Life at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar

Oxford is an exciting and dynamic place to be. The University of Oxford has an international reputation for world-leading research, teaching and resources - offering you the opportunity to receive an exceptional postgraduate education. Combine this with a beautiful and historic city, the postgraduate experience at Oxford is one of a kind. 

Upon selection, you'll automatically become a part of the unique and vibrant international community of Rhodes Scholars. A defining aspect of the Rhodes experience is being a part of this community. "Just by being a member of this community, you are exposed to so many divergent views on different issues...it's a beautiful place to expose yourself to different ways of thinking."

Unlike other Oxford University students you'll have Rhodes House, a beautiful building at the heart of the city. It's where the Registrar, the Director of Programming, and the Warden are based.

• Rhodes House hosts talks, seminars and forums with world leading experts and guests.
• There are study spaces, libraries and social events where you will meet other Scholars.
• Scholars also attend social events like the Coming Up Dinner and Rhodes Ball.

The Character, Service and Leadership Programme (CSLP) is a core component of the Rhodes Scholar experience while in Oxford. The overall objective of this Programme is to support, nurture and facilitate Scholars’ lifelong commitment to lead and serve others, whatever their chosen field. Through Rhodes House-led structured programmatic activities, we aim to equip Scholars with the practical skills and tools to craft a life of impact and passion as individuals and as a collective. The programme includes:

• Welcome Week
• First Year Retreat: Service & Leadership
• Second Year Retreat: Building the Good Life: Purpose, Meaning and Balance
• Skills workshop sessions
• Speaker series
• Weekly discussions on global challenges
• Internships

Retreats provide quality time in Scholars’ busy schedules to gather and reflect together. They are an invaluable opportunity to share experiences and build skills which will help each Scholar’s personal development on their journey to making a better world.

The CSLP framework (image above) outlines and illustrates the core aims behind the opportunities the Trust offers for Scholars to learn, connect, engage, lead and serve. These range from offering tools for enhanced self-awareness and resources for developing self-compassion [SELF]; to ensuring an infrastructure for expanding relational capacity and skills for dealing with disagreement [OTHER]; and, offering a range of opportunities for Scholars to engage the world through talks and readings on complex global challenges, and supporting collaboration with others to create solutions that meaningfully contribute to a better world [WORLD].