Applying for Inter-Jurisdictional Consideration

How do I apply for Inter-Jurisdictional consideration?

If you have read the above information and believe you may be eligible to apply for Inter-Jurisdictional consideration you should take the following steps: 

Check which constituency to apply through:

1. Complete the Eligibility Checker for each country you have a strong connection to, so that you can check if you are eligible to apply directly to any of them.
2. If you do not meet all of the eligibility criteria for any one constituency, you should choose the country with which you believe you have the strongest connection and then complete the Eligibility Checker for this country, answering any questions in the checker about Inter-Jurisdictional Consideration. Please note at this stage that attending university for your undergraduate degree in a constituency is not considered a strong connection on its own.
3. You will be taken to the information page for your chosen constituency. Please ensure that you read all of the details here carefully, especially the Information for Candidates document.

Apply via the Rhodes application form:

1. Use the link on your chosen constituency page to start your Rhodes Scholarship application via Embark (the Rhodes application platform)
2. You will find that, as you do not meet all of the eligibility criteria, you cannot proceed past the Eligibility Screen on the application form and that an error message has appeared at the bottom of the screen. Below the error message there will be an 'Inter-Jurisdictional' box with an option to 'Tick here if you would like to apply for Inter-Jurisdictional Consideration'. You should tick this box and click 'save and next'. This will open up the rest of the application form for you.
3. Complete the 'Inter-Jurisdictional' section of the form. This is your primary opportunity to outline your case for Inter-Jurisdictional Consideration. Your 500 word justification should lay out clearly the strength of your connection to all the Rhodes constituencies with which you are connected. You should also explain why you have the strongest connection to the constituency through which you have chosen to apply. You should include a timeline to clarify your movements over time and to further highlight the strength of your connections to the relevant countries.
4. Complete the "Personal Details" and "Nationality & Residence" sections of the application form.
5. Tick the box on the 'Request Inter-Jurisdictional Check' page. A member of the team at Rhodes House will then assess your eligibility for Inter-Jurisdictional Consideration and which constituency it would be most appropriate for you to apply to.
6. You should request the Inter-Jurisdictional check at least 2 weeks in advance of the earliest deadline for the constituencies you have a connection to.

Receiving a decision and next steps:

1. Your case will be assessed and you will be emailed with the outcome. We aim to respond within two weeks, although for complex cases this may take longer as we consult with multiple National Secretaries to reach a decision.
2. If your request is granted, we will confirm which constituency it would be most appropriate for you to apply through, this may be different to the constituency you selected.
3. You can then go on to complete and submit the rest of the form. Please note that the rest of the form wording is tailored towards applicants who meet all of the eligibility criteria, therefore you should complete the rest of the form to the best of your ability. Where the form asks you to upload a document that you do not have (as you fit into the Inter-Jurisdictional category) please upload documentation relevant to the question and your situation.
4. If you are unable to apply as an inter-jurisdictional candidate, you will be signposted towards other scholarship opportunities to consider.

How is eligibility assessed?

Each candidate is assessed on a case by case basis taking into account all the information they have shared. We will primarily be looking for the following:

• The extent to which you meet the eligibility criteria for each of the constituencies you are connected to
• A clear rationale for why you have chosen the constituency in which you are applying
• Evidence of connection to, investment in, and commitment to, the constituencies and any regular contact with them if you are no longer based there
• Reasoning for the movement between constituencies
• A clear timeline to capture your movements between countries
• Note that attending university for your undergraduate degree in a constituency is not considered a strong connection on its own.