Oxford Pershing Square Scholarships 2027 for MSc and MBA

Oxford Pershing Square Scholarships 2027 offer up to five full scholarships covering both an eligible Oxford master’s degree and the MBA, plus at least £21,805 per year for living costs. Learn about eligibility, benefits, selection criteria, application process and the January 6, 2027 deadline.

The Oxford Pershing Square Scholarships 2027 offer an exceptional fully funded route for outstanding students who want to combine a one-year master’s degree at the University of Oxford with the Oxford MBA through the 1+1 MBA programme.

Provided by Oxford Saïd Business School in partnership with the Pershing Square Foundation, the scholarship is aimed at exceptional individuals who are committed to addressing major social and global challenges and developing solutions capable of creating sustainable, large-scale impact.

Up to five scholarships are available. Successful scholars receive funding for both degrees, together with substantial annual support for living expenses.

Scholarship Detail	Information
University	University of Oxford
Business School	Oxford Saïd Business School
Scholarship	Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarship
Study route	1+1 MBA
Degrees covered	Eligible one-year Master’s + Oxford MBA
Number of awards	Up to 5
Tuition coverage	Full course fees for both degrees
Living-cost grant	At least £21,805 per year
Scholarship duration	Two years
Main target	Outstanding applicants focused on large-scale social challenges
MBA deadline	January 6, 2027
Master’s deadline	December or January, depending on programme
Interview period	Late April or early May 2027
Study location	Oxford, United Kingdom

What Is the Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship?

The Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarship is designed for exceptional applicants entering the Oxford 1+1 MBA programme.

The 1+1 pathway combines a one-year master’s programme with the one-year Oxford MBA. Scholars therefore have the opportunity to gain specialist academic training before completing the MBA and developing the leadership and management skills needed to pursue their broader ambitions.

The scholarship provides full funding for both the master’s and MBA programmes, making it one of Oxford’s major scholarship opportunities for candidates seeking an integrated graduate business and academic education.

The programme is particularly focused on applicants who want their careers to contribute to solving large-scale social challenges.

What Does the Scholarship Cover?

The Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship provides a comprehensive financial package.

Successful scholars receive:

Full course fees for both the Master’s degree and the Oxford MBA.

They also receive a living-cost grant of at least £21,805 for each year of study.

Because the scholarship covers both components of the 1+1 programme, the total support extends across the master’s year and the subsequent MBA year.

This makes the award substantially different from scholarships that cover only one academic year or only tuition.

How Many Scholarships Are Available?

Oxford Saïd Business School states that five Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships are available.

The limited number of awards makes this a highly competitive opportunity. Applicants therefore need to demonstrate considerably more than academic ability.

The scholarship’s selection criteria combine academic achievement with leadership potential, personal character and a clearly articulated commitment to creating sustainable solutions to significant global problems.

Who Is Eligible for the Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship?

The scholarship primarily considers new applicants to the Oxford 1+1 MBA programme.

Applicants must be admitted to both:

An eligible 1+1 MBA partnering master’s programme, and
The Oxford MBA.

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

There are also other routes through which candidates can receive consideration. Applicants admitted to both a full-time one-year master’s degree that is not currently listed as an official 1+1 partnering programme and the MBA through separate applications may also be considered.

Current master’s students who have been admitted to the MBA but were not considered for the scholarship during the previous year can also fall within the stated eligibility framework.

What Academic Programmes Can Be Combined With the MBA?

The Pershing Square scholarship is connected to Oxford’s 1+1 MBA partner programmes.

These programmes allow students to complete an eligible master’s degree followed by the Oxford MBA.

Because individual master’s programmes have their own application requirements and deadlines, applicants should check the relevant Oxford graduate course page carefully before applying.

The scholarship therefore requires coordination between the master’s application and the MBA application rather than treating the scholarship as a completely separate process.

What Does Oxford Look for in Pershing Square Scholars?

Academic performance is important, but the scholarship is designed to identify people with a broader leadership and social-impact profile.

Oxford Saïd identifies several central selection criteria.

Commitment to Solving Global Social Challenges

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

This could involve working within an existing organisation or creating a new enterprise aimed at solving a significant societal problem.

Scalable and Sustainable Solutions

Candidates should be able to explain how their proposed approach could move beyond a small-scale intervention.

The scholarship particularly values the ability to envision solutions that are both scalable and sustainable.

Leadership Potential

Applicants should demonstrate leadership through previous experience, achievements and motivation.

Leadership does not necessarily have to come from holding a highly formal title. The important issue is evidence that the applicant has taken initiative, influenced others or worked toward meaningful change.

Academic Achievement

Academic performance forms another important part of the assessment.

Oxford can consider factors including degree results, GMAT or GRE scores, previous university prizes and other academic achievements.

Personal Character and Integrity

The scholarship also places emphasis on strong personal character, integrity and commitment.

This means candidates should present a coherent story showing how their experiences, values and ambitions have shaped their goals.

A Clear Vision for the Oxford 1+1 MBA

Applicants should explain how the combination of the master’s degree and MBA will help them accomplish their long-term objectives.

A strong application should therefore connect the proposed academic study to a broader professional and social-impact vision.

The 500-Word Pershing Square Scholarship Essay

One of the most important elements of the application is the scholarship essay.

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 be no more than 500 words.

This is a highly focused question. Applicants should avoid simply repeating their CV or listing achievements.

Instead, the essay should communicate the problem the applicant wants to address, why the issue matters personally, what kind of change they hope to create and what their ambitions reveal about their character and values.

Oxford advises applicants to highlight the scholarship’s key attributes throughout their 1+1 MBA application, scholarship essay and interview responses.

How to Apply for the Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship 2027

The scholarship application is integrated into the broader Oxford admissions process.

Applicants must submit a complete application for both courses and include the scholarship essay in the Funding section of the 1+1 MBA programme application.

The process can be approached as follows:

Step 1: Choose an eligible master’s programme.

Identify an Oxford 1+1 MBA partnering programme that aligns with your academic and professional goals.

Step 2: Apply for the master’s programme.

The chosen master’s programme has its own application requirements and deadline, generally falling in December or January.

Step 3: Apply for the Oxford MBA.

The MBA application must be submitted by January 6, 2027 to be considered for the Pershing Square Scholarship.

Step 4: Complete the scholarship section.

Upload the required scholarship essay in the Funding section of the 1+1 MBA application.

Step 5: Ensure both applications are complete.

Admission to both programmes is required before an applicant can be considered for the scholarship under the primary route.

Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship Deadline 2027

The key MBA deadline for the scholarship is:

January 6, 2027

Applicants must also observe the deadline for their selected master’s programme, which can differ between courses.

Oxford therefore recommends checking the relevant graduate programme page for the exact master’s application deadline.

Missing either relevant admissions deadline can prevent an applicant from being considered through the intended route.

What Happens After You Apply?

Oxford plans to shortlist candidates in early April 2027.

Shortlisted applicants are expected to be invited to interviews in late April or early May 2027.

The interview forms an important part of the selection process because candidates need to demonstrate that the ambitions described in the written application are supported by genuine leadership potential, strong character and a convincing commitment to social impact.

Additional Benefits for Pershing Square Scholars

The value of this scholarship extends beyond tuition and living support.

Pershing Square scholars become part of a dedicated community and can participate in a range of activities designed to support their intellectual and professional development.

These opportunities include mentorship, access to forums and conferences, termly events hosted by the MBA Director and scholar-led events.

Scholars may also be invited to participate in a New York Trek organised by the Pershing Square Foundation. Such activities can provide exposure to innovators, organisations and individuals working on major social and global challenges.

The specific activities and opportunities can change from year to year.

Why This Scholarship Is Different

The Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship is not simply a conventional merit scholarship.

Its core purpose is to support people who want to use education, leadership and entrepreneurship to address major societal problems.

That emphasis means an applicant with excellent grades alone may not necessarily be competitive.

A strong candidate should be able to connect four elements:

academic excellence, leadership experience, social-impact ambition and a credible plan for using Oxford’s 1+1 MBA pathway to create change.

The scholarship is therefore particularly suited to applicants who already have a strong sense of the problem they want to tackle and can explain how their education will help them move from ambition to scalable action.

How to Prepare a Competitive Application

Applicants should begin preparation well before the final deadline.

The first priority should be selecting the right master’s programme. The academic programme should make sense within the applicant’s broader professional trajectory rather than being selected solely because it qualifies for the 1+1 route.

The second priority should be developing a compelling leadership narrative. Candidates should identify concrete examples showing initiative, responsibility, impact and problem-solving.

The third priority is the scholarship essay. With only 500 words available, every paragraph should contribute directly to the applicant’s central argument.

Applicants should also ensure that their CV, master’s application, MBA application and scholarship essay tell a consistent story. Contradictions or disconnected career goals can weaken an otherwise impressive profile.

Final Thoughts

The Oxford Pershing Square Scholarships 2027 offer up to five exceptional candidates the opportunity to complete an Oxford master’s degree and MBA through the 1+1 MBA pathway with full financial support.

The scholarship covers full course fees for both degrees and provides a living-cost grant of at least £21,805 per year, while also giving scholars access to mentorship, conferences, community events and other development opportunities.

However, the scholarship is highly selective. Oxford is looking for candidates who combine strong academic performance with leadership potential, integrity and a genuine commitment to solving large-scale social challenges through scalable and sustainable approaches.

For the 2027 intake, applicants must submit their Oxford MBA application by January 6, 2027, while the relevant master’s programme must also be applied for by its own December or January deadline.

Prospective applicants should begin by identifying the correct 1+1 master’s programme, reviewing its admissions requirements and developing a clear explanation of the global challenge they want to address. The strongest applications will show not only why the applicant wants an Oxford education, but also how that education fits into a credible long-term vision for meaningful social impact.

Official scholarship information: University of Oxford Saïd Business School, Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships.

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