Fully Funded Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships in UK, 2026

For students who want to pair deep academic expertise with business acumen to tackle global challenges, the Oxford–Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships represent one of the most powerful, fully funded pathways in the world. Through this scholarship, recipients earn a one-year Master’s degree followed by a full MBA at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford — all tuition paid, living costs covered, plus access to a high-impact network and resources designed to fuel social entrepreneurship and sustainable impact.

What Is the Oxford–Pershing Square Graduate Scholarship?

The scholarship was established in 2014 by the Pershing Square Foundation in partnership with Oxford University. Its purpose: to support “exceptional individuals … committed to finding scalable and sustainable solutions to world-scale social challenges”. Under the scheme, up to five full scholarships are awarded each year for Oxford’s 1+1 MBA — a two-year journey combining:

1. A one-year Master’s degree in a chosen discipline (from a list of partnering or approved Master’s programmes)
2. Followed by the one-year MBA at Saïd Business School.

The 1+1 MBA model allows you to gain both deep disciplinary expertise (through your Master’s) and the business, management, and leadership toolkit provided by the MBA — an ideal mix for future social entrepreneurs, policy leaders, impact investors, and changemakers.

What the Scholarship Covers

If you receive the scholarship, here’s what you get:

• Full tuition and college fees for both the Master’s degree and the MBA year.
• Living cost grant / stipend: at least £20,780 per year for each of the two years.
• Access to co-curricular activities: mentorship programs, community of scholars, networking events, global forums/conference access.
• Unique experiences: scholars may get invited on a “New York Trek” hosted by the Pershing Square Foundation — a chance to meet global leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators.
• Community & support: integration into a vibrant cohort of fellow scholars from diverse backgrounds, with exposure to faculty, alumni, and the extensive Oxford/Saïd network.

Eligibility Requirements & Priorities

To get this scholarship, you must aim to join the 1+1 MBA pathway at Oxford. Eligibility criteria (and priority ordering) are laid out clearly by Saïd Business School.

Eligibility criteria

• Apply and be admitted to both:
  1. A one-year Master’s programme (part of the 1+1 MBA partnering programmes, or in some cases other full-time Master’s + MBA combination)
  2. The Oxford MBA (via the 1+1 route) offers on the waiting list are not eligible.
• Demonstrate academic excellence: previous degree results, strong quantitative or analytical ability (often via GMAT/GRE), awards/prizes where applicable.
• Leadership potential and personal character: track record (or strong demonstration) of leadership, ethical grounding, resilience, and motivation.
• Commitment to social impact: evidence or plan showing your desire to tackle global or large-scale challenges (social, environmental, economic), and a clear vision for scalable, sustainable solutions.
• Articulated vision for 1+1 MBA path: you must convincingly explain why the combination of your chosen Master’s plus the MBA is critical for achieving your goals. The scholarship application asks for this.

Priority ordering (how Oxford selects)

According to Saïd’s official page, applicants are considered in this order:

1. New applicants applying to both a 1+1 partnering Master’s programme and the MBA.
2. Applicants admitted to a full-time one-year Master’s (even if not officially a partnering programme) + MBA (as a separate application).
3. Current Master’s students at Oxford who have been admitted to the MBA and were not considered previously.

How to apply (step-by-step)

1. Choose a partner Master’s: consult the Saïd list of eligible one-year Master’s programmes that feed into the 1+1 MBA and pick the discipline that matches your career and impact goals.
2. Prepare a strong Master’s application: follow the department’s admissions checklist: transcripts, references, statement of purpose/research statement where required, and any tests. Meet funding deadlines (often Dec/Jan).
3. Apply to the Oxford MBA: complete the MBA application by the 7 Jan 2026 stage-4 deadline for the 1+1 cohort. The MBA application will ask for work experience, references, and essays explaining leadership and career goals.
4. No separate Pershing Square form in most cases: if you have applied to both programmes by the deadlines and meet eligibility, you will be considered for Pershing Square automatically. Double-check the Saïd scholarship pages for any programme-specific steps.
5. Prepare your narrative: since Pershing Square focuses on scalable social impact, tailor your Master’s and MBA essays to explain the problem you care about, evidence of traction or leadership, and how Oxford’s 1+1 will accelerate your capacity to scale solutions.

Deadlines & Application Timeline (2026/27 Cycle)

If you’re aiming for the 2026/27 scholarship cycle, here’s how the timeline typically works:

Advantages — What Makes This Scholarship Special

• Full Funding and Living Stipend: This is not just a tuition waiver — it’s a comprehensive package covering your Master’s and MBA tuition and providing a generous stipend (~£20,780/year), significantly reducing financial barriers to studying at Oxford.
• Dual-Degree Power: Depth and Breadth: The 1+1 MBA model lets you combine academic depth (in a subject area relevant to global issues — e.g. environmental science, public policy, global health, development economics, etc.) with business and leadership training via the MBA. This dual approach positions you well for entrepreneurship, social enterprise, policy leadership, or cross-sector innovation.
• Network & Mentorship: Scholarship recipients become part of a unique community — mentors from the Pershing Square Foundation and Oxford, exposure to global leaders, peer networks, and access to exclusive forums and events. These relationships can help accelerate your impact well beyond the two years of study.
• Global Perspective, Social Impact Orientation: Because the scholarship emphasizes scalable and sustainable solutions to world-scale challenges, your education becomes more than credential-building — you become part of a mission-driven cohort aiming to address real global problems.
• Flexibility in Academic Background: Because the scholarship allows different Master’s disciplines, you have flexibility: whether you come from science, public policy, environment, health, engineering, or social sciences — you can align your background with the Master’s degree and MBA to create a powerful platform for change.

Realistic Expectations

Of course, no scholarship is a guarantee of effortless success. Here are some realistic considerations:

• Very competitive: only ~5 scholarships awarded each year. Strong academic record, leadership experience, social-impact vision, and outstanding application essays needed.
• Two-year commitment: you must commit to both the Master’s and the MBA; you need to plan carefully (visa, relocation, living costs, work-life balance).
• High standards for renewal & engagement: likely expectations of academic performance, community participation, and active contribution to the scholar network and impact agenda.
• Pressure & responsibility: being a Pershing Square scholar comes with prestige, but also expectations: you must use the opportunity responsibly and aim for real change.
• Not just business growth, but social value: the scholarship is for people committed to global challenges — if you’re seeking a purely corporate path focused solely on profit, you may not fit the profile.

How to Maximize Your Chances

If you are considering applying for the 2026/27 cycle, here are some strategic recommendations:

• Select a Master’s that aligns with a global challenge you care about: environmental science, public policy, global health, development economics, sustainability, etc. Show how this discipline + MBA can together equip you to tackle your chosen issue.
• Develop a clear social-impact narrative: in your scholarship essay (and Master’s/MBA applications), articulate clearly what problem you want to solve, why it matters, how your background equips you, and why the 1+1 MBA is critical to your plan.
• Show existing commitment or potential: volunteer work, community leadership, policy advocacy, social enterprise involvement, research, or any impact-oriented work helps. Quantify your achievements if possible (people impacted, funds raised, scope, outcome).
• Balance academic excellence and leadership credentials: strong academics (GPA, relevant degrees), but also leadership capabilities and personal integrity count equally.
• Use strong references: pick recommenders who know you well and can vouch for both your academic strengths and character/mission orientation.
• Plan ahead and meet deadlines: you need to submit both your Master’s and MBA applications by their deadlines (Master’s often Dec/Jan; MBA’s 7 Jan 2026). Don’t wait until the last minute.
• Prepare for interview: if shortlisted, you’ll likely be interviewed by the scholarship panel: be ready to speak about your impact vision, motivation, leadership potential, contributions, ethics, and how you see yourself using Oxford training.
• Be ready for commitment beyond study: success means leveraging Oxford + Pershing Square network after graduation to build or contribute to social impact initiatives. Think long-term.

Where to read the official information (must-visit links)

• Saïd Business School: Oxford 1+1 MBA programme overview (deadlines & 1+1 guidance)
• Saïd Business School: Scholarships & funding pages (how funding consideration works)
• Oxford MBA brochure (2026–27 cycle; fees & deadlines, including MBA stage-four deadline)

Conclusion

The Oxford–Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships are rare and transformational: they fund rigorous academic study plus an MBA and open doors to mentorship and a global network committed to scalable social change. If your career ambition is to design, grow, or lead organizations that solve critical global problems — and you can demonstrate both achievement and the potential to scale — this award is worth planning for.