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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.

West Africa

Applications are now closed for the Rhodes Scholarships but will reopen in June/July 2023 for study beginning in October 2024.

You can use the Eligibility Checker below to get an idea of the eligibility criteria for your constituency however please note that the criteria will be updated before applications reopen next year. Please ensure you revisit this page in April/May 2023 to make sure you meet the eligibility criteria before applying.

The ‘Your Constituency’ box will have been automatically completed for you based on the country you selected on the previous page. You should then answer 'Yes' or 'No' to each of the eligibility questions. Once you have answered each question please click continue to find out if you are eligible and what to do next!

Step 1 / 6

Your Constituency

West Africa

Step 2 / 6

Your Nationality or citizenship

Are you a citizen of one of the following countries?

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.

Inter-jurisdictional Scholarship

If you have a strong connection to two or more Rhodes constituencies, but don't meet the Nationality or Citizenship criteria, you may be able to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship via Inter-Jurisdictional Consideration. To find out more please visit our page here.

If you have read our information page about Inter-Jurisdictional Consideration and meet the requirements, please choose 'Yes' below. If you don't, click 'No'.

Step 3 / 6

Your Education / residency

Have you been resident in one or more of the countries listed above for at least five of the last ten years?

Inter-jurisdictional Scholarship

If you have a strong connection to two or more Rhodes constituencies, but don't meet the Education/Residency criteria, you may still be able to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship via Inter-Jurisdictional Consideration. To find out more please visit our page here.

If you have read our information page about Inter-Jurisdictional Consideration and meet the requirements, please choose 'Yes' below. If you don't, click 'No'.

Step 4 / 6

Your Age Criteria

Do you meet either of the below criteria?

i. On 1 October 2022, you must be at least 18 and have not reached your 25th birthday (i.e. you must have been born after 1 October 1997 and on or before 1 October 2004).

OR for medical, dental, pharmaceutical, law and engineering students, to allow you to complete your professional internship

ii. On 1 October 2022, you must be at least 18 and have not reached your 26th birthday (i.e. you must have been born after 1 October 1996 and on or before 1 October 2004)

OR for older candidates who completed their first undergraduate degree later than usual

iii. On 1 October 2022, you must have met or will meet the academic requirements for completing your first undergraduate degree on or after 1 October 2021 AND must have not reached your 27th birthday (i.e. have been born after 1 October 1995).*

* A university's policy determines the date of completion of academic requirement for a degree and this may be different from when a degree is considered awarded by the university or the date of a graduation ceremony. In ambiguous cases, the decision of the National Secretary is final.

Step 5 / 6

Your Academic Achievement

Have you 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 (with the exception of those studying in Nigeria and Ghana, and, for some countries, those studying medicine). Candidates may wish to consider applying to the Rhodes Trust’s sister Foundation, The Mandela Rhodes Foundation, to pursue an Honour’s year or a Master’s degree prior to making an application for the Rhodes Scholarship.

Step 6 / 6

English Language Criteria

Do you have a sufficiently high standard of English? And will you have met - by the application deadline - the English language proficiency requirements for IELTS / TOEFL (at the Higher Level listed) of the University of Oxford?

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