Skoll Scholarship at Oxford Saïd Business School: Full MBA Fees Plus £21,805 Living Stipend for Social Entrepreneurs

The Oxford MBA is one of the most prestigious business degrees in the world. It is also one of the most expensive. For social entrepreneurs and social innovators who are committed to impact rather than maximising personal income, the cost-benefit calculation of an Oxford MBA can be difficult to make — no matter how much the programme would accelerate their work.

The Skoll Scholarship at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford exists precisely to change that calculation. It covers full MBA course fees plus a living stipend of at least £21,805 for social innovators who want to use an Oxford MBA to deepen their skills for more effective social change.

Up to four scholarships are available. The application deadline for the January 2027 admissions stage is 6 January 2027.

What Is the Skoll Centre?

The Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at Oxford Saïd is one of the world’s leading centres for research, education, and practice in social entrepreneurship. Funded by Jeff Skoll — the first president of eBay and one of the world’s most significant social impact philanthropists — the Centre has built a global community of social innovators through its programmes, research, and the annual Skoll World Forum.

The Skoll Scholarship is the Centre’s flagship financial support mechanism for MBA students — selecting individuals who have already demonstrated significant social impact and who will use the Oxford MBA to become more effective in their work.

What the Scholarship Covers

Full Oxford MBA fees run approximately £72,000, meaning the combined value of the Skoll Scholarship (fees plus stipend) approaches £94,000 or more. This is one of the most financially significant MBA scholarships available anywhere in the world.

Beyond the financial package, Skoll Scholars join a vibrant community of social innovators, a network that provides lifelong learning, peer connection, and collaboration across generations of scholarship recipients.

Who Should Apply: Selection Criteria

The Skoll Scholarship is for candidates who:

Have a strong track record in social entrepreneurship. This is not a scholarship for people who want to become social entrepreneurs after the MBA, it is for people who are already doing it. Your existing impact, the organisations or initiatives you have built or led, and the evidence of genuine social change you have created are the primary basis for selection.

Intend to continue creating positive social impact after their studies. The scholarship is an investment in your continued impact — not a reward for past work alone. Your post-MBA plans must be credibly and ambitiously oriented toward social change.

Can demonstrate financial need relative to the cost of the programme. The scholarship explicitly recognises the financial strain that an Oxford MBA may cause for those committed to social impact. Candidates who are already generating significant commercial income may be less competitive for this need-aware element.

How to Apply

Step 1: Submit a complete Oxford MBA application to Saïd Business School.

Step 2: Complete the Skoll Scholarship essay document, found in the “Funding” section of the MBA application form, and submit it alongside your MBA application by the deadline.

There is no separate Skoll Scholarship application portal. The essay document is the scholarship application, submitted within the MBA application itself.

Step 3: Scholarship essays are reviewed after each MBA admissions stage. Applicants receive an update on their scholarship application status after admissions decisions are made.

Step 4: Final shortlisting takes place in late March 2027. Finalists are invited to interview in April or May 2027.

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