AfOx Graduate Scholarship 2027/28 | Fully Funded Oxford MBA
The AfOx Graduate Scholarship exists because talent in Africa is never in short supply — access is. The University of Oxford, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and the Africa Oxford Initiative (AfOx), offers up to three fully funded MBA scholarships each year at Saïd Business School, for the 2027-28 programme intake, built specifically to close that access gap for African nationals who’ve faced genuine hardship along the way.
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This isn’t a conventional merit scholarship rewarding the strongest professional resume alone — Saïd Business School’s own official page confirms the AfOx Graduate Scholarship is designed deliberately to weigh real adversity alongside achievement, giving weight to candidates whose path to Oxford wasn’t straightforward. For African professionals genuinely committed to bringing what they learn back home, this remains one of the most comprehensive MBA funding routes available anywhere in the world.
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AfOx Graduate Scholarship Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | Mastercard Foundation AfOx Graduate Scholarship |
| Host Country ⇒ | United Kingdom (UK) |
| Host Institution ⇒ | University of Oxford, Saïd Business School |
| Category ⇒ | Postgraduate | Master’s |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | All African countries |
| Reward ⇒ | Full MBA course fees, living grant of at least £21,805, leadership training, mentorship |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | Tied to Oxford MBA’s Stage 4 deadline — 6–8 January 2027 |
About the AfOx Graduate Scholarship
This partnership brings together the University of Oxford, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme, and the Africa Oxford Initiative, with support from Saïd Business School, specifically to fund Africans who’ve faced real hardship, not simply candidates with the strongest conventional professional record. Selection weighs demonstrated alignment with AfOx’s stated values — Collegiality, Empathy, Commitment, Transparency, and Inclusivity — alongside a genuine, specific plan for how your past work or future goals address Africa’s major challenges, whether that’s public health threats, the climate crisis, or youth employment.
Eligibility Requirements
- Be a citizen of an African country, or ordinarily resident in Africa
- Demonstrate a clear, specific commitment to Africa’s development, not a general statement of interest
- Not already hold a Master’s degree
- Have at least two years of work experience
- Meet all of Oxford Saïd Business School’s own MBA admissions requirements, including GMAT or GRE scores, references, and essays
- Apply for and gain admission to the Oxford MBA programme, since there’s no separate scholarship application
What the AfOx Graduate Scholarship Covers
- Full Oxford MBA course fees
- A living cost grant of at least £21,805
- Tailor-made AfOx leadership training programmes
- Pre-arrival support, orientation, and structured mentorship
- Access to a genuine international network of scholars and African leaders, sustained before, during, and after your time at Oxford
Required Documents
- A completed Oxford MBA application form
- Academic transcripts and certificates
- A CV
- A personal statement or admissions essay
- Letters of recommendation
- Proof of English language proficiency, where required
How to Apply
There is no separate AfOx scholarship application — meeting the eligibility criteria and submitting a complete Oxford MBA application by the correct deadline is what puts you in consideration.
- Review Saïd Business School’s MBA entry requirements directly, including GMAT/GRE expectations
- Complete your full Oxford MBA application, ensuring it’s competitive on its own merits first — Saïd Business School’s MBA cohort is small and highly selective, and scholarship consideration only follows a genuinely strong standalone application
- Submit your MBA application by Stage 4, the deadline that Oxford’s own admissions guidance describes as the last realistic chance for most Oxford MBA funding, including AfOx. Submitting at Stage 5 (mid-March) keeps your MBA application alive but removes you from scholarship consideration
- If shortlisted, you’ll be contacted directly by the university for an interview, typically conducted via Zoom
- Successful applicants receive a formal scholarship offer, along with detailed onboarding information from AfOx
Frequently Asked Questions
How many AfOx Graduate Scholarships are awarded each year?
Up to three, for the current 2027-28 cycle — a reduction from the five previously offered in earlier cycles.
Do I need to submit a separate scholarship application?
No. Submitting your Oxford MBA application by the correct deadline, while meeting the eligibility criteria, is what puts you in consideration automatically.
What’s the actual deadline for AfOx scholarship consideration?
It’s tied to Oxford MBA’s Stage 4 deadline, falling around 6–8 January 2027. Applying at a later MBA stage keeps your admission application alive but removes you from scholarship consideration for that cycle.
Can I apply if I already hold a Master’s degree?
No. Current eligibility explicitly requires that applicants not already hold a Master’s degree.
Is this scholarship purely merit-based, or does it consider personal circumstances?
It’s specifically built to support African nationals who have had to overcome genuine hardship, alongside strong academic and professional merit — not a purely conventional achievement-based award.
Disclaimer: All scholarship details, including the current headcount, eligibility criteria, and deadline structure, were verified directly against Oxford Saïd Business School’s official page as of August 2026. Requirements and figures can change between cycles — always confirm current details directly at sbs.ox.ac.uk before applying.
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