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The University of Oxford is offering the Skoll Scholarship 2027 to outstanding candidates seeking to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Saïd Business School in the United Kingdom. The scholarship is intended for individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to social entrepreneurship and are working to address significant social or environmental challenges through innovative, entrepreneurial solutions.

The Oxford Skoll Scholarship provides financial support covering the full MBA course fees, alongside a contribution towards living expenses. It also connects successful applicants with a community of social entrepreneurs, changemakers, and professionals committed to creating meaningful, lasting impact.

For applicants with a track record of leading initiatives that challenge unjust systems and improve lives, this scholarship offers an opportunity to develop their leadership and business capabilities at the University of Oxford.

Scholarship Overview

The Oxford Skoll Scholarship is a funding opportunity for eligible candidates who want to study for an MBA at Saïd Business School. Unlike general academic scholarships, the programme focuses on candidates who have already taken entrepreneurial action to address social or environmental problems and can demonstrate the results of their work.

Successful scholars receive full coverage of their MBA tuition fees and partial support towards living costs. They also become part of the Skoll Scholar community, providing opportunities to connect with other social innovators and impact-focused leaders.

The scholarship is highly competitive, with the programme typically awarding up to four scholarships annually.

Scholarship Details

• Scholarship Name: University of Oxford Skoll Scholarship
• University: University of Oxford
• Business School: Saïd Business School
• Degree Programme: Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Study Destination: United Kingdom
• Scholarship Coverage: Full MBA course fees and a contribution towards living expenses
• Application Deadline: 8 January 2027
• Number of Awards: Typically up to four scholarships per year

About the Oxford Skoll Scholarship

The Skoll Scholarship supports individuals who use entrepreneurial thinking and action to tackle important social and environmental challenges. It is designed for candidates whose work goes beyond identifying problems and includes taking practical steps to create positive change.

The scholarship recognises the importance of addressing the underlying systems and practices that contribute to social problems. Applicants should therefore be able to demonstrate how their work has contributed to meaningful outcomes and how their approach can help create broader, lasting improvements.

Studying for an MBA at Oxford Saïd provides scholars with an opportunity to strengthen their business knowledge, leadership abilities, and understanding of how organisations can create sustainable impact.

In addition to financial support, the scholarship offers access to a community of people working on social innovation and entrepreneurship. This network can help scholars exchange ideas, learn from other changemakers, and build relationships with individuals pursuing similar goals.

Scholarship Benefits

The University of Oxford Skoll Scholarship provides financial and professional development benefits for successful applicants.

1. Full MBA Tuition Fee Coverage

The scholarship covers the full course fees for the MBA programme at Saïd Business School. This significantly reduces the cost of pursuing the degree at the University of Oxford.

2. Contribution Towards Living Expenses

In addition to tuition coverage, the scholarship provides partial financial assistance towards living expenses. Applicants should note that the living-cost contribution is not described as full coverage of all personal expenses.

Candidates should review the official scholarship information to understand the funding arrangements applicable to their application.

3. Access to the Skoll Scholar Community

Successful applicants become part of a community of social entrepreneurs, innovators, and professionals working to address complex challenges.

This community offers opportunities to learn from people with different experiences and approaches to creating social impact.

4. Opportunities to Connect With Changemakers

The scholarship provides opportunities to engage with individuals and organisations involved in social innovation and impact-driven entrepreneurship. These connections can support the exchange of ideas and the development of approaches to solving social and environmental problems.

5. Leadership and Professional Development

Through the Oxford MBA experience and engagement with the Skoll community, scholars can develop their understanding of leadership, entrepreneurship, and the role of business in addressing social challenges.

Eligibility Requirements

The Oxford Skoll Scholarship is intended for candidates who have demonstrated entrepreneurial action and a commitment to creating positive social change. Applicants should carefully assess the following areas before beginning their applications.

1. Entrepreneurial Action

Applicants should have identified opportunities to address a social or environmental problem and taken practical steps to create positive change.

A key requirement is at least three years of experience driving change through entrepreneurial approaches. Candidates should be able to explain the initiatives they have led or contributed to and how their actions have addressed the challenges they identified.

2. Demonstrated Social Impact

Candidates should be able to show the outcomes of their entrepreneurial work.

The scholarship places particular emphasis on initiatives that address unjust systems, practices, or structures within a particular field or community.

Applicants should therefore be prepared to explain the problem they sought to solve, the action they took, and the impact their work achieved. Their examples should demonstrate more than an intention to create change; they should establish how their efforts have contributed to tangible outcomes.

3. Personal Qualities of a Social Entrepreneur

The scholarship seeks candidates who demonstrate the personal qualities associated with social entrepreneurship.

These include:

• Commitment to positive change: A clear determination to address social or environmental challenges.
• Persistence: The ability to continue working towards a goal despite setbacks and difficulties.
• Willingness to learn from failure: An openness to trying new approaches, learning from unsuccessful efforts, and starting again when necessary.
• Initiative: A tendency to take practical action rather than waiting for others to solve a problem.
• Resourcefulness: The ability to identify opportunities and make effective use of available resources.
• Risk-taking: A willingness to accept personal and, where relevant, financial risks in pursuit of meaningful change.
• Networking and collaboration: The ability to develop relationships and mobilise people around shared objectives.
• First-hand understanding of the problem: Experience working closely with the issue being addressed or personal experience of the problem the applicant seeks to solve.

Candidates should consider how their professional, entrepreneurial, or community-based activities demonstrate these qualities.

4. Admission to the Oxford MBA Programme

Applicants must also secure admission to the MBA programme at Saïd Business School and submit the required Skoll Scholarship essays within the applicable deadlines.

The scholarship is not considered independently of the MBA admission process. Candidates who have not been accepted into the Oxford MBA programme and have not submitted their scholarship essays by the relevant deadlines cannot be considered for the award.

Meeting the scholarship’s general eligibility criteria does not automatically guarantee selection.

Application Requirements and Important Considerations

Before applying, candidates should understand the relationship between the MBA admissions process and the scholarship selection process.

First, applicants need to apply directly to the Oxford MBA programme through Saïd Business School. The scholarship application process includes submitting the relevant Skoll Scholarship essays within the appropriate application stage and deadline.

The scholarship information specifies that applicants may apply for the Oxford MBA during stages 1, 2, or 3 of the admissions process. Candidates should consult the official website to confirm the applicable dates and submission requirements for the 2027 scholarship cycle.

The scholarship typically awards up to four places each year, making it important for applicants to present a clear account of their entrepreneurial experience, demonstrated impact, and commitment to addressing systemic challenges.

Applicants who receive a successful MBA admission decision should also be aware that a deposit is required to secure their place on the programme. However, the deposit deadlines may be extended for candidates who progress through the Skoll Scholarship selection process. Arrangements are coordinated with the Admissions Team.

Candidates who reach the final shortlisting stage should follow the instructions provided directly by the Skoll Centre regarding the Logistics and Reference Form. The scholarship information states that shortlisted candidates will receive the form by email from the Skoll Centre, so they should not request it separately from the Admissions Team.

How to Apply for the University of Oxford Skoll Scholarship 2027

Interested candidates should follow the official application process carefully.

Step 1: Review the Official Scholarship Information

Visit the official Oxford Saïd Business School scholarship page to read the eligibility criteria, application instructions, deadlines, and other requirements.

Step 2: Register Your Interest

Connect with the Skoll Scholarship team through the official scholarship website to register your interest and receive updates about announcements and upcoming deadlines.

Step 3: Apply for the Oxford MBA

Submit an application for the MBA programme directly to Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

The scholarship information identifies stages 1, 2, and 3 of the MBA admissions process as the relevant application stages. Check the current admissions schedule to determine which stage applies to your intended application.

Step 4: Submit the Skoll Scholarship Essays

Complete and submit the required scholarship essays within the applicable deadline. Your application should clearly communicate your entrepreneurial experience, the social or environmental problem you have addressed, the outcomes of your work, and your commitment to creating lasting change.

Step 5: Monitor Your Application

Check your email regularly for updates from Saïd Business School and the Skoll Centre. If you progress to the final shortlisting stage, follow the instructions provided for any additional documentation, including the Logistics and Reference Form.

For further questions about the application process, consult the official scholarship FAQs or contact the team at skollscholarship@sbs.ox.ac.uk.

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Application Deadline

The supplied scholarship announcement lists 8 January 2027 as the application deadline.

However, the application instructions also refer to separate deadlines for the Oxford MBA application and the Skoll Scholarship essays. Applicants should verify the dates on the official scholarship website and ensure that both their MBA application and scholarship materials are submitted within the applicable deadlines.

The source information also contains an older reference to 5 January 2024, which is not a valid deadline for the 2027 application cycle. Candidates should not rely on that historical date.

Important Note for Applicants

The University of Oxford Skoll Scholarship is a competitive funding opportunity for social entrepreneurs who can demonstrate a record of practical action and meaningful impact. Before applying, confirm that you meet the scholarship requirements and understand the Oxford MBA admission process.

Use the official University of Oxford and Saïd Business School websites for the latest application instructions, deadlines, and eligibility details. Ensure that all information submitted in your MBA application and scholarship essays is accurate and supported by your experience.