Laidlaw Women’s Leadership Fund | London Business School

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Laidlaw Women’s Leadership Fund

Our vision

As well as this shared commitment, we also share a joint vision – to help exceptional women to excel in their careers, regardless of their background.

The Laidlaw Women’s Leadership Fund at London Business School supports outstanding female scholars across the Masters in Management, MBA and EMBA programmes, made possible by a generous gift from the Laidlaw Foundation. This has created a dynamic network of female peers at LBS and beyond, strengthening our ambition for gender parity across our degree programmes.

The Fund aims to attract exceptional women from a diverse range of backgrounds, in particular women who may not otherwise be able to afford a top-tier business education. We encourage female Masters in Management, MBA and Executive MBA candidates with academic merit, leadership potential and demonstrable financial need (or significant financial hardship in their past) to apply.

Scholar stories

Our scholars have had significant successes at LBS and beyond - the current co-presidents of the Black in Business Club, FLII (First-generation, Low or Intermediate Income) Club, Impact Consulting Club, Italian Club and Africa Club are all Laidlaw scholarship recipients. Our Laidlaw graduates have gone on to roles at Boston Consulting Group, EY-Parthenon and McKinsey, while others have gone on to join tech startups or started their own entrepreneurial ventures. Entrepreneur scholars will also have access to Laidlaw Scholars Ventures, a $50m venture fund supporting early stage businesses either founded or run by alumni of the Laidlaw Foundation's various scholarship programmes.

Thought leadership

How to apply

Women who have applied for and been invited to interview for the Masters in Management, MBA or Executive MBA London or Dubai streams will be invited to apply for a scholarship from the Laidlaw Women’s Leadership Fund. Please note that you must apply for your intended programme of study separately, and we cannot review your scholarship application without a corresponding programme application.

Please review all of the below information carefully to understand the Laidlaw Women’s Leadership Fund application process and deadlines.

Application process

Applications for the Laidlaw Women’s Leadership Fund for programmes commencing in 2025 are open.

Eligible applicants who are invited to interview for their respective programme will be invited to apply for the Laidlaw Women's Leadership Scholarship by the Recruitment and Admissions Teams. Scholarship application deadlines will be communicated at this stage in the admissions process.
All application deadlines are 17:00 UK time
You will receive an automated pop-up message once you have submitted your scholarship application to notify you that we have received your application; please accept this as confirmation
You may receive a call from the Recruitment & Admissions team, should they require any further information or need to clarify any information you have provided
Decisions will be communicated by telephone and/or email
Decisions on scholarship will be sent out in line with programme decisions, where possible.
We recommend that you prepare your three essay style answers (250 words each) prior to completing the application form. Please see the questions to prepare for below:
- Please give details of your financial background, including your family financial situation growing up.
- Please tell us how financial circumstances have had impact on your life so far.
- As a Laidlaw Women’s Leadership scholar, how do you plan to make an impact in the future?
Other questions on the application form require details of your financial circumstances and parent/ guardian/ carer(s) financial and educational background.

Complete your application

Application forms can be found below, based on the programme you have applied for.

Masters in Management MBA

EMBA London EMBA Dubai

Masters in Management

Sharpen the skills that global recruiters seek, and fuel a career in business with our Masters in Management programme. Accelerate your entry into the business world, with the fundamental knowledge, practical ability and adaptable mindset to set yourself apart from the competition.

Download the brochure

MBA

Transform your career and gain the tools to gear up for global business. Through a tailored curriculum to suit your goals, you’ll leverage your leadership abilities to thrive and secure success in today’s ever-evolving business world.

Download the brochure

EMBA

Gain business knowledge from the world’s sharpest minds, leadership skills from acclaimed business leaders and a powerful, life-long network. Delivered in two of the world’s leading business hubs, London and Dubai, you’ll be equipped with the tools you need to create the future of global business.

Download the brochure

Funding opportunities

Use our funding tool to find out more about further scholarships available for female students on all programmes at London Business School.

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Laidlaw Scholars Network

Recipients of the Laidlaw Women’s Leadership Fund at LBS will join a growing network of cross-generational peers from other leading academic institutions around the globe. The Laidlaw Scholars Network facilitates connections for leaders across industries who will reinvest their skills, knowledge and experience to help students, peers and colleagues.

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Social Mobility at LBS

Find out more about how LBS is striving to empower students from different socioeconomic backgrounds with the knowledge and networks to enable social mobility both within the School and across the wider business world.

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Women at LBS

Find out how the first-class education and support available at LBS equip our female students with the tools to accelerate their careers and achieve their goals.

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About the Laidlaw Foundation

The Laidlaw Foundation believes that education is the single most powerful tool to break the cycle of poverty and reduce inequality in the world. By funding scholarships for exceptional women to gain degrees at leading business schools like LBS, the Foundation aims to help build the pipeline of future women leaders through access to best-in-class education, resources and global networks.

“Unfortunately, many women reach a glass ceiling, particularly in the corporate world. I am deeply committed to helping more of them break the glass ceiling through expanding access to top business education” - Lord Laidlaw, Chairman of the Laidlaw Foundation