Skoll MBA Scholarships at Said Business School

Overview

The Skoll Scholarship is one of the most prestigious MBA scholarships in the world, offered by the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. It funds exceptional social entrepreneurs who are pursuing the Oxford MBA to scale their impact on urgent social and environmental challenges.

Unlike most scholarships that reward academic merit or financial need, the Skoll Scholarship selects on the basis of demonstrated social entrepreneurship experience and a credible, long-term commitment to systemic change. Candidates must have a proven track record — not just an interest in social impact.

Up to four scholarships are awarded globally each year, making this one of the most competitive scholarships available anywhere. For Nepali applicants, the scholarship is genuinely accessible if you have founded or led a social venture with measurable impact — Nepal's development context, combined with strong entrepreneurial work in areas such as education, healthcare, energy, agriculture, or disaster resilience, aligns well with what the Skoll Centre looks for.

Beyond the financial award, Skoll Scholars become lifelong members of a global network of social innovators, with access to the Skoll World Forum and connections with world-renowned entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders.

Eligibility

The Skoll Scholarship has no nationality restrictions — it is open to all international and domestic students accepted into the Oxford MBA. The selection criteria are entirely profile-based:

• Minimum three years of experience building and leading a social venture, with demonstrated evidence of significant social impact
• Ready to use the Oxford MBA and the Skoll Centre community to enhance and expand social impact — not switching to a corporate career post-MBA
• 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 it through long-term work, research, or collaboration with those directly affected
• Displays self-awareness regarding their own position, privilege, and limitations
• Has a clear intention to pursue a career aligned with long-term, systemic social or environmental impact after completing the MBA
• Must be accepted into the Oxford Saïd MBA programme — scholarship application is embedded within the MBA application

Who This Is Not For

• Students whose primary goal is a corporate or finance career post-MBA
• Students without a demonstrated track record in social entrepreneurship — interest or intention alone is not sufficient
• Students applying for any Oxford programme other than the full-time MBA

How to Apply

There is no separate scholarship application. The Skoll Scholarship essays are submitted as part of the Oxford MBA application itself.

1. Apply to the Oxford MBA — submit your full MBA application to Saïd Business School through the Oxford MBA admissions portal. Applications are reviewed across four stages with separate deadlines.
2. Complete the Skoll Scholarship essay document — find the essay document in the Funding section of the MBA application form. Submit it alongside your MBA application by the relevant stage deadline.
3. Admissions review — scholarship applications are reviewed after each MBA admissions stage. Candidates are notified of their scholarship shortlist status shortly after admissions decisions are made.
4. Final shortlisting and interviews — final shortlisting takes place in late March. Shortlisted candidates are invited to online interviews with the Skoll Scholarship Selection Committee in April and May.
5. Final decision — scholarship offers are made following the interview stage.

Application stage deadlines for the 2026-27 intake (MBA starting autumn 2026):

• Stage 1: 1 September 2025 (closed)
• Stage 2: 1 October 2025 (closed)
• Stage 3: 3 November 2025 (closed)
• Stage 4: 7 January 2026 (closed)

Deadlines for the 2027-28 intake are expected to follow the same September–January pattern. Check the official Skoll Centre website for exact dates when they open.