BI Presidential Scholarship 2026

The BI Presidential Scholarship is one of the most prestigious awards offered by BI Norwegian Business School, designed to attract highly qualified students with outstanding academic achievements to its Master of Science programmes.

This scholarship is open to Norwegian and international applicants who demonstrate exceptional academic excellence and meet BI’s admission standards for master’s studies.

Scholarship Coverage

The scope of financial support varies depending on the applicant category:

1. Norwegian and International Applicants who are Residents of Norway

• Full tuition fees for up to two years (four semesters).
• Renewal each semester is conditional upon meeting academic progression standards.

2. Sivøk Applicants

• Full tuition fees for up to two years, subject to satisfactory academic progression.

3. International Applicants

• Full tuition fees for up to two years, plus a living stipend of NOK 50,000 per semester (approximately €4,200).
• Renewal each semester requires maintaining academic excellence.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the BI Presidential Scholarship, candidates must:

• Hold Norwegian or international citizenship.
• Have an outstanding academic record — minimum overall GPA of ‘A’ on the ECTS scale (or equivalent top-level grade internationally).
• Be admitted to the first year of a Master of Science (MSc) programme at Campus Oslo or Campus Bergen.
• Be seeking their first master’s degree.
• Students in the 3rd year of the Siviløkonom (Sivøk) programme are also eligible to apply.

Note: International applicants who have completed a bachelor’s degree in Norway are considered residents of Norway for the purpose of this scholarship.

Admission Requirements

• A completed Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS credits) in business administration, economics, finance, or a related field.
• Alternatively, a Bachelor’s degree with at least 80 ECTS credits relevant to the MSc specialization.
• Minimum GPA of 3.50 (B) on the ECTS scale.
• Applicants with slightly lower GPAs (minimum 3.30) may still qualify with a strong GMAT result.

Standardized Tests (mandatory for most international applicants)

• GMAT (Focus Edition): Minimum 555
• GMAT (10th Edition): Minimum 600
• GRE (Quantitative): Minimum 158
• Home editions are accepted.
• Applicants from Nordic countries may be exempt if their degree is relevant.

English Proficiency

Required if English is not the applicant’s native language:

• IELTS (Academic): Minimum 6.5 overall
• TOEFL iBT: Minimum 90
• PTE Academic: Minimum 62
• Cambridge C1 Advanced: 176 or higher
• Cambridge C2 Proficiency: 180 or higher

Note: To apply for an English test waiver, please download and complete the language waiver application form and upload it to your application.

Eligible MSc Programmes

Applicants can apply for the Presidential Scholarship across BI’s MSc programmes, including:

• MSc in Business
• MSc in Business Analytics
• MSc in Data Science for Business
• MSc in Finance
• MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• MSc in Leadership and Organisational Psychology
• MSc in Strategic Marketing Management
• MSc in Sustainable Finance
• MSc in Quantitative Finance
• MSc in Business Communication

Note: In addition to the general requirements, each MSc programme has specific curricular requirements you must also fulfil to gain admission. Check out from here.

Required Documents

Applicants must upload the following to the online application portal:

1. Complete MSc admission application (including all required admission documents).
2. CV/Resume.
3. Scholarship Application Letter (max 1 page):
   • Clearly state why you deserve the BI Presidential Scholarship.
   • Focus on academic excellence, leadership potential, and motivation.
4. Combine the CV and scholarship letter into one PDF and upload under the ‘Scholarship’ section of the application portal.
5. GMAT/GRE/English test results (if applicable).
6. Transcripts and diplomas (with official grade scale explanation).
7. Passport copy (ID page).
8. Financial Declaration (for non-EU applicants – template available on BI’s website).

Applications sent via email are not accepted, except for 3rd-year Sivøk applicants who should email their CV and scholarship letter to info@bi.no (subject line: “BI Presidential Scholarship Application”).

Application Process & Deadlines

• Apply for the scholarship simultaneously with your MSc application.
• Applicants must accept the offer of admission to remain eligible for scholarship consideration.
• Scholarship results are announced by the end of April.
• Offers must be accepted by the deadline indicated in the offer letter; otherwise, they are forfeited.

Academic Progression Requirements

To maintain the scholarship for the full duration:

• Students must complete 30 ECTS per semester.
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of “B” after each semester.
• Recipients of the BI Presidential Scholarship become “BI Ambassadors.” They are expected to: represent BI in recruitment campaigns and student events; promote a positive and inclusive learning environment; uphold the values of academic excellence and integrity.

Selection and Assessment

All applications are evaluated based on:

• Academic excellence (GPA/ECTS).
• Test scores (GMAT/GRE).
• Quality of scholarship letter.
• Other achievements such as extracurricular involvement, leadership, or community engagement.

BI also considers institutional priorities, such as:

• Diversity and gender balance.
• Programme distribution.
• Partner school representation.

Important Notes

• Scholarships are based on merit, not financial need.
• The number of scholarships is limited and highly competitive.
• All decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
• BI may award other scholarships (e.g., MSc International Scholarship) to candidates who applied for the Presidential Scholarship — no separate application required.