Oxford MBA Application Guide

Oxford Saïd seeks MBA candidates who possess a robust professional background, demonstrating significant experience in diverse and multicultural settings. Ideal applicants will exhibit remarkable maturity and exemplary leadership qualities, enabling them to enrich classroom discussions with valuable insights drawn from both their professional journeys and personal experiences. Additionally, a solid academic foundation is essential for candidates to thrive in this dynamic learning environment.

The program values individuals who can bring unique perspectives and contribute meaningfully to the collective learning experience. Candidates should be prepared to engage actively with their peers, leveraging their varied experiences to foster a rich and collaborative educational atmosphere. This blend of professional expertise, cultural awareness, and academic strength is crucial for those aspiring to join the esteemed MBA community at Oxford Saïd.

All applicants are required to have completed a recognised undergraduate degree

• All university degree academic transcripts/mark-sheets need to be uploaded
• These must outline the subjects studied or grades obtained from each academic year
• If the original transcripts are not in English, applicants must also supply an official translation
• Oxford welcomes applications from candidates with a First (1:1) or Upper Second Class (2:1) undergraduate degree or GPA of at least 3.5/4.0 (or the international equivalent). However, the university is open to considering applicants with lower degree classifications, provided they can showcase significant career advancement and strong GMAT or GRE scores
• ACCA Professional Qualifications: Oxford considers the ACCA Qualification to be roughly equivalent to a degree level, but this applies only to those who have successfully completed the first nine papers (the Fundamentals level). In this case, candidates can apply for the Oxford MBA program without holding a conventional degree. However, Oxford will expect a solid performance on the GMAT or GRE to showcase the applicant’s overall academic capabilities

GMAT/GRE test score

• Oxford accepts both the original GMAT and the GMAT Focus Edition. The school doesn’t ask for a minimum score, but GMAT scores of 650 or above are considered competitive
• A GRE verbal score of 160 and a quantitative score of 160 is considered competitive, however Oxford does accept all scores
• Oxford doesn’t accept mix and match scores – only the highest score achieved

English language capability

• Accepted test scores:
  • TOEFL: Minimum 110 in total (minimum 22-Listening, 24-Reading, 24-Writing, 25-Speaking)
  • IELTS: Minimum band 7.5 (component minimum of 7.0)
  • Cambridge Certificate C1 Advanced or C2: Minimum 191 (185 for each component)
• English language waiver: At the discretion of the Admissions Committee, the requirement to provide English language test scores may be waived if candidates have completed, or are currently completing a degree-level course that is:
  • full-time
  • at least nine months in duration
  • undertaken at a recognised institution where teaching and assessment throughout the course is undertaken entirely in English; and
  • has been completed within 2 years of the start date of the course to which the candidate is applying
• Candidates can also apply for a waiver based on professional experience if:
  • they have worked for a minimum of two years in a majority English speaking country where the main language for the role was English
  • their role involved daily professional use of each of the four language components (reading, writing, listening, and speaking)
  • they worked in an appropriately technical context to demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in an academic environment; and
  • their role has ended no more than two years before the start date of the course to which they are applying

The Oxford MBA program requires at least two years of full-time work experience, detailed on a one page CV using the school’s CV template. Oxford seeks to identify candidates who can demonstrate career advancement and global experience, along with showcasing their leadership potential.

In this section, applicants will also need to outline their career aspirations following the MBA and illustrate how the Oxford MBA program will provide them with the necessary skills to achieve these objectives. By presenting a well-defined vision for their professional growth, candidates can convey their awareness of their career strengths, their research into future ambitions, and how an MBA will connect their current experience with their future goals.

Candidates are required to provide two references, ideally from professional contacts. After entering the referee’s information into the form, the referee will automatically receive an email from Oxford with instructions on how to fill out the online reference form. Please note that Oxford only accepts references sent from legitimate work, professional, or institutional email addresses, and not from Gmail or Hotmail accounts.

As part of their application, candidates will need to submit one mandatory statement:

 Please provide a personal statement that outlines anything additional that you would like the admissions committee to consider (Maximum 250 words)

• Candidates should pay close attention to this prompt, as it may resemble a typical optional essay. However, the Admissions Committee seeks deeper insights into your candidacy that go beyond the standard MBA application components. Highlighting unique aspects of your experience will reveal your values and self-perception, so choose something truly distinctive unless you need to address any significant issues in your profile
• If you have a notable concern in your application, this is the ideal opportunity to discuss it, as there is no separate optional essay for such matters. Since all applicants must submit this essay, your aim should be to provide essential information that aids the admissions committee in evaluating your fit for the program, regardless of whether your profile is otherwise strong.
• Consider what the Admissions Committee can already glean from your application, including your statistics, resume, and recommendations. Use this essay to complement that information positively, enhancing your candidacy and increasing your chances of acceptance

If candidates are applying to the Oxford 1+1 program, they also need to submit one additional essay:

Explain why you see this as particularly beneficial for you and how it fits with your career and personal development aims (Maximum 250 words)

• Oxford has launched an innovative two-year program that allows you to earn two master’s degrees at the same time. However, the university has one essential requirement: you must articulate why pursuing an additional, non-MBA master’s degree is crucial for you
• If you wish to join this program, it’s vital to convey to the school how this opportunity will influence your career trajectory. With only 250 words to explain how the 1+1 program will enhance your management education and how you plan to apply that knowledge, clarity is key
• You need to establish a clear cause-and-effect link between the dual-degree program and your career aspirations. Your main message should be unmistakable: “By completing X degree, I will gain Y benefits that will advance my career.”

Reapplicants will need to complete the essays mentioned above plus the following essay:

What improvements have you made in your candidacy since you last applied to the Oxford MBA? (Maximum 250 words)

• Due to the limited word count for this response, reapplicants should provide a clear and concise overview of the actions they have taken to enhance their applications since their last submission to Oxford. Candidates are encouraged to be thorough in detailing improvements in their quantitative achievements, upgraded professional credentials, initiatives to better understand the Oxford MBA program, and any other efforts made to strengthen their candidacy this season

To gain insight into the applicants and evaluate their quick-thinking abilities, candidates must undertake an online assessment as part of their MBA application process.

This assessment consists of three randomly selected competency-based questions presented via video format. These questions are designed to showcase the essential skills and attributes that Oxford seeks, including integrity, vision, self-awareness, decisiveness, and collaboration. Once applicants have submitted their CV and provided the email addresses of their referees, they will automatically receive a link to register with Kira Talent, the platform used for the online assessment. This link will be sent within 24 hours of completing these initial steps.

To ensure their application is considered, candidates must complete the online assessment before the deadline for their specific application stage. Oxford Saïd recommends that applicants upload their referee information and CV early in the process to allow ample time for the assessment. Candidates will have the opportunity to prepare and practice before delivering their actual responses, with the entire assessment taking no more than 30 minutes. A desktop or laptop equipped with a working webcam, microphone, and internet connection is necessary for participation.

For each question, candidates will have 20 seconds of preparation time and then 90 seconds for the answer. Candidates will have unlimited practice time, but once they start the real assessment, they will only have one chance to record their answer.

Interviews for the Oxford MBA program are conducted exclusively by invitation. At present, most interviews are being held online, although Oxford also organises in-person interviews at strategic global locations when possible. The specific location for the interview will be detailed in the invitation, and whether the interview is conducted virtually or face-to-face will not influence the final decision made by the Admissions Committee.

During the interview, candidates will engage in a one-on-one conversation with a senior member of the Recruitment and Admissions Team, a faculty member, or an industry advisor. The industry advisors are a distinguished group of senior professionals with extensive experience in top firms across various sectors, collaborating closely with Oxford’s career development team to provide valuable insights.

It is important to note that the Oxford MBA interview is non-blind, meaning that the interviewer will have complete access to the candidate’s application materials and CV. Candidates should anticipate targeted questions that delve deeper into the stories and experiences they have shared in their application, allowing for a more comprehensive discussion of their qualifications and aspirations.