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Saïd Business School – University of Oxford

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CLASS SIZE 334
Median GMAT 680
% International 97%
Women 51%

Saïd Business School, part of Oxford University, is located in the university town of Oxford in England. The school offers a one-year, full-time MBA programme, as well as a two-year dual-degree option, the Oxford 1+1 MBA. Oxford Saïd also offers an Executive MBA programme. Saïd Business School is recognized for the opportunities it offers in the wider Oxford University, its international community of professors and students, and its emphasis on combining rigorous academic training with practical experience.

FAQ

What is the tuition for the Oxford MBA program?

The tuition for the Oxford MBA program is £78,510 per year.

What is the average GMAT score for admission to the Oxford MBA program?

The median GMAT score for the incoming class at Oxford Saïd is 680. Oxford Saïd considers a competitive score to be 650 or above.

Does the Oxford MBA program accept the GRE?

Yes. The Oxford MBA program has accepted the GRE for a few years now.

What is the average GRE score for admission to Oxford's MBA program?

Oxford Saïd considers GRE scores of 160 Verbal, 161 Quant to be competitive.

What is the minimum number of years of work experience required for admission to the Oxford MBA program?

Oxford Saïd states that candidates should have at least two years of work experience. However, it is important for candidates to be aware that they are being considered against other candidates with an average of 6 years of experience.

What is the average number of years of work experience for admission to Oxford's MBA program?

The average number of years of work experience among students in Oxford's MBA program is 6.

How long is Oxford's full-time MBA program?

Oxford Saïd offers a 1 year MBA program, starting in September.

What are the application deadlines for Oxford Saïd's full-time MBA program?

The application deadlines for the Oxford MBA program are:
Stage 1: Wednesday 27 September 2023
Stage 2: Friday 5 January 2024
Stage 3: Wednesday 20 March 2024

Videos

The Oxford Executive MBA at Saïd Business School

Students and faculty discuss what inspires them about Oxford's world-class modular Executive MBA programme designed for global business leaders and executives. For more information visit: bit.ly/2FITwCT

The Oxford MBA at Saïd Business School

Experience Oxford and Saïd Business School in the eyes of our MBA students. https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/programmes/degrees/mba

Admissions

The Class Profile

Oxford’s MBA class that entered in the fall of 2023 was comprised of 334 students. Women make up 51% of the class. The median GMAT score of the class was 680. At the time of matriculation, the average student in the class had completed 6 years of work experience.

A full 97% of the students who began Saïd’s MBA program in 2023 are international. Twenty-three percent of students hail from South Asia and 15% from East Asia. Another 14% joined from South East Asia. Twelve percent hailed from North America, 11% from Europe, and 11% from Africa.

Application Procedures

Applicants to Saïd Business School may apply in one of three stages, which take place in September, early January, and March. The school strongly recommends applying early. To apply, candidates must submit academic transcripts, a GMAT score, a one-page CV, an online application form, two academic or pro­fessional references, two essays and a £150 application fee. Applicants who are non-native English speakers should also send in a TOEFL or IELTS. Once applications are completed, the admissions committee invites selected candidates to interview in person at Oxford, at overseas Information Events or via Skype with a faculty member, sector consultant or senior administration member. Interviews are required for admission.

Application Checklist

  • Online Application Form
  • GMAT and TOEFL/IELTS
  • CV
  • Application Fee of £150
  • Two References
  • Academic Transcripts
  • Essays

Essay Topic Analysis

Need help with your essays? Get our experts' advice.

Interview Reports

Oxford Q&As

Oxford / Saïd LiveWire and DecisionWire

MBA LiveWire

March 8, 2024 3:08pm ET
Accepted to Oxford / Saïd
Round: Round 2
Received via email March 8, 2024
GPA: 8.5/10
GMAT: 710
Program Type: One Year Program
Application Location: India
March 8, 2024 2:09pm ET
Accepted to Oxford / Saïd
Round: Round 2
Received via email March 8, 2024
GPA: 4.01
GRE: 339
Program Type: One Year Program
Application Location: Nigeria
March 8, 2024 9:43am ET
Accepted to Oxford / Saïd
Round: Round 2
Received via email March 8, 2024
GPA: 2.8
GMAT: 720
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
March 8, 2024 7:37am ET
Rejected at Oxford / Saïd
Round: Round 2
Received via portal March 8, 2024
GPA: 3.5
GRE: 305
Program Type: One Year Program
Post MBA Career Name: Marketing
Application Location: Nigeria
Note:

I interviewed on the 28th of March.

March 8, 2024 7:12am ET
Accepted to Oxford / Saïd
Round: Round 2
Received via portal March 8, 2024
GRE: 324
Program Type: One Year Program
Application Location: Germany
January 31, 2024 9:53pm ET
Interview Invite to Oxford / Saïd
Round: Round 2
Received via email on January 31, 2024
GMAT: 650
Program Type: One Year Program
Post MBA Career Name: Consulting
Application Location: Australia
Note:

GMAT Focus: 595

January 31, 2024 3:35pm ET
Interview Invite to Oxford / Saïd
Round: Round 2
Received via email January 31, 2024
GPA: 2.98/4.3
GRE: 324
Program Type: One Year Program
January 31, 2024 1:40pm ET
Interview Invite to Oxford / Saïd
Round: Round 2
Received via email January 31, 2024
GPA: 3.3
GMAT: 700
Program Type: One Year Program
Post MBA Career Name: Finance

MBA DecisionWire

?
March 17, 2024 6:08pm ET
Enrolled: Undecided
Admitted: Dartmouth / Tuck $
$11000
,
Duke / Fuqua $
$160000
,
UVA / Darden $
$82000
Applied: Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, Northwestern / Kellogg, UPenn / Wharton, UVA / Darden
Entering Year: 2024
Post MBA Career: Technology, Pharmaceutical Companies: Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Other, Pfizer
GMAT: 730
GPA: 3.7
Location: DC
Notes:

I've been listening to this podcast every week for almost a year! Thank you for the great advice on my profile last summer! I'm thrilled with my R2 results so far (still haven't heard from Kellogg)

My goal is to get into a health tech startup in a product or strategy role, in either DC or Boston. Any advice on Tuck vs. Fuqua based on my goals?

?
March 17, 2024 3:47am ET
Enrolled: Undecided
Admitted: Dartmouth / Tuck $
$20000
,
HEC Paris $
€10000
,
INSEAD
Applied: Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, HEC Paris, INSEAD
Entering Year: 2024
Post MBA Career: Consulting, Non Profit/SI Companies: Bain, BCG, McKinsey
GRE: 327
GPA: 3.55
Location: South Asia-Not India
Notes:

-Age 29 married with 2 kids;
-Will be taking full tuition loan as well as living as well
-Open to Middle East(easier to pay loan and great lifestyle and US( with green card chances)
-Tuck almost double INSEAD

?
March 15, 2024 5:06pm ET
Enrolled: Undecided
Admitted: Dartmouth / Tuck , Duke / Fuqua , MIT Sloan
Applied: Yale SOM, MIT Sloan, Duke / Fuqua, Dartmouth / Tuck
Entering Year: 2024
Post MBA Career: Other
GMAT: 740
GPA: 3.0
Location: US
Notes:

Plan is project management or LDP in renewable energy in NC or mid Atlantic, but open to NE. Vet, $ isn’t a factor. I love the culture at Fuqua and Tuck, Sloan didn’t feel as close knit, but the ranking difference is hard to ignore. Think Fuqua is the best fit, but I went to Duke undergrad, so unsure if it’s better to get a different network.

NYU
March 15, 2024 4:41pm ET
Enrolled: NYU Stern
Admitted: Berkeley / Haas , Carnegie Mellon / Tepper $
$20000
,
NYU Stern , UCLA Anderson
Applied: Carnegie Mellon / Tepper, Georgetown / McDonough, NYU Stern, UCLA Anderson, U. Washington / Foster, Berkeley / Haas
Entering Year: 2024
Post MBA Career: Consumer Goods, Other Companies: General Mills, LVMH, Mondelez, Nestle, Proctor & Gamble, Unilever
GPA: 3.2
Location: Portland OR
Notes:

For me, the largest factors were name brand and opportunity to network. The sheer size of the alumni base for NYU along with some of the great programs they have to help get real life experiences through the program is unbeatable. I was really torn between Tepper and Stern, but ultimately it was the network that I would have access to.

Academics

Faculty

Saïd Business School employs more than 80 professors, lecturers, readers and visiting professors who teach courses across the business school’s 13 subject areas.  Additional researchers from the University of Oxford support the initiatives of Saïd Business School’s nine research centers and initiatives, which cover topics such as retail management, business taxation, and entrepreneurship and corporate reputation.

Curriculum

Saïd Business School breaks down the teaching methods for its courses into four separate categories: 25 percent case study, 40 percent lectures, 10 percent simulation and 25 percent team projects. The school prides itself on teaching courses in partnership with industry practitioners to ensure material is relevant to real-life situations. 

The 12-month program begins with a formal induction in late September. Prior to that, students meet each other during a welcome reception and a team-building treasure hunt around the Oxford campus. Classes start at the beginning of October. Oxford Saïd structures its program into three terms of 10-week classes that stretch from October to June, referred to as the Michaelmas, Hilary and Trinity terms. Students then select one of three summer options, followed by a two-week capstone course in September. There are two approximately month-long breaks in the winter and spring between the 10-week terms and a shorter break before the start of the summer session. During the spring break, students may elect to go on a one-to two-week student-led trek to visit alumni and recruiters located around the globe. 

In the Michaelmas term, students take seven required core courses, covering business fundamentals such as finance, decision-making, strategy, management, and operations. Students are also divided into small study groups that reflect the diversity of the class; these groups review course material together throughout the term. Starting in January of the Hilary term, students complete two elective courses alongside three more required courses. Finally, in the Trinity term, students take five elective courses out of roughly 30 options, covering academic areas from private equity to retailing. During the summer, students can complete a four- to six-week strategic consulting project, or complete an eight- or nine-week internship while taking two shorter elective courses. 

As part of Oxford Saïd’s emphasis on applied learning, students must complete a one-week Entrepreneurship Project during the Trinity Term. In this project, students develop a business plan and then present it to a panel of investors. Students can gain further practical experience by working in teams of three to five during the summer on a Strategy Consulting Project for a corporate or non-profit sponsor. As of 2013, students can also take part in the Global Opportunities and Threats Oxford initiative.

Other MBA Degree Options

Beyond the 12-month full-time MBA program, Saïd Business School also offers a part-time Executive MBA program that takes place over 21 to 24 months.  In addition, the school offers the Oxford 1+1 MBA program, which allows students to complete—in two years—an MBA and another master’s from one of 18 Oxford departments: the School of Geography and the Environment, the Department of Pharmacology, the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages, the Department of Education, the Oxford Internet Institute, the Department of Computer Science, the School of Government, the Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, the School of Interdisciplinary Area Studies, the Department of Sociology, the Department of Social Policy and Intervention, the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, the Faculty of History, Faculty of Music, Faculty of Law, Humanities Division, Oxford Department of International Development, or the Centre for Criminology.  There are a total of 36 dual-degree options across the participating departments.

Core Courses at Saïd Business School

  • Business Finance
  • Analytics
  • Accounting
  • Strategy
  • Firms and Markets
  • Organisational Behavior
  • Marketing
  • Technology and Operations Management

Degree Offerings at Saïd Business School

Full-time MBA Program
https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/programmes/oxford-mba

Oxford 1+1 MBA Program
https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/programmes/oxford-1plus1-mba

Executive MBA
https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/programmes/oxford-executive-mba

Campus Life

Clubs, Conferences & Competitions

Oxford Saïd students are welcome to join the more than 200 clubs and societies established at Oxford. For instance, the Oxford Entrepreneurs club is currently the largest entrepreneur group in Europe. The club organizes speaker series, business plan competitions, a mentorship program, meetings with angel investors, and an incubation center for students interested in launching a business while at the University. Students may also participate in a full range of sporting activities, from organized club sports such as hockey or rugby to more casual games of cricket on the business school lawn. Oxford University’s 37 colleges are another source of social activity and networking on campus. Every Oxford Saïd student is a member of one of the university’s colleges, which are known for their individual identities. Colleges often compete against one another in athletic events and host musical and theatrical performances.

In conjunction with its students and centers, Oxford Saïd organizes a number of conferences each year. One such conference is Silicon Valley Comes to Oxford, an annual event that invites successful Silicon Valley entrepreneurs to Oxford to lead master classes, tutorials and panel discussions. The school also hosts the Oxford Private Equity Forum, which brings investors and advisors to campus to discuss challenges and opportunities within the global private equity industry.

In addition, students may participate in a number of entrepreneur-related competitions. For example, the Skoll Venture Awards support socially focused business ideas, while the Oxford Saïd Business School Seed Fund invests in startups led by students and alumni.

Campus Spaces

The Oxford Saïd Business School building opened in 2001 and houses most of the MBA program. The building, arranged around an open courtyard, encompasses four lecture theaters, a common room, a 300-seat auditorium, an outdoor amphitheater and multiple seminar and project rooms. The two-story Sainsbury Library is also located in the building and offers two reading rooms for both quiet study and group work.

The Thatcher Business Education Centre opened in 2013 at Oxford Saïd, made possible by a donation of £15 million by the school’s original benefactor, Wafic Saïd. The facility has allowed the business school to expand its teaching and executive education operations.

Housing is not guaranteed, and students may accept accommodations offered by their college. Oxford Saïd students may opt into one of nine colleges exclusively for graduate students or one of the 30 colleges and six private halls for undergraduate or graduate students. Students also have the option of renting rooms off campus.

MBA Careers

Career Services

Oxford Saïd’s Careers Service helps students with their job search, prepping for interviews and building their career-related skills. Senior executives specializing in different industries serve as sector consultants, offering expert advice to students in panel discussions and one-on-one meetings. Careers Service also organizes industry panels, case study workshops, and workshops on résumés, networking and interviewing. Roughly 80 companies visit Oxford Saïd each year to give corporate presentations, participate in career panel discussions, and recruit students for internships and full-time employment.

Career Statistics

345 students graduated from the Oxford MBA Class of 2022; 245 of those were seeking employment. Of the 245 graduates seeking employment, 87% had secured employment within three months after graduating. The average salary was £83,410.

Of those who found employment, 32% went into consulting and nearly 27% into financial services. Twenty-one percent joined the technology sector and nearly 16% joined global industry fields, such as healthcare, manufacturing, etc. Nearly nine percent of Oxford graduates did not report seeking employment because they founded their own businesses.

Financing

Course fees for the MBA program for 2024 to 2025 are £78,510. Oxford Saïd notes that students should also budget between £16,140 and £23,460 for living expenses and course materials. A number scholarships are offered by Oxford Saïd: the Said Foundation Scholarship for outstanding students with excellent demonstrated career potential, which covers up to full tuition; the Said Foundation Middle East and Africa Scholarships for students of those nationalities with knowledge of and commitment to their region; and the Skoll Scholarship, which covers tuition and offers a living expenses allowance for students with a record of social entrepreneurship. The school offers up to £30,000 to each admitted female student, through the Forte Foundation. Students may also seek out scholarship awards through the larger Oxford University. For students planning on using loans to finance their degree, Prodigy Finance offers a loan that will cover all of the tuition fees and living costs to all full-time MBA students. Saïd Business School encourages its international students to investigate the private, government and nonprofit lenders available in their native regions and countries.

One-Year Program Tuition

  • Course Fees £78,510
  • Living Expenses ~ £16,140 – £23,460
  • Total £94,290 – £101,970

Contact

Mailing Address:
MBA Office
Saïd Business School
Park End Street
Oxford OX1 1HP
UK
Phone: +44 (0)1865 278804
Fax: +44 (0)1865 288805
Web: www.sbs.oxford.edu/mba
Blog: http://mba.sbsblogs.co.uk/
Twitter: @OxfordMBA