Apply now for the 2018-20 Oxford Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships – Full 2 year scholarship
Every year, the Pershing Square Foundation awards up to five full scholarships to support outstanding students on the 1+1 MBA, covering both the Master’s degree and the MBA year. Pershing Square Scholars are exceptional individuals who can demonstrate the potential and commitment to finding scalable and sustainable solutions to world-scale social challenges. The scholarship is if you would like to pursue any of the partnering Master’s degrees and combine it with our MBA. It is also available if you are currently studying one of the Master’s partnering programmes and wish to apply to the MBA programme.
Established in 2014, the Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship provides funding for tuition, college fees and a contribution towards living expenses for both years of studies. You would also benefit from opportunities for mentorship and networking with inspirational individuals and organisations that are part of the Pershing Square Foundation’s community. You become integrated into Saïd Business School’s community as soon as you begin your Master’s degree by attending receptions and meetings with our Dean, faculty and other MBA scholars. You can access and utilise both your department and Oxford Saïd’s resources and networks throughout both years. You will also be invited to a spring ‘trek’ to New York City hosted by the Pershing Square Foundation, where you can participate in meetings and workshops with leading innovators and change makers.
Pershing Square Scholars are also have the opportunity to attend a number of prestigous conferences and events throughout the year, including the Ditchely Conferences and the Skoll World Forum.
Mentorship for Pershing Square Scholars
The Advisory Board at the Pershing Square Foundation Scholarship plays a crucial role mentoring Pershing Square Scholars. Current members of the board include:
- William Ackman (The Pershing Square Foundation)
- Sir Ronald Cohen (Big Society Capital)
- Cheryl Dorsey (Echoing Green)
- Paul Farmer (Partners in Health)
- Louise Richardson (Vice-Chancellor, Oxford)
- Wendy Kopp (Teach for All)
- Linda Rottenberg (Endeavor)
- Peter Tufano (Saïd Business School)
- Andrew Youn (One Acre Fund)
Key attributes of our Scholars
Pershing Square Scholarships are awarded to individuals with the following attributes:
- Academic achievement
- Leadership potential, demonstrated through experience and motivation
- Strong personal character, integrity and commitment
- Intention to focus on addressing world-scale social challenges in your career, either in an existing organisation or through development of a new enterprise
- Ability to envision how to achieve scalable and sustainable solutions to these challenges
- Articulated vision on how the Oxford 1+1 MBA will allow you to fulfil your objectives
These attributes should be highlighted in your MBA application, scholarship essay and interview answers.
How to apply
To be considered for the scholarship you must apply to the 1+1 MBA by March 2018. Please note that some partnering Masters close their applications in January 2018 and others in March 2018.
In addition to the Master and MBA applications, you must submit an essay of no more than 500 words addressing this question ‘How do you intend to change the world? What does this tell us about you as a person?’
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview with the selection panel.
Enquiries about the scholarship should be directed to ps.scholars@sbs.ox.ac.uk
More information about the 1+1 MBA application process
About the Pershing Square Foundation
The foundation supports exceptional leaders and innovative organisations that tackle social issues and deliver scalable and sustainable impact. It is committed to supporting areas such as economic development, education, healthcare, justice and the arts.
The Pershing Square Foundation’s gift of £4.5m will endow the scholarships in perpetuity. The University of Oxford has provided a further £3m under the Oxford Graduate Scholarship Matched Fund, taking the total funding to £7.5m.
The Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship provides funding for tuition, college fees and at least £14,553 toward living expenses for both years of study.
