If you plan to study in the UK with financial support, the Rhodes Scholarship is one of the best opportunities for international students. This scholarship provides fully funded programs at UK universities across a wide range of fields. In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about the Rhodes Scholarship, including its benefits, eligibility criteria, required documents, and a detailed step-by-step application process to help you apply successfully.
The Rhodes Scholarship 2027–2028 is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship is available for master’s and PhD studies and provides a living stipend of £20,400 per annum, all university and college fees, and the university application fee.
The Rhodes Scholarship is a fully funded postgraduate award that enables talented young people from around the world to study full-time at the University of Oxford. The Rhodes Scholarship is merit-based to develop public-spirited leaders and promote international understanding and peace through an international community of scholars.
Applying for the scholarship is a challenge, but it is an experience that has helped generations of young people to succeed, as it not only provides financial support but also fosters a network of influential leaders and opportunities for personal and professional growth. We encourage applications from talented students everywhere.
Rhodes Scholars come to the UK for two or more years and can apply to study most full-time postgraduate courses in almost any field offered by Oxford University.
Scholarship Summary
- Level of Study: Master’s, PhD.
- Institution: University of Oxford
- Opportunity Focus Areas: All courses are available
- Program Period: Master’s: 2 years, and PhD: 4 years
- Study Destination: UK
The Rhodes Scholarship Application Deadline
The application deadline for the Rhodes Scholarship is country-specific; typically, the application window is from June to August each year. For more information, click this link.
Scholarship Coverage
The Rhodes Scholarship provides the recipient with:
- A living stipend of £20,400 per annum (£1,700 per month);
- All University and College fees;
- The scholarship includes one economy-class airfare to Oxford at the start of the scholarship and one economy flight back to the student’s home country after the scholarship ends.
- The university application fee.
- The tenure of the scholarship is two years, subject always to satisfactory academic performance and personal conduct. Subject to an application process, the scholarship may be extended for a third year for those who take a recognized route to the DPhil (PhD).
Eligibility Criteria for the Rhodes Scholarship
To qualify for the Rhodes Scholarship, the candidate must fulfill all of the following requirements:
- Citizenship and residency: Each applicant must fulfill the citizenship and residency requirements of the Rhodes constituency for which they are applying. Please refer to the eligible countries listed here.
- Education: All applicants must have completed an honors bachelor’s degree by October. As well, academic standing must be sufficiently high to ensure admission to the University of Oxford, which has very competitive entry requirements. In Canada, a GPA of a minimum of 3.75/4.0, or equivalent, is expected.
- Age: Age limits vary between constituencies and range from a minimum age limit of 18 to a maximum of 28 by October 1st of the year following selection. In most constituencies, the age limit is 24 or 25. Please check the specific age requirements for your constituency before applying. Successful candidates will arrive at Oxford in October following the selection process. The scholarship may not normally be deferred.
- Required Language: English
How to Apply for the Rhodes Scholarship?
Please follow the step-by-step procedure below to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship:
(1) You can apply online at http://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/apply via the scholarships tab.
(2) You must submit your application online, with all supporting documents, by the deadline.
(3) In preparation for making your application, you should carefully read the general information, particularly that held on the Scholarships tab, on the Rhodes website; the Conditions of Tenure for the Rhodes Scholarship; the information in this document; and the graduate admissions pages of the University of Oxford: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate.
(4) Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a social engagement and a final interview. You must attend in person, as no accommodations can be made for the date, time, or mode of these events. No candidate will be selected without an interview. Travel expenses will be paid by the Rhodes Trust and will cover the round-trip cost of a first-class rail ticket, excluding hotel expenses. International travel for those coming from overseas cannot be funded.
(5) All applicants will be emailed with the outcome of their application.
Selection Procedure:
- Selection for the Rhodes Scholarship is made without regard to financial means.
- Selection for the Rhodes Scholarship is made without regard to marital status, race, ethnic origin, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, social background, disability, caste, or other irrelevant distinctions. The provision of such information in the ‘Outreach’ section of the application form is optional but helps us to ensure that our selection processes are fair and that our outreach efforts are effective; those involved in selection will only see summary statistics of these responses in an anonymized format that cannot be tracked back to the individual.
- You are applying for a Rhodes Scholarship for entry to the University of Oxford in October 2024; the scholarship cannot be deferred.
- The Rhodes Scholarship is confirmed only upon successful admission to the University of Oxford.
- A selection will only be made if a sufficiently qualified candidate is found.
- The decision made by the selection committee is final.
Procedure after Selection:
- Please note that successful applicants will need to apply to the University of Oxford very soon after selection. Full details will be given upon selection.
- The full application of successful candidates will be accessible to Rhodes House, Oxford, where the scholarship references can be reused, if appropriate, in support of the successful candidate’s subsequent application to the University of Oxford.
- Successful candidates will be encouraged to disclose, in confidence, any medical condition or special needs that may require academic or personal support in Oxford. This disclosure is entirely voluntary and is requested only to enable Rhodes House to provide suitable support in Oxford and to make the transition to Oxford as smooth as possible.
Required Documents
In broad terms, all constituencies will require the following materials in differing forms:
- A curriculum vitae/resumé or a list of principal activities is required. (Please do not include a photograph in your CV for this scholarship.)
- Evidence of academic record/transcript (complete or in progress) of an undergraduate degree and any postgraduate study
- Personal statement or essay (including, crucially, a clear statement of what the applicant wishes to study at Oxford and why)
- The applicant must demonstrate English language proficiency, even if English is not their first language. Check the requirements here.
- You must provide proof of your age, date of birth, certificate, and passport.
- Photograph.
- Four reference letters from appraisers who can attest in confidential references to the character and intellect of the applicant, including academic, personal, extracurricular, and leadership achievements (and who should never include people to whom you are related).
Website
To learn more about the Rhodes Scholarship, please visit the official website: