Spotlight on Oxford Saïd Business School
Everything you need to know about getting an MBA from Oxford: how to apply, what to expect and how to fund your Oxford MBA.
Ready to learn everything you need to know about business masters degrees at Oxford University’s Saïd School of Business? You're in the right place!
No one knows exactly when Oxford University began - which is a testament to how old and prestigious this institution is. However, Saïd Business School was founded in 1996 with roots stretching back to 1965 when the Oxford Centre for Management Studies began to offer classes.
In 2001, with a benefaction from Wafic Saïd, the school took the name of this philanthropist and businessman. Over the years, the school has risen in prominence and continually ranks highly on business school rankings.
A quick look at the latest Oxford SBS MBA class
Class size: 334
Average age: 28
Average work experience: 5.2 years
Female participation: 41%
Nationalities: 60
MBA students from outside UK: 92.5%
What can you study at Oxford University Saïd School of Business?
Currently ranked as the Best Business School by the Times Higher Education awards, it’s also number three according to Bloomberg Businessweek’s full time International MBA ranking and number three in the UK on the Financial Times' Global MBA ranking. Along with a host of other rankings and awards, this is certainly a reputable business school.
Oxford Saïd MBA job placement
Recruiting and career preparation seems to happen continuously at Oxford Saïd, with potential employers appearing on campus regularly for corporate presentations and workshops, in order to recruit students.
In addition, MBAs have a chance to connect with companies through career treks, internships, and various elective options.
The important thing to remember is that companies are looking for motivated individuals, and as long as you’re willing to put in the effort, Oxford will assist you with tools and resources for your career search - or startup plans.
What's it like to live at Oxford University?
At Oxford, your college becomes a central part of life both on and off campus. Nearly 60% of all full-time grad students secure housing within their colleges, though the Graduate Accommodation Office also lets and manages flats and rooms around campus.
(Keep in mind that Oxford University requires full-time students to live within 25 miles of the city centre.)
With the importance on your college - with everything from dining to studying - it might be worth your time to explore the various colleges and halls, though the University can also assign you to a college if you don’t have a preference from the outset.
Want to know more about life at Oxford? Check out this student video:
How to get into Oxford Saïd Business
As a top-ranked school, Oxford Saïd has a competitive admissions process with around one in four applicants receiving an offer. You’ll want to spend plenty of time crafting your essays as well as studying for the GMAT (and TOEFL or IELTS if you need it).
Annually, Oxford Saïd’s MBA class is over 90% international and you’ll certainly want to demonstrate your ability to communicate and work with people from diverse backgrounds. And, the school is concerned with developing solutions to global and social problems as well as ethical dilemmas, so you may want to include examples of your experiences in these areas.
Fit is (as with many top international MBA programmes) a big deal to the Oxford admissions committee, and you’ll want to be clear about why Saïd is right for you and how you plan give back to the community. While it’s hardly a requirement, it’s often worth a campus visit before submitting your application as it demonstrates your intentions - and can provide direction and inspiration for your essays.
Interviews are conducted in various countries, over Skype, or on-campus if you can manage it. Of course, not everyone receives an invite and you may want to take advantage of the school’s offer to provide a preliminary review of your chances before completing a full application. This involves sending through a CV according to Saïd’s current guidelines.
While previous education, GMAT scores, or work experience aren’t a guarantee if admission or rejection, you may want to keep in mind some norms when compiling your application as you may want to provide further explanations for troubling areas.
Minimum undergrad GPA: 3.5/4
Average GMAT score: 690
Average years of work experience: 5.2
Oxford Saïd MBA deadlines: 2019/20
Additional costs to consider:
Set-up costs
Health insurance
Travel to and from Oxford
Social events (eg the MBA Tournament: +/- £425 or college balls: +/- £100)
International electives (£1030 - £1250 per elective)
Career treks (£1030 - £1550 per trek)
Does Oxford Saïd Business School offer scholarships to international students?
There are more than 1100 fully-funded scholarships offered for new graduate students enrolling for the 2018/2019 academic year. These scholarships cover course and college fees, as well as a grant for living costs.
However it’s worth noting that the majority of scholarships are given to applicants who submit their applications by the January deadline, which may prompt some applicants to work a little faster or hold off their applications for an extra year.
Scholarships, whether they’re school-wide or given by a college, often don’t require more than the standard application to the university; if you meet the criteria, you will be considered. However, notification of awards can happen at any time.
TIP: You can reduce the amount of your Prodigy Finance loan at any point until you arrive on campus; you can apply for a loan now to secure your funding and and student visa and reduce it if you receive scholarships later.
Prodigy Finance international student loans for Oxford University
Prodigy Finance offers loans for international masters students at Saïd Business School at Oxford University.
Students from supported countries pursuing masters programmes that can be completed in less than 2 years are eligible to apply.
Maximum loan amount: up to 80% of the school-provided cost of attendance (tuition plus living expenses)
Minimum loan amount: £10,000 or $15,000
Typical interest rates: 5-7.5% (fixed) over the 3-month GBP Libor base rate (variable)
All loans disbursed directly to the university according to due dates
Prodigy Finance also supports loans for Oxford University students pursuing masters degrees at this school:
Ready to transform your future with a MBA from Oxford?
Prodigy Finance provides loans to international masters students pursuing their masters degrees at the Saïd Business School at Oxford University.
If you want to go ahead and know the difference between master of science and master of engineering, or if you want to know what and where to study, try our Study Centre which is filled with expert opinions on a range of topics.
For any other information about Prodigy Finance, or our student loan process, feel free to browse through our site, or register for a webinar to have your questions answered by one of our team.
