Oxford Saïd MBA Program

1. Overview of Saïd Business School

1.1. The University of Oxford

The University of Oxford is the oldest and most prestigious university in England and the English-speaking world. Its international reputation and prestige has solidified itself as a household name. It has been ranked first in the world in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings in 5 consecutive years starting from 2017.

The University of Oxford is situated in Oxford, England, a beautiful city famed for its ancient and modern architectural design and cultural significance to England and the world.  The University consists of many historic buildings and structures where academic departments and colleges reside. The University is also the largest employer in the Oxfordshire region, offering over 33 thousand jobs and 2.3 billion pounds to the regional economy annually.

Oxford is undoubtedly one of the most competitive places to get into. More than 23,000 people have applied in each of the last three admissions cycles, and there are usually only around 3,300 places. It is also very international-friendly. International students make up almost 45% of the total student body – around 10,900 students. They hail from over 160 countries and territories.

1.2. Saïd Business School

Saïd Business School, part of Oxford University, is located in the university town of Oxford in England. Established in 1965 and re-christened in 1996, Said Business School is one of the youngest business schools in the world. However, it has consistently been ranked as one of the top business schools in Europe. Its MBA programs are highly sought-after by many around the world.

Saïd Business School is the University of Oxford’s academic hub for undergraduate and graduate students in business, management and finance. Though a competitive school, with over 500 matriculated graduate students annually, Saïd Business School welcomes the largest number of graduate students in the UK. Undergraduate students can also take courses on Economics and Management in Saïd with the Economics Department. 

The school aims to be a transformational and collaborative space where students think differently and critically to develop themselves in an inclusive community. It aspires to be a place where students are cared for, every voice is respected, and students have the opportunity to cultivate their personal growth. Associate Director of MBA Recruitment Racquel Lison said that the ideal candidates to pursue their MBA at Saïd Business School “want to make an impact in aspects that go far beyond the pure business sense.”

2. MBA Programs in Oxford Saïd Business School

Oxford Said Business School offers three options for MBA program: Oxford MBA, Oxford 1+1, and Oxford Executive MBA.

2.1. Oxford MBA

Oxford MBA is Saïd Business School’s highly-ranked flagship MBA program. This is a one-year full-time program. consisting of an array of lectures and seminars on world’s most important business problems and group environment designed to foster team working. 

The program is divided into three terms, following the most important business-centric themes: Entrepreneurship and Global Rules of the Game. In this article, we will mainly focus on the curriculum and the structure of this program.

2.2. Oxford 1+1 MBA 

The Oxford 1+1 MBA is a unique, two-year graduate program that combines a specialized one-year master degree with the one-year MBA program. It promises a unique experience with breadth and depth.  Oxford’s Saïd Business School is partnering with 16 other University departments to link a diverse selection of master’s courses to the MBA. 

 As a result, graduates embark from Oxford armed with the skills to translate specific domain knowledge into sustainable and scalable solutions. Candidates accepted to the 2020-22 MBA 1+1 programme will undertake their master’s course during the 2020-21 academic year and their MBA during the 2021-22 academic year.

2.3. Oxford Executive MBA 

Oxford Executive MBA, the last but not least MBA offering from Oxford Saïd Business School, is a part-time, postgraduate executive program that is designed to accelerate senior professionals’ career potentials and instruct them how to apply international management competency skills to their enterprises. 

The program is conducted over 22 or 24 months and runs approximately every five weeks to be adjustable to the students’ working schedules. Throughout the program, there will be a focus on leadership development, including group and individual coaching sessions as well as sessions and workshops from the Career Development Team.

3. Oxford Saïd MBA Curriculum and Program Structure:

3.1 Program Structure

The Oxford Saïd Business School One Year MBA program comprises three mandatory terms and one summer term. Term Michaelmas is the first term and is devoted to core courses. The second term, Hilary, allows students to enroll in elective courses and start working on the Entrepreneurship Project. The third term, Trinity, continues from the last term’s course selection of core and elective courses. Finally, the summer term presents MBA students the opportunities of a consulting project, an internship, or summer elective courses.

In terms of methodology, the school divides their intended structure as follows: 40 percent lecture, 25 percent team project, 25 percent case study, and 10 percent simulations.

3.2 Integrative Modules

Oxford MBA Program courses are centered around two interdisciplinary themes relevant to modern business working environment and global-scale organizational challenges: Entrepreneurship and Global Rules of the Game. Focusing on these cross-cutting themes throughout the MBA terms, students are expected to acquire a global mindset to lead their organization to scale and efficiency.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

This module looks at entrepreneurship as the ability to effectively deploy resources to devise business solutions to complex and multifaceted challenges. It focuses on two main areas of entrepreneurship: Social entrepreneurship and Technological entrepreneurship.

The module has been structured to reflect the approach taken in the core courses, but with flexibility to focus on areas of specific interest to students and to take advantage of current entrepreneurship activities in the Oxford community.

GLOBAL RULES OF THE GAME

This module looks at the rules, norms and laws that shape the global economy, including international institutions and agreements as well as differences and disputes across countries that influence or constrain business opportunities.

The module will draw on expertise from across the University to give students insights into the mechanisms of business-government relations, stakeholder engagement, and reputation management. This module will help students reflect on implications of rules and institutions, and how to operate in circumstances where these are complex and uncertain.

3.3. Foundation of learning

The MBA Program at Said Business School builds on the core courses that are designed to develop the students’ understanding of business and global organizations. They combine a mix of case studies, practical learning, and real-world applications. Apart from the core courses, this MBA program also allows students to pursue their areas of business and society relevant to their professional goals and interests by offering multiple in-depth electives.

CORE COURSES

The core courses will allow students to examine the foundation of business. The first term will immerse you in modern enterprise – from the economic theory of the firm, to the valuation of businesses and the choice of strategy and management skills. The goal of these core courses is to provide a breadth and depth of knowledge that will allow you to approach any business situation with confidence and understanding.

Example core courses include Accounting, Business Finance, and Marketing.

ELECTIVE COURSES

Elective courses are designed to offer students an opportunity to choose from a wide range of subjects that will enhance their CV for certain career pathways or for intellectual curiosity. Courses are often taught by academics and industry practitioners working in partnership to ensure that cutting edge research is combined with relevant real-life application. Electives on offer are subject to change from year to year depending on demand.

Example elective courses include Corporate Valuation, Impact Investing, and Business History.

4. Oxford Saïd MBA Admission and Fees

4.1. Quick Facts and Highlights:

4.2. Application Requirements

Applications for Oxford Saïd Business School are reviewed holistically, and extend to the qualities and authenticity of the applicant. However it certainly requires prospective MBA applicants to submit certain qualifications in order to be considered for a spot on its MBA program roster. Fulfilling these requirements are first steps to be an MBA Oxfordian.

• Work experience: At least 2 years of experience is expected from the applicants. The work experience is reflected by the one-page CV that the applicants must attach. In addition, the applicants must present a detailed career plan post-graduation.  

• Undergraduate degree: All applicants are required to have obtained an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution. They will have to submit a transcript with subjects studied and achieved grades in English language.

• GMAT or GRE Score: Either GMAT or GRE score is a staple in the MBA application. Although Said Business School doesn’t require a minimum score, students who achieve scores higher than the median score are considered more competitive. Refer to our table above to see the median scores for GMAT and GRE.

• Written work: Students have to complete and submit a maximum of 250 words responding to the prompt: “Tell us something that is not covered in your application which you would like the Admissions Committee to know about you”

• Online assessment: The online assessment has three components – motivation-based questions, competency-based questions, and written response. The test should last approximately 30 minutes.

• Reference: This MBA program requires applicants to include two professional or academic references. These references may be obtained via current or former employers/professors.

English Proficiency: Required for international applicants whose English is not their first language. Unless waivers are obtained, these applicants can prove their English competency by taking IELTS, TOEFL, or Cambridge Certificate C1/C2.

4.3. Application Deadlines

Unlike most American business schools that have 3 rounds in their admissions cycle, Saïd Business School has a 4-round process with short turn-around time.

The Oxford MBA Application deadlines for each round and the decision dates for 2020 and 2021 are mentioned below.

4.4. Tuition, Scholarships, and Financial Aid

Tuition for the 2020-21 Oxford University One Year MBA program is £59,490 and Oxford-SBS estimates the total cost of living in Oxford for the year of the program will cost around £12,698-19,721.

The Saïd Business School offers many different scholarship options for incoming students. Some are awarded based on academic performance, others for identity groups, still more for interest in social entrepreneurship. Beyond those ample choices, students can also find scholarship opportunities available for Oxford University students in general, which are similarly varied.

5. Oxford MBA Class Profile 2018-2019

The class profile showcases the diversified student body filled with unique perspectives, skills, and experiences. The Oxford MBA Class Profile 2018-2019 has some key statistics detailed below:

• Class size: 315
• Average age: 28
• Years of working experience: 5 years
• Female participants: 39 percent
• Nationalities: 62
• Percentage outside of UK: 93 percent
• Median GMAT: 690

Here is the table outlining what industries they are professionally engaging:

Industry Breakdown – Oxford MBA Class of 2019