Rhodes Scholarship Fund
Masters/PhD Degree
Deadline: varies, July-Oct 2025 (annual)
Study in: UK
Course starts October 2025
Brief description:
The Rhodes Scholarships are postgraduate awards supporting exceptional all-round students at the University of Oxford. Established in the will of Cecil Rhodes in 1902, the Rhodes is the oldest and perhaps the most prestigious international scholarship program in the world.
Also see Rhodes Global Scholarships
Host Institution(s):
Oxford University in UK
Level/Fields of study:
Subject to limited restrictions, Rhodes Scholars may study any full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Oxford.
Number of Scholarships:
A class of 95 Scholars is selected each year
Target group:
Australia, Bermuda, Canada, China, Commonwealth Caribbean (Anguilla, Antigua, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Montserrat, St Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent, Trindad and Tobago, and, the Turks and Caicos Islands), East Africa (Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and Burundi), Germany, Hong Kong SAR, India, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Southern Africa (South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia and eSwatini), Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, United Arab Emirates, United States (50 states of the US, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), West Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, the island of Saint Helena, Senegal, Sierra Leone, São Tomé and Principe and Togo), Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
For students who are not under existing Rhodes constituencies, you can apply to Global Rhodes Scholarships.
Scholarship value/inclusions/duration:
A Rhodes Scholarship covers all University and College fees, a living stipend of £19,800 per annum (AY 2024/25); settling in allowance, health insurance, visa, two economy class flights – to and from the UK – for the beginning and end of studies in Oxford.
The detailed Conditions of Tenure document outlines permitted combinations of degrees, and how many years of study are covered by the Scholarship.
Eligibility:
The following eligibility criteria apply to all applicants for the Rhodes Scholarships:
• Citizenship & residency: Each applicant must fulfil the citizenship and residency requirements of the Rhodes constituency for which they are applying.
• Age: You must be aged 18-24 on 1st October 2025 (i.e. you must have been born after 1 October 2000 and on or before 2 October 2007)
OR for medical, dental, pharmaceutical, law and engineering students, to allow you to complete your professional internship
You must be aged 18-25 on 1st October 2025 (i.e. you must have been born after 1 October 1999 and before 2 October 2007)
OR (for older candidates who completed their first undergraduate degree later than usual)
You must be under the age of 27 on 1st October 2025 (i.e. have been born after 1 October 1998) AND you must also have completed your first undergraduate degree on or after 1 October 2023*
• Education: Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree (normally a Bachelor’s degree) with an academic background and grade that is a First Class Honours Degree or equivalent which meets or exceeds the specific entry requirements of your chosen full-time course at the University of Oxford.
In the case of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy courses, the highest classification your University awards, e.g. a Distinction would be considered equivalent to a First Class Honours Degree.
Given the very intense international competition for places at the University of Oxford, candidates will have a greater chance of successful admission to Oxford if you have 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.
• English Language: You must have a sufficiently high standard of English to meet the University of Oxford’s English language proficiency requirements (at the Higher Level listed).
Please see the country-specific eligibility requirements at this link.
Application instructions:
All candidates for the Scholarship should read the information about the Scholarships in the country-specific page to read the application criteria, eligibility requirements, and deadline specific to their country. Deadline varies per country but is around July-October 2023.
It is important to read the how to apply page and visit the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.
