Winners of the QS- Alliance Manchester Business School Scholarships 2015

Each year, QS is proud to partner with the UK’s Manchester Business School (MBS) to offer two exclusive scholarships for attendees of the QS World Grad School Tour. Each award covers 50% of tuition fees for talented students enrolling in a master’s program at Manchester Business School, which is part of the University of Manchester.

This year’s winners are Constanze Häbel, from Germany, and Thuy Phamova Thanh, from Vietnam and the Czech Republic. Read on to find out how they impressed the judges, their advice for other scholarship-seekers, and what difference the QS-Manchester Business School Scholarships will make to them.

Constanze Häbel

Nationality: German

Program: MSc Operations, Project and Supply Chain Management

Currently completing a BSc in General Management at Germany’s EBS Business School, Constanze was keen to specialize in supply chain management by enrolling in a master’s degree at an internationally ranked institution.

She met representatives of the University of Manchester while attending the QS World Grad School Tour, and – after researching rankings of the best supply chain management programs – decided to apply. She then remembered the QS Scholarships scheme, and when she discovered the QS-Manchester Business School Scholarships, applying for that seemed an obvious next step.

In addition to gaining the specialized knowledge needed for her future career, Constanze says she’s looking forward to “meeting motivated students and building up an international network” during her time in Manchester. She adds that Manchester Business School’s strong global reputation will be a valuable asset after she graduates, when she intends to find a role in supply chain management at an international company.

Being awarded the scholarship has made the costs of studying abroad in the UK far less daunting, meaning Constanze feels more confident about being able to concentrate fully on her studies and achieve her full potential.

Advice for other scholarship applicants: “Just try it. Even if your chances to win seem quite small, it is worth trying. Everybody has the same chance to receive a scholarship, so you just have to apply.”

Thuy Phamova Thanh

Nationality: Vietnamese/Czech

Program: MSc Marketing

As she nears the end of her BA in Fashion Business at the London campus of the Istituto Marangon,Thuy says pursuing a specialized master’s program is a “natural step” in her career development. She’s particularly keen to strengthen her analytical and critical skills in the marketing field, while gaining more in-depth knowledge of the sector.

Aside from the financial aid provided, Thuy says receiving the scholarship has been a valuable source of encouragement and personal validation, both for herself and for her family. “My parents taught me the only way I would get anywhere in life was through education,” she says. “The experience of growing up surrounded by people whose lives and dreams were disrupted by the strict Communist regime filled me with a great desire to take full advantage of the opportunities available to me… The scholarship has helped me to prove that I am on the right track and ready to succeed.”

After completing her master’s degree, Thuy aims to find a role combining marketing and creativity, saying she hopes her studies will leave her well-prepared prepared for the challenges this will bring. She’s also keen to spend time travelling, particularly in developing parts of the world. Having gained a broad spectrum of experiences and insights, she aims to use this to develop her family’s business or to launch her own social venture.

Advice for other scholarship applicants: “Research is the key. Talk to people and search using various resources, such as libraries, internet or books for available funding opportunities. Most importantly, don’t give up on your dreams.”