Oxford Saïd MBA Recommendation Questions

The MBA application for Oxford Saïd Business School requires a minimum of two references, at least one professional. If you are unable to provide a letter from your current direct supervisor, then a previous supervisor, an indirect manager, a client, a member of your board of directors, or any other individual who supervises your work would be acceptable. Alternatively, ask someone who managed you in an extracurricular, research, volunteer, or community activity. Choose individuals who know you well through significant, direct involvement with you within the last three years and will provide detailed anecdotes and examples to support their assertions.

Admissions can only accept references from a valid work, professional, or institutional email address and not from Gmail or Hotmail accounts. The Oxford MBA recommendation questions for the current admissions season are below.

2025-2026 Oxford Saïd MBA Recommendation Questions

The recommender is asked to rate the applicant on the following five traits.

Intellectual Curiosity

• Needs Improvement
• Developing
• Competent
• Exceeds Expectations
• Unknown/Not observed

Leadership Skills

• Needs Improvement
• Developing
• Competent
• Exceeds Expectations
• Unknown/Not observed

Ability to Work in a Team

• Needs Improvement
• Developing
• Competent
• Exceeds Expectations
• Unknown/Not observed

Energy and Drive

• Needs Improvement
• Developing
• Competent
• Exceeds Expectations
• Unknown/Not observed

English Language Ability

• Needs Improvement
• Developing
• Competent
• Exceeds Expectations
• Unknown/Not observed

Please upload a letter to elaborate on your ratings you have given the candidate above. Please also indicate, for how long you have known the candidate and in what capacity, what are their strengths and weaknesses, and how you think the candidate would benefit from the programme.