MBA in Oxford University's Saïd Business School

Saïd Business School, also known as Oxford Saïd or SBS, is the management and business education arm of the University of Oxford. Apart from addressing the present-day management challenges, Oxford Saïd business school MBA focuses on the challenges and opportunities that business leaders may face twenty-five years from now. The college is consistently ranked among the world’s best B-schools.

Saïd Business School Ranking

Saïd Business School MBA Programs

Saïd Business School conducts a total of three types of MBA programs.

MBA

The 1-year MBA program provides you with enough opportunities to develop global connections. The rigorous academic curriculum is designed to grow your strategic skill set and build a thought process befitting a global leader.

1+1 MBA

It’s a joint degree program where you can pursue a Master’s degree from selected Oxford University departments in the first year, followed by the MBA program in the second year.

Executive MBA

The Executive MBA program is suitable for senior-level executives willing to advance their careers by upgrading their skillset and developing an international perspective. The average age for this program is 41 years.

Saïd Business School MBA Class Profile

The class profile of the Oxford Saïd business school MBA class of 2021-2022 reflects the level of diversity the b-school has. Besides, it can give you an idea about your prospects of getting selected into their MBA program.

Oxford MBA Deadlines and Fees

Disclaimer: The dates have been retrieved from the official B-school website. Applicants are advised to check the school website before applying as the dates may be subject to change.

Oxford University MBA fees approximately cost around £68,790. The prices change with every academic session, so check the official website for the latest MBA cost.

At the current pound-Indian Rupee exchange rates, the Oxford University MBA fees for Indian students stand well above Rs 65 lakhs which is a big amount for most Indian applicants. However, you can avail of various scholarships to reduce the burden of Oxford MBA fees.

Saïd Business School Scholarship

A Saïd business school scholarship is usually merit-based. If you want to fund your MBA education with scholarships, apply right during the application phase by ticking the relevant box in the ‘Funding’ section of your application form. You may have to submit an essay for some of the B-school’s funding.

Some notable scholarships are

• Saïd Business School Foundation Scholarship
• Forté Fellowships for Women
• Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships (Additional application required)

Saïd Business School MBA Application Requirements

Before delving deeper into the admission process, let’s first look at the Oxford University MBA requirements and the things you need to prepare beforehand.

Undergraduate Degree

You’ll need to upload details of all your university degrees, like academic transcripts or mark sheets. The transcripts should contain information about the subjects you studied and the grades/marks you obtained in them.

Saïd Business Schoo Average GMAT Score

The GMAT score can reflect your academic prowess to undergo the rigours of MBA education. While a GMAT score alone isn’t the deciding factor, a good score helps in highlighting your application. The Oxford Saïd business school MBA program doesn’t have any minimum GMAT requirement. However, a score of 650 or above is usually considered good.

English Language Proficiency

Non-native English speakers need to prove their English language proficiency through any of the recognized tests such as TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Certificate, etc.

Work Experience

Saïd Business School asks for at least two years of full-time work experience for its MBA program. However, the average work experience of a class is usually 5 years or more. The details of your work experience should be on a one-page CV. Your work experience should have evidence of your career progression, leadership potential, and international exposure.

Career Plan

The admission committee would like to know your career plans after your MBA. You should also be able to demonstrate how the Oxford Saïd business school MBA program can help you acquire the necessary skills to reach your post-MBA career goals.

In other words, you should be able to convince the committee that you have researched well and you know how your MBA degree can bridge the gap between your present professional status and future career goals.

Essay

You’ll have to submit an essay as part of your application. The maximum word limit is usually 250 words on a given topic. The topic of the Oxford MBA essay is usually to know the applicants better and their way of thinking. You can find the current topic here.

Apart from this,

1+1 MBA applicants will have to submit an additional 250-word essay explaining why the program can be beneficial to them and how it fits with their aim of personal development and furthering their career. Re-applicants must submit an additional 250-word essay on what are the improvements they made since their first attempt.

Online Assessment

Once you submit your application for MBA in Oxford University, you’ll see a link in your application status portal to register with Kira Talent, the in-house online assessment platform of Saïd Business School. The link will be active up to 24 hours after submitting your application.

Therefore, you should be prepared to complete the online assessment within the stipulated time. The assessment process will take up to 30 minutes. You can also have a few practice sessions before going live.

The assessment will consist of four questions as follows

Two Motivation-based Questions

Demonstrate why the Saïd business school MBA will be right for you and the motivation behind choosing the course.

One Competence-based Question

Show your skills like decision-making, problem-solving, and leadership that make you an ideal candidate for the Saïd Business School MBA program.

One Written Response

The written response will be light-hearted. Its purpose is to test your wit and ability to think on your feet.

Reference Letters

During the online application process, you’ll need to submit two references. Once you submit the details of your referees, the business school will send an email to them containing the details regarding completing the online reference form. Your referees should have professional/institutional email ids and not general email ids like Gmail or Yahoo.

Saïd Business School MBA Application Process

If you meet all the Oxford University MBA requirements, as mentioned in the previous section, you can now proceed with the application process. The application process will have the following three stages.

Submission of Online Application

You’ll have to submit the complete online application form with the following requirements-

• A one-page CV highlighting your professional work experience
• GMAT score 
• English language proficiency test score 
• Academic transcripts
• Two professional references
• Application fees of £150 (subject to change)

Interview

After evaluating your application form, you can be shortlisted for the interview. The interview can be conducted on campus or through video conferences (Skype, Zoom, etc.).

The interview would be on your background, personal goals and aspirations, and the relevance of the MBA degree in your future plans.

Final Decision

If the admission committee selects you for the MBA program at Oxford Saïd Business School, you’ll receive an admission offer. At this stage, you’ll need to pay a deposit fee to secure your place, as mentioned in the offer.

The brand “Oxford” has a solid brand-recall value world over. The University of Oxford is well respected for maintaining high academic standards consistently over a long period. The same focus on excellence is reflected in the Saïd business school MBA programs. Besides, you can expect a significant rise in your employability and median salary with an Oxford MBA.

FAQs related to Oxford Saïd business school MBA

1. How hard is it to get into the Oxford Saïd business school MBA program?

Saïd business school has an acceptance rate of 20 %, indicating a highly selective admission process. But that is quite expected from a business school of global repute. You can definitely crack their admission code through proper planning, hard work, and determination.

2. I have teaching experience in a reputed college. Am I eligible to apply?

Of course. Saïd business school welcomes people from diverse backgrounds such as teaching, armed forces, non-profit, etc.

3. I am 37 years old. Can I still apply?

There are no age-related restrictions. Saïd Business School MBA class has people in the age range of 23 to 40.

4. I haven’t received the interview call. Does that mean my application is rejected?

Whether you’ve been shortlisted for the interview or not, you will receive communication about it from the business school. So, please be patient until the final decision deadline.