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Find out more about applying for the Rhodes Scholarship

Find out more about applying for the Rhodes Scholarship

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Application Process

The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest (first awarded in 1902) international scholarship programme, enabling outstanding young people from around the world to study at the University of Oxford.

Any Questions?

If you have a question which hasn’t been answered by our Scholarship webpages, you may find the below FAQ's helpful. If you still can’t find what you need you can contact us using the email address at the bottom of this page.

Application Questions

  • We regret that this is not possible. The age limit, as set by each individual selection constituency, is absolute.

  • If your country is not included in our list of constituencies, you may still be able to apply for the Global Rhodes Scholarship. Please enter your country in our eligibility checker to see if you are eligible to apply for the Global constituency. 

  • Applicants to the Scholarship should have, or be about to complete, an undergraduate degree. The Rhodes Scholarship is a fully funded, full time, postgraduate scholarship which enables talented young people from around the world to study at the University of Oxford. As such, applicants need to meet the academic requirements in the eligibility checker, which includes holding a strong undergraduate degree, as well as meeting or exceeding the specific entry requirements of their chosen full-time course at the University of Oxford.

  • You may only submit one application in a single year. However, if you are unsuccessful in your first application to the Rhodes Scholarships, you may subsequently re-apply once more (and this must be in the same constituency), subject to meeting the eligibility criteria. 

    You may not apply to the Rhodes Scholarship more than twice.

  • Yes, provided you meet the eligibility criteria. Applicants should bear in mind, however, that the Scholarship stipend is sufficient only for one person, and that the Trust takes no financial responsibility for the support of a Scholar's spouse or dependants. Rhodes House, Oxford, warmly welcomes the partners of Rhodes Scholars, who are invited to Rhodes events.

  • Yes, you can still apply if you meet the eligibility criteria, but Scholars come into residence in Oxford in late September of the year after their selection. This means Scholars who are successfully elected in 2023, will commence their studies at Oxford in October 2024. 

    If you already hold an offer from Oxford University, you may choose to defer your Oxford offer so that you can apply for the Rhodes Scholarship but we strongly advise against this. This is because of the competitive nature of the Rhodes Scholarship, there are no guarantees you will be successful in your application. The Rhodes Scholarship itself cannot be brought forward or deferred to a later academic year. 

    We advise that you apply to the Rhodes Scholarship in advance of your Oxford application, usually in the final year of your undergraduate (or postgraduate, if you still meet the age criteria) studies. If you are unsuccessful in your application for a Rhodes Scholarship, this then gives you time to explore other scholarship opportunities, both at Oxford and elsewhere, before applying to institutions for postgraduate studies.

  • No. 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 only. If you are looking for funding for undergraduate studies, or for postgraduate studies at another institution, please see our information on other scholarship opportunities. 

  • This is a social event, usually held in the days prior to the interviews, for the candidates to get to know each other and the selection committee. It takes various different forms due to the variety of cultural contexts and timings, but is usually a drinks reception or a meal celebrating the achievement of applicants becoming finalists. There are no formal questions, or scoring, of this aspect of the selection weekend, it is simply an opportunity to familiarize with the selection space, people and have informal conversations. 

    You can find out more about the Social Engagement on the Application Overview page, where recent Scholars talk about their experiences!

  • Selection committees are made up of Rhodes Scholars and community leaders from diverse backgrounds. The interview is of core importance as it is here that selection committees have the opportunity to weigh up a candidate's depth of engagement, accomplishments, and aspirations. In posing their questions, committee members initiate discussion that will help them ascertain who best represents the potential we are looking for. Proven intellectual and academic attainment of a high standard is the first quality required of Scholars, but they are also required to show exceptional character, leadership in extra-curricular activities, and a commitment to service in the public good. The interview will therefore be wide-ranging in nature, designed to test candidates' intellectual skills and reasoning ability, but also to reveal their character, core commitments, and potential to make a positive contribution to society.

    You can find out more about the interview on the Application Overview page, where recent Scholars talk about their experiences!

Scholarship Questions

  • The Rhodes Scholarship covers Oxford University course fees, as well as providing an annual stipend.

    For the 2023-24 academic year, the stipend is £19,092 per annum (£1,591 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.

  • You can see the range of postgraduate courses offered by Oxford University here and most are covered by the Rhodes Scholarship. However, there are some exceptions and so you should also refer to the Rhodes Conditions of Tenure documents to ensure that your chosen course would be covered by the Scholarship (e.g. it must be a full-time postgraduate degree).

  • Tenure of other awards in conjunction with a Rhodes Scholarship is not permitted without prior consultation with the Registrar of the Rhodes Trust in Oxford.

  • Scholars come into residence in Oxford in late September of the year after their selection. The academic year at Oxford University begins in October. This means Scholars who are successfully selected in 2022, will commence their studies at Oxford in October 2023. 

    Scholarships cannot be brought forward or deferred to a later academic year. 

  • Rhodes Scholars are designated by their constituency, Oxford college, and year for which they were elected. For example, 'Dr Elizabeth Kiss (Virginia and Balliol 1983)' indicates that Dr Kiss (current Warden and CEO of the Rhodes Trust) was elected as the Rhodes Scholar for Virginia for 1983 and became a member of Balliol College, Oxford, in that year.

  • Whether you're looking for Rhodes Scholars from your region, or for current Scholars in Residence, you can find this in the Rhodes Scholar Database

If your question hasn’t been answered by any of the pages in the navigation bar or in the FAQs above, please get in touch with us at scholarship.queries@rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk.