Copenhagen Business School is globally recognized as one of the top business schools in Europe. Sophie Munck shares how the Copenhagen MBA unlocked her potential and how the Waldemar Schmidt Scholarship facilitated her journey.
Copenhagen Business School (CBS) attracts students from all around the world. Diversity in the MBA cohort enhances the experience for everyone. CBS offers several scholarships for students to finance an MBA in Denmark, making it attainable for those who thought it was out of reach.
Among those students is Sophie Munck, a Brazilian national with French roots.
Sophie has a background in communications and media. Thanks to the Waldemar Schmidt Scholarship, she had the opportunity to develop key business management skills through the Full-Time MBA at CBS.
“I felt like there was a gap between where I was in my professional career and where I saw myself in the future,” she says, “I really wanted to have a more strategic role. I felt like I was working a lot in project implementation and project management, and I really wanted to go one step further and elevate my career.” (00:48)
Through the Copenhagen MBA, students dive into the world-renowned Nordic model, which explicitly focuses on ethical decision-making and social responsibility. At CBS, students develop the skills and leadership mindset that fit today’s business needs with a focus on sustainable leadership.
However, the Full-Time MBA program’s 330,000 DKK tuition fee ($48,084 US) isn’t within everyone’s financial means. For instance, Sophie tells MBAGRADSCHOOLS, “If it weren’t for the scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to be here.” (06:46)
Sophie notes that many students lack awareness of the opportunities to pursue an MBA in Europe. Instead, cultural awareness leads students to prioritize Canada or the US, despite the higher costs. Sophie thinks international students would be wise to explore European options, particularly CBS, which has scholarships to support them. (07:13)
A full-time MBA demands undivided attention, leaving little room for work. This situation can lead to financial constraints. Scholarships are a lifeline that can bridge the financial gap. Let’s explore the different scholarship opportunities offered by the Admissions Board of the CBS Full-Time MBA program.
This scholarship is designed with the purpose of bringing outstanding candidates into the MBA class who can demonstrate remarkable achievements. The Admissions Board will consider academic excellence, career progression, leadership potential, passion for sustainability, international experience, and GMAT score. Candidates should excel in at least three of those criteria and are expected to enrich the diversity of the cohort.
The Danish Society for Education and Business (DSEB) wants a highly skilled workforce with skills that will benefit Danish companies and society. To support this, DSEB offers scholarships for Danish and non-Danish MBA candidates. These scholarships attract and retain talent that brings long-term value to the Danish business landscape.
Therefore, anyone who fits the requirements can apply for this scholarship to help finance their MBA in Denmark.
This scholarship prioritizes Brazilian nationals who want to enroll in an MBA at CBS but need additional financial aid. The Waldemar Schmidt Scholarship covers up to 40% of the participant’s tuition fee. The objective is to welcome Brazilian talent into the Danish business landscape to foster collaboration between Danish and Brazilian people.
The Waldemar Schmidt Scholarship is named after the former CEO of the Danish conglomerate ISS. Waldemar is now an adjunct professor at CBS and a long-term ambassador of the MBA program.
Waldemar advocates for blending international talent and Scandinavian leadership values to drive thriving business environments. Throughout his professional career, Waldemar worked in various countries, such as Italy, Brazil, the UK, and Switzerland.
Waldemar had a particularly transformative experience in Brazil and created this scholarship to have a reciprocating impact. However, Latin American and Asian students are also eligible.
Nationality aside, what are the other requirements to be eligible? Spoiler alert: it’s not always about your GMAT score.
The admission board and Waldemar primarily focus on four key criteria when evaluating application profiles:
Yes, you read that right. Emotional intelligence plays a key role in creating balanced, positive leaders, and is therefore also prioritized in Waldemar Schmidt’s eligibility criteria.
“He focuses a lot on emotional intelligence because for him it’s very important to have positive leadership. As he was becoming a CEO, he noticed how important it was to be close to his employees. And to be close to your employees, you have to not only be smart and have hard skills, but also develop your soft skills,” Sophie explains. (05:19)
The Waldemar Schmidt Scholarship in particular gives Brazilian students a chance to study for an MBA in Denmark. The scholarship bridges Denmark and Brazil, enabling an exchange of talent, leadership models, and business perspectives, enriching both countries’ business landscapes.
Sophie understands the appeal of blending cultures. Her meme page, @Le petit_BR, humorously weaves together the French and Brazilian cultures. What started as a creative outlet outside of work has grown a significant following. Sophie says memes tap into a creative energy that’s present throughout Brazilian society. (01:15)
Sophie sees the potential for mutual benefits and collaboration between Brazilian and Danish cultures in business. Brazilian culture emphasizes creativity, adaptability, and entrepreneurial spirit, which can complement the Danish business mindset focused on innovation, efficiency, and sustainability.
Overall, the Copenhagen MBA is a remarkable opportunity for professionals looking to advance their careers, get international exposure, and gain professional experience. The variety of scholarships at CBS enables accessibility to talented individuals from diverse backgrounds and financial situations.
By exploring the scholarships offered by CBS, you can unlock the financial support needed to pursue higher education. Whether it’s the Executive Scholarship of Excellence, the DSEB Scholarship, or the Waldemar Schmidt Scholarship, each opportunity opens doors for talented individuals from diverse backgrounds to access the world-class MBA program at CBS.
Sophie highlights how the program, thanks to the Waldemar Schmidt Scholarship, helped her bridge specific skill gaps. Equipped with the Danish business perspective, Sophie is confident she can fit with Danish companies investing heavily in Brazil, like Vestas or Maersk. (06:16)
The Copenhagen MBA stands out for its diverse student body, rigorous curriculum, focus on sustainability, and responsible business practices. Its scholarships make it so anyone looking to elevate themselves can develop into a future-proof leader.
Are you interested in knowing more about the Copenhagen MBA or other programs at CBS? Contact one of their school ambassadors.
