How do you intend to change the world? That is not a philosophical warm-up. It is the actual essay question every applicant must answer to be considered for one of the most valuable graduate scholarships Oxford offers.
The Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships are back for 2027 with up to five fully funded places available for candidates admitted to the Oxford 1+1 MBA programme. Full course fees for two degrees. A living cost grant of at least £21805 per year of study. Access to mentorship, global conferences and a scholar community that extends well beyond graduation.
Five places. Two Oxford degrees. Completely funded.
The deadline is 6 January 2027 but as this article will explain, that date is only part of the timeline applicants need to track.
At a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships |
| University | University of Oxford Saïd Business School |
| Program | Oxford 1+1 MBA |
| Number of awards | Up to 5 |
| Course fees | Full fees for Master’s plus MBA |
| Living cost grant | At least £21805 per year |
| Essay required | Yes 500 words maximum |
| Scholarship deadline | 6 January 2027 |
| Interviews | Late April or early May 2027 |
What the Oxford 1+1 MBA Actually Is
Before the scholarship details, this structure needs a clear explanation because many applicants encounter it for the first time here.
The Oxford 1+1 MBA is a two year pathway that combines a one year Oxford Master’s degree with the Oxford MBA. Students complete a specialist Master’s first, then transition into the MBA program. The result is two distinct Oxford qualifications in two years with each degree reinforcing the other.
The Pershing Square scholarship funds both years in full. That means one application could cover the entirety of a two degree Oxford education, including living costs for each year.
For context, Oxford MBA fees alone run into the tens of thousands of pounds annually. Adding a full Master’s on top makes this scholarship genuinely transformative for candidates who receive it.
The Full Funding Package
Successful scholars receive:
- Full course fees for the eligible Oxford Master’s programme
- Full course fees for the Oxford MBA
- A living cost grant of at least £21805 for each year of study
- Mentorship from Pershing Square Foundation members, Oxford faculty and alumni
- Access to global forums and prestigious conferences
- Termly events hosted by the MBA Director
- Scholar led networking activities
- Potential participation in New York Trek meetings and workshops with leading innovators and organizations
Who the Scholarship Is Looking For
Five places for a globally competitive applicant pool is an extremely selective ratio. Understanding what reviewers are actually assessing matters more here than in most scholarship applications.
The scholarship prioritizes candidates with a clear, credible commitment to addressing large scale social challenges. Not generalized interest in making a difference but a specific thought-through vision for how they intend to contribute and why an Oxford education accelerates that.
Assessment criteria include:
- Commitment to solving world-scale social challenges
- Ability to develop scalable, sustainable solutions
- Demonstrated leadership potential and motivation
- Strong academic record, degree results, GMAT, GRE scores prizes
- Personal character and integrity
- A clear understanding of how the 1+1 MBA supports long-term objectives
One thing worth reading carefully. The scholarship assesses these qualities across the entire application, not just the scholarship essay. How you write your MBA personal statement, how you present your academic history, how you respond in interviews, all of it feeds into the scholarship evaluation not just the essay response.
Eligibility Criteria
Admission to the Oxford 1+1 MBA is a prerequisite. The scholarship cannot be considered until you are admitted to both an eligible Master’s programme and the MBA.
Three categories of applicants are eligible:
- New 1+1 MBA applicants who have secured admission to both an eligible partnering Master’s programme and the MBA. This category receives first priority.
- Applicants admitted to a full-time one-year Master’s not currently listed among the official 1+1 MBA partnering programmes alongside MBA admission.
- Current Oxford Master’s students who have been admitted to the MBA but were not considered for the scholarship in the previous year.
One firm exclusion. Applicants on the MBA waiting list are not considered. Scholarship consideration requires confirmed admission not provisional status.
The Deadline Situation Is More Complex Than It Appears
The scholarship deadline is 6 January 2027. The MBA application deadline is also 6 January 2027.
But partnering Master’s programmes have their own separate deadlines and some of those fall in December or earlier in January before the MBA closing date.
This creates a scenario where applicants who focus only on the 6 January scholarship deadline may miss the earlier Master’s programme deadline entirely which would make them ineligible for scholarship consideration regardless of how strong their MBA application is.
The practical sequence:
- Identify your target Master’s programme from Oxford’s eligible list
- Check that programme’s specific application deadline immediately
- Submit the Master’s application first if its deadline falls before 6 January
- Complete the MBA application and scholarship essay by 6 January 2027
Do not assume all deadlines align. Check each one separately.
Apply Now for Oxford-Pershing Square Scholarship
After You Apply: The Selection Timeline
Shortlisting is expected in early April 2027.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interviews in late April or early May 2027.
The selection panel assesses academic achievement, leadership capacity, commitment to social impact, personal character and the clarity of each candidate’s vision for using the Oxford 1+1 MBA to address significant challenges.
Prepare for the interview the same way you would prepare the essay, with specific credible answers rather than broadly inspiring statements. Panels at this level probe the reasoning behind the vision, not just the vision itself.