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Contact our general manager with any questions. Profile updated: July 18, 2023.

University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School

MBA Program Stats

Annual Tuition: £83,770

Annual Tuition Non-Resident: £83,770

Full-Time Enrollment: 334

Median GMAT: 680

Median GRE: 160

International: 97%

Female: 51%

Male: 49%

What You Need To Know

Since 1996, ​​the one-year Oxford Saïd MBA has been empowering individuals to lead with purpose in order to make a meaningful impact in the world. This January, The Financial Times recognized Oxford as the winners in their inaugural global Responsible Business Education Awards, victorious in the ‘Best Schools’ and the ‘Academic Research’ categories – the only UK business school among five recipients selected by an international panel of judges.

Oxford is one of the oldest and most esteemed universities in the world, located in Oxford, England. The city is known for its stunning historic architecture, including the iconic Bodleian Library and Radcliffe Camera, attracting tourists, scholars, and literary enthusiasts from around the globe. There is an abundance of large companies within Oxford and in the general vicinity, just a short train journey to London.

The University is home to 39 colleges, yet no matter which a student lands in, most of the colleges are no more than a 15-minute walk from the city center and the Saïd Business School.

“‘My favorite aspect must be the privilege of seeing the arc of someone’s experience as they come onto the MBA – from their application through to being on the course, then becoming alum and witnessing their development in the future,” says Amy Major, MBA program director.

“Seeing how critical the experience and network MBAs build in Oxford is to their professional and personal journey is truly heart-warming. Particularly when sometimes I have the chance to play a small part in it. With a cohort of circa 320 students, I simply cannot get to know everyone, but a close understanding of the journey for some students is a true privilege,” she continues.

Academics And Programs

Oxford Saïd uniquely offers a 1+1 program that lets students take a one-year Oxford master’s degree from a list of partner programs followed by an MBA, allowing people to delve into a subject before capping it off with an MBA — a cost-effective alternative to the two-year MBA in the U.S.

The B-School welcomes 334 students annually on average with the passion and drive to meet the demands of the future. Core courses go beyond the conventional to include topics like entrepreneurship, responsible business, and leading with purpose in the 21st century.

Participants can also partake in an internship, which is not always the case in a one-year MBA.
The academic year is divided into modules, and alongside the conventional core business courses are electives that incorporate two cross-cutting themes: Entrepreneurship and Global Rules of the Game.

Highlights of the program include the Entrepreneurship Project, where students develop a complete business plan and present it to a panel of invited venture capitalists and other practitioners. Another highlight is Global Opportunities and Threats Oxford (GOTO), where students are challenged to use systems thinking to address some of the most complex issues that the world faces today.

During the summer months, MBAs take up internships or a six-week Strategic Consulting Project in a team of three to five for a corporate sponsor. Teams have worked with a wide range of companies, charities, nonprofits, and start-ups. 

Saïd Business School engages closely with the wider university to bring a multidisciplinary aspect to the Oxford MBA. This enables the program to provide an exciting mix of experiences and opportunities, from The Foundry – a university-wide innovation center devoted to starting new businesses, to debates at the famous Oxford Union, student-led clubs, career treks, globally renowned guest speakers, conferences, and many other opportunities – not to mention fancy dinners in ancient dining rooms.

The school regularly hosts guest speakers from diverse industries and organizes industry-focused events and conferences, providing students with valuable insights, networking opportunities, and exposure to current business trends.

Why Students Chose

“The key motivation for choosing Oxford was its focus on impact-driven careers and the network that it provides to explore the European impact investing industry. I also loved the course curriculum including programs like GOTO and Entrepreneurial Project that help students find solutions to global problems. My team is exploring Climate Reset as part of our GOTO project, where we are looking at using a systems thinking approach to the agriculture value chain of Mexico. Coming from the impact sector, I had heard about these concepts and the tools provided by the school will give me more confidence to use them in practice.” Taanya Khare (‘22)

“Growing up in the Caribbean, there is a certain respect for British schools which already narrowed my focus in choosing a business school to the UK. However, Saïd Business School’s focus on impact investment in its syllabus made it the easy choice. Throughout the course, we are constantly challenged in the way we think about creating portfolios, assessing investments, and advising companies. When we propose an integration of ESG goals, our lecturers ensure that this is done practically, recognizing all the obstacles, and eventually resulting in the innovation of new approaches to our business ideas. This was extremely important for me since my goals have always involved eventually returning to my home country Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, with a hope to make a meaningful change. Through our future businesses, we have the power to impact education, employment, crime, and economic growth. Since studying in the MBA at Saïd, I have been able to grapple with my ideas, ensuring that specific goals can be met whilst still being financially successful.” Samuel Bailey (‘22)

“I chose Oxford Saïd because of so many reasons, but two of the most important to me were the internationality and diversity of the talent that the school attracted, and the social impact focus the school bolsters. These were key deciding factors, as the network you get out of b-school is one of your greatest assets. I knew having the chance to meet and work with driven, intelligent people from all over the world on social impact problems that matter would be the opportunity of a lifetime.” Sonoma Jean (‘22)

“I was struck by the setbacks the pandemic evoked in the education sector across the globe and the rapidly widening education access gap. I wanted to help; I did not know how. Social impact is the prominent part of the Oxford MBA curriculum – few of our lectures fail to touch this subject. It is weaved into our Accounting, Marketing, Strategy modules amongst others. Then, of course, there is GOTO (Global Opportunities and Threats: Oxford). This is a formal part of our curriculum, where we work on a project to identify a systematic challenge the current world is facing – and then create and map a solution. There are many great projects in the works: helping refugees, combatting smoking, and building resilience to misinformation through education. You are pushed to come up with something that can really work and be implemented.” Mary Zhukovskaya (‘22)

“Students come to Oxford to experience the world through wonderful people; I am no different. However, apart from the people, a reason I chose Oxford was its focus on Entrepreneurship. While I didn’t see myself starting a venture immediately, I wanted to surround myself with entrepreneurs. With a dedicated Entrepreneurship Project as a part of the core curriculum, Creative Destruction Lab, and access to the broader entrepreneurship network at Oxford, the e-bug is rubbing off on me.” Sandeep T D S (‘22)

Career Stats

Compensation and Career Statistics of Oxford MBAs

Compensation   Statistics 2023 2022 2019 2018 2016 2015
Mean Base Salary £91,198 £83,410 £71,940 £72,618 £71,550 £59,638
MBAs Accepted Employment Offer 3 Months Post Graduation 82% 88% 87% 92% 91% 86%

Industry Choices of Oxford MBAs

Year 2023 2022 2019 2018 2017 2016
Consulting 27% 32% 32% 21% 23% 23%
Consumer Products 0% 1% 6% 7%
Finance 27% 27% 30% 27% 25%
Manufacturing 0% 0% 2% 3%
Technology 11% 0% 27% 24% 19%
Other 0% 2% 0% 0%
Impact 11% 5% 5% 8% 10% 10%
Energy 0% 3% 4% 5%
Healthcare 0% 4% 1% 2%
Retail 0% 1% 1% 0%
Global Industry 18% 15% 15% 0% 1% 0%
Media/Entertainment 21% 21% 1% 1% 6%
Transport 0% 2% 0% 0%
Financial Services 32%

 

Where Oxford’s MBAs Went To Work

2023 2022 2019 2018
AlixPartners Accenture CDC Group plc Accenture
Bain & Company Alvarez and Marsal Goldman Sachs BCG
BCG Amazon Houlihan Lokey Deloitte Consulting
EY-Parthenon Amazon Web Services KPMG EY
Kearney Bain & Company Neper Capital LLC EY-Parthenon
Roland Berger Bank of America Bain & Company McKinsey & Company
Bank of America BCG Boston Consulting Group Partners in Performance
Barclays Credit Suisse Deloitte Strategy&
Goldman Sachs Dalberg McKinsey & Company American Express
JP Morgan EY-Parthenon Partners in Performance Fosun International
Morgan Stanley Google Amazon Adobe
Amazon Guidehouse Amazon Web Services Agoda
Apple IBM Genpact Amazon
NBC Inovia Capital Google Estee Lauder Companies
Google Liberty Global Johnson & Johnson Facebook
Siemens Marriott International Shopee Google
Steinway and Sons SAPI Uber
Clinton Health Access Initiative t2.world Yandex
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation TomTom
McKinsey & Company McKinsey & Company McKinsey & Company Microsoft Corporation
Human Rights Watch

Admissions For Said Business School

From Oxford University 

A transformational role in a global business? Founding and growing your startup? Making change happen through finance or consulting? Solving problems from the ground up in a social enterprise? The Oxford MBA is an intensive and flexible one-year programme focused on helping you to achieve career success and to make a lasting impact, wherever you work.

Saïd Business School at Oxford University blends the best of new and old. We are a young, vibrant, innovative business school deeply embedded in an 800-year-old world-class university.

Discover the Oxford MBA.

A year in Oxford not enough? Learn more about the opportunity to earn two degrees in two years with the Oxford 1+1 MBA. Combine a specialist Master’s from the University of Oxford with our MBA.

Admissions process

We operate a staged admissions process and we strongly encourage you to apply as early as possible, particularly if you are interested in applying for any of our scholarships. View our application deadlines and requirements.

Meet us

Our School representatives are travelling to cities around the world to meet with prospective candidates like you. Visit our website to browse our events listing for the opportunity to meet with us as well as our alumni.

Careers

The Career Development Centre is dedicated to help you finding and prepare for a role that suits your skill set and meets your career aspirations, whether you are looking to explore, accelerate, or transition in an alternative direction.

We have developed five pathways to help you navigate your way through the programme:

  • Consulting
  • Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Impact
  • Finance
  • Global Industry
  • Technology

These pathways will allow you to make informed choices, both curricular and co-curricular, throughout the year. You will be able to move between these pathways depending on your aspirations and interests, which we know from experience can change during your year in Oxford.

Learn more about careers.

Life at Oxford

As an Oxford MBA, you will belong to one of the University’s 38 autonomous colleges, each a self-governing academic community of students and faculty with its own distinctive history and identity. The application process requires you to specify a college of your choice. Through your college, you will have the opportunity to connect with the brightest minds from across the University.

Explore college life.

Essay Questions For Said Business School

With your application, you will need to submit a supporting statement in answer to the following question: Tell us something that is not covered in your application that you would like the Admissions Committee to know about you. (Maximum 250 words) You will also need to complete an online assessment. This comprises: – Two motivation-based questions via video – all candidates will answer the same questions. Example: Why is an MBA the next step for you to further your career? – One competency-based question via video – this will be randomised. Example: Take a minute to tell us about a time when you’ve overcome a challenging situation, either professionally or personally. What was your approach to resolving the situation? – Written response – this will be randomised and light-hearted. Example: Apples are more versatile than bananas. Discuss

Student Features For Said Business School

Meet Oxford Saïd’s MBA Class Of 2023

A look at some of this year's most promising graduates

Meet Oxford Saïd’s MBA Class Of 2022

A promising class looking to tackle "world scale problems."

Meet Oxford Saïd’s MBA Class Of 2021

Purpose-driven class brings a diversity of experience to Oxford

2023 Best & Brightest MBA: Diego Rojas Arancibia, University of Oxford (Saïd)

“An always energized Latin American passionate for social impact”

2023 Best & Brightest MBA: Benoit Dubief, University of Oxford (Saïd)

“Driven, forward-looking strategist bringing together consulting, product management and technology towards digital impact at scale”

2022 Best & Brightest MBA: Daniel Bu, University of Oxford (Saïd)

“Focused and adventurous future surgeon working to enable and scale surgical innovation in emerging markets”

2023 MBA To Watch: Katherine Dellar, University of Oxford (Saïd)

“Optimistic, empathetic and joke-cracking former diplomat who believes capitalism can change for the better”

2023 MBA To Watch: Tochi Ginigeme, University of Oxford (Saïd)

“I am an incurable optimist; passionate about empowering African youths and women through entrepreneurship”

2022 MBA To Watch: Asha Scaria Vettoor, University of Oxford (Saïd)

“Trying to balance MBA, friendships, business and 100 other things happening at Oxford, without FOMO”

2021 MBAs To Watch: Dave Muriuki, University of Oxford (Saïd)

“Deeply curious about how the world around me truly works”

2021 MBAs To Watch: Sophia Watkins, University of Oxford (Saïd)

“Gringa chola — seeking international perspectives with a heart rooted in rural South America”

School Features

Oxford Saïd Announces 2023 Cohort Of Skoll Scholars

Each of the five candidates already brings impressive achievements to the table in the social equity space

Meet The Oxford Saïd MBA Skoll Scholars

These 4 students in the 2021-2022 cohort are accomplished entrepreneurs & social change makers

Congrats to Kejia Hu of Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management and Oxford University Said Business School for being named a 2023 Best 40 Under 40 MBA Professor.

2023 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors: Kejia Hu, Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management, Oxford University Said Business School

Congrats to Kejia Hu of Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management and Oxford University Said Business School for being named a 2023 Best 40 Under 40 MBA Professor.

2020 Best 40 Under 40 Professors: Michael Gill, Oxford Saïd Business School

'From the moment Mike Gill steps in front of a classroom, it is clear how passionate he is about teaching'

MBA Watch For Said Business School

MBA Watch is where thousands of MBA applicants not only get to tell their story but have John A. Byrne, MBA admissions coaches and our audience, assess their odds of admission and get help to improve their chances of getting in!

Mr. Strategy Consulting Future

Completed school in India.

Mr. Commercial Lawyer

Commercial Lawyer - Leading a team of lawyers who support fortune 500 MNCs negotiate multi-million dollar strategic business contracts cutting across different areas.

Mr. Commercial Engineer

Graduated as Chemical Engineer and started a career as Business Development in a small chemical trading company.

Mr. Pharma Manager

Lead manager for data insights/planning for the largest pharmaceutical group in Brazil, with 11 people under management.

Mr. Impact Underdog

I'm looking to bring a strong sense of purpose in my career by transitioning fully to social impact.

Mr. Green Business

An ex-commercial fisherman that turned to the 'green side' and pursue a career helping public and private actors in the global commodities sectors improve their ESG profiles.

Mr. Strategy Consultant

I am a corporate strategy and operation consulting professional with more than 6 years of experience in the energy sector.

Mr. Versatility

I've become a bit of a jack of all trades.

Mr. Rail

Hi, thanks for reading my profile.

Ms. Audit Meme

Russian, UK resident.

Rankings Data For Said Business School

Year Poets&Quants
2023-2024 16
2022-2023 4
2021-2022 4
2020-2021 10
2019-2020 8

News Coverage For Said Business School

Oxford Saïd Tops The 2024 QS Executive MBA Ranking

U.S. and European schools once again dominate QS' latest ranking of 194 global executive education programs.

2024 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors: Agni Orfanoudaki, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

Congrats to Agni Orfanoudaki of Saïd Business School, University of Oxford for being named a 2024 Best 40 Under 40 MBA Professor.

How Oxford Saïd Achieved Gender Parity: P&Q’s Exclusive Interview With Program Director Amy Major

Oxford Saïd Business School achieved a historic milestone by enrolling 51% women in its MBA class for the first time. Here's how

Historic: Oxford Saïd Enrolls 51% Women In Its MBA

In a first for a European B-school, Oxford's Saïd School breaks the gender equity barrier — and explains how it did it

Oxford Saïd Announces 2023 Cohort Of Skoll Scholars

Each of the five candidates already brings impressive achievements to the table in the social equity space

MBAT at HEC Paris

At MBA Olympics, It’s Oxford Saïd Again Over HEC Paris

A fifth consecutive MBA Olympics championship for Oxford's Saïd Business School

MBAT

At HEC Paris, The MBA Games Begin!

Some 1,300 MBA students and their partners arrive at HEC Paris for the MBA Olympics

Entrepreneurs Flock To Oxford’s Most Popular Program, Which Expands To Meet The Demand

Plus: 15 deans of top business schools meet to discuss the future of business education; Syracuse unveils a new tech certification

2022 Most Disruptive MBA Startups: Aya, University of Oxford (Saïd)

Providing intelligent patient management for mental health providers

2022 Most Disruptive MBA Startups: Anfani, University of Oxford (Saïd)

"Energy broker for the unbanked and underserved in sub-Saharan Africa"

From A War Zone To Oxford’s Hottest Degree Program: One Ukrainian Student’s Journey

How a young journalist hopes Oxford's Smith School will equip her with the skills & knowledge to lead a green post-war future

Why Oxford Has Become Europe’s Leader In MBA Gender Equality

UK B-school is on a mission to 'end gender inequality in business once and for all'

Looking Back To Look Forward: How Oxford Saïd’s MBA Class Has Changed In 25 Years 

Oxford no long a place for just philosophers, poets, and novelists

Overwhelming Demand: Oxford Hit By Tsunami Of Apps To New Sustainability Master’s

More than 600 apply for just 25 seats in Smith School program