A global centre for the sustainable economy

Oxford Smith School was founded in 2008 by the visionary philanthropy of Sir Martin and Lady Smith. Following a period of rapid growth, we are seeking £20m to transform a historic building in central Oxford as a new home and a further £30m to invest in research fellows, professorships and future impact. 

The goal is to be the place where: 

• business-focused solutions and policy are conceived to accelerate the energy transition and protect nature
• government and business leaders look for ideas and practical support
• future generations of sustainability leaders are equipped to lead
• reliable analysis, trusted information and well-researched new ideas are found
• global standards for sustainable economies are defined

^{Image: Facade of the proposed new Smith School building. 
Creative Commons, Stephen Burnett.} 

Introduction to the Oxford Smith School - Transforming economics so people and nature thrive together
Impact case studies - Learn more about our areas of work 

Oxford lacks a central hub for climate and nature. The Oxford Smith School is currently spread across three locations around Oxford.  Our goal is a single convening place for students, researchers, and leaders from around the world. 

The 1300 sq. meter building will support world class climate change research and teaching; enhance opportunities for research dissemination and impact through convening business leaders and policy makers; boost communication, community and connectivity across the School and University; help attract and retain the best global talent and academic leaders; and expand executive education.

Development committee

We are grateful to our Development committee for their leadership.  

Jennica Arazi (not pictured), Howard Covington, Veronika Covington, Serra Gurkaynak, Athena Ko, Lupo Maltzahn (not pictured), Julia Freifrau von Poschinger-Bray (not pictured), Elizabeth Sorensen, James Thornton, Ali Zein.

The energy transition and action to protect nature are at a critical juncture. If economies do not change rapidly, we are at risk of altering irreversibly and for the worse the planetary systems that our globally interconnected societies rely on. Universities are among the few trusted voices that can be relied upon to inform debate, educate leaders and promote evidence-based action.                      

To further boost our impact and secure the financial future of Oxford Smith School, we are also fundraising for professorships, early career fellowships, Director’s impact fund, and core funding where impact can be greatest.

The Smith School is establishing a strategic Student Support Fund to help offer-holders on our MSc and DPhil programmes who face full or partial funding gaps. This fund will enable course supervisors to respond flexibly to emerging needs, ensuring that as many qualified students as possible can accept their places by bridging financial shortfalls of any size. Scholarships and bursaries expand access and strengthen global representation across the Smith School, ultimately increasing the real-world impact of our teaching programmes.

Our MSc and DPhil graduates go on to become global changemakers, taking on vital roles in business, enterprise, and public service that drive the transition to a net-zero economy. Their contributions are especially critical in a time of intersecting crises, many of them linked to the impacts of climate change.

Alongside collective giving to the Student Support Fund, we are also seeking to endow permanent scholarships for the MSc in Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment. Major gifts can unlock matched-funding opportunities within the University, amplifying their impact while creating a named scholarship for an Oxford student in perpetuity.

Our ambition is that every talented and committed Smith School student can take up their place at Oxford without financial barriers. Your support brings us closer to that reality.

By donating today, you will help equip the brightest minds with the skills and knowledge to build a fair, sustainable global economic system for tomorrow.

By making a gift in your will to the Oxford Smith School you will have the satisfaction of knowing you will be contributing to a healthy planet where people and nature thrive together, long in the future. Legacy Gifts provide vital support for our mission; to create a fair and environmentally sustainable global economic system for tomorrow, through the very best research and education. 

The University’s charitable status may also offer you the opportunity to reduce the tax due on your estate, which your financial advisor will be able to advise you on. If you have already made a will, the simplest way to leave a legacy to the Smith School is by means of a codicil. A sample of the standard wording can be found in the document Leaving a gift in your will to the University of Oxford, along with information on the difference between a one-off monetary donation versus a ‘residuary gift’ (all or part of the value of your estate, after debts, other legacies and liabilities have been met). 

If you are considering leaving a gift to any part of the University in your will, and would like to discuss your options with a specialist, Caroline Reynolds, Senior Legacies Executive at University of Oxford, will be pleased to help, on +44 (0)1865 611 538 or at legacies@dae.ox.ac.uk.