The Rhodes Scholarships for Australia
Welcome to the information pages about the Rhodes Scholarships for Australia.
Each year, there are nine Scholarships available in Australia to enable outstanding students - chosen on the basis of exceptional intellect, character, leadership, and commitment to service - to study at the University of Oxford.
The first Australian Rhodes Scholars took up residence in Oxford in 1904, and since that time many hundreds of Australians have been awarded this prestigious scholarship. They have pursued a variety of careers in public service, academia, business, law, and medicine, amongst others. Many have achieved notable distinction, including:
- Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke;
- Former Governor-General Sir Zelman Cowen (click here for tributes on his death in December 2011);
- Opposition Leaders Kim Beazley (now Australian Ambassador to the US), Malcolm Turnbull, and Tony Abbott;
- Nobel Prize winners Sir John Eccles and Lord (Howard) Florey;
- Pioneer in evidence-based medicine Anna Donald;
- Justices Hayne and Heydon of the High Court of Australia; and
- Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
Please enjoy video interviews with Rhodes alumni, including Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth.
Applications
Applications for the Rhodes Scholarship for 2013 will open in mid-2012. Applications for 2012 have now closed, and the Rhodes class of 2012 has been elected.
Of the nine scholarships available each year in Australia, each state offers one Scholarship that is awarded by a selection committee of seven members (including three Rhodes Scholars) based in the state. In addition, there are three Australia-at-Large Scholarships awarded by a selection committee based in Canberra. This selection committee will consider applicants from the ACT and other territories of the Commonwealth, as well as those candidates nominated by state selection committees.
Prospective applicants from Australia should carefully review:
1. the general information about the Rhodes Scholarships,
2. the selection criteria that apply in all Rhodes constituencies, and then
3. the application criteria specific to Australia.
Once you have reviewed the information above and determined if you are eligible, potential candidates must contact their State or Territory Honorary Secretary to discuss their eligibility to apply, and for general information on the preparation of applications and the selection of referees.
If appropriate, the Secretary will provide you with an Authorisation Code word to allow you to log-in and access the Rhodes Application form. Subsequent log-ins will only require your email address.
Referee Reports
Candidates need to contact their referees to confirm that they are able to submit their reference by the due date, and then enter and save their referees' contact details into the on-line Application Form. An email will be automatically sent to each referee with instructions on how to submit the reference on-line. The system will then attach the referee reports to the candidate's application when received. As we have now moved to an electronic system, we no longer expect to receive hard copy references (although it is still possible in special cases). Please note that it is up to each candidate to check with the Secretary that all their reports have been received. Please click on the link for a copy of notes giving Guidance to Referees.
Qualities of a Rhodes Scholar
The qualities sought in a Rhodes Scholar are described here and here.
Candidates must demonstrate academic excellence, strong leadership qualities, community mindedness and a willingness to help those less fortunate. The Committee also seeks candidates who are determined to succeed in life and have the strength of character, stamina and energy to fulfil their ambitions. These qualities may be demonstrated through such things as involvement in extra-curricular activities, community or volunteer work and participation in sport and physical activity.
Oxford University
Candidates intending to apply for a research degree are strongly advised to contact the relevant department at Oxford. The Selection Committee will expect to see evidence that the planned project is of interest to and can be supported by that department.
There are also FAQs applicable to all applicants and Australia-specific FAQs. Also available are biographies of the Rhodes class of 2011.
National Secretary for Australia:
Professor Graham Hutchinson AM
The General Secretary
The Rhodes Scholarships in Australia
Department of Infrastructure Engineering
The University of Melbourne
Grattan Street, Parkville
Victoria 3010
Australia
Telephone: +61 3 8344 6779
Fax: +61 3 8344 4616
Email: grahamlh@unimelb.edu.au
To view contact information for the Secretaries in each Australian state, please visit the Australian Secretaries page.
