The University of Oxford and the Mastercard Foundation, through the Africa Oxford Initiative (AfOx) and Saïd Business School, offer up to three fully funded scholarships for the 2027-28 Oxford MBA. They are aimed at African nationals who have had to overcome hardship and can show a genuine commitment to Africa's development. There is no separate scholarship form — submitting the Oxford MBA application by the deadline is the entire scholarship application.
Why it is notable: the "no separate application" mechanic means many eligible candidates never realize they were in the running (or miss it by applying in a later MBA stage); it sits quietly on the business school's scholarships page rather than on Oxford's main funding pages, so aggregators under-cover it.
Funding at a glance
What it covers
Fully funded — full Oxford MBA course fees plus a grant for living costs of at least £21,805
plus tailor-made training programmes, networking opportunities, and support before, during and after the Oxford year
Eligibility criteria
Qualification Required
Graduationfor Masters
This scholarship is offered for Masters programs.
Who can apply
African nationals who are ordinarily resident in African countries; must not have already taken a Masters degree; must be able to demonstrate a commitment to Africa's development; must meet all Oxford MBA admission requirements
Experience
No experience required
Language Certificate
the MBA is taught in English; exact English-test requirements are set by the MBA admissions process (unverified specifics — check the Oxford MBA admissions page)
Other Certificates
Degree certificates & transcripts
Age Limit
none specified (unverified from official page viewed)
Check your eligibility
Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
African nationals who are ordinarily resident in African countries; must not have already taken a Masters degree; must be able to demonstrate a commitment to…
2
Last degree checker
Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.
3
Course checker
Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.
Complete all three checks
Your combined result will appear here.
Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.
Application essentials
Requirements
Review each requirement before you begin the application.
01
Language
the MBA is taught in English; exact English-test requirements are set by the MBA admissions process (unverified specifics — check the Oxford MBA admissions page)
02
Qualification
African nationals who are ordinarily resident in African countries; must not have already taken a Masters degree; must be able to demonstrate a commitment to Africa's development; must meet all Oxford
03
Documents
the full Oxford MBA application dossier (verified on the official programme page): one-page CV, academic transcripts, GMAT or GRE score, written supporting statement, MBA essays, two references, onlin
Document checklist
01the full Oxford MBA application dossier (verified on the official programme page): one-page CV, academic transcripts, GMAT or GRE score, written supporting statement, MBA essays, two references, onlin
Application fee
No fee — completely free
No separate scholarship application fee is published; confirm on the official page.
Visa, kept concise: Standard UK Student visa route: CAS from Oxford → online application from outside the UK → biometrics → decision.
Application Procedure
5 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
Review the Oxford MBA admissions requirements on
the Saïd Business School site — verified on the official MBA programme page (sbs.ox.ac.uk, 2026-10-15): undergraduate degree or equivalent; written supporting statement; online assessment; GMAT or GRE score; minimum 2 ye
→
02
Prepare the MBA application
CV, academic transcripts, GMAT or GRE score, professional references, MBA essays — all via the online application form linked from the official MBA page.
→
03
Submit the complete Oxford MBA online application
by the scholarship deadline — no separate AfOx/Mastercard Foundation form exists. The AfOx deadline (6 January 2027) coincides with the MBA Stage 4 deadline (Stages: 1 — 2 Sep 2026; 2 — 5 Oct 2026; 3 — 4 Nov 2026; 4 — 6
↓
05
Scholarship decisions run alongside MBA admissions —
you must also earn the MBA offer itself.
←
04
If shortlisted for the scholarship
the University contacts you directly for an interview.
Application milestones
6 Jan 2027
Application deadline
2027
Intake year
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official University of Oxford platform.
6 Jan 2027 — (as published on the official scholarship page; Note: this is the MBA Stage 4 deadline; later stages exist…
Who can apply?
African nationals who are ordinarily resident in African countries; must not have already taken a Masters degree; must be able to demonstrate a commitment to Africa's development; must meet all Oxford MBA admission requirements
What does the scholarship cover?
Fully funded — full Oxford MBA course fees plus a grant for living costs of at least £21,805; plus tailor-made training programmes, networking opportunities, and support before, during and after the Oxford year
Where do I apply?
Through the official application portal linked in the Official links section on this page.
Need document or attestation help?
Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.
United Kingdom · University of Oxford