You are here : Scholarships > Information for Endorsing or Nominating Institutions

Information for Endorsing or Nominating Institutions

Some constituencies require an endorsement or nomination as a mandatory part of a candidate's application for a Rhodes Scholarship. Below you can find guidance on how to support these talented young people to make an application.

Thank you for your interest in supporting an applicant for the Rhodes Scholarship.

In the constituencies of Canada and the United States the institutional endorsement, or nomination, forms a crucial part of the candidates application - without it they cannot apply.

The following notes are intended to serve as a tailored guide, not only in considering which applicants to endorse or nominate, but also in writing the letter of endorsement or nomination.

The criteria which determined the first Rhodes Scholars in 1903 still guide us today:

literary and scholastic attainments (academic excellence)
energy to use one's talents to the full (as demonstrated by mastery in areas such as sports, music, debate, dance, theatre, and artistic pursuits, particularly where teamwork is involved)
truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship
moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in one's fellow beings.

Proven intellectual and academic quality of a high standard is the first quality required of applicants and is very high. It is unlikely that an applicant will be successful unless they are sufficiently able academically to also be admitted to one of Canada’s most selective graduate schools, and a GPA of 3.7 / 4.0 - or higher - is considered a baseline for Oxford admission.

Intellectual excellence is obviously required, but not in isolation from other qualities. An academically brilliant candidate who does not display exceptional character, service and leadership is highly unlikely to be successful.

All candidates must earn the endorsement of their University President or equivalent representative. The endorsement should confirm that they are/were a student in good standing at the institution and, where possible, additional information in support of their candidacy as related to the Rhodes Selection Criteria. Institutional endorsements should not be unreasonably withheld and institutions may also wish to advise and prepare candidates they have chosen to endorse using our Information for Advisors.

Please take note of the deadline for endorsing candidates for the Canadian Rhodes Scholarships: 23:59 Pacific Time, 29th September 2025.

Please also bear in mind the different deadlines for US endorsements and Global nominations if organizing internal institution processes.

The criteria which determined the first Rhodes Scholars in 1903 still guide us today:

literary and scholastic attainments (academic excellence)
energy to use one's talents to the full (as demonstrated by mastery in areas such as sports, music, debate, dance, theatre, and artistic pursuits, particularly where teamwork is involved)
truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship
moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in one's fellow beings.

Proven intellectual and academic quality of a high standard is the first quality required of applicants. The intellectual standard sought is very high and candidates must meet the entry requirements for their chosen course. It is unlikely that an applicant will be successful unless they are sufficiently able academically to be admitted to one of America’s most selective graduate schools, and has a GPA of 3.7 / 4.0 or higher.

While academic excellence is a key requirement, it should not be in isolation from other qualities. An academically brilliant candidate who does not display exceptional character, service and leadership is highly unlikely to be successful.

As part of the endorsement process, institutions are also invited, but not required, to organize internal committees to assess the relative merits of applicants for the Rhodes Scholarship, with respect to the Rhodes Selection Criteria. These committees may also wish to advise and prepare candidates they have chosen to endorse using our Information for Advisors.

Please take note of the deadline for endorsing candidates for the US Rhodes Scholarships, also bearing in mind the earlier deadlines for Canadian endorsements and Global nominations if organizing internal institution processes.

Full guidance for Institutional Endorsements can be found here.