Oxford Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships 2026-2027: Fully Funded Oxford 1+1 MBA, Eligibility, Benefits and How to Apply

The Oxford Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships 2026-2027 offer up to five fully funded awards covering both an eligible master’s degree and the Oxford 1+1 MBA, plus a living-cost grant of at least £21,805 per year. Learn about eligibility, selection criteria, benefits, deadlines and how to apply.

The Oxford Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships 2026-2027 provide an exceptional opportunity for outstanding students who want to combine graduate-level study with an MBA while developing solutions to major social and global challenges.

Offered by Oxford Saïd Business School, the scholarship can provide full funding for both the master’s degree and MBA, together with a substantial annual living-cost grant. Up to five scholarships are available for the 2026-2027 application cycle.

Unlike scholarships based primarily on financial need, the Oxford-Pershing Square award places significant emphasis on leadership potential, academic achievement, personal character and the applicant’s commitment to creating scalable and sustainable solutions to large-scale social problems.

The Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarship supports students undertaking the Oxford 1+1 MBA, a pathway that combines an eligible one-year master’s programme with the one-year Oxford MBA.

Successful scholars are expected to demonstrate a strong interest in tackling world-scale social challenges, whether through an existing organization or by developing a new enterprise.

The scholarship is designed not only to provide financial support but also to create a community of individuals interested in leadership and social impact.

Scholars can participate in conferences, termly events, scholar-led activities and mentorship opportunities while studying at Oxford.

Scholarship Benefits

The Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarship is particularly attractive because it provides comprehensive financial support.

Successful applicants receive:

Full tuition fees for the master’s degree
Full tuition fees for the MBA programme
A living-cost grant of at least £21,805 for each year of study
Access to scholarship community activities
Mentorship opportunities
Opportunities to attend forums and conferences
Participation in termly scholar events
Scholar-led activities and networking opportunities
Potential participation in a New York trek hosted by the Pershing Square Foundation

The scholarship therefore covers the two academic components of the 1+1 MBA pathway while also providing funding toward living expenses.

Oxford states that up to five full scholarships are available.

Who Is Eligible?

Applicants are considered according to a defined order of priority.

1. New Applicants to the Oxford 1+1 MBA

Priority is given to new applicants who are seeking admission to the Oxford 1+1 MBA.

Candidates must be admitted to both an eligible 1+1 MBA partner master’s programme and the MBA before they can be considered for the scholarship.

Applicants who remain on a waiting list are not considered for the scholarship.

2. Applicants Admitted to a Master’s and MBA Separately

Applicants may also be considered if they have been admitted to a full-time, one-year master’s course that is not currently included on the official 1+1 MBA partner-programme list and have also been admitted to the MBA through a separate application.

3. Current Master’s Students

Current master’s students who have been admitted to the MBA may also be considered if they were not considered for the scholarship during the previous year.

Selection Criteria

The Oxford-Pershing Square scholarship is highly competitive, and applicants should demonstrate more than strong academic performance.

According to Oxford Saïd Business School, the selection process considers several important characteristics.

Commitment to Solving Social Challenges

Applicants should demonstrate a genuine intention to address large-scale social challenges through their future careers.

This could involve working within an existing organization or creating a new enterprise.

Scalable and Sustainable Thinking

Candidates should be able to explain how their proposed approach could create solutions that are both sustainable and capable of producing impact at scale.

Leadership Potential

Leadership experience and motivation are important components of the selection process.

Applicants should demonstrate examples that show their ability to influence others, take initiative and pursue meaningful objectives.

Academic Achievement

Academic performance is also considered.

Oxford specifically identifies factors such as:

Degree results
GMAT or GRE scores
University prizes
Academic awards
Other academic achievements

Applicants should therefore present their academic record clearly within their applications.

Personal Character and Integrity

The scholarship also looks for candidates with strong personal character, integrity and commitment.

These qualities should be reflected consistently throughout the application, scholarship essay and interview.

Clear Vision

Applicants should explain how the Oxford 1+1 MBA would help them achieve their long-term objectives.

The connection between the applicant’s experience, proposed career direction, social-impact ambitions and Oxford studies should therefore be clear.

Scholarship Essay

Applicants must submit a scholarship essay as part of the application.

The required question is:

“How do you intend to change the world and what does this tell us about you as a person?”

The response must be no more than 500 words.

This essay is an important part of the scholarship application because it gives candidates an opportunity to demonstrate their motivations, personal character, leadership ambitions and vision for creating meaningful impact.

Rather than simply describing a career ambition, applicants should ensure that their response clearly connects their personal experiences and values with the change they want to create.

Mentorship and Scholar Community

The Oxford-Pershing Square experience extends beyond financial assistance.

Scholars can benefit from mentorship involving members of the Pershing Square Foundation’s community, Oxford Saïd faculty and members of the wider University of Oxford community.

Alumni of the scholarship may also contribute to the mentoring network.

These relationships can provide opportunities to discuss research, career plans, professional development and social-impact initiatives.

Scholars can also attend forums and conferences where they have opportunities to engage with other leaders and organizations.

Additional Scholar Activities

The scholarship community offers several activities designed to complement the academic experience.

Termly Events

Scholars can participate in events hosted by the MBA Director, providing opportunities to connect with contributors to the scholarship and other members of the Oxford-Pershing Square community.

Scholar-Led Events

Scholar cohorts can organize their own activities, including social gatherings, discussions and conference participation.

These activities are intended to encourage collaboration and the exchange of ideas.

New York Trek

Scholars may also be invited to participate in a New York trek hosted by the Pershing Square Foundation.

The programme typically includes meetings and workshops with innovators and other change-makers.

Oxford notes that scholarship events and opportunities are subject to change.

How to Apply

Applicants need to complete applications for both the master’s programme and the MBA.

To be considered for the scholarship, candidates must:

Apply for the Oxford MBA.
Apply for the relevant master’s programme.
Meet the admission requirements for both programmes.
Upload the Pershing Square scholarship essay in the Funding section of the 1+1 MBA application.
Submit the required applications before the relevant deadlines.

The MBA application deadline for the scholarship consideration is 6 January 2027.

However, applicants must also check the deadline for their chosen master’s programme because partner programmes may have their own application deadlines in December or January.

Candidates should therefore avoid waiting until the final day to begin the application process.

Application Deadline

The stated deadline for the Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarship is:

6 January 2027

Applicants must also apply to their selected master’s programme by that programme’s individual deadline.

The official Oxford Graduate Admissions website should be checked for the specific deadline applicable to the master’s course selected by the applicant.

Selection Timeline

Oxford indicates that scholarship shortlisting is planned for early April.

Candidates selected for the next stage are expected to be invited to interviews in late April or early May.

Applicants should therefore be prepared to explain their leadership experience, academic achievements, social-impact objectives and plans for using the Oxford 1+1 MBA to advance their goals.

How to Make Your Application Stronger

Because only five scholarships are available, applicants should approach the application strategically.

Demonstrate Real Impact

Do not simply list leadership positions. Explain what you actually accomplished and how your actions benefited other people, organizations or communities.

Connect Your Past to Your Future

Your application should tell a coherent story.

Explain how your academic and professional experiences have shaped your interest in solving a particular social challenge.

Explain Why Oxford 1+1

Be specific about why combining the master’s degree with an MBA is important to your objectives.

The admissions committee should understand why this particular academic pathway is relevant to the change you want to create.

Show Scalability

The scholarship specifically values sustainable and scalable solutions.

Explain how your ideas could move beyond a small project and create broader impact.

Present Strong Academic Evidence

Academic achievement is one of the stated selection criteria. Make sure relevant grades, awards, prizes, GMAT/GRE results and other achievements are presented accurately.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Oxford-Pershing Square scholarships are available?

Oxford Saïd Business School states that up to five full scholarships are available.

Is the Oxford-Pershing Square Scholarship fully funded?

Yes. The scholarship covers tuition fees for both the master’s degree and MBA and provides a living-cost grant of at least £21,805 per year.

What programme does the scholarship support?

The scholarship supports students undertaking the Oxford 1+1 MBA, combining a qualifying one-year master’s programme with the one-year MBA.

What is the scholarship essay question?

Applicants must answer: “How do you intend to change the world and what does this tell us about you as a person?” The response must not exceed 500 words.

What is the application deadline?

The MBA application deadline for scholarship consideration is 6 January 2027. The selected master’s programme has its own application deadline, which applicants must also meet.

Can current Oxford master’s students apply?

Yes. Current master’s students who have been admitted to the MBA can be considered if they were not considered for the scholarship in the previous year.

Final Thoughts

The Oxford Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships 2026-2027 represent a highly competitive opportunity for ambitious graduate students who want to combine advanced academic study with business education and social-impact leadership.

With up to five awards covering both master’s and MBA tuition fees, plus a living-cost grant of at least £21,805 per year, the scholarship can significantly reduce the financial burden associated with studying at Oxford.

However, academic excellence alone is not enough. Oxford’s selection criteria emphasize leadership potential, integrity, commitment to solving major social challenges and the ability to develop scalable and sustainable solutions.

Prospective applicants should therefore begin preparing early, identify a suitable 1+1 MBA master’s pathway, prepare strong admissions applications and develop a compelling scholarship essay that clearly communicates their vision and personal motivation.

Official application information: Oxford Saïd Business School – Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships

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