Many people around me thought that pursuing an MBA at one of the top business schools in the world was an unachievable goal for a modest girl from a third world country and it feel great to prove them wrong by pushing my boundaries. I could not have come this far without believing in myself, reshaping my own narrative by believing in my own power to succeed."

APPLICATION DEADLINE

You must submit required essays with the rest of your application to the program. Please provide answers to the following two essay questions and submit the document in PDF format along with the rest of your application. Be sure to include your full name and email address within the document:

1. Describe what becoming a Laidlaw Scholar would mean to you (200 words)

2. As a future Laidlaw Scholar, how will you contribute to helping develop a new generation of leaders? (200 words)

Following the submission of your MBA application, the marketing & admissions team will be in touch with a request to complete a form with follow-up questions around your financial circumstances. The deadline to complete the form will be specified at that time.

Anna Novoa Sanchez, Peru, MBA 2026, Laidlaw recipient

DECISION DATE

In the week following admission to the program, you will be assessed for all our scholarships. The Laidlaw outcome will be shared a week following admission to the MBA program. Please reach out to your dedicated Marketing & Recruitment Manager for more information.

IMPORTANT: It is possible to apply to all scholarships (HEC Excellence, Forté Foundation, Diversity, etc.) when submitting an application to the HEC Paris MBA. However, if awarded the Laidlaw Scholarship, it is not possible to combine with other HEC scholarships and any previously received scholarships from HEC will become void.

Pragya Sharma, India, MBA 2026, Laidlaw scholarship recipient