Lake Zurich at golden hour with the Swiss Alps in the background and trees on the shoreline.

Switzerland Scholarship applications open alongside MBA admission rounds — most awards close in the first half of the year for the January intake

IMD MBA Future Leaders Scholarship

IMD runs one of the smallest and most selective MBA programmes in the world — roughly 90 students a year, average age around 31, and a cohort drawn from 40-plus nationalities with no single group dominating. The one-year format and heavy emphasis on leadership development rather than functional coursework make it a mid-career pivot programme rather than an early-career credential. Tuition sits around CHF 105,000, so the scholarship portfolio matters: IMD offers a set of named awards worth roughly CHF 30,000-45,000 each, several of which specifically target candidates from emerging economies, women in leadership, and applicants demonstrating social-impact or entrepreneurial intent. Sri Lankan applicants with seven to ten years of progressive management experience and a clear leadership record are a credible fit, and the small class size means a strong individual story carries further here than at larger schools.

IMD Business School, Lausanne

University-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Award Value

CHF 30,000-45,000 (~LKR 11.1M-16.7M)

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Programme

One-Year Full-Time MBA

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Class Size

~90 Students, 40+ Nationalities

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Substantial Work Experience

IMD expects a minimum of three years but the class average is closer to seven. Candidates typically hold managerial responsibility with demonstrable P&L, team or project leadership.

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Admission to the IMD MBA

Scholarships are awarded only to admitted or in-process candidates. GMAT/GRE or the IMD test, a bachelor's degree, and a rigorous multi-stage assessment day are part of admission.

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Emerging-Economy Awards

Several IMD scholarships are directed at candidates from emerging economies and at those who intend to return and contribute there. Sri Lankan applicants should name that intention explicitly — it is a scored criterion, not a formality.

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English Proficiency

The programme is taught entirely in English. IELTS or TOEFL is normally waived where prior education or professional working language has been English; the assessment day itself functions as a language check.

account_tree Application Process

Apply to the MBA first

Submit the IMD MBA application with essays, CV, references and test score. IMD assesses on a rolling basis, and earlier rounds have both better admission odds and a larger remaining scholarship pool.

Complete the assessment day

Shortlisted candidates attend a full-day assessment in Lausanne or online — case discussion, presentation, interviews and group exercise. This is the decisive stage.

Submit scholarship essays

Separate essays per named scholarship, each with distinct criteria
Evidence of leadership impact with quantified outcomes
A clear statement of post-MBA intent, including any plan to work in or with your home region
Financial need documentation for need-linked awards

Scholarship committee decision

Awards are decided by committee after admission. Applying to multiple scholarships you genuinely fit is expected and does not weaken any single application.

Visa and financing the balance

Swiss student visa processing from Colombo takes eight to twelve weeks. IMD works with lenders offering MBA loans, and candidates should confirm the full financing plan before accepting the seat — the scholarship covers a portion, not the whole cost.

Why IMD?

IMD in Lausanne is consistently ranked among the top business schools worldwide and holds the number one position globally in executive education in several rankings. Its MBA is deliberately small, mid-career and leadership-focused, and it sits in a Swiss corporate corridor that includes Nestlé, Novartis, Roche, Logitech, Philip Morris International and dozens of multinational European headquarters.