In this edition of Real Humans: MBA Students, we visit Oxford University’s Saïd Business School in England. The one-year MBA program employs an interdisciplinary and global approach to business education. Students learn through a blend of the case study method, lectures, simulation and team projects. Courses are taught in partnership with industry practitioners to ensure material is relevant to real-life situations. As part of the emphasis on applied learning, students must complete a one-week Entrepreneurship Project.
Those who attend Saïd Business School enjoy the benefits and traditions of the larger university. Oxford University was ranked #1 in the Times Higher Education by World University Ranking in 2020, and the MBA program was ranked 5th internationally by Forbes in 2019. They offer over 200 clubs and societies with interest areas such as the arts, language, charity, politics, religion, music or culture. Oxford University’s 38 colleges are another source of social activity and networking on campus. Every Saïd Business School student is a member of one of the university’s colleges, which are known for their individual identities and diversity. Colleges often compete against one another in athletic events and host musical and theatrical performances. The historic city of Oxford is itself an attraction with features including Oxford Castle, built by William the Conqueror, the oldest botanical gardens in England, Covered Market, Blackwell’s Bookshop, and of course, the historical Oxford colleges located around the city.
329 students comprise the Class of 2020 and 95 percent of them are international, representing 64 nationalities. Women account for 44 percent of the class (a five percent increase from the prior year). The new crop of candidates arrived on campus with an average of five years of work experience and median GMAT of 690. Clear Admit interviewed five Oxford MBA students to get deeper insights into the unique perspectives they bring to the one-year program. Read on for their stories.
