Introducing the Duisenberg School of Finance Scholarship for Women, worth €10,000 and offered in exclusive partnership with the QS World Grad School Tour – find out what it’s about, whether you’re eligible, and how to apply…
In recent years, the issue of gender imbalance in the finance industry has become a hot topic, with ongoing debate about the reasons behind this and the benefits of greater diversity in the sector, especially at top level.
This ongoing debate has led to a growing number of schemes at top business schools, to support women pursuing careers in the finance sector. Among these is the Netherlands’ Duisenberg School of Finance, which offers an annual scholarship worth €10,000 for a female candidate to pursue one of its master’s programs.
Rick Rudolph, head of marketing and recruitment at Duisenberg, and last year’s winner Rodica Timotin explain what the scholarship is all about, who’s eligible, and the marks of a successful application.
Apply for the scholarship now >
Why offer the scholarship?
The Scholarship for Women in Finance is just one of a number of initiatives born out of the school’s close links with industry, and responsiveness to current trends and employer demand, Rudolph explains.
“It’s one of several scholarships the school offers focusing on different groups. And of course it’s still very much merit-based – it’s not just a question of gender!”
He adds that the aim behind the scholarship is not simply to get more women into the finance sector, but into leadership positions. “The lack of women at top level has been a big issue in recent years, and there’s been lots of research into this area.”
As for Rodica, she says she found the focus of the scholarship essay – the question of whether more women in financial management roles would have a major impact on the financial landscape – “very inspiring”. For her, the issue is certainly not a simple one; while she objects to the viewpoint that finance is not the most “suitable” sector for women, she also feels that feminism is sometimes taken to extremes.
What makes a successful applicant?
Returning to Duisenberg’s focus on industry demand, Rudolph says the selection process takes into account candidates’ employability and potential. For this, he says, the school assesses candidates on three key criteria: “knowledge, skills and attitude.” Within this last point, key aspects include “ambition, and willingness to work hard and collaboratively.”
Rodica, he says, stood out as a critical thinker. “She took a less one-dimensional approach to the issue than some of the other applicants. It was clear that she felt women and men should be assessed equally on their merits – but she was also interested in exploring gender differences in particular fields, such as behavioral finance.”
In this respect, he adds, Rodica also demonstrated that she was in tune with the school’s own values and focus areas – which include behavioral finance, ethics, responsible leadership and sustainability.
What can candidates expect at Duisenberg?
The school offers “a supportive and collaborative environment,” Rudolph says. He explains that only 35 students are taken on per specialization, meaning students receive lots of individual attention. Preparation for future employment is also a major focus. Each program includes a significant emphasis on postgraduate placements and links with industry, and each student is allocated a dedicated career mentor.
For Rodica this has been a great journey – in fact, she says she can’t imagine what more she could have expected from a master’s program. In particular, she highlights the atmosphere at the school: “a combination of high standards, competitiveness, stress and lots of fun.”
She also agrees that preparation for future employment is a strength of the program, saying she’s found the focus on case studies particularly helpful in this respect, along with the chance to participate in workshops led by industry representatives.
The deadline for applications this year is 1 May 2013. All applicants should attend a QS World Grad School Tour event, be accepted onto a master’s program at Duisenberg, and be female!
