The number of Indian women pursuing MBAs abroad is rising faster than ever
* Women now represent 42% of MBA students worldwide, with 2024 recording the highest-ever female enrolment's over 6,100 in full-time programs, marking a steady rise from 28% a decade ago.
* For Indian women, high costs remain a hurdle, with international MBAs averaging Rs.40–80 lakh. Prodigy Finance is helping bridge this gap with its borderless lending model, having funded 45,000+ international master’s students across 150+ countries.
* Germany saw a 15.1% jump in Indian student numbers in 2023–24, while Harvard reported a 21% rise in MBA applications. These trends reflect a broader push by Indian women toward global leadership and career opportunities.
The number of women choosing international MBAs has been steadily rising, marking a powerful global trend in education and leadership. A decade ago, women represented just 28% of MBA students worldwide. Today, women account for about 42%, with 2024 seeing over 6,100 women enrolled in full-time programs at leading universities, the highest number ever recorded.
Reports from the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) also show that more than half of MBA programs globally are receiving a growing share of female applications. Today, flexible and hybrid programs are particularly popular, as they allow women to balance professional careers and family responsibilities while pursuing international education. But beyond social barriers, finance continues to be one of the biggest hurdles.
An international MBA can cost anywhere between Rs.40 lakh and Rs.80 lakh on average, depending on the destination and university. For many, this would be an impossible dream, but education loans and new financing models are slowly changing the story, making global opportunities more accessible to women determined to pursue them.
As Sonal Kapoor, Global Chief Business Officer at Prodigy Finance, observed: “Education has the power to transform lives. By backing women’s education, we are not only making learning more accessible but also enabling them to make a lasting impact in the business world.”
The destinations women choose also tell a story. According to DAAD, the number of Indian students in Germany reached 49,483 in the Winter Semester 2023-2024, a 15.1% increase from the previous year. MBA Applications to Harvard Business School increased 21% over last year. These numbers highlight more than just academic ambition.
For many women, pursuing an international MBA is a step toward leadership roles and global career opportunities that were once difficult to access. It also sends a larger signal: that women are increasingly investing in themselves, their networks, and their capacity to influence change.
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