University of Oxford - Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships

Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships

You will receive a full scholarship, which covers your full tuition fees for two years, as well as a living costs allowance of at least about EUR 25,400 per year (£21,805). The funding applies to both years of the Oxford 1+1 MBA: in the first year, you will complete a one-year Master’s programme at Oxford; in the second year, you will undertake the Oxford MBA at Saïd Business School. In addition to the financial support, you will receive mentoring (regular advice and guidance) from members of the advisory board, lecturers and alumni, invitations to conferences and social events, as well as a trip to New York organised by the sponsor. The sponsor is the Pershing Square Foundation, which supports people who wish to tackle major societal challenges. Only five of these scholarships are awarded each year.

Who can apply

• Programme: You are, I believe, doing the Oxford MBA 1+1, which combines a one-year Master’s programme at Oxford with the one-year Oxford MBA.
• Admission: You must already have been admitted to both an eligible Master’s programme and the MBA. If you are still on a waiting list, you cannot apply.
• Field of study: You can undertake your Master’s degree in a wide range of subject areas, from political science, law, computer science and statistics to education, sociology, medicine and environmental sciences – provided that it is a partner degree programme with Oxford 1+1.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply, and there is no age limit.
• Goals: You wish to devote your career to solving large-scale social problems, whether within an existing organisation or a start-up. You can explain how you would develop sustainable and scalable solutions.
• Leadership and grades: You demonstrate leadership potential and outstanding academic achievement, including your final exam results and your GMAT or GRE score.

How to apply

Apply for both programmes and, in the ‘Funding’ section of the 1+1 MBA application, upload a scholarship essay (max. 500 words) in which you explain how you would like to change the world. The application deadline for the MBA is 6 January 2027; your chosen Master’s programme has its own application deadline in December or January. The shortlisting process takes place in early April, with interviews held in late April or early May.

How realistic are your chances?

With just five scholarships awarded each year and the demanding requirement of being admitted to both a Master’s programme at Oxford and an MBA programme, this is one of the most highly competitive scholarships of all. Firstly, you must secure two places at Oxford, and even then you are competing against applicants from all over the world who have excellent academic records and leadership qualities. What sets the winners apart is a clear, well-founded vision for solving a specific social problem.