Scholarship details
Are you a visionary leader who wants to make a positive impact on the world? Do you have a passion for solving social challenges through innovative and scalable solutions? Do you want to pursue a dual degree programme that combines a Master’s degree in your chosen field with a world-class MBA at the University of Oxford?
If you answered yes to these questions, then you might be interested in applying for the Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships. These scholarships are designed to support outstanding students who want to pursue the 1+1 MBA programme at Oxford’s Saïd Business School. The 1+1 MBA programme allows you to combine a one-year full-time MBA with a one-year Master’s degree from one of the partnering departments across the University of Oxford. You can choose from a wide range of Master’s programmes, such as public policy, computer science, education, global health, environmental change, and many more.
The Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships are generously funded by the Pershing Square Foundation, which was established in 2006 by Bill Ackman and Karen Herskovitz. The foundation supports exceptional leaders and innovative organisations that tackle important social issues and deliver scalable and sustainable impact. The foundation has also supported initiatives in education, economic development, healthcare, justice, and the arts.
As a Pershing Square scholar, you will receive full funding for both your Master’s degree and MBA programme course fees. You will also receive a grant for living expenses of at least £17,668 per year for both years of study. In addition, you will benefit from a range of opportunities and resources that will enhance your learning experience and prepare you for your future career. These include:
• Access to prestigious conferences and events, such as the Skoll World Forum, the Ditchley Conferences, and the One Young World Summit.
• Termly events and scholar community activities that will allow you to network with other scholars, alumni, faculty, and leaders from various sectors.
• A spring ‘trek’ to New York hosted by the Pershing Square Foundation, where you will visit leading organisations and meet influential figures in social impact.
• Mentorship opportunities from the Pershing Square Foundation’s network of advisors and partners.
• Support from the Saïd Business School’s Career Development Centre and Entrepreneurship Centre, which will help you explore your career options and develop your entrepreneurial skills.
To be eligible for the Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships, you must meet the following criteria:
• You must apply to the Oxford 1+1 MBA programme and be admitted to both the MBA and your chosen Master’s programme. You can apply to any full-time one-year Master’s programme that is not currently part of the official list of partnering programmes, as long as it is relevant to your goals and interests.
• You must demonstrate academic excellence through your degree results, GMAT or GRE score, previous university prizes and awards, and other academic achievements.
• You must demonstrate leadership potential through your experience and motivation. You should have a track record of leading or initiating projects, organisations, or movements that address social challenges or create positive change.
• You must demonstrate strong personal character, integrity, and commitment. You should have a clear vision of how you want to change the world and how the Oxford 1+1 MBA will help you achieve it.
• You must demonstrate an intention to focus on addressing world-scale social challenges in your career, either in an existing organisation or through the development of a new enterprise. You should have a passion for finding scalable and sustainable solutions to these challenges.
To apply for the Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships, you must submit a complete application for both courses and upload a scholarship essay in the Funding section of the 1+1 MBA programme application. The scholarship essay should answer the following question in no more than 500 words: ‘How do you intend to change the world? What does this tell us about you as a person?’
The application deadlines vary depending on your chosen Master’s programme. You can find more information about the deadlines on the official website. The scholarship selection process will take place in March 2022 and the successful candidates will be notified by April 2022.
The Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships are an amazing opportunity for aspiring social leaders who want to pursue a world-class education at one of the most prestigious universities in the world. If you think you have what it takes to become a Pershing Square scholar, don’t hesitate to apply today and join a community of changemakers who are committed to making a difference in the world.
