Scandium oxide manufacturing method

Provided is a scandium oxide manufacturing method, which is capable of manufacturing scandium oxide with limited sulfur component content when obtaining scandium oxide from scandium oxalate that comprises sulfur-containing compounds as impurities. This scandium oxide manufacturing method heats scandium oxalate that comprises sulfur-containing compounds as impurities in the presence of a carbon source. The amount of oxygen present when performing the heat treatment is preferably less than the amount necessary for oxidation of all of the carbon atoms contained in the carbon source to carbon dioxide. For the scandium oxalate, a precipitate obtained by adding oxalic acid to a sulfuric acid-acidified solution containing scandium is preferred. Said sulfuric acid-acidified solution is preferably a solution obtained by adding a neutralizing agent to a leachate obtained by leaching nickel oxide ore with sulfuric acid.