Indonesian Woman Seeking Over $100,000 for SMU MBA Accused of Being "Entitled" by Netizens

An Indonesian woman has drawn criticism after seeking sponsors to fund her MBA at Singapore Management University (SMU), including her living expenses in Singapore.

Evelyn Clarissa Febiany said she had accepted a place in SMU's January 2027 intake and received a $3,000 ASEAN discount.

However, she still needed funding for tuition fees of more than $82,000, as well as an estimated $2,000 to 2,500 a month for up to 15 months.

In return, she offered sponsors her skills in marketing, content creation, public speaking, and business development, describing the arrangement as a "value exchange" rather than a simple donation.

The response drew further backlash after netizens circulated posts from her social media showing holidays in South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia, along with padel and nightlife activities.

Critics questioned whether the money spent on leisure could have instead been saved for her studies.

However, some defended Evelyn, nothing that she was offering professional services in exchange for sponsorship.

Supporters praised her willingness to pitch herself publicly and encouraged her to continue searching for someone who saw value in her proposal.