The Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship stands out as one of the most competitive and impactful graduate awards available at the University of Oxford. Designed for exceptional candidates pursuing the unique Oxford 1+1 MBA pathway, it fully funds both a specialist Master’s degree and the Oxford MBA while supporting scholars who aim to tackle world-scale social challenges through scalable, sustainable solutions.
Established in 2014 through a major endowment from the Pershing Square Foundation in partnership with the University of Oxford, the scholarship has already supported more than a decade of changemakers. Only up to five awards are offered each year, making it highly selective. Successful applicants join a tight-knit community that receives not only financial support but also mentorship, networking opportunities, and exposure to global leaders committed to positive impact.
This guide covers the scholarship’s structure, benefits, eligibility, selection process, application requirements, and practical advice for candidates aiming for the 2027 entry cycle.
Scholarship Summary
- Host Country: United Kingdom (UK)
- Host Institution: University of Oxford
- Scholarship Type: MSC Scholarships
- Eligible Countries: All Countries
- Scholarship Benefits: Full tuition fee, Living stipend, etc.
- Application Deadline: 6 January 2027 for the 1+1 MBA application (partnering Master’s programmes have their own December or January deadlines)
Overview of Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship
The Oxford Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships provide full awards to outstanding students on the Oxford 1+1 MBA. This two-year pathway combines a one-year Master’s degree from a partnering Oxford department with the one-year Oxford MBA at Saïd Business School.
The scholarship covers course fees for both degrees and provides a living-cost grant. It is deliberately aimed at individuals who demonstrate a clear intention to address large-scale social challenges—whether through an existing organisation, a new enterprise, public policy, or another vehicle for systemic change—and who can articulate how the 1+1 combination will help them achieve scalable, sustainable solutions.
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According to the official Saïd Business School page, the Pershing Square Foundation’s gift of £7.8 million, matched by further University of Oxford funding under the Oxford Graduate Scholarship Matched Fund, created a total endowment of £13 million to support the scholarships in perpetuity.
Scholars benefit from more than funding. They gain access to termly events, a spring trek to New York hosted by the Pershing Square Foundation (subject to availability), mentorship opportunities with foundation contacts, faculty, and alumni, and membership in a selective community of peers focused on global impact.
Scholarship Benefits in Detail
The award is fully funded for the two-year duration of the 1+1 MBA pathway. Key benefits include:
- Full course fees for both the partnering Master’s degree and the Oxford MBA programme
- A grant for living costs of at least £21,805 for each year of study
- Membership in the Oxford-Pershing Square Scholar community
- Mentorship and networking with individuals and organisations connected to the Pershing Square Foundation
- Invitations to conferences, forums, termly events, and scholar activities
- Potential participation in the New York trek hosted by the Pershing Square Foundation
Note that standard benefits listed by the university focus on course fees and the living grant. Travel, visa costs, and the Immigration Health Surcharge are not explicitly confirmed as covered on the official scholarship page, so candidates should plan accordingly and check the latest details directly with Oxford.
The living grant figure is reviewed periodically; the current published minimum is at least £21,805 per year. This level of support removes a major financial barrier for talented candidates from any background who meet the academic and impact criteria.
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Eligibility Criteria for Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship and Priority Order
The scholarship is open to applicants of any nationality. There is no restriction based on country of origin or citizenship.
Candidates are considered in a specific order of priority:
- New applicants to the Oxford 1+1 MBA programme who are admitted to both a 1+1 MBA partnering Master’s programme and the MBA (waiting-list candidates are not considered for the scholarship).
- Applicants admitted to both a full-time one-year Master’s course that is not on the official partnering list and to the MBA (as a separate application).
- Current Master’s students who have been admitted to the MBA and were not considered for the scholarship in the previous year.
To be eligible for consideration, you must submit complete applications for both the chosen Master’s programme and the Oxford 1+1 MBA, and upload the required scholarship essay by the deadline. You must also meet the individual entry requirements of both programmes, which typically include a strong academic record, relevant work experience for the MBA component, and competitive GMAT or GRE scores where required.
Partnering programmes span a wide range of disciplines. Examples include the Master of Public Policy (Blavatnik School of Government), various MSc options in Education, Computer Science, Environmental Change and Management, Sustainability, International Health and Tropical Medicine, Law and Finance, Criminology, Sociology, and area studies programmes. The full current list of partnering programmes is available on the Saïd Business School website: 1+1 MBA partnering programmes.
Selection Criteria
Oxford evaluates candidates against clear criteria that go beyond academic excellence:
- Intention to focus on addressing world-scale social challenges in your career, either in an existing organisation or through the development of a new enterprise
- Ability to envision how to achieve scalable and sustainable solutions to these challenges
- Leadership potential, demonstrated through experience and motivation
- Academic achievement demonstrated through degree results, GMAT or GRE score, previous university prizes and awards, and other academic achievements
- Strong personal character, integrity, and commitment
- Articulated vision on how the Oxford 1+1 MBA will allow you to fulfil your objectives
These attributes should be highlighted consistently across your 1+1 MBA application, the dedicated scholarship essay, and any interview.
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How to Apply for Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship
Application requires two separate submissions plus the scholarship essay:
- Apply to your chosen partnering Master’s programme by its own deadline (usually in December or January). Check the specific course page on the University of Oxford Graduate Admissions website for exact requirements and dates.
- Apply to the Oxford MBA via the 1+1 MBA route by 6 January 2027. Select the 1+1 option in the application.
- Upload a scholarship essay of no more than 500 words in the Funding section of the 1+1 MBA application. The required question is: “How do you intend to change the world and what does this tell us about you as a person?”
You must be admitted to both programmes before the scholarship can be awarded. Shortlisting typically occurs in early April, with interviews in late April or early May.
Detailed MBA application requirements and the 1+1 pathway are outlined here: Oxford 1+1 MBA.
Tips for a Competitive Application
Because only five awards are available, successful applicants tend to present a coherent narrative that links past actions, future impact, and the specific value of the 1+1 structure.
- In the 500-word essay, avoid generic descriptions of global problems. Instead, define a precise challenge, show evidence of understanding grounded in experience, describe actions you have already taken, outline a scalable mechanism, and explain why both the specialist Master’s and the MBA are necessary.
- Demonstrate leadership and character through concrete examples rather than claims.
- Ensure your MBA essays, CV, and scholarship essay reinforce the same core story of impact and scalability.
- Research the partnering Master’s carefully. The strongest applications show a clear intellectual and professional rationale for the combination.
- Apply early and double-check all document requirements and English language thresholds for both programmes.
Past scholars have come from diverse backgrounds in sustainability, public policy, global health, consulting, energy, finance, and other fields. What unites them is a demonstrated capacity to connect domain expertise with leadership and enterprise skills.
Why This Scholarship Matters
The Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship does more than remove financial barriers. It selects and supports a small cohort of future leaders who are expected to use business, policy, and innovation as tools for systemic change. The combination of deep disciplinary knowledge from the Master’s year and the practical, leadership-focused training of the Oxford MBA creates a distinctive profile that is rare in both academia and industry.
For candidates who can meet the high bar of academic excellence, leadership evidence, and a credible vision for scalable impact, the award offers an exceptional platform at one of the world’s leading universities.
Always verify the latest details, living-cost figures, partnering programmes, and deadlines on the official Saïd Business School page, as information can be updated.
Official scholarship page: https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/oxford-experience/scholarships-and-funding/oxford-pershing-square-graduate-scholarships
Pershing Square Foundation: https://pershingsquarefoundation.org/
The next application window for the 2027 entry cycle is already open. Candidates who start preparing early, refine a compelling impact narrative, and meet both programme requirements will be best positioned for one of these rare, fully funded awards.