How Irma Matoshvili, a Georgian Scholar, Secured a Fully Funded Master’s in Business Administration at Imperial College London, United Kingdom Through the Advisory Board Scholarship

My name is Irma Matoshvili. I come from Tbilisi, Georgia, a small Eastern European country. I have built my career across the luxury hospitality, travel, and consumer industries, with a focus on business development, strategic partnerships, marketing, and growth. Most recently, I worked as a Business Development & Partnerships Manager at Chateau De Vere, where I developed strategic partnerships and drove corporate and events growth. Before that, I worked at Booking.com, advising hotel partners on digital growth and commercial strategy. Alongside my professional roles, I am also an invited Business Consultant for UN Women, where I support women-led startups in optimising their operations, reaching their full potential, and preparing to attract investment.

Currently, I’m pursuing my third business degree- a full-time MBA with a third full scholarship at Imperial College London.

After eight years of experience across Georgian and global brands, I have developed strong hands-on expertise in marketing, business development, strategic partnerships, and growth, particularly within luxury hospitality.

As I now plan to pivot into strategy consulting, I believe this is the ideal time to complement my practical experience with stronger business analytics, structured problem-solving, critical thinking, and strategic decision-making skills. An MBA will also broaden my exposure to different industries and business models, preparing me to make a successful transition into consulting.

Advisory Board Scholarship Details

Scholarships received during undergraduate degree at – Free University of Tbilisi- BBA- ‘’Knowledge Fund” & Full State Scholarship.

Master's- Oxford Brookes University- Msc in International Hospitality, Events and Tourism Management – Expertise in Luxury Service Innovation- Chevening Scholarship and Bank of Georgia scholarships covering full tuition + living costs.

MBA- Imperial Business School- Advisory Board Scholarship – one of only 2 full scholarships at Imperial. +

📍 The Imperial Excellence Scholarship (£39,000) in recognition of my strong academic performance.
📍The Forté MBA Fellowship (£40,000) for my significant commitment to advancing and supporting women’s development.
📍I was also very fortunate to receive one of the 2 100% full-tuition Manchester Bee European scholarships for the Full-Time MBA at The University of Manchester.

Educational Background

Free University of Tbilisi- BBA- concentration in Marketing Management- top 10% of the cohort. GPA 3.3/4  - This is the #1 University in Georgia for students’ national exam scores.

Oxford Brookes University- Msc in International Hospitality, Events and Tourism Management – Expertise in Luxury Service Innovation- Graduated with distinction and ranked among the top 0.5% of the cohort.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Imperial College London?

How Did You Find Information About Advisory Board Scholarship and Imperial College London?

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

I did not have to take IELTS again, as I completed my master’s degree in the UK three years ago. I prepared for the GRE independently and achieved an acceptable score on my first attempt! For the GRE, I used a few online platforms and e-books. I didn’t have a tutor, so I created my own schedule and learning structure.

I searched for scholarships separately, one by one, and mainly focused on leading business schools in the UK.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Advisory Board Scholarship?

Alongside my main essays for business schools, I researched the requirements for each scholarship, spoke with previous scholars to gain deeper insights into the programmes and their modules, learned more about their areas of expertise, and, at the final stage, asked some of them for feedback.

How is Your Experience at Imperial College London?

I’ve only completed my first week of induction, and my studies have just started. I’ve already attended some really interesting lectures in Finance. If I was previously a little intimidated by, and less interested in, accounting and related modules, they’ve already become some of the areas I’m most interested in, largely because the professors are extremely professional, approachable, and friendly.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

Genuine interest in the field and its modules, combined with a passion for driving positive and creative change, not only in the corporate world, but also in social development, where business can play a significant role in improving people’s well-being.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

I would probably work more on myself to manage stress better. The whole process can be overwhelming and intimidating at times, but talking to people with similar goals and mindsets really helps overcome these challenges. I would also be more proactive about staying connected with others, rather than isolating myself while navigating this big journey.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

I would say to give yourself as much time as possible to prepare and not underestimate the process. It can be challenging and, at times, even feel quite isolating, but it’s important not to lose sight of your ultimate goal. You will probably face obstacles along the way, but I believe the real growth comes from how you respond to them. If you stay consistent, keep working towards your goals and maintain your grit, the outcome will eventually follow. Most importantly, don’t let one setback discourage you from something you genuinely want to achieve.