The Rhodes Scholarship

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. The Rhodes Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship, with the purpose of developing public-spirited leaders, and to promote international understanding and peace through an international community of Scholars.

Applying for the Scholarship is a challenge, but it is an experience which has helped generations of young people to succeed. We encourage applications from talented students everywhere. 

Rhodes Scholars come to the UK for two or more years and can apply to study most full-time postgraduate courses offered by Oxford University.

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.

The detailed Conditions of Tenure document outlines permitted combinations of degrees, and how many years of study are covered by the Scholarship, as the latter depends on course choice - for example up to three years of fees and stipend is available to Scholars who choose to undertake a DPhil (PhD) at Oxford.

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.

Established through the Will of Cecil John Rhodes in 1902, the Rhodes Scholarship was a truly visionary project for its time.  Over a hundred years later, the Rhodes Scholarships are the oldest and perhaps most prestigious international scholarship programme in the world, enabling outstanding young people from around the world to undertake full-time postgraduate study at the University of Oxford, (ranked first internationally in the Times Higher Education rankings for 2017 and 2018). 

One of the founding aims of the Scholarship was to identify young leaders from around the world who, through the pursuit of education together at Oxford, would forge bonds of mutual understanding and fellowship for the betterment of mankind.

Our reputation as the world's most distinguished academic scholarship rests not on the controversial life of our founder Cecil Rhodes, but on the enormous contributions our Scholars have made to the world, and the qualities sought in a Rhodes Scholar - intellectual distinction combined with concern for others, energy to lead, and a focus on public service - remain as compelling as they were over a century ago.

Read more about our Legacy, Equity & Inclusion journey.