The Oxford 1+1 MBA offers ambitious students the opportunity to combine a specialist master’s degree at the University of Oxford with the Oxford MBA. The two-year, full-time programme combines advanced subject expertise with business and leadership education, with up to six full scholarships available through the Pershing Square Scholarship.
Background & Programme Description
The Oxford 1+1 MBA is a distinctive two-year programme offered by Oxford Saïd Business School. It allows students to combine a master’s degree from a participating University of Oxford department with the one-year Oxford MBA.
The programme is designed for individuals who want to develop specialist expertise while also gaining the management and leadership skills needed to apply that knowledge to complex challenges in business and society.
Students spend their first year completing their chosen master’s programme and their second year studying for the Oxford MBA.
The programme is full-time and delivered in person in Oxford.
According to the programme information provided, available start dates include September 2026 and September 2027.
How the Oxford 1+1 MBA Works
The structure of the programme is divided into two academic years.
Year One: Specialist Master’s Degree
Students begin with a master’s degree from one of the participating Oxford departments.
Examples of partnering programmes listed include:
- Master of Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government
- MSc in Computer Science at the Department of Computer Science
- MSc in International Health and Tropical Medicine at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine
- MSc in Environmental Change and Policy at the School of Geography and the Environment
The available partnering programmes may have different admission requirements, application procedures and deadlines.
Applicants must therefore carefully review the requirements for their selected master’s programme.
Year Two: Oxford MBA
In the second year, students transition into the Oxford MBA at Saïd Business School.
The MBA provides training in core business principles alongside elective courses designed to allow students to broaden their management and leadership capabilities.
The programme is intended to help students connect the specialist knowledge acquired during their master’s degree with practical business and management applications.
Students also gain access to the Saïd Business School community, including fellow students, academics, business leaders and alumni.
Who Can Apply?
The Oxford 1+1 MBA does not have one single admissions process.
Applicants must independently satisfy the entry requirements of both programmes:
- Their chosen partnering master’s degree.
- The Oxford MBA.
The two applications are submitted separately, and each programme has its own admissions requirements and deadlines.
Applicants should therefore research both programmes before starting their applications.
Application Process
Step 1: Apply for the Partnering Master’s Programme
Applicants first need to select one of the participating master’s programmes.
The application must be submitted according to the requirements and deadline of that individual programme.
The supplied information states that partnering master’s programmes have their own application forms, requirements and deadlines, with applications required by their January deadline.
Some shortlisted master’s applicants may also be interviewed.
Successful applicants receive an offer for their selected master’s programme.
Step 2: Apply for the Oxford MBA
Applicants must separately apply to the Oxford MBA.
For the 2027–28 intake, the supplied information gives the MBA application deadline as Wednesday 6 January 2027.
Applicants for the 1+1 MBA must indicate within their MBA application that they are applying for the 1+1 programme.
In addition to the standard written statement and online assessment required for the Oxford MBA, 1+1 applicants must answer an additional essay question:
“Explain why you see the 1+1 MBA as particularly beneficial for you and how it fits with your career and personal development aims.”
The response has a maximum of 250 words.
Shortlisted MBA applicants will be interviewed.
Possible Admission Outcomes
There are several possible outcomes after completing the two applications.
Admitted to Both Programmes
If an applicant is admitted to both the master’s and MBA programmes, they become an Oxford 1+1 MBA student.
Students remain in the same Oxford college for both years, with the college choice determined by the partner programme.
Admitted to the Master’s but Not the MBA
Applicants who receive a master’s offer but are not admitted to the MBA can accept the master’s place.
They may also apply again for the MBA while completing their master’s degree.
Admitted to the MBA but Not the Master’s
If an applicant receives an MBA offer but is unsuccessful in their chosen master’s application, the MBA admissions committee may offer the applicant the opportunity to join the MBA in the first year.
Alternatively, the application may be rejected.
Pershing Square Scholarship
One of the most significant funding opportunities connected with the Oxford 1+1 MBA is the Pershing Square Scholarship.
According to the supplied programme information, the Pershing Square Foundation awards up to six full scholarships each year to outstanding 1+1 MBA students.
The scholarship covers:
- Full course fees for the master’s degree
- Full course fees for the MBA
- A grant towards living expenses for both degrees
The scholarship is aimed at exceptional applicants who demonstrate the potential and commitment to developing scalable and sustainable solutions to major global social challenges.
Applicants interested in the scholarship should carefully review its separate eligibility and application requirements.
Programme Benefits
The Oxford 1+1 MBA is particularly suited to students who want to combine academic specialization with business education.
The programme offers exposure to:
- Specialist master’s-level study
- Business and management education
- Leadership development
- International networking
- Career and professional development resources
- Interdisciplinary learning
- Academic and business communities at Oxford
- Global alumni networks
Students also have access to the career and professional development resources of Oxford Saïd Business School throughout their time in Oxford.
Duration and Study Format
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Programme | Oxford 1+1 MBA |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Study mode | Full time |
| Format | In person |
| Location | Oxford |
| Structure | Master’s degree + one-year MBA |
| Start dates listed | September 2026, September 2027 |
| Scholarship | Pershing Square Scholarship |
| Full scholarships | Up to 6 annually |
Why Consider the Oxford 1+1 MBA?
The programme is designed for students who do not want to choose between developing deep specialist expertise and gaining advanced business knowledge.
Instead, the 1+1 model combines both.
A student interested in public policy, technology, healthcare, environmental change or another specialist area can first develop advanced knowledge through an Oxford master’s degree before applying business and leadership principles through the MBA.
This combination can be particularly relevant for candidates seeking careers that sit at the intersection of business, public policy, technology, sustainability and social impact.
Important Application Advice
Applicants should avoid treating the 1+1 MBA as a single application.
The official programme information makes clear that two separate applications are required.
Candidates should therefore:
- Identify an eligible partnering master’s programme.
- Review its specific admission requirements.
- Check its application deadline.
- Prepare the master’s application separately.
- Review Oxford MBA eligibility requirements.
- Prepare the MBA application.
- Clearly indicate their 1+1 MBA intention.
- Prepare the additional 250-word 1+1 essay.
- Check the separate scholarship requirements if applying for the Pershing Square Scholarship.
Because requirements and deadlines can vary between partnering programmes, applicants should rely on the official Oxford pages for the latest information before submitting an application.
Final Thoughts
The Oxford 1+1 MBA provides a distinctive pathway for students who want to combine specialist academic training with an internationally recognized MBA.
The two-year structure allows participants to spend their first year completing a partnering master’s degree before undertaking the Oxford MBA in the second year.
For students interested in combining specialist expertise, leadership, business education and social impact, the programme offers an unusual opportunity to build these capabilities within the University of Oxford.
The Pershing Square Scholarship, which provides up to six full scholarships according to the information supplied, can make the opportunity particularly attractive to outstanding candidates pursuing solutions to major global challenges.
Official programme: Oxford 1+1 MBA – Saïd Business School
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