Funding Your Executive MBA: Scholarships and Financial Aid

Pursuing an Executive MBA is an investment in yourself. In this article, you will find our tips and tricks to help you find some ways to reduce the cost of your tuition fee.

Your employer can invest in you

One way to fund your EMBA is through the support of your employer. Around 60% of our participants get the financial back-up of their employer each year - most companies contribute fully or partially to the cost of the programme. Remember that the learning journey that you will embrace will be beneficial to you as well as to your employer. At Solvay Brussels School our aim is that the knowledge and skills you acquire in the classroom are directly applicable the next day at the office.

Successful participants who have been supported by their employers usually build a strong case prior to discussing the topic with their management - would you be interested in our guide on how to get your employer’s support? You can contact our admission crew at emba.admissionoffice@solvay.edu

You may be eligible for a training scheme

Another solution is through the various Belgian training schemes. In Belgium, two main schemes  are available: KMO or the Walloon Sodexo Training Vouchers. If you work for an SME or are self employed then you might be eligible for these solutions.

In short, you will be receiving a financial contribution from either the Flemish or Walloon region, depending where your job is based. For example, if your company is based in Wallonia, for each voucher of 15€ purchased, its value will be doubled. For the terms and conditions you can directly check the respective websites. It is advisable to check your eligibility prior or as soon as you receive your admission letter, as this process might take some time.

Executive MBA scholarships

At Solvay Brussels School, we offer numerous scholarships each year to promote diversity in the classroom, academic excellence and equal access to learning. Two options are possible in terms of an Executive MBA scholarship:

1. Our United Nations' SDG Scholarships reward change makers who contribute to making our planet a more sustainable place. They are anchored on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Recently, we’ve rewarded participants who submitted projects such as teaching coding in refugee camps, the development of affordable medication to eradicate child diseases in developing countries, or the creation of a platform facilitating a circular economy, and many more. Our SDGs scholarships range from 2,500€ up to 7,000€. 
2. Women Change-Agent Scholarship. In Belgium, women only represent 16.7% of Executive Committee (ExCo) members in 2023. The Women Change-Agent Scholarship supports women by offering a 16.7% reduction on tuition fees. Our ambition is that by 2026, we achieve gender equality in our recruitment and that women, through high-quality lifelong learning training, close the gap in leadership positions.

Discounts and payment plans

Furthermore, do keep your eyes open for the various discounts available.

• Early bird: early applicants who submit their applications before the end of the "early bird" deadline will receive a discount on tuition fees.
• Alumni of the Solvay Brussels School, Solvay Lifelong Learning, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) benefit from a 10% discount on tuition fees. 

Lastly, you can always decide to spread the payment over the course of your learning journey. We  propose the possibility to pay your tuition fee in up to five installments spread over your 18-month learning journey. 

To sum it up, many options are available to help you fund your Executive MBA. Nevertheless, for all of them we advise you to start your application early. This way, you can benefit from advantageous reductions without the hustle and bustle of rushing the start of your transformation.  

Are you all set? Apply today and join the next intake of the Solvay Executive MBA!