Have you ever dreamed of studying in one of the most famous universities in the world — the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom?

What if we told you that you can do your Master’s degree and MBA there, with all your fees paid, and get money every month to live, eat, and enjoy student life? Sounds like magic, right?

Well, it’s not a dream — it’s real! It’s called the Oxford Pershing Square Graduate Scholarship, and it’s one of the best postgraduate scholarships in the world.

📍 What is the Oxford Pershing Square Graduate Scholarship?

The Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for international students who want to study in the UK.

It is offered by the University of Oxford, in partnership with the Pershing Square Foundation.

This scholarship is for smart, creative, and hard-working students who want to make a big difference in the world — in business, science, health, social work, and more.

The scholarship allows you to do a 1+1 MBA programme, which means:

✅ Year 1: You study for a Master’s degree (in a subject like Public Policy, Education, Science, Law, or more)
✅ Year 2: You go on to study for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Oxford’s Saïd Business School

So, in just two years, you get two powerful degrees from one of the best schools on Earth — all for free!

🧑‍🎓 Who Can Apply?

This scholarship is for postgraduate students — people who already have a university degree (Bachelor’s) and want to study more.

But not just anyone can apply. You must meet the rules below.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship:

1. 🧾 You must apply to a 1+1 MBA programme:

   • This means you must apply for both:

     • A one-year full-time Master’s programme that is officially listed as a 1+1 MBA partner programme, and

     • The Oxford MBA programme at Saïd Business School.

   • You must be admitted into both programmes to be considered.

2. ❌ You cannot apply if:

   • You are only waitlisted or re-evaluated — only students admitted directly are considered.

   • You apply for a Master’s that is not on the list of partnering programmes.

3. 🔁 Already Studying?

   • If you are already in your Master’s year and moving into your MBA year, you can apply, but only if you were not considered for the scholarship last year.

In simple words: if you’re applying for the Oxford 1+1 MBA programme and get accepted into both the Master’s and the MBA, you are eligible!

🌍 Who Can Apply From Around the World?

This scholarship is for everyone from every country.

So, whether you are from:

• Nigeria 🇳🇬

• India 🇮🇳

• Kenya 🇰🇪

• South Africa 🇿🇦

• Ghana 🇬🇭

• Pakistan 🇵🇰

• Philippines 🇵🇭

• USA 🇺🇸

• Brazil 🇧🇷

• Bangladesh 🇧🇩

• Or anywhere else 🌎

You are welcome to apply — as long as you meet the admission and eligibility requirements.

📚 What Can I Study?

There are many Master’s programmes you can choose from as part of the 1+1 MBA.

Here are a few examples of Master’s programmes that partner with the MBA:

• Master of Public Policy

• MSc in Education

• MSc in Social Science of the Internet

• MSc in Global Health Science

• MSc in Environmental Change and Management

• MSc in Law and Finance

• MSc in Social Anthropology

• MSc in Computer Science

• MSc in Development Studies

Once you complete the Master’s, you go straight into the MBA year.

You can find the full list of eligible programmes on the official Oxford 1+1 MBA page.

💰 What Does the Scholarship Cover?

This scholarship is fully funded, which means you don’t have to pay anything for your education.

Here’s what it includes:

1. 🎓 Full Tuition Fees

• The scholarship pays for all your university course fees for both years (your Master’s and your MBA).

• That’s two full degrees paid for — and Oxford is not cheap!

2. 💸 Living Grant

• You will receive at least £20,780 per year (for both years) to take care of your daily living costs.

• That means money for:

  • Rent

  • Food

  • Transport

  • Books

  • Personal expenses

• No need to worry about working part-time or struggling to survive!

In total, the value of this scholarship is over £90,000, which is more than ₦170 million Naira, depending on exchange rates!

🗓️ Deadline and Timeline

To be considered for the 2026 Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship, you must:

📅 Apply before January 7, 2026

That means:

• You must submit your 1+1 MBA application

• And apply for the MBA programme

• And apply for your chosen partner Master’s course

All applications must be done before the deadline, so don’t wait until the last minute!

✍️ How to Apply (Step-by-Step Guide)

Applying might sound like a lot, but let’s break it down in a very simple way:

Step 1: Choose Your Courses

• Go to the Oxford 1+1 MBA website

• Pick a Master’s course that is part of the 1+1 MBA programme

Step 2: Apply for Both Programmes

• You must submit two applications:

  1. Your Master’s course

  2. The Oxford MBA

You can apply for both at the same time via the Oxford graduate application system.

Step 3: Tick the Scholarship Box

• In your MBA application, you will see a section asking about the Pershing Square Scholarship.

• Make sure you tick the box to say you want to be considered.

Step 4: Submit Scholarship Essay

• You must write an essay (500 words max) answering the question:

  “How do you intend to change the world and what does this tell us about you as a person?”

• Be honest and passionate. Show them your dream and how you’ll make a real difference.

Step 5: Wait for Results

• If you’re shortlisted, you might be invited for an interview.

• Final scholarship decisions are usually made by late March.

🧠 What Are They Looking For?

The Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship is very competitive. They’re looking for exceptional students.

Here’s what helps:

• 💡 Big Ideas – You want to solve real-world problems (like poverty, climate change, inequality).

• ❤️ Passion – You really care about your goals and dreams.

• 🎓 Strong Academic Background – Good grades from your Bachelor’s degree.

• 🌍 Leadership & Impact – Have you led projects or helped your community? Show it!

• ✍️ Good Essay – Write a clear and heartfelt 500-word essay.

Even if you don’t have a perfect background, if you have a big vision and a strong desire to make a difference, you stand a good chance!

💬 Real-Life Examples

Here are some examples of people who might apply:

• A young doctor from Nigeria who wants to study Public Health and use an MBA to improve hospital systems across Africa.

• An environmental scientist from India who wants to fight climate change using business strategies.

• A tech expert from Ghana who wants to combine Computer Science and an MBA to create affordable digital education tools.

If that sounds like you — go for it!

📢 Final Words

The Oxford Pershing Square Graduate Scholarship is more than just a scholarship. It’s a life-changing opportunity.

You can earn two degrees at one of the most respected universities in the world, without worrying about school fees, rent, or food.

You will meet people from around the world, learn from top professors, and become part of a global network of changemakers.

👉 If you have a dream to change the world through leadership, innovation, or impact — this scholarship is for you.

APPLY HERE