Life-Changing Experiences.

While the Rhodes Scholarship covers core tuition and a stipend for living expenses, the reality of student life in Oxford today involves many additional costs, especially in an increasingly challenging financial climate. Scholarship endowments raised in the most recent campaign provide sufficient funding to cover the full range of needs, but additional funding is required to 'top up' the funding provided by the endowment that supports original scholarships. The Scholars Fund plays a vital role in bridging this gap, providing flexible, responsive support where it’s needed most. The Scholars Fund enables us to confidently support Scholars facing unforeseen challenges and expenses. Recent examples have included: 

“I was provided with a dataset for my dissertation, but the required software was not available through university or college. Accessing this software and receiving training have been instrumental in initiating my research and acquiring valuable new skillsets.”  

Your support ensures that Scholars can access a wide range of academic, professional, and personal development opportunities. These mini grants, awarded at the Warden’s discretion, are a vital part of shaping the Rhodes experience. Through boosting Scholar academic, professional, and personal excellence, we stay competitive in an ever-increasing international Scholarship landscape.

In recent years, we have witnessed a significant increase in applications for this grant support, owing to increasingly limited funding opportunities in colleges and departments, as well as a growing Scholar population. Scholars have used this grant funding to present at conferences, undertake research trips, participate in university sports tours, and study languages essential to their academic work. 

“This grant has played a vital role in facilitating my academic and professional development. The medical practice license has enabled me to conduct clinical examinations within the Oxford Vascular Study, enhancing my medical skills and contributing to ongoing research efforts.”  

Your donation will provide critical extra support to Scholars facing hardship, navigating medical challenges, or seeking mental health support. As international students, Scholars are required to pay a surcharge to access NHS services. The Scholars Fund helps cover this additional cost. It also provides in-house guidance for Scholars seeking support with mental health or physiotherapy needs, connecting them with the appropriate external resources. By supporting the physical and mental well-being of Scholars, your donation ensures they can thrive personally and academically. This support is vital for some Scholars to fully engage with and benefit from the Rhodes experience. 

“This support helped me through one of the lowest points in my life, where challenging medical events were directly impacting on my wellbeing. The ease with which therapy was found and the support has been lifechanging, and I am so grateful that Rhodes was able to support me through this.”   

What sets the Rhodes Scholarship apart? We are proud to have supported some of the world’s most influential leaders, change-makers, and trailblazers. As global challenges grow in complexity, the need for Scholars to embody strong, values-based leadership has never been more critical. The Character, Service, and Leadership Programme (CSLP) equips Scholars with the skills to lead with integrity and purpose. It fosters a lifelong commitment to service, whatever their chosen field.  

With Scholars representing over 70 countries, the CSLP also cultivates international competence, a skill which is essential in globalised world. Scholars carry this perspective into their work and communities, encouraging others to collaborate across borders on pressing transnational issues.  

To complement this crucial programming, the Scholars Fund also provides support to Scholar-founded groups, Scholar-led programmes, and Scholar trips. 

“Bringing together these Scholars who may not have previously interacted much and fostering spaces for them to grapple with profound questions about their roles and responsibilities in their communities and the broader world, created deep connections where none would have existed before. Witnessing their passion, curiosity and commitment has filled me with immense hope.” [CSLP Facilitator]