Skoll Scholarships

The Skoll Scholarship is a prestigious award offered by the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School. It is designed to support exceptional social entrepreneurs who are pursuing an Oxford MBA to amplify their impact on the world. The scholarship recognizes that future leaders tackling deep-rooted social and environmental challenges need world-class business skills, but may face financial barriers due to their commitment to the social sector.

For the 2025-2026 academic year (MBA intake in Fall 2025), the application deadlines are tied to the MBA admission stages. This guide will walk you through the entire process, including eligibility criteria, the unique application essays, the details of the funding, and the interview schedule. If you have a proven track record of driving social change and aspire to use an Oxford MBA to scale your impact, this scholarship offers not just financial support but also lifelong membership into a powerful community of innovators.

The Skoll Scholarship is exclusively for the full-time MBA programme at the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School. It is not applicable to other courses or universities.

 

Skoll Scholarships Awards

The Skoll Scholarship is a significant financial award for social entrepreneurs aiming to pursue an Oxford MBA. It is designed to reduce the financial burden, allowing you to focus fully on your studies and engagement with the community.

The scholarship provides comprehensive financial support, covering:

• Full tuition fees for the Oxford MBA programme.
• A partial living expenses grant to assist with accommodation and daily costs.

In addition to the funding, the award includes unparalleled access to the Skoll Scholar community and the resources of the Skoll Centre, offering exclusive events, networking opportunities, and mentorship.

Skoll Scholarships Amount

The Skoll Scholarship is a substantial award. While the exact total value depends on the tuition fee for the year, it covers the full course fee and provides a significant contribution towards living expenses.

Skoll Scholarships Benefits

Beyond the financial coverage, the Skoll Scholarship offers transformative professional and personal advantages, connecting you to a global movement for social change.

The eligibility for the Skoll Scholarship is closely tied to a candidate's demonstrated experience and commitment to social entrepreneurship. The criteria are specific and must be met fully.

Selection Criteria

The selection goes beyond basic eligibility, focusing on the depth of your impact and your potential for future leadership.

• Entrepreneurial experience: Minimum three years of experience building and leading a social venture, with demonstrated evidence of significant social impact.

• Changemaking qualities:

• Demonstrates curiosity, humility, and persistence in seeking to understand the systemic roots of social or environmental challenges.

• Has lived experience with the issue they seek to address or has meaningfully engaged with the issue through long-term work.

• Displays self-awareness regarding their position, privilege, and limitations.

• Leveraging the Oxford MBA:

• Demonstrates a clear intention to pursue a career aligned with long-term, systemic social or environmental impact.

• Articulates how the Oxford MBA and the Skoll Centre community would advance their professional growth and impact.

• Demonstrates the need for the scholarship based on financial situation or past work in the social sector.

• Diversity and inclusion: The scholarship actively encourages applications from women, individuals from historically underrepresented groups, and those from the Global South.

Only candidates accepted by Saïd Business School for the MBA and who submit scholarship essays by the deadlines will be considered.

The Skoll Scholarship is awarded to social entrepreneurs who demonstrate a strong commitment to creating and leading social ventures that tackle deep-seated social and environmental issues. The ideal candidate takes a systemic approach to social change, leading with humility, openness, and a collaborative approach.

The application process is integrated with the Oxford MBA admissions cycle. It is highly competitive and involves multiple stages of assessment.

Step 1: Apply to the Oxford MBA
You must first apply directly to Saïd Business School for the Oxford MBA during one of the four admission stages. Your application must be complete, including all required components.

Step 2: Submit Scholarship Essays
As part of your MBA application, upload your responses to the specific Skoll Scholarship essay questions in the 'Funding' section of the application form. This is mandatory for consideration.

Step 3: MBA Application Assessment
The MBA Admissions Team will assess your application for acceptance into the MBA programme. You must be accepted to proceed to the scholarship review.

Step 4: Scholarship Application Review
If you receive an MBA offer, your application automatically proceeds to the Skoll Scholarship Selection Committee. Applications are reviewed after the relevant MBA admission stage deadline.

Step 5: Interview Shortlist
If shortlisted for the scholarship, you will receive an email from the Skoll Centre with next steps, which includes completing a Logistics and Reference Form.

Step 6: Interviews
Shortlisted candidates will participate in a first-stage online interview with the Selection Committee. Successful candidates from this round will be invited to a final online interview.

Step 7: Final Decision
After the final interviews, the Skoll Centre will notify candidates of the final decision.

Application Timeline for Skoll Scholarship

The timeline is aligned with the Oxford MBA admission stages. The final scholarship deadline for the 2025-2026 intake is 7 January 2026.

Skoll Scholarships Interview

If you are shortlisted, you will be invited for online interviews with the Skoll Scholarship Selection Committee. This is a critical part of the selection process to assess your fit with the scholarship's values, your leadership potential, and your commitment to social change.

The interview will delve into your entrepreneurial experience, your understanding of the systems you wish to change, and how you plan to leverage the Oxford MBA.

Documents Required

You need to prepare specific documents as part of your MBA and scholarship application.

• A complete application to the Oxford MBA programme at Saïd Business School.
• Your responses to the Skoll Scholarship essay questions, uploaded in the 'Funding' section of the MBA application form.
• All standard MBA application documents (transcripts, CV, references, etc.).

FAQs on Skoll Scholarships

Who is eligible for the Skoll Scholarship?

You must be an applicant who has received an offer for the Oxford MBA and has a minimum of three years of experience in social entrepreneurship, demonstrating significant impact and a commitment to systemic change.

What does the Skoll Scholarship cover?

It is a major scholarship that covers the full tuition fees for the Oxford MBA and provides a partial grant for living expenses.

Can I apply for the scholarship before being accepted to the MBA?

No. You must apply for the MBA and the scholarship simultaneously by submitting the scholarship essays with your MBA application. However, the scholarship committee only reviews applications from candidates who have been accepted into the MBA programme.

Do I need work experience for the Skoll Scholarship?

Yes, specific entrepreneurial experience is required. You need a minimum of three years of experience building and leading a social venture.

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