The Manchester Bee Scholarship: Celebrating Excellence, Diversity, And Impact

Earlier this year, we introduced the Manchester Bee Scholarship program for the 2026 Full-time MBA class at Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS). This initiative reflects the spirit of Manchester, with its resilience, industriousness, and strong sense of community. Through the Manchester Bee Scholarships, we aim to support outstanding MBA candidates who demonstrate leadership, integrity, and a commitment to making a positive impact.

Our Full-time MBA tuition fee is £50,000, whether students complete the program in 15 or 18 months. We recognise that funding is a significant consideration for many talented professionals, which is why we continue to expand the range of scholarships available. These awards recognize academic excellence, leadership potential, community contribution, and alignment with our vision for a diverse, dynamic MBA cohort.

Why The Bee’?

Manchester’s worker bee has represented the city’s collective spirit for more than 150 years. As a symbol of collaboration, determination, and purpose, it was the natural inspiration for our scholarship family. Each Manchester Bee award reflects the many ways our applicants embody these values.

Scholarship Categories

The Manchester Bee Scholarships span several themes, each celebrating a different type of excellence:

• Manchester Bee Brilliant
  Open to all MBA applicants demonstrating exceptional talent, achievement, and potential. Awards: £5,000 – £25,000 (available in all admissions rounds)
• Manchester Bee European
  For applicants enriching the MBA class with European expertise, insight, or leadership. Awards: Two full-tuition scholarships
• Manchester Bee Global
  For candidates from underrepresented regions, bringing valuable geographic and cultural diversity. Awards: £5,000 – £25,000 (available in all admissions rounds)
• Manchester Bee Empowered
  Supporting women in business and leadership, reinforcing AMBS’s commitment to gender equality. Awards: £12,500 – £25,000 (available in all admissions rounds)
• Manchester Bee Inclusive
  Celebrating LGBTQ+ leaders making a positive impact within their professions or communities. Awards: £12,500 – £25,000 (available in all admissions rounds)
• Manchester Bee Impactful
  For those driving meaningful change through NGOs, sustainability, education, healthcare, or social enterprise. Awards: £12,500 – £25,000 (available in all admissions rounds)
• Manchester Bee Innovative
  Honoring applicants leading through entrepreneurship, innovation, or industry transformation. Awards: £12,500 – £25,000 (available in all admissions rounds)
• Manchester Bee Remarkable
  Recognising exceptional individuals with achievements in arts, culture, sport, or other unique fields. Awards: £12,500 – £25,000 (available in all admissions rounds)
• Manchester Bee Fearless
  For candidates who have overcome significant adversity, demonstrating resilience and inspirational leadership. Awards: £12,500 – £25,000 (available in all admissions rounds)

Student Experience: Applying For Funding At AMBS

Prospective candidates are often keen to understand what the scholarship journey feels like from a student perspective. To bring this to life, we spoke with two members of our Full-time MBA Class of 2025 who shared their experiences of navigating the application process and receiving a scholarship.

The Application Journey

Alison Hiajaira Garay Del Castillo, originally from Peru, described the application process as clear, structured, and highly supportive.

“I found the process very straightforward. The school provides clear guidance from the beginning, and I felt genuinely supported throughout. I also had the opportunity to speak with Helen and Joanne from the AMBS admissions team, who were incredibly helpful and walked me through the steps, which made the whole experience even smoother.”

Darrell Bryan Olayewa Thompson, from Sierra Leone, echoed this sense of encouragement while highlighting the personal level of support he received from the admissions team.

“Rigorous and fulfilling! It was quite close and personal every step of the way – even when I gave up, the team was there to help.”

Receiving A Scholarship

Both students described receiving a scholarship as a truly transformative moment in their MBA journey.

For Alison, the financial support was essential:

“Yes, receiving the scholarship was essential. As an international student from Peru, the full tuition fee was significantly higher once converted to my local currency. The scholarship made it financially possible for me to pursue my goal of studying in the UK.”

Darrell shared a similar sentiment:

“Definitely, it is the main reason I am here.”

Alongside the Manchester Bee Scholarships, AMBS also offers a range of additional awards, including the Forté Foundation Scholarship, which supports exceptional women in business; the Joseph Wright Scholarship, donated by an MBA alumnus and open to British citizens and UK permanent residents; and the Masood Family Scholarship.

Chris Healy, Head of MBA Recruitment at Alliance Manchester Business School, explains:

“At Alliance Manchester Business School, we aim to attract outstanding MBA candidates from around the world each year. While we have long offered a wide range of scholarships, we are strengthening this commitment further through the Manchester Bee Scholarships. There are now more opportunities than ever for prospective students to be considered for high-value awards that can make a significant contribution towards their tuition fees.

My advice is simple: download The Manchester MBA brochure below, and a member of our MBA Recruitment Team will be in touch to understand your profile and guide you towards the scholarships that best align with your strengths and experience.”

Download our brochure >> 

Find out more about our Full-time MBA program and the scholarships we offer on our website >> 

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Chris Healy is Head of MBA Recruitment at Alliance Manchester Business School, at the University of Manchester, with almost 20 years of experience in graduate management education.  During this time, he’s gained experience and insight in the UK, Europe, Central Asia, Middle East, North & South America, Africa, and Asian markets.  Chris and his team work with candidates who are looking at both full-time and hybrid/EMBA programs and pride themselves on offering personalized expert advice to prospective MBA candidates.

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Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) was established in 1965 and is part of the world-renowned University of Manchester. Ranked 5^th in the UK (FT Global MBA ranking 2025), AMBS has a global reputation for innovative teaching and research, which impacts business on a local, national and international level.

The application of original thinking is at the heart of everything we do. Highly interactive, challenging and practical, the Manchester Method teaches you the theory then shows you how to put it into action to get results.

We’re proud to have achieved the ‘triple crown’ of accreditations from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. Less than 1% of business schools, globally, achieve 3 international accreditations.

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