Diversity, Equal Opportunity and Financial Support

Diversity and equal opportunity are core values at Forward College. By 2025, we pledge to offer financial support to enroll 30% of our new cohorts from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Diversity at Forward
At Forward College, we believe that a core part of any education has to be learning about diversity.

Why it matters?
As we grow and become adults, we must learn how to understand, communicate and collaborate with people from other cultural and social backgrounds and with points of views, experiences and behaviors that are different from ours.
Our commitment to this very idea is at the core of Forward College’s founding philosophy: if individuals are to thrive, they must experience and learn how to understand the world in its diversity.
- This is why we have designed a European campus that reaches across three different countries;
- why our students come from over 30 nationalities;
- why we value co-living and community-building as crucial skills and experiences to acquire;
- why our faculty is also international;
- why our pedagogy draws on team and group work and participatory approaches;
- why all our Bachelors’ include a personal development programme where students learn about themselves, their assets and talents, but also how to listen to, interact, and engage with others, how to build respect and trust, how to exert influence, leadership and diplomacy.
Our admissions process
Valuing diverse student experiences
Practically speaking, this means that starting from our admissions process, we value diverse student experiences.
First, our selection will take into account elements of your personal history that may have affected your performance in secondary education and explain any possible gap between your potential and observable performance. Second, we will look at your academic transcripts and performance, but we will also go beyond: we will ask to see what experiences you have gained, what projects, commitments or responsibilities you have undertaken, participated in or led on. Finally, we will not ask you for a written personal statement or academic references: we will want to see evidence of your engagement. Facts speak louder than words. The interview will be the opportunity for us to understand better what you have learnt from these experiences.
See all details on How to apply here.
Equal opportunity at Forward
But talking about diversity also means talking about inequalities. At Forward College, we recognise that everyone does not have the same opportunities for education. Some may be held back by barriers, especially financial, to access higher education in particular. This is something that is particularly close to heart to Boris Walbaum, Forward College Founder and President.
Before embarking on the Forward College project, Boris worked as an advocate and entrepreneur for equal opportunity in education. He founded and still chairs Article 1, a leading French charity that supports over 150,000 students each year to access higher education, plan their careers and take their first steps in the professional world. Since its inception, Article 1 has received the support of over 300 institutions, companies and major international foundations (Google, JP Morgan, Accenture…). Boris is a stark advocate for equal opportunity and sees education as a major key to unlock social mobility and bring about social justice.
It is with this in mind that by 2025, we have pledged to meet our target to recruit 30% of our cohort from disadvantaged backgrounds. We are looking for exceptional applicants for whom access to higher education would not be possible without financial support.

Supporting equal opportunity
Each year, we offer a number of scholarships and 0% interest loans to students for whom accessing higher education would not be possible without financial support. Awards are dependent on receiving an offer and on a financial support application.
Financial support
Financial support is available as either or cumulated:
- The award of a Forward College Scholarship
These scholarships are awarded to applicants who show strong academic performance and active engagement outside of their academic life and who are in financial need as defined by Forward College . Each scholarship amounts to up to 20% fully deducted from the tuition fees for the 3 years of their Bachelor’s.
- The award of a 0% interest Forward College Student Loan
These loans are available to applicants who show strong academic performance and active engagement outside of their academic life and who are in financial need as defined by Forward College. They cover up to the full 3 years of tuition. Applicants can apply to either or both financial awards.
How to apply for financial support?
Students who wish to be considered will have to provide proof of financial need (i.e. annual household income, bank statements, proof of previous financial aid, dependents, etc). They will also have to send a written statement providing reasons and context for their financial support application. Our selection process will take into account elements of applicants’ personal history and circumstances.
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Get in touch at admissions@forward-college.eu if you have any questions on Financial Support at Forward. Our admissions team is here to answer your questions.