Is a very good GMAT or GRE score necessary to be considered for scholarships in UK/France for a Master's?
It depends on your field. For business and management scholarships in the UK and France, a strong GMAT of 650 to 700 plus or GRE of 320 plus is often necessary. For non-business scholarships like Chevening or Eiffel, grades and your statement of purpose matter far more.
Whether you need a strong GMAT or GRE score depends entirely on your target field. If you are applying to a business or management master's in the UK or France, a competitive score genuinely unlocks merit scholarships. If you are heading into a non-business MSc, MA, or research degree, most scholarship panels barely look at standardized tests at all.
Score Expectations by Field and Scholarship Type
| Program Type | Test Score Necessity | Typical Competitive Range |
|---|---|---|
| UK business schools such as LBS, Oxford Said, Cambridge Judge | High | GMAT 650 to 700 plus, or GRE 320 plus |
| France Grandes Ecoles such as INSEAD, HEC Paris, ESSEC, ESCP | High, though some waivers exist | Competitive GMAT or GRE scores |
| UK non-business MSc, MA, and Chevening, Commonwealth, Clarendon awards | Low, rarely required | Focus on GPA, references, statement of purpose |
| France public universities and Eiffel, Emile Boutmy scholarships | Low, rarely required | Focus on academic transcripts and career trajectory |
How to Strengthen Your Scholarship Case
- If your undergraduate GPA is on the lower side, a strong GMAT or GRE can act as a compensatory mechanism.
- Check each business school for GMAT or GRE waivers if you already have significant full-time work experience.
- Remember that admission waivers and scholarship panel preferences are often decided separately, so a waiver does not guarantee a scholarship.
My Advice
If you are set on a top business school in the UK or France, start your GMAT or GRE preparation at least four to six months before your application deadline, since scholarship panels weigh it heavily. If your interest lies outside business, invest that same time into a sharper statement of purpose instead of chasing a test score nobody will ask for.
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