London Business School (LBS) is one of the most sought-after MBA destinations for Indian students, but the price tag can be a real concern. The good news is that LBS offers a strong set of scholarships built specifically to support Indian applicants, some covering a big chunk of the fee, and a few covering it in full.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through every major London Business School (LBS) scholarship open to Indian students, how much each one is worth, who qualifies, and how the application actually works.
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Why LBS Scholarships Matter for Indian Applicants
The LBS MBA tuition fee for the 2026 intake is around £123,950 (roughly ₹1.59 crore). On top of this, you’ll pay a non-refundable commitment fee of £3,500 and a reservation fee of £6,500 once you accept your offer, both of which get adjusted against your total tuition. Add a £400 Student Association fee, and living costs in London on top of that, and the full cost of the programme adds up fast.
This is exactly why scholarships matter. Even a partial scholarship can knock several lakhs off your total spend, and full-fee scholarships exist too, for the right candidates. If you’re also weighing your GMAT or GRE prep timeline alongside your budget, our guide on GMAT scores for top global MBA colleges can help you understand where LBS stands among other top schools.
What Are LBS Scholarships?
LBS scholarships are financial awards given to admitted MBA students to reduce their tuition cost. Most are merit-based, judged on your academic record, leadership experience, and how well you’ll contribute to the LBS community. A smaller set is tied to specific criteria, like nationality, gender, or financial need. Most candidates are considered automatically once they apply for the MBA; only a handful of scholarships need a separate application form.
Major LBS Scholarships for Indian Students
Here’s a breakdown of the scholarships that Indian applicants most commonly qualify for or are specifically designed for.
| Scholarship | Amount | Who It’s For |
| BK Birla Scholars Programme | Full or partial tuition support (10 awards a year) | 5 scholarships reserved for Indian students each year; based on academic excellence and leadership |
| Ajay Arora Scholarship | Around £50,000 (about ₹64 lakh) | One Indian MBA student per year |
| London Business School Fund Scholarships | Ranges up to full fees | LBS’s largest general scholarship pool; open to all admitted students including Indians |
| London Business School Scholarships for Women | £20,000 up to full fees | All successful women MBA applicants, including Indian women |
| Laidlaw Women’s Leadership Fund | Significant tuition support | Women candidates who might not otherwise afford a top MBA |
| SARI Foundation Trust Scholarship | Partial tuition support | Applicants meeting the foundation’s specific criteria |
Want to know which LBS scholarships you could qualify for?Connect with a Career Launcher study-abroad counsellor for personalised guidance on scholarships, profile building and your LBS MBA application.
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BK Birla Scholars Programme
This is one of the most well-known scholarships for Indian students at LBS. It was set up in 2019 through an endowment from the Aditya Birla Group, and it hands out 10 scholarships every year, five reserved for Indian students and five for students from the rest of the world. Selection is based on strong academics, leadership potential, and a commitment to the values of honesty and service that the scholarship is named after. Since it began, the programme has funded 60 students in total across the MBA programme.
Ajay Arora Scholarship
This scholarship is reserved specifically for one Indian MBA student each year and offers close to £50,000 (about ₹64 lakh) in funding. It’s one of the largest single-student awards available to Indian applicants at LBS.
London Business School Fund Scholarships
This is the biggest bucket of scholarship money at LBS, and it’s open to all successful MBA applicants, not just Indian students. All candidates are automatically considered, so you don’t need a separate application. Awards can go up to covering full fees, depending on your profile.
Scholarships for Women
If you’re a woman applying to the LBS MBA, you have access to two strong funding routes: the London Business School Scholarships for Women (ranging from £20,000 up to full fees) and the Laidlaw Women’s Leadership Fund, both designed to bring more women into the programme. Indian women applicants are eligible for both, alongside the JN Tata Endowment’s Loan Scholarship, an external option built specifically for Indian women with a strong academic record.
External Scholarships Indian Students Can Combine With LBS Funding
Beyond what LBS itself offers, several Indian and international foundations fund students admitted to LBS. These aren’t run by the school, but they can be used alongside an LBS scholarship or on their own.
- INLAKS Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships: For Indian students under 30 who are unmarried and have secured admission to LBS or another top UK university. It can cover tuition, living costs, and even a return economy flight to India.
- JN Tata Endowment’s Loan Scholarship: Aimed at Indian women with a strong academic record who are pursuing an MBA.
If tuition support from within the UK system interests you more broadly, it’s worth also checking our list of top UK university scholarships for Indian students, since some of these funds apply across multiple UK business schools, not just LBS.
Am I Eligible for LBS Scholarships?
You don’t need to fill out a separate form for most LBS scholarships. Here’s what typically makes you eligible:
- You’ve applied to or been admitted into the LBS full-time MBA programme.
- You have a strong academic record from your undergraduate degree.
- You can show clear leadership experience, at work, in college, or through extracurriculars.
- You meet any specific criteria tied to the scholarship (nationality, gender, financial need, and so on).
- For a few awards, like the ones from external foundations, you’ll need to apply separately and meet their own conditions (age limits, marital status, financial background).
How to Apply for LBS Scholarships: Step-by-Step
- Apply to the LBS MBA programme first. Most scholarships only kick in once you have a completed application.
- Check the LBS funding search tool. LBS runs an online tool where you can filter scholarships based on your background and eligibility.
- Let your application speak for itself. Since most scholarships use automatic consideration, focus on making your essays, GMAT or GRE score, and recommendation letters as strong as possible.
- Apply separately where required. A few awards, along with most external foundation scholarships like INLAKS, need their own application forms and deadlines. Track these separately from your MBA application deadline.
- Submit supporting documents on time. This includes transcripts, financial documents (for need-based awards), and any essays the specific scholarship asks for.
- Wait for the outcome alongside your admission decision. Scholarship decisions are usually communicated around the same time as your offer.
Since your GMAT or GRE score plays a real role in how strong your overall application looks, it’s worth checking our guide on MBA success beyond GMAT to understand what else admissions committees weigh alongside your test score.
Tips to Improve Your Chances
- Apply early. Several scholarships, including the LBS Fund Scholarships, are awarded on a rolling basis, so earlier applicants often have a wider pool of funding to draw from.
- Show leadership, not just achievement. LBS scholarship committees look for how you’ve led people or projects, not only your grades or job title.
- Be specific in your essays. Vague statements about “passion for business” don’t stand out. Concrete examples of impact do.
- Research scholarship-specific criteria. If a scholarship is reserved for Indian applicants, or for women, or for a particular sector, tailor your essay to show why you fit that specific criterion.
- Don’t rely on one scholarship. Apply to external foundations like INLAKS or JN Tata alongside your LBS application, so you’re not depending on a single funding source.
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FAQs
What is the LBS MBA fee for Indian students in 2026?
The tuition fee for the 2026 intake is around £123,950 (about ₹1.59 crore), not including the commitment fee, reservation fee, Student Association fee, and living costs.
What is the BK Birla Scholars Programme?
It’s an LBS scholarship funded by the Aditya Birla Group that awards 10 scholarships a year, five reserved specifically for Indian students, based on academic excellence and leadership potential.
How much is the Ajay Arora Scholarship?
It offers close to £50,000 (about ₹64 lakh) to one Indian MBA student each year.
Do I need to apply separately for LBS scholarships?
For most scholarships, no. You’re automatically considered once you submit your MBA application. Only a few scholarships, along with most external foundation awards, need a separate application.
Are there LBS scholarships specifically for Indian women?
Yes. Indian women can apply for the London Business School Scholarships for Women, the Laidlaw Women’s Leadership Fund, and the external JN Tata Endowment’s Loan Scholarship.
Can I combine an LBS scholarship with an external scholarship?
Yes. LBS scholarships and external ones, like INLAKS or JN Tata, are separate funding sources, so you can apply for and hold both, depending on their individual terms.
Does a good GMAT or GRE score guarantee a scholarship?
No single factor guarantees a scholarship. A strong test score helps your overall application, but LBS also weighs leadership experience, academic record, and essays.
When do LBS scholarship decisions come out?
Scholarship outcomes are usually shared around the same time as your MBA admission decision, since most awards are considered as part of the same application review.
