The Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships fund up to five exceptional individuals each year to complete Oxford's 1+1 MBA — one year of a full-time Master's degree followed by the one-year Oxford MBA. The award covers all course fees for both degrees plus a living-cost grant of at least £21,805 per year, and there is no separate scholarship form: you are considered automatically through your 1+1 MBA application plus a 500-word scholarship essay.
Why it is notable: One of the very few awards worldwide that fully funds TWO Oxford degrees back-to-back, endowed in perpetuity (£13m total: £7.8m Pershing Square Foundation gift + £5.2m Oxford matched funding). The hidden trap: you must be admitted to BOTH the Master's and the MBA before the selection process — waiting-list candidates are not considered, and each partnering Master's has its own December/January deadline.
Funding at a glance
What it covers
Course fees for the full-time Master's degree (year 1) — paid in full
Course fees for the Oxford MBA (year 2) — paid in full
Living-cost grant of at least £21,805 for each year of study (2 years)
Scholar community: mentorship (including Pershing Square Advisory Board, Oxford Saïd faculty, alumni), global forums and conferences, termly events hosted by the MBA Director, scholar-led events
Possible invitation to the "New York Trek" hosted by the Pershing Square Foundation (meetings and workshops with innovators and change-makers)
Events/opportunities subject to change (official page note)
Eligibility criteria
Qualification Required
Graduationfor Masters+MBA
This scholarship is offered for a full-time Master's degree plus the Oxford MBA under the Oxford 1+1 MBA route.
Who can apply
No nationality restriction on the official page — open to all nationalities (international and UK/Home).
Experience
Leadership potential demonstrated through experience and motivation is assessed; the MBA itself normally expects professional experience — check the Oxford MBA admissions requirements.
Language Certificate
Course-dependent — you must meet the English-language requirements of both your chosen Master's and the Oxford MBA (check each course page on the Graduate Admissions website).
Other Certificates
Degree results, GMAT or GRE score, previous university prizes/awards as part of academic achievement evidence.
Age Limit
No Age Limit
Check your eligibility
Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
All nationalities eligible — no nationality restriction is stated on the official scholarship page.
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
Qualification
Bachelor's degree (or equivalent); must meet admission requirements of BOTH the Master's and the MBA.
02
Documents
Complete applications for both courses (transcripts, degree evidence, CV, references, course-specific statements/writing samples).
03
Test scores
GMAT or GRE score for the MBA (part of academic-achievement assessment); English-language evidence per course requirements.
04
Essays/answers
Scholarship essay ≤ 500 words in the MBA application's 'Funding' section: "How do you intend to change the world and what does this tell us about you as a person?"
05
References
Per each course's application requirements (Master's + MBA).
06
Fee
No separate scholarship fee; Oxford graduate application fees apply per programme application.
Document checklist
01Complete application for the chosen Master's programme (transcripts, degree evidence, references, statement of purpose — per course page)
02Complete application for the Oxford 1+1 MBA (CV, GMAT or GRE score, essays, references, English-language evidence — per MBA admissions)
03Pershing Square scholarship essay — max 500 words — uploaded in the 'Funding' section of the 1+1 MBA application
Application fee
No separate scholarship fee. Each Oxford graduate application carries the University's standard graduate application fee
Visa, kept concise: Study visa type for this destination: UK Student visa.
Application Procedure
8 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
Choose your 1+1 MBA partnering programme from
the official list (or a full-time one-year Master's, applying as priority group 2).
→
02
Submit a complete application for your chosen
Master's programme by ITS own deadline (December 2026 or January 2027, course-dependent — check the course page on the Graduate Admissions website).
→
03
Submit a complete application for the Oxford
1+1 MBA by 6 January 2027.
↓
06
Complete application for the chosen Master's programme (transcripts
degree evidence, references, statement of purpose — per course page)
←
05
Wait for shortlisting (planned early April 2027)
invited candidates interview in late April or early May 2027.
←
04
In the 'Funding' section of the 1+1 MBA application
upload the scholarship essay (no more than 500 words) answering: "How do you intend to change the world and what does this tell us about you as a person?"
↓
07
Complete application for the Oxford 1+1 MBA (CV
GMAT or GRE score, essays, references, English-language evidence — per MBA admissions)
→
08
Pershing Square scholarship essay —
max 500 words — uploaded in the 'Funding' section of the 1+1 MBA application
Application milestones
6 Jan 2027
Application deadline
2027
Intake year
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official University of Oxford, Saïd Business School platform.
Is there a separate application form for the scholarship?
No. You submit complete applications for both courses and upload the scholarship essay in the 'Funding' section of the 1+1 MBA application by the deadline.
Do I need to be admitted before being considered?
Yes — you must be admitted to both a 1+1 MBA partnering programme and the MBA before the selection process. Applicants on the waiting list are not considered.
What if my Master's course is not on the 1+1 partnering list?
You are considered in priority group 2 if admitted to both a full-time one-year Master's (as a separate application) and the MBA.
I am already an Oxford Master's student. Can I apply?
Yes — current Master's students admitted to the MBA who were not considered for the scholarship in the previous year are in priority group 3.
How many scholarships are awarded?
Up to five full awards per year.
What does the award cover?
Course fees for both the Master's and the MBA, plus a living-cost grant of at least £21,805 for each year of study.
When will I hear about the outcome?
Shortlisting is planned for early April 2027, with interviews expected in late April or early May 2027.
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, Saïd Business School
University of Oxford, Saïd Business School