Skoll MBA Scholarships 2027 at Oxford University Available Globally
Social entrepreneurs planning to turn practical impact into systems-level change can now target one of Oxford Saïd’s most substantial MBA awards. The Skoll Scholarship supports eligible candidates for the Oxford MBA with full course fees and a living stipend, with scholarship materials due by 6 January 2027.
Applicants often want to know whether they must apply separately, how much venture-building experience is needed, and whether an MBA offer is enough to progress. This guide sets out the verified application route, selection criteria and interview process for the Skoll Scholarship.
Skoll Scholarship for MBA 2027 Entry Cycle Essentials
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Host institution | Saïd Business School, University of Oxford |
| Programme | Oxford MBA |
| Scholarship provider | Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship |
| Funding | Full MBA course fees plus a living-cost stipend of at least £21,805 |
| Number available | Up to four scholarships |
| Application deadline | 6 January 2027 |
What does the Skoll Scholarship fund?
The Skoll Scholarship covers full Oxford MBA course fees and provides a stipend towards living costs. The published living-cost stipend is at least £21,805. Scholars also join the Skoll Scholar community, with opportunities for lifelong learning and connection with other social innovators.
The award is designed for people for whom the cost of an MBA could otherwise make it difficult to pursue their social-impact ambitions.
Who can apply for the Skoll Scholarship?
You should be a social entrepreneur with a strong record of building and leading a venture addressing deep-rooted social or environmental challenges. A minimum of three years of entrepreneurial experience building and leading a social venture is required, alongside evidence of significant social impact.
The selection criteria also look for changemaking qualities. You should demonstrate curiosity, humility and persistence in understanding the systemic roots of the challenge you address. The Skoll Centre expects applicants to show either lived experience of the issue or meaningful long-term engagement through work, research or collaboration with affected communities.
Your plans after the MBA matter. You need to explain a clear intention to pursue a career focused on long-term, systemic social or environmental impact, and how Oxford, Saïd Business School and the Skoll Centre community would help you expand that impact. You must also demonstrate why scholarship support is needed in light of your financial situation, prior work or personal circumstances.
How do you apply for the Oxford Skoll Scholarship?
You apply through your Oxford MBA application rather than submitting a separate scholarship application. Apply to Saïd Business School for the Oxford MBA in admissions stage 1, 2, 3 or 4, then upload your answers to the Skoll Scholarship essay questions with the MBA application. The essay document is available in the Funding section of the MBA application form.
- Submit a complete Oxford MBA application in an eligible admissions stage.
- Complete and upload the Skoll Scholarship essay responses within that application.
- Wait for the MBA Admissions Team to assess your MBA application.
- If you are accepted to the MBA, your scholarship application proceeds automatically to the Skoll Scholarship Selection Committee.
Only applicants admitted to the MBA who have submitted the scholarship essays by the required deadline can be considered. Successful MBA applicants normally pay a deposit to secure their place, but deposit deadlines are extended for applicants advancing through the Skoll Scholarship selection process.
When is the Skoll Scholarship deadline and what happens next?
Submit both your completed Oxford MBA application and Skoll Scholarship essay document by that date.
The last date to submit your Oxford MBA application and Skoll Scholarship essays is 6 January 2027 — and this is one deadline you really do not want to test at the last minute. Missing it means you are out of the scholarship race for this cycle, even if your MBA profile is otherwise excellent.
After MBA decisions are released, scholarship screening begins, with final shortlisting expected around late March and online interviews taking place in April or May. Shortlisted applicants will receive further instructions, including the Logistics and Reference Form.
There is one important catch: you must hold an unconditional Oxford MBA offer when that form is required. If your offer is still conditional at that stage, you cannot continue in the Skoll Scholarship selection process.
Can I apply for the Skoll Scholarship before receiving an Oxford MBA offer?
Yes. Submit the scholarship essays as part of your MBA application. Your scholarship application will move to the Selection Committee only if Saïd Business School accepts you for the MBA.
Is three years of social-venture experience required for the Skoll Scholarship?
Yes. The selection criteria require at least three years of experience building and leading a social venture, with evidence of significant social impact.
Do Skoll Scholarship finalists need an unconditional MBA offer?
Yes. An unconditional MBA offer is required to receive the Logistics and Reference Form and move to the next phase. A conditional offer is not sufficient at that stage.
Are applicants from underrepresented backgrounds encouraged to apply?
Yes. The Skoll MBA scholarship emphasizes diversity and inclusion and particularly encourages applications from women, people from historically underrepresented groups and applicants from the Global South regions.