IESE Young Talent Path MBA Scholarship With Your GMAT or GRE Score
The Young Talent Path (YTP) is IESE Business School’s early-admission route into its full-time MBA, and it comes with eligibility to apply for a €25,000 scholarship that hinges on two separate conditions. The first is getting into the YTP itself, and second submitting a GMAT or GRE score that meets IESE’s requirement. Miss either one and the scholarship doesn’t apply. Pre-admission to the YTP doesn’t guarantee the award, and a strong GMAT or GRE score on its own can’t unlock it without YTP admission first.
EPIC Prep offers GMAT Preparation and GRE Preparation for candidates across Europe in countries like Spain, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Understanding exactly how the timing works — and what it means for when to start preparing — is worth covering in detail.
Table of Contents
What Is IESE’s Young Talent Path (YTP)?
IESE’s Young Talent Path is an early-admission pathway into the school’s full-time MBA, built for candidates who haven’t yet reached the 3–10 years of work experience most incoming MBA students carry (IESE reports an average of 5.4 years across its class). IESE’s own program page describes the YTP as designed for “final year university students (preferably with a secured job offer) or recent university graduates with 0-2 years of full-time work experience.” It accepts any academic background — not only business or finance. Successful candidates receive pre-admission to the MBA, with their seat reserved for up to four years while they build work experience before formally enrolling.
Admission to the YTP makes a candidate eligible for IESE’s €25,000 scholarship. It doesn’t hand it over on acceptance, however. Successful YTP candidates who meet its GMAT/GRE criteria are automatically awarded the scholarship upon enrolling in the MBA, which means the award depends on two things happening in sequence
- Acceptance into the YTP mba program
- Meeting IESE’s GMAT or GRE requirement (upon enrollment in the mba)
The scholarship itself applies toward MBA tuition — not toward the YTP, which carries no tuition of its own beyond a non-refundable application fee to apply to the pathway. The section below covers exactly how that eligibility for YTP works and later the GRE and GMAT requirements.
What IESE Looks for in YTP Candidates
Beyond meeting the basic career-stage window, IESE selects for academic and professional track record, a clear sense of why an MBA — specifically an IESE MBA — fits a candidate’s future, and genuine cultural fit with its internationally diverse, values-driven cohort. These qualities are assessed primarily at the in-person Assessment Boot Camp, not on the initial application.
How Does the €25,000 YTP Scholarship Work With Your GMAT or GRE Score?
The IESE YTP scholarship is worth €25,000 toward the MBA. However, it only pays out if a candidate meets IESE’s GMAT or GRE requirement at the time they actually enroll — not when they apply to the YTP.
How Much Is the Scholarship Worth?
The scholarship is currently €25,000, against a total published IESE MBA cost of €114,000 for the September 2026 intake. For a full breakdown of the current costs, make sure to take a look at the IESE Admissions Fees.
Do You Need a GMAT or GRE Score to Apply?
A GMAT or GRE score becomes mandatory only when a candidate is ready to formally enroll in the MBA. IESE treats a qualifying GMAT score and a qualifying GRE score as equally valid ways to meet that requirement. It is not required to apply to the YTP itself.
What GMAT or GRE Score Should You Target for the IESE YTP Scholarship?
For the YTP scholarship specifically, a competitive planning target is a GMAT Focus Edition score of 645-650 or higher, or a GRE total of 315-317 or higher. For the GRE, aim for at least 156 in Verbal Reasoning and 160 in Quantitative Reasoning.
IESE publishes acceptance ranges rather than minimums. So, these targets are about staying comfortable within those ranges, not clearing a stated benchmark — and the Quantitative figure matters most for candidates targeting more quantitatively demanding programs.
What IESE does publish is its acceptance data for both exams:
- On the GMAT, the IESE MBA acceptance score range is 545–715 on the GMAT Focus Edition.
- On the GRE, IESE’s acceptance range runs 143–170 on Verbal Reasoning and 143–170 on Quantitative Reasoning, with a published Verbal median of 156 and a Quantitative median of 161.
Those medians are the most useful reference points a YTP candidate has. They show where the middle of IESE’s admitted pool actually sits, and together they land almost exactly on the 317 total worth targeting. That is why a Quantitative score near 160 matters more than a high total alone if the target program leans heavily on math.
GMAT or GRE — Which Should a YTP Candidate Take?
Since IESE accepts a qualifying GMAT or GRE score equally for the YTP scholarship, the choice comes down to which exam plays to a candidate’s strengths, not which one IESE prefers.
- The GMAT Focus Edition weighs Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights equally, and tends to suit candidates who are comfortable with data interpretation and logical reasoning under time pressure without a calculator on most sections.
- The GRE, by contrast, allows a basic on-screen calculator for its Quantitative Reasoning section and draws more heavily on vocabulary and reading comprehension in its Verbal Reasoning section — often a better fit for candidates from humanities, STEM, or research-oriented academic backgrounds.
For a fuller side-by-side comparison of how the two exams differ — including which other European MBA and master’s programs accept each one — see EPIC Prep’s choosing between the GMAT or the GRE.
How Should You Prepare for the GMAT or GRE During Your Deferral?
The smartest way to use a multi-year YTP deferral is to treat it as extra preparation time rather than something to leave until the last minute.
- Standard: a standard, unrushed EPIC Prep timeline runs 10 to 15 weeks
- Tighter Deadline: candidates working against a tighter deadline can prepare intensively in 5 to 7 weeks
- Well-Prepared: those already well into independent study can sharpen a score in as little as 3 to 5 weeks of focused work.
Starting early — rather than cramming right before the MBA enrollment deadline — also leaves room for a retake. The GMAT Focus Edition can be retaken every 16 days, up to five times in a rolling 12-month period. On the other hand, the GRE can be retaken every 21 days, also up to five times a year. Because a YTP candidate typically has years before their score is actually due, there’s usually time for at least one retake if a first attempt lands below target.
Call us and find out why our students have been achieving their goals since 2010.
Why Prepare for the GMAT or GRE With EPIC Prep?
EPIC Prep prepares GMAT and GRE candidates through a methodology built specifically for student success. That preparation carries a specific financial weight for a YTP candidate. A GMAT or GRE score is something candidates have to produce anyway to enroll at IESE. The difference between a score that meets IESE’s requirement and one that falls short is, in this case, €25,000 toward tuition.
For a YTP candidate, the time spent preparing well isn’t only about gaining admission, it’s about protecting a scholarship they’ve already been made eligible for. Since IESE publishes no exact cutoff, the safest approach is to prepare toward the competitive end of its published ranges rather than the minimum. A diagnostic assessment is a useful first step, showing exactly how far a candidate’s current level sits from the 650+ GMAT or 317+ GRE range before locking in a study plan.
To get you to your objective, EPIC Prep combines:
- Specialized native tutors
- Exclusive content
- A practical approach
- Data-driven analysis, rather than generic international test prep.
An entire team is devoted exclusively to both GRE and GMAT preparation. A team fully committed to refining every aspect of the GRE and GMAT experience is what keeps the courses at the cutting edge of preparation. Read more about EPIC Prep’s methodology.
Preparation is personalized rather than one-size-fits-all. While many GRE and GMAT preparation programs focus primarily on group instruction, EPIC Prep emphasizes the value of individual tutoring. An extensive team of expert tutors makes it possible to deliver a highly personalized experience to students who require or prefer one-on-one guidance. Group courses are also available, but they are intentionally kept very small to maintain the same standard of excellence and individual attention. Whichever format a candidate chooses, the quality of instruction and the focus on personal progress remain the same.
Students also work through more than 2,000 GRE and GMAT on our exercises with instant feedback. They do this using materials developed by EPIC educators with years of GRE and GMAT experience.
EPIC has been preparing students across Europe since 2010, with offices in Madrid, Barcelona, Milano and Zürich. Find out more information and explore GMAT Prep and GRE Prep options, or get in touch with our team directly by Whatsapp.
Where Can You Take the GMAT or GRE From Your Country?
The GRE General Test is administered at more than 1,000 ETS-authorized test centers in over 160 countries. This is done on a continuous basis throughout the year in most regions. It is also offered at home 24 hours a day, seven days a week — identical in content, format and on-screen experience to the test center version. The GMAT is likewise delivered both at test centers and online, with the online version available in most locations worldwide.
Spain
Candidates testing in Spain have test centers in Madrid and Barcelona, both within reach of IESE’s own Barcelona campus where the Assessment Boot Camp is held. EPIC Prep has offices in Madrid and Barcelona, and works regularly with Spanish candidates targeting IESE, IE Business School, ESADE, and more.
Italy
Italian candidates have test centers in Milan and Rome. EPIC Prep has an office in Milan and prepares Italian candidates targeting both IESE and domestic programs — SDA Bocconi, Rome Business School, LUISS, and more. Preparing for the GRE or GMAT in Italy can serve applications in many different European countries.
Germany
German candidates can test in Frankfurt, Munich and other German cities, or at home. EPIC Prep prepares candidates across Germany as part of its wider European practice — and because the YTP requires no score at application stage, a German final-year student can secure a place first and test later from wherever their early career takes them.
The Netherlands
Amsterdam is the primary testing city for candidates based in the Netherlands, with the at-home option available nationwide. EPIC Prep works with Dutch-based candidates across its European markets, and the YTP’s four-year deferral is particularly workable for Dutch graduates who want to build experience at home before relocating to Barcelona for the MBA.
Switzerland
Swiss candidates can test in Zurich and other Swiss cities. EPIC Prep has an office in Zurich, and helps candidates not only prepare for IESE, but also against the University of St. Gallen, which looks for around 650+ on the GMAT, the same range this scholarship rewards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I don’t submit a qualifying GMAT or GRE score when I enroll in the IESE MBA?
If your score doesn’t meet IESE’s requirement at enrollment, the €25,000 Young Talent Path scholarship isn’t awarded — IESE describes the award as conditional on fulfilling its GMAT/GRE requirement. Your pre-admission itself isn’t automatically withdrawn, but the scholarship is. Since IESE doesn’t publish an exact cutoff, EPIC recommends planning around IESE’s competitive range: roughly 650+ on the GMAT Focus Edition or 317+ on the GRE.
Can I use a GMAT or GRE score I took before I was admitted to the YTP?
Yes, as long as it’s still valid when you enroll. Both the GMAT Focus Edition and the GRE General Test carry a five-year validity period from the test date. YTP candidates can defer enrollment for up to four years after pre-admission.
Does the €25,000 YTP scholarship apply equally to the GMAT and the GRE?
Yes. IESE’s YTP page treats a qualifying GMAT score and a qualifying GRE score as equally valid ways to meet the scholarship’s requirement — there’s no GMAT-only or GRE-only condition. IESE doesn’t publish an exact minimum for either exam, only that candidates must meet its GMAT/GRE requirement at the time of MBA enrollment.
Can international students, not just those in Spain, apply to the IESE YTP?
Yes. The Young Talent Path runs entirely in English and is open globally — IESE’s overall MBA cohort is about 85% international, drawn from more than 50 countries. Eligibility depends only on career stage (0–2 years of full-time work experience) and academic background, not nationality or country of residence.
How many times can I retake the GMAT or GRE before I need to submit a score to IESE?
You can retake the GMAT Focus Edition up to five times in a rolling 12-month period, 16 days apart, with an eight-time lifetime limit, or the GRE up to five times a year, 21 days apart. Because YTP candidates typically have years before enrollment, there’s usually time for at least one retake if a first attempt falls short of target.
We hope this article has answered your questions. If you have any questions about your preparation, please contact us and we will be happy to explain how EPIC Prep can help you achieve your goals.
