ESMT Berlin offers 30+ scholarships across Master’s, MBA and Executive MBA programs, of which 25+ are open to Indian applicants who apply as self-funded candidates.
The school commits over €1.5 million in merit and diversity aid each year. Single awards reach €45,000 (INR 49.39 Lakhs) through the BMW Group Change Maker Fellowship.
- Standard Full-time MBA tuition: €50,000 (INR 54.88 Lakhs) for the 12-month program.
- With top merit award (Dean’s Excellence €15,000): net tuition €35,000 (INR 38.41 Lakhs).
- With BMW Fellowship plus early application award: net tuition can drop to roughly €2,000 (INR 2.20 Lakhs).
- Next MBA deadline: Round 2 closes September 15, 2026 for the January 2027 intake.
Currency Note: All INR conversions use the live rate of 1 EUR = INR 109.75 as of September 2026. ESMT is a private business school, so tuition is charged in euros and is not covered by Germany’s public-university fee waiver.
Table of Contents
ESMT Berlin Scholarships for UG Students
ESMT Berlin does not offer any undergraduate programs. The school is Masters-only, so the earliest entry point for Indian students is a two-year Master’s in Global Management, Analytics and AI, or Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
| Entry Route for UG-Level Applicants | Requirement | Next Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Master in Global Management (MIM) | Bachelor’s in any field, TOEFL 95 or IELTS 7.0, less than 2 years work experience | Tentative July 31, 2027 for September 2027 intake (annual cycle) |
| Master in Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (MAAI) | Bachelor’s in STEM or business with a quant background | Tentative July 31, 2027 (annual cycle) |
| Master in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MIE) | Bachelor’s plus internship or startup exposure | Tentative July 31, 2027 (annual cycle) |
Fresh graduates applying to any Master’s track can claim the funding pool listed in the next section. Top options include the €10,000 (INR 10.98 Lakhs) Women’s Academic Excellence award and the €5,000 (INR 5.49 Lakhs) High Achievers GMAT/GRE award.
Explore More: ESMT Berlin Programs | ESMT Berlin Admissions 2026
ESMT Berlin Scholarships for PG / Master’s Students
Masters applicants can stack one Master’s-track award plus the early application award. The total pool crosses €1.5 million and is disbursed across three programs: MIM, MAAI and MIE.
| Scholarship | Amount | Slots | Eligibility | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dean’s Excellence Scholarship (Master’s) | Up to full tuition €36,000 (INR 39.51 Lakhs) | Limited | Top academic profile plus interview shortlist | Rolling; tentative March 31, 2027 |
| 30% Club / ESMT Master Women’s Scholarship | €10,000 (INR 10.98 Lakhs) | Multiple | Female applicants with a clear leadership trajectory | Open until pool filled |
| Women’s Academic Excellence Scholarship | €10,000 (INR 10.98 Lakhs) | 4 | Female applicants with strong bachelor academics; developing-country applicants encouraged | Open |
| Women in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MIE only) | €6,000 (INR 6.59 Lakhs) | 5 | Female MIE applicants with startup or corporate innovation exposure | Open |
| Women in STEM and Analytics (MAAI only) | €6,000 (INR 6.59 Lakhs) | 10 | Female MAAI applicants with a STEM background | Open |
| Outstanding Student Leadership Scholarship | €8,000 (INR 8.78 Lakhs) | 2 | Leadership record in student clubs, government or volunteering | Open |
| Social Impact Award | €5,000 (INR 5.49 Lakhs) | 2 | Documented sustainability or social-impact projects | Open |
| High Achievers GMAT / GRE | €5,000 (INR 5.49 Lakhs) | 4 | GMAT 720+ or GRE 94th percentile and above | Open |
| Next Unicorn Scholarship (MIE only) | €6,000 (INR 6.59 Lakhs) | 5 | MIE applicants who have already founded a startup | Open |
| e-fellows Master Scholarship | €5,000 (INR 5.49 Lakhs) | 2 | e-fellows.net alumni or current participants | Tentative July 31, 2027 (annual cycle) |
| ESMT Family Grant / Siblings Tuition Grant | €3,500 or €2,000 (INR 3.84 or 2.20 Lakhs) | Unlimited | Children or siblings of ESMT alumni | Rolling |
Applicants must submit a short scholarship essay inside the online application for each award they want considered. Only self-funded candidates qualify, so a corporate sponsorship letter disqualifies you from merit awards.
Reddit Insight: Applicants on r/MBA report that submitting the MIM application by Round 1 (December) roughly doubles the chance of a five-figure euro merit offer. Round 3 (May) sits at the tail of the funding pool.
Explore More: ESMT Berlin Overview | ESMT Berlin Student Reviews
India-Specific Scholarships at ESMT Berlin
Three awards at ESMT name India explicitly in their eligibility rules. The largest single ticket for Indians is the €45,000 (INR 49.39 Lakhs) BMW Group Change Maker Fellowship on the Full-time MBA.
| Scholarship | Amount | Program | India-Specific Rule | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW Group Change Maker Fellowship (Full-time MBA) | €45,000 (INR 49.39 Lakhs) | Full-time MBA (Jan 2027) | Indian citizen or permanent resident, age 30 or under, STEM degree or tech role | Round 2 closes September 15, 2026 |
| BMW Group Change Maker Fellowship (Global Online MBA) | Full tuition €28,000 (INR 30.73 Lakhs) | Global Online MBA | Indian citizen, math or technology background | Rolling; tentative March 31, 2027 until 4 slots filled |
| BMW Group Change Maker Fellowship (Master’s) | €17,500 (INR 19.21 Lakhs) | MIM, MAAI or MIE | Indian citizen, age 30 or under, STEM undergraduate | Tentative March 31, 2027 (early Master’s round) |
| Asia Regional Scholarship | €8,000 (INR 8.78 Lakhs) | Full-time MBA | Asian nationality, includes India | Open until slot filled |
| International Leaders’ Scholarship | Up to €25,920 (INR 28.45 Lakhs) | Executive MBA | Non-EU residents; Indians eligible with 7+ years work experience | Rolling; tentative April 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 (biannual) |
Indian applicants who do not qualify for a BMW slot should still bid for the Asia Regional plus early application award. That combination hands back roughly €11,000 (INR 12.07 Lakhs) on the MBA sticker price.
Reddit Insight: One Indian MIM admit on r/gradadmissions won the €10,000 (INR 10.98 Lakhs) Women’s Academic Excellence award with a 9.1 CGPA. The applicant came from a Tier-1 Indian engineering college and submitted no GMAT.
Explore More: ESMT Berlin MBA Course Details
ESMT Berlin PhD Scholarships
ESMT Berlin charges zero tuition on its four-year PhD. Every admitted candidate receives a full stipend through the Berlin School of Economics doctoral funding pool.
The full PhD funding package covers:
- Zero tuition for 4 to 5 years across all six research groups.
- Monthly living stipend of roughly €1,500 (INR 1.65 Lakhs per month).
- Full health insurance, mandatory in Germany for study-visa holders.
- Conference travel budget for at least one international paper presentation per year.
| Support | Value | Coverage | Next Intake |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESMT PhD Full Waiver | Tuition €0 for 4 to 5 years | All admitted PhD candidates in Management, Marketing, Strategy, Analytics, Finance or Economics | Applications open November 2026 for August 2027 start |
| Berlin School of Economics Doctoral Stipend | Approx €1,500 per month (INR 1.65 Lakhs per month) | Living costs during the 4-year track | Bundled with PhD offer |
| DAAD Research Grant (PhD) | €1,300 per month (INR 1.43 Lakhs per month) plus insurance | Indian PhD candidates with a research proposal and supervisor letter | Tentative October 15, 2026 (annual DAAD cycle) |
| Teaching and Research Assistantship | Additional €300 to €500 per month (INR 32,925 to 54,875 per month) | PhD candidates who take on teaching hours | Rolling |
Indian PhD candidates typically clear €18,000 to €24,000 (INR 19.76 to 26.34 Lakhs) per year after stipend, DAAD top-up and assistantship. Berlin rent for a shared apartment runs €500 to €750 (INR 54,875 to 82,313) per month.
Explore More: ESMT Berlin Rankings
External Government Scholarships for ESMT Berlin
Indian students at ESMT can layer external German and Indian government funding on top of the school’s own awards. The most valuable regular option is the DAAD Master’s stipend at €934 per month (INR 1.03 Lakhs per month).
| Scholarship | Awarding Body | Value | Eligibility for Indians | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAAD Study Scholarship (Masters) | German Academic Exchange Service | €934 per month (INR 1.03 Lakhs per month) plus health insurance and travel | Bachelor’s from a recognised Indian university, ideally 70% or CGPA 7.5+ | Tentative October 15, 2026 for 2027 start |
| DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Programme | DAAD plus Federal Foreign Office | Full tuition plus €934 per month (INR 1.03 Lakhs per month) | Public policy or governance focus; Indians with 2+ years relevant work | Tentative July 31, 2026 (annual cycle) |
| Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility | European Commission | €850 per month (INR 93,288 per month) for 3 to 12 months | Indian students on an ESMT exchange semester to a partner EU school | Rolling; ESMT selects candidates each semester |
| Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Scholarship | KAS Foundation | €992 per month (INR 1.09 Lakhs per month) | Indians with social or political engagement plus German language B2 | Tentative July 15, 2026 (annual cycle) |
| Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarship | Green political foundation | €934 per month (INR 1.03 Lakhs per month) | Indians in sustainability, gender or ecology tracks | Tentative March 1, 2027 (biannual cycle) |
| Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship | Inlaks Foundation, India | Up to USD 100,000 (INR 88.20 Lakhs) | Indian citizens under 30 with a top-tier admission offer for MBA or Master’s | Tentative April 3, 2027 (annual cycle) |
| JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship | JN Tata Endowment, India | INR 1 to 10 Lakhs interest-free loan plus gift of INR 75,000 to 1 Lakh | Indian graduates for MBA, PhD or Master’s abroad | Tentative January 27, 2027 (annual cycle) |
None of these external awards stack automatically with ESMT’s own scholarships. Indian recipients must declare all outside funding at offer stage, and ESMT may adjust the internal award accordingly.
Reddit Insight: DAAD applicants on r/germany warn that the online portal closes 24 hours before the stated October 15 deadline. Plan to submit by October 14 evening IST to stay safe.
ESMT Berlin Scholarships: Frequently Asked Questions
Ques. What is the maximum scholarship stack an Indian student can build for the ESMT Berlin MBA?
Ans. An Indian applicant can stack the BMW Change Maker Fellowship of €45,000 (INR 49.39 Lakhs) with a Round 3 early award of €3,000 (INR 3.29 Lakhs). Net tuition then drops to roughly €2,000 (INR 2.20 Lakhs). Only one merit scholarship plus the automatic early award is allowed under ESMT’s stacking rule.
Ques. When should an Indian student apply to ESMT Berlin to maximise scholarship chances?
Ans. Apply by Round 2 (September 15, 2026) or Round 3 (October 31, 2026) for the January 2027 MBA intake. Rounds 1 and 2 draw down the largest merit pool. Round 3 still stacks a €3,000 (INR 3.29 Lakhs) automatic early award on top of any merit offer.
Ques. Do I need to submit a separate scholarship application at ESMT Berlin?
Ans. No, all scholarships sit inside the standard online admission application. Applicants pick up to three awards and write a short essay for each. Decisions are issued along with the admission verdict.
Ques. What GMAT or GRE score do I need to win a High Achievers award at ESMT Berlin?
Ans. A GMAT of 720 or a GRE at the 94th percentile or above wins the €5,000 (INR 5.49 Lakhs) High Achievers award for Master’s applicants. On the MBA side, an 85th percentile score qualifies for a €3,000 (INR 3.29 Lakhs) test-score award.
Ques. How does the BMW Group Change Maker Fellowship work for Indian applicants at ESMT Berlin?
Ans. Two €45,000 (INR 49.39 Lakhs) Fellowships are ring-fenced for the Full-time MBA each year, with India on the eligible-country shortlist. Indian applicants need a STEM undergrad or a tech role, and must be 30 or under on September 1 of the entry year. They also answer one BMW essay on the future of mobility.
Ques. Will a partial ESMT Berlin scholarship actually cover Berlin living costs for an Indian student?
Ans. No, ESMT scholarships only reduce tuition and do not release a monthly stipend. Indian MBA students should budget €1,200 to €1,500 (INR 1.32 to 1.65 Lakhs) per month for rent, groceries and transport in Berlin. DAAD or a Credila education loan is still needed to cover living expenses.
Scholarships offered
VueVille Future Technology Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: $1,000
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Bachelor
- Number of Scholarships: 1
MAWISTA Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: $6,691
- Type: Easy-to-Apply
- Level of Study: Bachelor
- Number of Scholarships: 1
Kurt Hansen Science Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: $10,000
- Type: Need-Based
- Level of Study: Doctorate
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
Bharat Petroleum Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: Variable Amount
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Master
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
Google's Women Techmakers Program
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: Variable Amount
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Bachelor
- Number of Scholarships: 3
Axol Science Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: $2,000
- Type: Company-Sponsored
- Level of Study: Bachelor
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
Reviews
5 Reviews Found
Likes
- The campus is beautiful. The location is right in the heart of Berlin.
- Internship module: I had a chance to work with large well known corporates right along with my studies which gave me an edge while applying for full time jobs.
- Diverse class: The class was quite diverse in terms of nationality (atleast 20+ different nationalities)
Dislikes
- The admin departments (Program office, exam office etc.) are very slow to respond and also miss out on key information
- Length of the program: I felt like this program could have been wrapped up in 1-1.5 years instead of 2 years.
- Career services: They were not super helpful, the internships and jobs I got were through my personal hardwork and skills.
Scholarship
- Yes, I received the net impact scholarship which was 5000 euros. The criterion is to just write a well-crafted essay.
- I received 5000 euros for this scholarship
- There is no financial aid; however, 10% of my batchmates received scholarships with an average amount of 2000 euros
- As I mentioned, 10% of my batchmates received scholarships, which is about 15 - 20 students
- I used whatsapp groups, facebook groups and platforms like immoscout and wunderflats.
- I found my accommodation on wunderflats and it was 350 euros per month.
- My apartment is 35 min away from my university
- The greatest challenge is not falling for scams. Especially in berlin, there are a lot of scams. Hence, only book apartments through trusted and verified platforms like wunderflats.
Likes
- Diversity and inclusivity, internationalization, curriculum
- Social impact project with exposure to multiple countries, University clubs and activities
- Good exchange programs with top notch other universities such as SMU and IE Spain
Dislikes
- Hectic first semester curriculum, too many group activities,
- limited focus on practical software skill improvement such as excel, more industry focus would help, limited campus space
- limited batches- more batches could help in further improved networking
Scholarship
- You can get reduced fees through early bird scholarship and merit based scholarships. I got 3000 euros scholarship based on my profile. Some of my batchmates also received scholarships. My rough estimate would be around 25- 30% students receive scholarships. Typical award would range from 1500-2000 euros, depending on the profile and uniqueness of the candidate.
- I used Facebook Marketplace and Immoscout to find accommodation.
- The monthly rent for my accommodation was around 950 euros for 2 people. This included water, electricity, and wifi charges.
- One of the primary challenges was finding affordable accommodation in a convenient location that is closer to my university and has good connectivity in terms of public transportation.
- Recommendations for Future Students: do good networking via LinkedIn, start applying, and make sure you have someone at the location who can visit the location to ensure you are not scammed.
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Likes
- Course content: the courses are very tailored to ESMT and case based rather than just theory
- Professors: the professors are very engaged and knowledgeable. They take a personal interest in your learning journey
- Campus and facilities: the campus is beautiful because it’s a heritage building and is protected. It also has lovely study rooms that are private and can be booked
Dislikes
- No job support; they do not support in placement. No companies come to campus.
- Restaurant: The food is actually not great so I don’t love the cafeteria
- Overpriced: to some extent I do think it’s not great value for money. You can get the same/similar content for less money in other colleges
Scholarship
- I received an Outstanding Student Leadership Scholarship. Number of scholarships available: two.
- Value: up to €8,000 ( I received around 5000)
- Eligibility was candidates displaying outstanding student leadership experiences during their bachelor’s study, specifically with regards to taking leadership initiatives in student clubs, student government, volunteer projects, international conferences, and during bachelor’s internships.
- Requirements: Candidates should complete the scholarship essay as part of their ESMT online application explaining how they qualify for this scholarship.
- My batchmates also received other scholarships, like women in leadership, etc. on average, the amount is around 1k-3k euros
- Off campus student housing at Berlinovo with the help of student services also.
- Monthly rent was around $500.
- Berlin is a highly competitive market and it's hard to find houses here. You need to be extremely vigilant and take it very seriously. Start well in advance. Getting into student houses is next to impossible but if you do, lock in a 2-year contract.
- Most Indian students stay in cheap student houses. My accommodation was around 40 minutes away
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Likes
- Top business school in the largest European economy. The school has good ties with the industry and located in one of the Europe's booming tech hub of Berlin
- Best price to performance ratio and personalized care by the career services. Also, the frequent alumni connect helps you to network and grow your career. This continues even after graduation.
Dislikes
- The charm for B-Schools in Germany low in Germany, unlike other European countries. Hence, the school is relatively unknown outside the german corporate world
Scholarship
I got a scholarship but it's automatic. Based on your profile the university gives some scholarship on the fees.
My time studying Masters in Management at ESMT, with a focus on Business Analytics, was great. The course was really interesting, taught me a lot about data and how it applies to business. One of the best parts was how ESMT helps you connect with industry and the alumni. This has helped me to learn a lot and advance in my career.
Likes
- ESMT Berlin is a very reputed university in Germany often in the top 10 rankings. Most of the graduates find jobs within 3 months of graduation. The curriculum is also carefully designed depending on industry requirements since all the founders of the university are Large German corporations.
- The campus and diversity of student really adds to the experience. The quality of education is really good as compared to Indian universities. There is also lot of options for extracurricular activities during the program which also adds to the non academic experience.
Dislikes
- The course was designed for general management focus and there was no focus on advanced topics such as Machine learning, analytics etc. However, now they have changed the course and there is now a dedicated Masters in AI and Machine Learning which is a good improvement.
Scholarship
Yes, the early bird scholarship. The only criteria was to apply early to the program. I think this has been removed now.
Overall it was a very good experience, the diversity at the university was also very good with around 37 nationalities represented. The courses were also fun and engaging. Post graduation career support is also a huge plus point.
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