DHL GoTrade GBSN Fellowship Program 2026 for postgraduate business students & SMEs (Deadline:  1 November, 2025)

Applications are now open for the 2026 DHL GoTrade GBSN Fellowship Program. In furtherance of DHL’s goal to connect business students from around the world through impactful, experiential learning opportunities, Global Business School Network (GBSN) has partnered with one of its corporate members DPDHL to develop the GoTrade GBSN Fellowship Program. This Fellowship Program partners selected postgraduate business students with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the developing world to foster greater cross-border trade. The aim is to enable SMEs to access the global market and to enhance student development with practical learning opportunities.

This highly selective 8-month fellowship program pairs postgraduate business students at the master’s and PhD levels with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets.  The aim is to enable SMEs to access the global market and to enhance student development with practical learning opportunities.

Pairing Students + SMEs

The Fellowship Program will pair graduate business students (MBA/MSc/Masters/PhD) with SMEs for 8 months. Each GoTrade GBSN Fellow will be assigned an SME to advise, consult, and collaborate with. The GoTrade GBSN Fellowship Program will convene regular virtual sessions bringing all students together with speakers on relevant subject matter to aid their learning objectives, with the additional goal of fostering networking among peers.

Fellows will be supported by:

• DPDHL mentors
• Coaching and mentoring with SMEs
• DPDHL Certified Program learning journey covering basics of international trade

2026 SME COUNTRIES: South Africa, Namibia, Ghana, Kenya, Ukraine, Sri Lanka, Chile, El Salvador, Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, Malaysia, Nigeria, Uganda

Student Eligibility Criteria

Graduate students from across the globe who meet the following criteria are invited to apply.

1. Enrolled at a participating GBSN member school at the start fellowship
2. Commitment to complete 8 month fellowship program starting March 2025
3. All students are required to be comfortable communicating in English. For those matched with SMEs in Latin America, proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese is required
4. Ability to commit to an estimated 12 to 15 hours per month
5. Proven work experience
6. Strong analytical skills
7. Entrepreneurial and proactive mindset
8. Interest in an international community

Networking and virtual learning

• • GBSN will convene all students quarterly to create networking opportunities, provide speakers to
    engage students on relevant career growth subjects, and facilitate workshops aimed at general
    development.
  • Upon successful completion of the Fellowship Program you will join the Alumni Network. The aim is
    that you continue to be a resource for one another as you advance on your respective journeys, and
    for those students who follow in your footsteps and become the next DHL GoTrade GBSN students

Application Process:

To complete the application form you will be required to upload:

• A professional photo / headshot
• A short CV / resume (2 pages)
• A short video (no more than 2 minutes maximum) in which you introduce yourself to us. Let us know who you are and why we should select you. You may upload your video to any streaming platform (YouTube, Vimeo, etc) and share the link with us. The video may be unlisted (NOT private).

Application Deadline:  November 1, 2025

For More Information:

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE AND APPLY