Skoll Scholarship (University of Oxford) For International Students UK
The Skoll Scholarship is a highly selective, full-tuition MBA scholarship, administered by the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.
It’s designed for social entrepreneurs — people who are already working (or have worked) in ventures or initiatives that address social or environmental challenges. The scholarship helps amplify their impact by giving them business education, access to the global Skoll and Oxford networks, and some living-expense support.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the Skoll Scholarship, you need to meet several criteria. Highlighted below are the main ones:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Entrepreneurial Action / Social Impact Experience | You should have at least 3 years of experience in one of the following: starting or growing a social venture; leading a significant social initiative within an organization; or having an impact-career (i.e. using entrepreneurial approaches to tackle a consistent social or environmental issue). |
| Demonstrable Outcomes & Systems Change Orientation | It is not enough just to have done something; you must show outcomes (impact) and a systemic mindset — how what you’ve done challenges underlying unjust systems/practices. |
| Personal Qualities of a Social Entrepreneur | Things like persistence, willingness to take risk, “bias toward action”, humility, ability to learn from failure, ability to “apprentice with the problem” (i.e. understand deeply the issues you address) are important. |
| Why an MBA at Oxford is essential at this stage | You need to show that the Oxford MBA (and its networks/skills) are critical for your trajectory. What you want to do post-MBA should be clearer: how you will use the MBA to scale or improve your impact, etc. |
| Financial Need | The scholarship is aimed at those for whom the cost of the MBA is a significant burden. You’ll likely need to articulate your financial situation, why you need the scholarship. |
| MBA Admissions Requirements | Since the scholarship is linked to the Oxford MBA, you must apply for (and be accepted into) the Oxford Saïd Business School full-time MBA programme. Also satisfy requirements like GMAT/GRE, English language tests, etc. |
What It Covers
- Full tuition fees for the Oxford MBA.
- Partial contribution to living expenses. (It’s not always full stipend; you’ll need to check whether your needs match what is provided.)
- Access to the Skoll Scholars community (networking, mentorship, alumni, etc.), which can be very valuable for growing your social venture or impact work.
How to Apply
Here’s the typical process, stage by stage:
- Express interest / register (if required) to keep updated about deadlines. (Gbosky PG Resmi)
- Apply to the Oxford MBA at Saïd Business School during an MBA admissions stage (Stage 1, 2, etc.). When you apply for the MBA, in the “Funding” section, you’ll find the Skoll Scholarship essay questions. You must submit those as part of your MBA application.
- MBA Admissions assessment: The MBA admissions team first evaluates your MBA application. If you’re accepted, your application is forwarded to the Skoll Scholarship Selection Committee automatically.
- Shortlisting & forms: If shortlisted, you’ll receive a Logistics & Reference Form from the Skoll Centre. That involves confirming details, references, etc.
- Interviews: There are online interview stages (often more than one stage) for final‐selection.
- Decision and subsequent commitments: If selected, you’ll receive a letter of agreement. There are expectations of what you’ll do during and after the MBA: e.g. being an ambassador, supporting fellow‐entrepreneurs, contributing to the Skoll-community, etc.
Relatable Examples
These are drawn from actual Skoll Scholars or realistic hypothetical scenarios to show how people have succeeded or what their paths look like.
- Real Scholar Example – Fola (Nigeria)
Fola co-founded ElectricFish Energy, a company aiming to provide resilient electricity solutions in vulnerable locations. Her venture addressed energy equity, especially in hard-to-reach areas, and she had done work that combined research and practical deployment. She was part of a cohort of Skoll Scholars representing Nigeria. - Example – Gender Equality / Women’s Empowerment
Nitya Nangalia from India: worked with SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association), helping women in rural and urban settings set up collective businesses, incubate them, accelerate them, etc. Her work showed a consistent thread of social impact, movement building, and clear outcomes. She then decided to pursue an MBA to better scale those operations. - Hypothetical Example
Suppose Jane from Ghana started an NGO five years ago focused on improving clean water access in peri-urban settlements. Over the years she has grown the NGO, brought in measurable change (say increasing access to clean water for millions, reducing water-borne diseases) and collaborated with local government. She applies for Oxford MBA, includes her venture’s impact numbers, shows how business skills (finance, scaling, operations) would help her increase reach or make the organization more sustainable. She also shows she comes from a situation where funding is difficult and the MBA fees would be burdensome. She does the Skoll essay, gets shortlisted, interviews well, etc. She wins the scholarship.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting MBA application without including Skoll essay / responses. If you skip the “Funding / Skoll” portion, you’ll be ineligible.
- Thinking that having many different “social projects” loosely is as strong as having a single venture or initiative focused on one area. The criteria emphasize a “core thread” (a consistent social/environmental challenge). Having spread too thin or not showing depth can weaken your case.
- Weak demonstration of impact. It’s not enough to say “we aimed to help people” — you need metrics, outcomes, evidence of systems change or scaling or influence.
- Not planning or preparing essays well: the Skoll essays demand clarity, reflection (on failures, learnings), ability to articulate your vision post-MBA.
- Underestimating timelines: MBA application deadlines are strict; the scholarship process is tied to MBA admissions stages. Missing deadlines or submitting late reduces your chance.
- Unclear post-MBA plan: If you don’t show how the MBA will help scale your social venture / initiative or how it fits into your future trajectory, you appear less compelling.
- Overlooking financial need dimension: some candidates focus too much on impact and neglect to explain why financial support is necessary. Even if you have some funding, you must show why it’s not enough.
Final Thoughts
The Skoll Scholarship is among the most powerful opportunities for someone committed to social change: combining the prestige of Oxford, the learning, the network, and the financial freedom to focus on impact rather than just funding.
