DEADLINE: 1 August 2024
The Rhodes Scholarship is a fully funded, full time, postgraduate award which enables talented young people from around the world to study at the University of Oxford. Applying for the Scholarship is a challenge, but it is an experience that applications from highly talented students that stand out academically, socially and otherwise are encouraged to undertake. Rhodes Scholars come to the UK for two or more years and can apply to study most full-time postgraduate courses offered by Oxford University.
Scholarship Benefits
The Rhodes Scholarship covers Oxford University course fees, as well as providing an annual stipend. For the 2023/24 academic year, the stipend is £18,180 per annum (£1,515 per month) from which Scholars pay all living expenses, including accommodation. Please note - this is not sufficient to cover partners or dependents.
Following selection for the Scholarship, the Rhodes Trust will cover the fee required to apply to study at the University of Oxford. The Trust will cover the fee for a student visa and the associated International Health Surcharge (IHS), which enables international students to access the UK's National Health Service. The Rhodes Trust will cover two economy class flights - to and from the UK - for the beginning and end of studies in Oxford.
On arrival in Oxford, Scholars receive a settling in allowance and for those Scholars who transition to a second course of study in Oxford, they will again receive assistance to cover the fee for visa renewal and further application for IHS.
ELIGIBILITY
The Rhodes Scholarship’s reputation as the world's most distinguished academic scholarship rests on the enormous contributions Scholars have made to the world, and the qualities sought in a Rhodes Scholar - intellectual distinction combined with concern for others, energy to lead, and a focus on public service.
The criteria for selection are:
Education/residency: You must have been resident in South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia or eSwatini for at least five of the last ten years
literary and scholastic attainments (academic excellence)
A First Class Honours Degree or equivalent, OR,
A GPA of 3.70/4.0 or higher, OR,
An Honours degree (or have taken an Honours year) from a University outside of your country OR if you have studied to Masters level within your country (with the exception of those studying in South Africa and Namibia, and for some countries, those studying medicine
energy to use one's talents to the full (as demonstrated by mastery in areas such as sports, music, debate, dance, theatre, and artistic pursuits, particularly where teamwork is involved)
truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship
moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in one's fellow beings.
AGE REQUIREMENTS
Upon entry to Oxford on 01 October 2025, you must be at least 19 years old and not have passed your 25th birthday (which means you must have been born after 01 October 2000 and on or before 01 October 2006).
For candidates who have completed their first undergraduate degree must have completed their first undergraduate degree within the last 2 years, i.e. after 1 October 2023*; and may not have passed their 28th birthday on 01 October 2025 (which means they must have been born after 01 October 1997).
HOW TO APPLY
You must apply for the Rhodes Scholarship before applying to the University of Oxford. Candidates selected for the Rhodes Scholarship are then required to apply for their chosen course via the University of Oxford’s graduate application form with support from the team at Rhodes House.
You must submit your application online, with all supporting documents. There is no application fee for submission of the Rhodes Scholarship application form.
In preparation for making your application, you should carefully read the information held on the Scholarships tab on the Rhodes House website, the Conditions of Tenure for the Rhodes Scholarship, the information in this document and the graduate admissions pages of the University of Oxford
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a social engagement and a final interview. You must be available to attend both, in person, as no accommodations can be made on date and time, or mode, of these events
All applicants will be emailed with the outcome of their application. Please note that if you are invited to interview, you may be asked to bring the originals of all documents with you:
A copy of your birth certificate.
A copy of a valid passport or ID document.
An official transcript from the college or university at which you are studying, or have studied, showing grades achieved (to date). You should also upload copies of your degree certificates.
A copy of your school leaving certificate.
A full curriculum vitae which should include specific details about academic qualifications, prizes, scholarships, positions of leadership, employment positions, involvement in student, voluntary, community or political activities and any cultural, musical or sporting accomplishments
A personal statement of no more than 750 words
An academic statement of study of no more than 350 words
You will need to provide a list of four people (your referees) who are willing to submit references on your behalf
ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS
BA with Senior Status (ie done over two years, rather than the normal three) : Scholars who read for a 2nd BA may not apply for a third year of Scholarship
A one-year taught Master’s course (MSc, MSt, BCL), followed in the second year by another one-year taught Master’s course (subject to successful completion of the first course) : Scholars who read two consecutive one-year Master’s courses may not apply for a third year of Scholarship
A one-year taught Master’s course (MSc, MSt, BCL) : Scholars who read for a one-year taught Master’s course may progress to DPhil, and subsequently apply for a third year of Scholarship, subject to the Notes below. This progression is not open to Scholars in the Maths, Physical & Life Sciences Division (see below)
A two-year MPhil or BPhil (or BCL/MPhil) : Scholars taking the MPhil/BPhil (or the two-year BCL/MPhil route) may apply for a third year of Scholarship to read for DPhil, subject to the Notes below.
A two-year MSc by research (or MLitt) : Scholars who read a two-year MSc by research may not apply for a third year of Scholarship
A three-year DPhil : Scholars entering Oxford direct to DPhil follow the same application process for a third year, as described in the Notes below. Please note candidates for a DPhil within the Maths, Physical & Life Sciences Division may not take the Master’s route to DPhil, and must apply to start the DPhil in their first year in Oxford