International Scholarship · United Kingdom

Skoll Scholarship (Oxford MBA in Social Entrepreneurship)

A fully funded scholarship covering Oxford Saïd Business School MBA tuition plus a living expenses grant for experienced social entrepreneurs, awarded through the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship.

Applications OpenDeadline: Aligned with Oxford MBA application rounds - typically early January (Stage 2 deadline) for the following academic year's intakeOfficial Portal →

Quick Facts

Status

Applications Open

Funding

Fully Funded

Deadline

Aligned with Oxford MBA application rounds - typically early January (Stage 2 deadline) for the following academic year's intake

Country

GB flagUnited Kingdom
Official Website →
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About the Skoll Scholarship

🕐 3 min read

The Skoll Scholarship is awarded by the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at Oxford's Saïd Business School to outstanding social entrepreneurs who want to pursue a full-time Oxford MBA to scale their impact. Unlike most MBA scholarships, which reward general leadership or academic merit, the Skoll Scholarship specifically targets founders and leaders who have already spent years building a social venture - a business, nonprofit, or hybrid organization tackling a significant social or environmental problem - and are looking to strengthen their strategic, financial, and managerial skills to grow that work.

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Up to four Skoll Scholarships are awarded each year, making it one of the most selective MBA scholarships globally. Recipients join the wider Skoll Scholar and Skoll Centre community, which includes access to the Skoll World Forum network, mentorship from established social entrepreneurs and impact investors, and a alumni network spanning social enterprises across every continent.

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Financially, the scholarship covers the full Oxford MBA course fee (in the region of £72,000 for the 2026-27 academic year) and provides a partial living expenses grant of up to £8,000 based on demonstrated financial need, which is unusually generous compared to most partial-funding MBA scholarships that only offer a fee discount.

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Candidates must have spent a minimum of three years actively building a social venture with measurable, verifiable impact before applying, and admission to the Oxford MBA itself (a separate, competitive process through Saïd Business School) is a prerequisite - the Skoll Scholarship application is submitted as part of, or shortly after, the general Oxford MBA application.

Eligible Levels

Master's (MBA)

Eligible Fields

Business AdministrationSocial EntrepreneurshipImpact Management

Why Choose This Scholarship?

One of the most generous MBA scholarships in the world combining full tuition with a living costs grant

Access to the globally respected Skoll Centre and Skoll World Forum ecosystem of impact leaders and funders

Specifically rewards real-world social venture experience rather than generic academic merit

Extremely small, highly selective cohort (up to 4 scholars/year) fosters deep mentorship relationships

Oxford MBA brand and network combined with a values-aligned social impact community

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What the Scholarship Covers

Full Oxford MBA course fee covered (approximately £72,000 for 2026-27)
Partial living expenses grant of up to £8,000, based on demonstrated financial need
Access to the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship's mentorship, events, and Skoll World Forum network
Membership in the global Skoll Scholar alumni community of social entrepreneurs
Priority access to Oxford's social impact-focused electives, clubs, and competitions
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Studying in United Kingdom

The scholarship funds study exclusively at the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School in Oxford, United Kingdom.

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Eligibility Requirements

5 requirements

Must have secured admission to the full-time Oxford MBA at Saïd Business School (a separate competitive admissions process)
At least three years spent actively building/leading a social venture with measurable social or environmental impact
Demonstrated systemic, collaborative approach to tackling a significant social problem
Strong leadership record and clear plan to return to or scale the venture/impact work after the MBA
Financial need considered for the living expenses grant portion
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Documents Checklist

5 documents required

1Complete Oxford MBA application (essays, transcripts, GMAT/GRE scores, references, CV)
2Skoll Scholarship-specific application/essay describing the social venture and its impact
3Evidence of the social venture's impact (metrics, media coverage, third-party validation where available)
4Financial need documentation (for the living expenses grant)
5Letters of recommendation, at least one addressing entrepreneurial/leadership capability
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How to Apply - Step by Step

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Step 1: Apply to the full-time Oxford MBA at Saïd Business School through one of its staged application rounds

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Step 2: Indicate interest in the Skoll Scholarship and submit the additional Skoll-specific essay/application material

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Step 3: Shortlisted candidates may be invited to an additional interview focused on their venture and impact

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Step 4: Skoll Scholarship decisions are typically communicated after MBA admission decisions are finalized

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Step 5: Awarded scholars confirm acceptance and begin the MBA in the following autumn intake

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Application Timeline

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September

Oxford MBA Stage 1 deadline

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January

Oxford MBA Stage 2 deadline

Most Skoll Scholars are drawn from Stage 1/2 applicants

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March

Oxford MBA Stage 3 deadline

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Following each MBA admission round

Skoll Scholarship decisions

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September/October

MBA and scholarship year begins

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Insider Tips & Pro Tips

TIP 1

Apply to an earlier Oxford MBA round if possible - scholarship consideration is generally stronger for candidates who apply in Stage 1 or Stage 2

TIP 2

Be concrete and quantified about your venture's impact - vague mission statements are far weaker than measurable outcomes and third-party validation

TIP 3

Show a clear post-MBA plan for how the degree will help you scale your specific venture or social impact work, not a generic career pivot

TIP 4

Highlight collaborative, systemic approaches to your social problem rather than a purely individual-hero narrative

TIP 5

Prepare your GMAT/GRE and general MBA application materials to a high standard first, since Skoll consideration only happens after MBA admission

Frequently Asked Questions

4 questions - click any to expand

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Yes - the Skoll Scholarship is only awarded to candidates who have secured (or are securing) admission to the full-time Oxford MBA program.

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Up to four scholarships are awarded annually, making it highly selective.

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It provides a partial living expenses grant of up to £8,000 based on financial need, in addition to full tuition coverage.

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At least three years of hands-on work building or leading a social or environmental venture with measurable impact.

Ready to Apply?

Head to the official portal and start your application today.

Apply on Official Website →
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