ISB25 Scholars Programme 2026: 250 Scholarships, Up to 100% Fee Waiver

The Indian School of Business (ISB) has announced the ISB25 Scholars Programme 2026, a major scholarship initiative aimed at making management education more accessible to deserving candidates. Announced on October 6, 2026, as part of ISB's 25th-anniversary initiative, ISB@25, the programme will provide 250 scholarships every year across its PGP and PGP YL programmes.

These scholarships offer tuition-fee waivers of 25%, 30%, 50% and 100%, awarded on a merit-and-need basis. For candidates considering ISB, this initiative could significantly reduce the financial burden of pursuing management education. Here's everything you need to know about the scholarship benefits, eligibility, application process, selection criteria and important dates.

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What Is the ISB25 Scholars Programme 2026?

The ISB25 Scholars Programme is an annual scholarship initiative introduced by the Indian School of Business to expand access to its postgraduate management programmes. Announced as part of the school's silver jubilee celebrations, the initiative aims to support talented candidates from diverse economic, geographic and professional backgrounds.

Established in 2001, ISB has introduced the scholarship commitment as part of its broader effort to make high-quality management education accessible to students who may otherwise face financial constraints.

The programme covers two full-time management programmes:

• Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP): ISB's flagship 12-month programme for experienced professionals.
• Post Graduate Programme in Management for Young Leaders (PGP YL): A 20-month programme designed for graduates and early-career professionals.

ISB has committed to awarding 250 scholarships annually across both programmes combined.

The programme's annual scholarship commitment has been confirmed by ISB, although the exact distribution of scholarships between PGP and PGP YL has not been announced.

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ISB25 Scholars Programme Eligibility Criteria

The ISB25 Scholars Programme covers candidates applying to ISB's PGP and PGP YL programmes. However, ISB has not yet published a separate, detailed eligibility checklist specifically for the ISB25 scholarships.

For now, students can refer to the existing admission requirements of these two programmes to understand which one matches their qualifications and professional experience.

Meeting the programme's admission requirements does not automatically guarantee an ISB25 scholarship. Scholarship decisions will also depend on merit, financial need and any additional criteria ISB announces.

ISB PGP vs PGP YL Eligibility

Applicants should check the official programme requirements for the admission cycle they intend to join. ISB has not announced a separate minimum GMAT or GRE score, family-income ceiling or academic-percentage cutoff specifically for the ISB25 scholarship.

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What Do Merit and Financial Need Mean?

ISB has confirmed that the scholarships will be awarded on a merit-and-need basis. Although the precise evaluation framework has not been published, these terms generally refer to:

• Merit: Academic performance, professional achievements, leadership potential and other indicators of an applicant's capabilities.
• Financial need: The applicant's financial circumstances and ability to fund their management education.

These are broad explanations rather than confirmed ISB25 assessment criteria. ISB has not announced fixed selection weightages, income thresholds or individual award cutoffs.

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ISB25 Scholarship Amount and Fee Waiver Details

One of the main benefits of the ISB25 Scholars Programme is the possibility of receiving a 100% tuition-fee waiver. The initiative includes four scholarship levels: 25%, 30%, 50% and 100%, with awards made on a merit-and-need basis.

The following table explains what each waiver category means.

The actual savings will depend on the tuition fees applicable to the selected programme and the scholarship amount awarded. ISB has not specified a separate tuition-fee calculation or programme-wise award allocation for the ISB25 initiative.

Does a 100% ISB25 Scholarship Cover All Expenses?

A 100% tuition-fee waiver does not necessarily mean that every expense associated with studying at ISB will be covered.

Tuition fees are only one component of the overall cost of management education. Depending on the final scholarship conditions, students may still need to arrange funds for:

• Accommodation and meals
• Travel and personal expenses
• Additional programme-related charges
• Other incidental expenses

Applicants should therefore distinguish between a full tuition-fee waiver and a fully funded scholarship covering the entire cost of attendance.

ISB has also not announced how many of the 250 annual scholarships will be awarded at each waiver level. There is currently no published ISB25-specific formula linking a particular test score, academic record or household income to a guaranteed scholarship percentage.

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How to Apply for the ISB25 Scholars Programme?

Candidates interested in the ISB25 Scholars Programme should begin by understanding the application requirements for ISB's PGP and PGP YL programmes.

ISB has not yet announced a separate ISB25-specific scholarship application procedure. Applicants can currently use the regular ISB admissions process to apply for the eligible programmes, while following official updates for any additional scholarship instructions.

Steps to Apply for ISB PGP and PGP YL

It is important to note that ISB already operates several merit-based and need-based scholarship schemes, some of which have separate documentation or essay requirements. However, applicants should not assume that these existing procedures automatically apply to the ISB25 Scholars Programme.

ISB25 Scholarships for PGP and PGP YL Students

The ISB25 Scholars Programme creates scholarship opportunities for two different groups of management aspirants: experienced working professionals applying to PGP and graduates or early-career candidates applying to PGP YL.

The flagship PGP is a 12-month management programme intended for professionals with at least two years of full-time work experience. It is suited to candidates looking to accelerate their careers, develop leadership capabilities or transition into new professional roles.

PGP YL, whose inaugural cohort commenced in 2025, is a 20-month programme designed for candidates with up to two years of work experience. It offers an opportunity to pursue postgraduate management education earlier in one's career.

PGP vs PGP YL: Scholarship and Programme Details

Note: The waiver categories listed above apply to the overall ISB25 initiative. ISB has not confirmed that every scholarship percentage will be available independently within each programme.

ISB has also supported students through its existing scholarship initiatives. According to the school's published financial-aid information, approximately 25% of PGP students receive financial support annually. This is an existing PGP financial-aid figure, not the number or distribution of awards under ISB25.

For applicants, the choice between PGP and PGP YL should primarily depend on their career stage and programme eligibility. Neither programme has been identified as offering better odds of receiving an ISB25 scholarship.

ISB25 Scholarship Selection Criteria and Important Dates

ISB has confirmed that the ISB25 Scholars Programme will award scholarships based on merit and financial need. However, it has not yet published detailed selection weightages or a separate scholarship-specific evaluation framework.

Applicants should understand the following distinctions:

• Merit: Academic achievements, professional accomplishments, leadership experience and overall potential may provide useful context for evaluating an applicant.
• Financial need: The applicant's financial circumstances may influence the level of assistance considered, although ISB25-specific income thresholds have not been released.
• Admission assessment: ISB evaluates applicants to its academic programmes through academic records, entrance-exam performance, experience, essays, interviews and other relevant factors.
• Scholarship assessment: The exact relationship between admission evaluation and ISB25 scholarship selection has not been formally detailed.

Meeting the admission requirements or securing an admission offer should not be treated as a guarantee of receiving a scholarship.

ISB25 Scholars Programme: Important Dates

ISB announced the scholarship initiative on October 6, 2026. The following dates primarily relate to the ongoing PGP and PGP YL admission cycles, not a separately published ISB25 scholarship application calendar.

ISB25 Scholars Programme 2026: Conclusion

The ISB25 Scholars Programme 2026 is a significant initiative by the Indian School of Business to make management education more affordable and accessible. With 250 scholarships offered annually across PGP and PGP YL, and tuition-fee waivers ranging from 25% to 100%, the programme provides an opportunity for deserving candidates to pursue management education with reduced financial pressure.

Students interested in applying should first check their eligibility for ISB's PGP or PGP YL programme, prepare for the required entrance exams and complete their applications before the relevant deadlines. Since detailed ISB25 scholarship eligibility criteria, selection procedures and application dates are yet to be announced, applicants should regularly check ISB's official website for the latest updates.