MBA scholarships: the application, the essay and the interview
In May 2025 I applied for a scholarship on the University of Greenwich MBA Global programme, and I was awarded it. I am now close to finishing the programme. This page pulls together a plan for the application, the essay and the interview, with a document checklist and the mistakes people often make.
Disclosure: I received a scholarship from the university and I am studying on this programme. This is a personal blog, not an official University of Greenwich channel, and the university has neither reviewed nor sponsored this content.
Five stages, from searching to the result
A general plan that fits most scholarships. Each stage has one main job and one sign that it is finished.
- Stage 01
Find the right scholarship
Write down what you want to study, your budget and your circumstances, then filter scholarships by eligibility, deadline and which costs they cover.
Finished when you have a short list of scholarships, each with its deadline.
- Stage 02
Prepare the application
Collect documents early: references, transcripts and language certificates are usually the slowest. Work backwards from the deadline.
Finished when every document has a completion date, counted back from the deadline.
- Stage 03
Write the essay
Pick one true thread from your own story, write an ugly first draft, then revise until every paragraph answers "why me?".
Finished when at least one person has read the draft and given you feedback.
- Stage 04
Interview
Practise answering out loud, record yourself to watch it back, and prepare questions to ask the panel. Every answer needs a real example from your own life.
Finished when each common question has a real example attached.
- Stage 05
After the result
Whether or not you are awarded, write down what you learned. If you are, read the terms carefully and note what you must do next. If not, review the application before the next round.
Finished when you have read the terms closely, or noted what to fix for the next round.
Questions to prepare for
Eight questions that come up often in scholarship interviews, put in general terms. They are not the official questions of any panel. Each has what the interviewer wants to find out and what to prepare.
8 questions · tap to open
01Tell us about yourself.
What they want to know
Whether you can tell a short, consistent story or just read out your CV.
What to prepare
About a minute: what you do, why you are applying for this scholarship, and what you want to do next. Give each point one concrete fact.
02Why did you choose this programme and subject?
What they want to know
Whether the choice has a clear reason tied to your work, or follows a trend.
What to prepare
Two reasons that link to your current job, and one thing you compared it against.
03Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?
What they want to know
Where the scholarship fits in your plan, and whether the plan is realistic.
What to prepare
One specific goal, the first thing you will do after graduating, and which part of the programme helps with it.
04Tell us about a time you led others, or failed, and what you learned.
What they want to know
Whether you can reflect on your own conduct and accept your share of the responsibility.
What to prepare
One real situation, told in order: what happened, what you did, the result, and what you changed afterwards. Choose a story you can tell even if it does not flatter you.
05Why should we choose you?
What they want to know
What sets you apart from other applicants with a similar profile.
What to prepare
Two differences, each with evidence that can be checked: a result, a project, a figure with a source.
06What will you give back to your community or country after your studies?
What they want to know
Many scholarships look for lasting impact, not only personal gain.
What to prepare
One specific thing you have already done for others, and how you will keep doing something like it after you finish.
07What is your biggest weakness?
What they want to know
How honest you are, and what you have done about it.
What to prepare
A real weakness, not a strength in disguise, plus one thing you are doing to improve.
08Do you have any questions for us?
What they want to know
Whether you have researched the programme properly and genuinely care.
What to prepare
Two questions the programme's own information pages do not answer. Do not ask what is already on the website.
Application checklist
The documents that usually come up. Every scholarship asks for something different, so check against the official notice and remove or add items.
Khoi Greenwich · khoi.co.uk · Scholarship application checklist
Mistakes people often make
Easy errors in a scholarship application. Knowing them in advance can save you weeks.
Asking for a reference close to the deadline
Referees need time, and they may say no. Ask early and send them your CV, the scholarship criteria and the deadline.
Using one essay for every scholarship
Each scholarship asks a different question and looks for a different kind of applicant. Keep the framework, but rewrite the opening and closing paragraphs for each question.
Skipping the eligibility rules
Read the rules on work experience, language certificates and type of programme before you write a word.
Not keeping a copy of what you submitted
Portals fail and close. Keep a copy, screenshots and the confirmation email; before the interview you will want to reread what you wrote.
Further notes from me
Disclosure before you read on
Three things you should know about me before using anything on this page:
- I am studying the MBA Global programme at Greenwich Vietnam (Can Tho campus, Intake 2) and I received a scholarship from the university.
- I was a guest speaker at a workshop run by the MBA Global programme. The MBA Global Facebook page posted about it on 1 July 2026.
- Everything on this blog is my personal view. The university has neither reviewed nor sponsored this content.
My scholarship, and what I leave out
I applied in May 2025 and I was awarded a scholarship at the "outstanding" tier, the highest tier approved in Intake 2 at the Can Tho campus. I am now close to finishing the programme. In the Spring 2026 term I was named The Best Student.
I do not state the percentage. It is sensitive information, and each campus and each intake has its own policy, so my figure would not tell you what yours might be. Check the current scholarship policy on the university's website.
Spotted something out of date or wrong?
Deadlines, eligibility rules and scholarship policy change from one round to the next. If anything on this page is out of date or wrong, email me at hi@khoi.co.uk and I will check it and correct it.
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Frequently asked questions
Do you give advice on applications or read people's essays?
No. This page only shares a general framework for preparing. If you want personal advice, look for a licensed adviser or the support office of the university you are aiming for.
How long before the deadline should I start preparing?
As early as you can, because references and language certificates take time. Plan backwards from the deadline and get the documents done before you start the essay.
Will I definitely be asked the interview questions on this page?
No. They are common themes put in general terms, not the official questions of any panel. Every panel asks in its own way, so practise telling your own story rather than memorising answers.
Find out more about the writer
The Who I am page says what this blog covers, how it is written and who it does not speak for.