Higher Education Commission Scholarship: Overview, Eligibility & Process

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HEC Paris has consistently been the best business school in France for a few years now and has rightfully earned a place in the list of best business schools globally. With the help of the HEC Foundation, HEC Paris has been consistently able to churn out financial support via HEC Scholarship for deserving candidates. For the last few years, it has been able to offer its students looking to pursue higher education over €1,000,000. While its MBA scholarship is the most sought after, HEC Paris also has other in-house and external scholarships, such as Forte Scholarship for Women and L’Oreal Scholarship for excellence.

In addition, they have a Scholarship Committee that determines the financial aid a candidate requires. For this, they not only take your background into the picture, but other factors, such as your essays and other scores, also play a vital role. This article discusses HEC Scholarships and their eligibility and application process.

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About HEC Paris

Established in the year 1881 by the Paris Chamber of Commerce in the suburbs of Paris, France, HEC Paris has established itself as one of the top business schools in the world today. It provides a myriad of courses in the field of management, but its MBA programme has been the most famous among international students. The university is a regular in the list of the best 100 global business schools. In addition, it, together with ESSEC and ESCP, are known as the “3 Parisiennes.” The university is one of those rare places to hold triple accreditation (AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA) under its belt.

Overview of HEC Scholarships

The institution provides all candidates who have applied for their MBA Programme an equal opportunity to benefit from the Excellence and Diversity scholarships offered by the HEC Paris MBA Scholarship Committee. The institution supports a plethora of other in-house and external scholarships that act as financial aid for its students. Here is the list of supported scholarship options –

  • HEC Paris MBA Scholarship for Excellence
  • Forte Scholarship for Women Candidates
  • HEC Paris MBA Scholarship for Diversity
  • 30% Club Scholarship
  • ARD/HEC Paris Scholarship
  • L’Oreal Scholarship
  • CMA CGM Excellence Fund for Lebanon
  • Eiffel Scholarship for Candidates Working in Emerging Countries

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Application Process

Every candidate can decide if they want to apply for the HEC Scholarship decision during their admission process. The Admissions Officer will inform them if they have received the scholarship before the admission process is complete. If you are one of the lucky ones, the same will be deducted from the final instalment of your MBA tuition fees.

Eligibility Criteria

Irrespective of whether you are a domestic or an international student, if you apply for the HEC Paris MBA, you are eligible to be a part of HEC Scholarships. The deadlines for each of these scholarships run parallel to the deadlines for applying to the MBA program. At its heart, HEC Paris welcomes diversity and inclusivity. So they run a plethora of scholarship programs to ensure they can impact the lives of deserving candidates and allow them to study at one of the top business schools globally. Listed below are eligibility criteria for different scholarships run by HEC Paris –

Eligibility for HEC Paris MBA Scholarship for Excellence

The HEC Paris MBA Scholarship for Excellence is merit-based. Every student who gets admitted is eligible to benefit from it. However, if you have sponsorship for over 50% of your tuition fees by your government or an organisation, you are not qualified to be a part of it. The final decision lies with the Scholarship Committee. They assess each applicant based on their academic performance, the overall weightage of their application, GMAT score, English proficiency, and the results from the selection interview. The decision will be taken within one week of the candidate’s admission to the MBA program.

Eligibility for Forte Foundation Scholarship for Women Candidates

Only successful applicants who meet the requirements set by the Scholarship Committee, have showcased exemplary leadership potential in areas such as team building, creative activities, and academics, and have proven their commitment to women’s growth and empowerment are eligible for Forte Foundation Scholarship for Women Candidates. In addition, the applicant can demonstrate their ability via community involvement or one-on-one mentorship. If any candidate already has over 50% tuition fees sponsored by their government or the organisation where they work, they are not eligible to be a part of this scholarship. For selection, you would be required to submit a 1,500-word essay explaining why you deserve the scholarship and the application form for the program. The decision regarding the scholarship will be made within one week after your admission.

Eligibility for HEC Paris MBA Scholarship for Diversity

While every candidate who applies to the MBA Programme can be a part of it, only those with a proven professional and academic background will be considered for the HEC Paris MBA Scholarship for Diversity. For this, the candidate must showcase distinctive values and how they plan to contribute via their 1,500-word essay. You will receive the decision within one week of admission to the program.

Eligibility for 30% Club Scholarship

The 30% Club Scholarship is for female candidates building a diverse and robust community of professional women. With this scholarship, HEC Paris is looking to drive leadership and is offering financial backing to the most deserving women.

Eligibility for ARD/HEC Paris Scholarship

HEC Paris has partnered with ARD to help the French armed forces transition into professional life. The ARD/HEC Scholarship is offered to officers from the French armed forces admitted to the HEC Paris MBA Programme as a part of the transition. The application must be made within one week after admission if the candidate wants to be a part of this scholarship.

Eligibility for L’Oreal Scholarship

Every admitted candidate who has showcased significant professional accomplishments and leadership qualities along with the ability to foster collaboration and takes the initiative to motivate others, and shows them the path to move forward is eligible for L’Oreal Scholarship. For this, the candidate has to submit a 1500-word essay and their application to the program. The essay should discuss how their leadership can make an impact by maximising creativity and innovation. The decision date is January and September for January and September intakes, respectively.

Eligibility for CMA CGM Excellence Fund for Lebanon

The CMA CGM Excellence Fund for Lebanon is available for all Lebanese students admitted to HEC Paris who would have otherwise been unable to pursue higher studies in a foreign land due to financial constraints. The candidate must be of Lebanese nationality living in Lebanon (not with dual nationality) and has proven their merit and outstanding potential with the most recent education degree completed in the country.

Eligibility for Eiffel Scholarship for Candidates Working in Emerging Countries

Started in 1999 by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Eiffel Scholarship for Candidates Working in Emerging Countries is a move to attract capable foreign students to French schools for pursuing their higher education. For this, students currently living outside France are given top priority, provided they are 25 years or younger and have secured admission at HEC France. The application deadline is one week after entry, and the decision date was March 2022 for those admitted after 01/01/2021.

List of Amounts Awarded under HEC Scholarships

The amount awarded varies depending on the scholarship you have been able to secure. It covers your living allowance, tuition fees, and others, depending on your need and the type of scholarship. Listed below is the maximum amount awarded under each HEC Scholarship –

  • HEC Paris MBA Scholarship for Excellence – Up to 50% of the tuition fees
  • Forte Scholarship for Women Candidates – Up to €26,000
  • HEC Paris MBA Scholarship for Diversity – Up to 50% of the tuition fees
  • 30% Club Scholarship – Up to 50% of the tuition fees for the first academic year
  • ARD/HEC Paris Scholarship – Up to €16,000
  • L’Oreal Scholarship – €10,000
  • CMA CGM Excellence Fund for Lebanon – €25,000 (on an average)
  • Eiffel Scholarship for Candidates Working in Emerging Countries – Monthly allowance of € 1,100 along with other ancillary expenses, such as health insurance, cultural activities, and travel

Conclusion

HEC Paris continues to be one of the top places to study MBA and other management programs globally. But given the steep costs of studying MBA, students benefit from the plethora of HEC Scholarship programmes that the university provides. It enables thousands of deserving students not to lose an opportunity to undertake higher education because of financial constraints. If you, too, are looking to study at HEC Paris but are in a dilemma, you can contact us at LeapScholar. We have a group of experts dedicated to helping you understand your best options and finding the best fit. Click here to book a free counselling session with LeapScholar today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for the HEC Scholarship?

Students who successfully enrol for the MBA program at HEC Paris are automatically registered for the myriad of HEC Scholarships. However, in some specific cases, you will have to submit a 1,500-word essay along with your application to be eligible.

Can I study at HEC Paris for free?

No. In most cases, the financial aid is limited to 50% of your tuition fees, and you will have to bear the rest to study at HEC Paris.

Which is the best HEC Scholarship to get?

All HEC Scholarships suffice specific use cases and are considered helpful for domestic and foreign students.

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Saket Kohli

An International Higher Ed professional with 7+ years of experience studying, working, and living across three geographies, currently on a mission to share his journey as an International Student.

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