Oxford's MBA is one of the most expensive in the world — and for social entrepreneurs, who've typically chosen impact over income, the cost is the single biggest barrier. That's exactly what the Skoll MBA Scholarship exists to remove. Provided by the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at Oxford's Saïd Business School, it awards up to four scholarships each year covering full MBA course fees plus a living stipend of at least £21,805. It is one of the most generous MBA awards anywhere — and one of the most competitive.
In short: The Skoll MBA Scholarship 2027 funds social entrepreneurs to study the Oxford MBA at Saïd Business School — full course fees plus at least £21,805 for living costs. You apply by submitting your MBA application with the Skoll essay document by 6 January 2027 (the final eligible MBA stage).
● Applications Open
Quick Overview
- Host Country: United Kingdom
- Host Institution: Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
- Degree Level: MBA (full-time Oxford MBA)
- Program Duration: One year
- Funding Type: Fully Funded
- Deadline: 6 January 2027 (final eligible MBA admissions stage)
Benefits of the Skoll MBA Scholarship
- Full MBA course fees covered — The scholarship pays your complete Oxford MBA tuition and college fees.
- Living stipend of at least £21,805 — On top of fees, scholars receive a stipend towards living costs in Oxford — a city where a year of rent and living easily exceeds what most social-sector salaries can absorb.
- Up to four awards per year — Small cohort, big community. Scholars join the Skoll Scholar community, a lifelong network of social innovators.
- Elite access — Exclusive opportunities to meet world-renowned entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and investors working on systems change.
- Oxford's full ecosystem — Access to university libraries, research centres, and the broader Oxford network alongside your MBA.
An honest framing: this isn't a free degree for anyone who wants Oxford on their CV. It's targeted funding for people who've already been doing the hard work of social change and for whom the MBA cost would otherwise be prohibitive.
Eligibility Criteria for the Skoll MBA Scholarship
- You must first be admitted to the Oxford MBA — There is no standalone scholarship application. You apply to Saïd Business School for the full-time Oxford MBA (or the 1+1 MBA), and the scholarship follows the MBA admissions route.
- A strong track record in social entrepreneurship — This is the heart of the award. You should have identified opportunities and taken entrepreneurial action to create positive social or environmental impact — ideally at least three years of building and leading a social venture, with demonstrable outcomes and impact.
- Intent to continue creating impact — Scholars are expected to keep working on positive social change after their studies, and to show why an Oxford MBA is essential to multiplying that impact.
- Demonstrated financial need — You must show that the cost of the MBA is a significant financial burden — assessed on previous earnings, geographical location, and future earning potential.
- All nationalities welcome — There is no nationality restriction. Women, members of under-represented groups, and applicants from the Global South are particularly encouraged.
- Meet Oxford MBA admission requirements — Strong academics, references, and the standard MBA application quality bar apply before the scholarship is even considered.
How to Apply for the Skoll MBA Scholarship
1. Apply to Saïd Business School for the Oxford MBA — Submit your full-time MBA application through the standard Oxford admissions process. For the 2027 cycle there are four stages; 6 January 2027 is the final stage eligible for Skoll consideration (earlier stages also work). 2. Complete the Skoll Scholarship essays — In the 'Funding' section of the MBA application form you'll find the Skoll Scholarship essay document. Upload your responses with your MBA application — there is no separate initial scholarship form. 3. Pass MBA admissions first — The MBA admissions team assesses your application. You must be accepted by Saïd Business School; if accepted and your Skoll essays were submitted by the deadline, your application automatically moves to the Skoll Scholarship Selection Committee. 4. Secure your place with a deposit — Successful MBA applicants pay a deposit to hold their place; deposit deadlines are extended for candidates advancing in the Skoll selection process. 5. Complete the Logistics and Reference Form (if shortlisted) — Final shortlisted candidates receive this form directly from the Skoll Centre by email. You must hold an unconditional MBA offer at this stage — conditional offers are not considered. 6. Attend online interviews — Final shortlisting takes place in late March, with interviews in April or May. There are typically two rounds of online interviews with the Skoll Scholarship Selection Committee. 7. Receive the decision — Successful candidates are notified after the interview stage and join the 2027 MBA cohort as Skoll Scholars.
Required Documents
- Complete Oxford MBA application — Including all standard MBA documents (academic transcripts, CV, references, essays)
- Skoll Scholarship essay document — Completed responses to the Skoll essay questions, uploaded in the 'Funding' section of the MBA application
- Logistics and Reference Form — Provided by the Skoll Centre only to shortlisted candidates
- Unconditional MBA offer — Required before final scholarship consideration
Skoll MBA Scholarship 2027 Deadline
The deadline is 6 January 2027 — the final eligible Oxford MBA admissions stage for the 2027 Skoll cycle. Scholarship essays are reviewed after each MBA admissions stage, and applying earlier than the final stage is entirely possible (and strategically sensible, since competition intensifies in the last round). Final shortlisting happens in late March, with interviews in April or May 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Skoll Scholarship really fully funded?
It covers the full Oxford MBA course fees and provides a living stipend of at least £21,805. Oxford describes this as full funding; be aware that Oxford is an expensive city and the stipend is a contribution toward living costs — but combined with full fee coverage, it removes the overwhelming majority of the financial burden.
Who is the ideal Skoll candidate?
Someone who has spent at least three years building and leading a social venture, can show measurable social or environmental impact, is genuinely connected to the problem they address, and can explain precisely how the Oxford MBA will multiply their impact. Passion alone is not enough — the committee looks for demonstrated entrepreneurial action.
Do I apply for the scholarship separately?
No. You apply to the Oxford MBA, and submit the Skoll Scholarship essay document as part of that application. Only candidates accepted onto the MBA by Saïd are considered for the scholarship. Think of it as one application with a scholarship track attached.
How many Skoll Scholarships are awarded?
Up to four per year, making it one of the most competitive MBA scholarships in the world.
Can I apply in an earlier MBA stage?
Yes — the 6 January 2027 date is the final eligible stage, not the only one. The 2027 cycle has four stages, and Skoll essays are reviewed after each admissions stage. Applying earlier gives the committee more time with your application and may reduce final-stage congestion.
Does the scholarship cover the 1+1 MBA?
Yes — candidates admitted to the Oxford MBA or the Oxford 1+1 MBA are eligible.
What do the Skoll essays ask about?
The essay document (found in the Funding section of the MBA application) probes your entrepreneurial journey: the social or environmental problem you tackled, your impact and outcomes, why business education is essential for your next phase, and why you need the funding. Answer with evidence, not aspirations.
Is there a minimum work experience requirement?
The official criterion is a minimum of three years building and leading a social venture with demonstrated impact — not three years of general work experience. Corporate or NGO employment without entrepreneurial action doesn't meet the bar.
Are applicants from Pakistan and South Asia eligible?
Yes — all nationalities are welcome, and the Skoll Centre particularly encourages applicants from the Global South. Many past scholars come from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Can I be considered with a conditional MBA offer?
No. To proceed to the Logistics and Reference Form stage and final interviews, you must hold an unconditional offer for the MBA. Conditional-offer holders are not considered for the scholarship.
Final Words
The Skoll Scholarship is brutally competitive — four awards against hundreds of hopefuls — but its design is beautifully honest: it funds people who are already doing the work, not people who merely want the credential. If you've spent years building something that actually changed lives, an Oxford MBA without the price tag is genuinely within reach. Get your MBA application and Skoll essays in by 6 January 2027.
