MBA

LUMS Financial Aid

LUMS Financial Aid Programme not only supports students with financial challenges but also attracts top-ranked students, ensuring that the university upholds its commitment to academic excellence by providing opportunities for the brightest minds. 

LUMS aims to reduce financial barriers to higher education, nurturing an inclusive and academically vibrant community where academically distinguished students can realize their full potential and achieve their professional aspirations. At the Graduate level, Financial Aid is provided in the form of an Interest-Free Loan.

To be considered for LUMS Financial Aid, applicants must submit their financial aid application along with all required supporting documents by the application submission deadlines. Applications that do not meet these requirements will not be eligible for financial aid assessment for the 2026-27 academic year.

This support can cover part or all of a student’s Tuition and Semester Registration fees and is assessed annually, considering academic performance, financial need, available resources, and prevailing university policies to ensure ongoing assistance that aligns with each student’s circumstances.

Repayment begins six months after graduation, with a flexible repayment period of 3 to 5 years, allowing students to transition smoothly into their careers. While LUMS is committed to offering substantial financial assistance, students are encouraged to explore additional external funding sources to supplement the aid provided by the University.

Merit Scholarship

At LUMS, academic excellence is highly valued, and the university is committed to supporting students who demonstrate outstanding performance in their studies. The Merit Scholarship at LUMS is designed to reward students who have demonstrated high academic achievement by providing them with financial support.

There is no separate application process for this scholarship. Applicants with high academic credentials are considered for scholarships.

First Year

For the 1st year, the merit scholarship is awarded on the basis of one of the following criteria:

• A 50% Tuition Fee waiver is awarded to admitted students with a GMAT score of 700 or higher or an equivalent GRE (General) score.
• A 50% Tuition Fee waiver is awarded to the top talent among admitted students based on the University’s Merit evaluation. This scholarship covers a partial Tuition Fee for One (1) year only.

Second Year

The Merit scholarship covers partial tuition fees for One (1) year only and is awarded to the top-ranked students from the returning batches based on their academic performance.

Note: In case a student qualifies for the Financial Aid Award and Merit Scholarship, their scholarship will be adjusted accordingly. These awards are for One (1) year only and cannot be carried forward to subsequent years.

Women's Scholarship

LUMS is committed to making education accessible to talented students from diverse backgrounds. The Women’s Scholarship supports this mission by offering a pathway for high-achieving women to pursue advanced degree programmes, helping to bridge gender gaps in business education and leadership. Beyond financial assistance, recipients join a network of mentors and peers, fostering collaboration, professional growth, and a shared vision for future leaders.

The aim of the Women's Scholarship is to foster, celebrate and advance women’s leadership in business. By tapping highly talented young women, we hope to contribute towards building the future of not only their families but also their communities. This scholarship will support female candidates to pursue higher education on merit and will increase the number of women joining the Graduate Programmes of the Business School. 50% tuition fee waiver will be awarded to women admitted on high merit under the SDSB Women's Scholarship initiative.

This Scholarship will groom female managers and leaders of business; dramatically changing the managerial landscape of Pakistan. As these women assume leadership roles in organisations across the country, there will be a change in the culture of these organisations.

Note: In case an applicant qualifies for both Financial Aid award and Women scholarship, only one award will be given.

External Scholarships and Loans

The University has tried its level best to raise funds to ensure that no deserving candidate is turned away from the Programme due to insufficient funds. Since its inception, external donors have played an immense role in achieving this milestone.

There are a number of named scholarships available for graduate students. LUMS supporters include individuals and organisations from all over the world. These scholarships can potentially help students cover the costs of education and related expenses (i.e. books, accommodation and living). The eligibility depends upon a number of factors, all of which are specified by the donor who offers the scholarships.

• MCB - Student Personal Loan
• Asian Development Bank - Japan Scholarship Programme

MCB - Student Personal Loan

LUMS has entered into an agreement with MCB Bank Limited through which MCB Bank provides commercial loans to students.

The commercial loan facility is pivotal for students who are currently financially unable to afford the cost of tuition and living facilities. This is one of the first ventures of its kind in Pakistan and demonstrates LUMS' commitment towards providing equal educational opportunities to its students.

All loans are subject to the Bank’s internal approvals and MCB Bank reserves the right to approve/disapprove a loan based on its internal assessment. In case a loan is not approved, students will be required to provide the total fees and expenses of the education themselves.

Click here for the MCB Loan Term Sheet

Age 

Minimum 21 years and maximum 45 years at the time of loan approval. 

General Criteria 

1. Pakistani nationals only. 
2. At least 50% marks (or equivalent) in the last public examination (i.e. other than admission tests, e.g. GMAT, SAT, LMAT, etc.). 

Debt-Equity Ratio

• Maximum 80:20 of admissible educational program cost (such as Admission, Registration, Tuition, On-Campus Residence, and any other part / head / item of the fees that is payable in advance by the student to LUMS). 
• Any amount that is refundable by LUMS to the student later on is not covered under the Student Loan program 

Loan Amount 

Subject to regulatory and internal Bank requirements: 

1. Maximum PKR one million. 
2. In accordance with the schedule of fee payment, the above amount shall be disbursed over a maximum of 4 tranches/modules 
3. The drawdowns for the loans will be based on 2 drawdowns/ academic year. 
4. Each tranche disbursement would be subject to Bank’s review as per its requirement.
5.  Disbursement shall be made directly to LUMS on account of the student. 

Loan Tenor and grace period 

Installment repayments will commence six months after the completion of study period (up to 30 months). 
Total tenor of repayment of the loan (post education period) to not exceed 7 years, including the grace period. 

Mark-up Rate 

1. Markup rate of this facility is: Six-month KIBOR + 0%. 
2. This rate shall then undergo subsequent resetting on a six-monthly basis on the first working day of every January and July. 
3. Mark-up accrual shall begin from the day of first disbursement as per the above rates and shall continue on the outstanding principal till the entire repayment of the loan. 

Partial / Full Early Payments

No pre-payment charges apply on partial or full prepayments. 

Processing Fee 

1. One time non-refundable processing fee as set by the Bank only at the time of processing of the initial application. 
2. Any applicable taxes / levies shall be recoverable from the customer / student / borrower. 

Minimum guarantees and securities/ collateral 

1. Personal Guarantee of Parents / Guardian and/or any third party for each loan. At least one Guarantor should be Parent and at least one guarantor should have source and means of income. 
2. For each loan, assignment of all future incomes of the student to the Bank to the extent of the former’s liability to the latter. In accordance with SBP regulations, loans shall be collateralized through any security /collateral as determined by the Bank for each loan and borrower. 

Documentation 

1. Application Form (pertinent to the relevant tranche) duly signed by the student and parents / guardian and/or third party guarantor(s) (as the case may be) including signed-stamped by concerned LUMS officials.
2. CNIC or SNIC Copies of the Student and parent(s) / guardian(s) and/or any third party guarantor(s) as the case may be. 
   • CF-1 Form / SBP Undertaking. 
   • One-time activity of opening non-checking collection / repayment account. 
3. Required legal documentation to be signed by the student & parent / guardian and/or any third party guarantor(s) as the case may be and with regards to various collaterals / securities. 
4. Any other document as per MCB’s requirement

Other Terms and Conditions 

• Student is not allowed to apply for any sort of loan from any financial institution / bank, without seeking prior permission from MCB until the first installment of the MCB Student Loan has been paid. 
• If a student gets overseas employment, then his entire remaining personal loan and associated amounts shall become payable immediately to MCB. 
• Apart from the above, in cases where the student fails to complete the program due to any reason, or drops out due to unsatisfactory academic performance or otherwise, or commits an act of moral turpitude or crime, the entire loan and associated amounts will become repayable immediately. 
• The entire loan and associated amounts will also become repayable immediately if, at any stage, any mis-representation or concealment of facts comes to the Bank’s knowledge. 
• Bank reserves the right to demand immediate payment of all outstanding amounts associated with the student loan at any time it deems appropriate. 
• In accordance with applicable laws and regulations, Bank reserves the right to take all measures and explore all options (which may include but may not be limited to litigation) for collection / recovery of all outstanding amounts associated with the loan from the student / borrower / guarantor(s) and any available collaterals / securities in case of nonpayment / default and/or any non-fulfillment of contractual obligations by student / borrower / guarantor(s)

Asian Development Bank - Japan Scholarship Programme

LUMS consistently strives to make its educational programmes accessible to talented students regardless of their ability to pay. We are proud to be the only institute in Pakistan offering the Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP) through which students can benefit from our highly experiential MBA programme.

Under this scholarship scheme, the University in collaboration with ADB-JSP provides ADB’s developing members in Asia and the Pacific to pursue postgraduate studies in management at the Suleman Dawood School of Business.

How To Apply?

To apply for the ADB–JSP Scholarship, applicants must provide their consent upon being shortlisted for admission. Please note that the availability of this scholarship is contingent on donor funding and is not guaranteed each year.

What is offered?

Please visit the link shown here for detailed information.

Who Is Eligible?

For detailed information on scholarship disbursement, click here.

To be eligible for the ADB-JSP scholarship, all applicants must also meet the LUMS MBA admission requirements. For details regarding LUMS MBA Programme, please explore more. In order to know MBA application deadlines, please visit our Academic Calendar.

In case of any query, please write to LUMS Office of Financial aid at helpdeskofa@lums.edu.pk

Maintaining Eligibility

1. The Financial Aid Award is valid for One (1) year only. Continuation of aid in the subsequent year is subject to reassessment.
2. Students receiving Financial Aid should maintain a full-time status in a regular semester. Failure to do so will lead to the cancellation of the Financial aid award.
3. Financial aid will not be provided for the Summer Semester.
4. Financial Aid awards can be increased, reduced or kept the same at any stage of review during your stay at LUMS.
5. LUMS reserves the right to physically verify the beneficiary's Home/Business premises.
6. LUMS reserves the right to amend, cancel, or terminate the awarded Financial Aid in case of any misrepresentation or incorrect information provided by the student. Such misrepresentation or concealment of facts may lead to the termination of your admission from the Programme. The university also reserves the right to recover the awarded amount during the preceding year(s) from the recipient on an immediate basis.