Rhodes University Scholarship UK For International Students
The Rhodes Scholarship is one of the oldest, most prestigious international scholarships in the world. It is administered by the Rhodes Trust and enables outstanding young people from many countries (called “constituencies”) to pursue postgraduate study at the University of Oxford.
Key facts:
It is a fully funded postgraduate award.
Over 100 Scholarships are awarded each year. Scholars come from a variety of backgrounds and constituencies.
Scholars may study almost any full time course at Oxford, including taught Master’s, research Master’s (MPhil, MLitt), and DPhil (Oxford’s PhD equivalent).
Eligibility & Criteria
You must satisfy both the eligibility conditions for the constituency you are applying from and meet the selection criteria.
General Eligibility Requirements
Nationality / Citizenship / Residency
You must be a citizen of the constituency (or satisfy its residency rules), or else apply via a “Global” or “Inter jurisdictional” constituency if allowed.
Some constituencies require you to have been resident in the country for a certain number of years.
Age Requirements
For many constituencies, you must be between 18 24 years old on 1 October of the year of application.
Exceptions exist:
Medical, dental, law, engineering etc. students sometimes allowed to be older (to accommodate professional internship obligations).
Candidates who completed undergraduate degrees later than usual may have an older upper age limit (e.g. under 27) if the first degree was completed recently.
Academic Qualifications
Must have completed (or be about to complete) an undergraduate degree by a specified date (often before the start of study at Oxford).
Your academic record must usually meet or exceed the Oxford entry requirements for the course you wish to study. In many constituencies, a First Class Honours degree (or equivalent) or a very high GPA is expected.
English Language Proficiency
You must have sufficient English, in line with Oxford’s requirements. Sometimes there are options for waivers.
Selection Criteria
Meeting eligibility is necessary, but not sufficient. Rhodes scholars are selected for more than just grades. The following are the features that selection committees evaluate.
Academic excellence: strong performance, intellectual curiosity, ability to handle rigorous graduate work.
Leadership, service, and impact: A record of contributing to community, society or groups; leadership roles (formal or informal); service to others.
Character: integrity, moral force, courage, empathy, unselfishness; ability to work with and for others.
Clarity of purpose / Vision: What you plan to do at Oxford and beyond; how the Rhodes opportunity fits into your longer term goals.
Energy to use your talents to the full: involvement beyond academics (e.g. arts, sports, extracurriculars), showing that you can balance life, have breadth.
What the Scholarship Covers (Benefits)
The Rhodes Scholarship is very generous. Some of the benefits are standard across constituencies; others may vary slightly by country or cost of living. Here are the main things covered.
| Benefit | What it usually covers | |
| Tuition & College Fees | Full course fees at Oxford for the duration of the scholarship (often 2 years, but can extend to 3 years if doing a DPhil or longer courses) | |
| Living Stipend / Maintenance Allowance | ||
| Application Fee | The scholarship often covers the fee to apply to the University of Oxford for the course. | |
| Travel Costs | Return flights (economy) between your home country and Oxford, or at least one return trip. | |
| Visa & Health Costs | Visa fee, possibly visa renewal if needed; the UK’s International Health Surcharge (IHS) so you can access NHS services during your stay. | |
| “Settling in Allowance” | A one time allowance when you first arrive in Oxford to help with initial expenses. | |
| Other Support | Sometimes grants for research travel or conferences (for scholars who need it), possibly college grants or mentoring etc. Also, the Rhodes Trust provides non academic support (e.g. networks, leadership & character programmes). | |
Application Procedure / Timeline
Here’s how applying works (general outline). The precise deadlines and documents can vary depending on constituency, so always check the Rhodes Trust site for your country.
Check Eligibility
On the Rhodes Trust website, select your country/constituency, and use the eligibility checker.
Determine if you can apply via regular constituency, Global, or via Inter jurisdictional option.
Choose Course(s) at Oxford
Pick one or more full time postgraduate courses at Oxford that you’d apply for. Ensure you meet their specific entry requirements.
Prepare Documents
Common requirements include:
Official academic transcripts and degree certificate (or proof of expected completion)
Proof of citizenship / passport, residency documents if needed.
Personal statement (your motivations, achievements, future plans)
Academic statement: what you want to study at Oxford and why
Letters of recommendation (usually two or more; academic references, character references)
CV / résumé
English proficiency evidence if required
Submit Application Online
All applications are submitted through the Rhodes Trust portal. Be sure to upload all required documents. rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk+1
Some constituencies may also require you to apply (or at least get conditional offer) to the Oxford programme(s) separately.
Shortlisting & Interviews
After submission, there is a screening to check eligibility and quality of applications.
A subset of applicants are shortlisted for interviews (in person or sometimes remotely, depending on location).
Interviews assess not only academic depth but also leadership, character, personality, vision.
Final Selection
After interviews, Rhodes Trust announces scholars. Usually the award is valid for the coming academic year.
Accepting the Scholarship & Admission
Successful applicants must secure admission to their chosen Oxford course by the relevant deadline.
Then they complete administrative formalities (visa, travel, lodging etc.).
Duration & Conditions
Most scholars are supported for two years of full time study. But many degree programmes (e.g. a DPhil) may require three years, and the scholarship may extend accordingly under certain rules.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even strong candidates can fail because of avoidable errors. Here are common pitfalls, and how to avoid them:
- Not checking constituency specific rules
- Weak or vague personal statement / vision
- Overemphasizing academic credentials only
- Ignoring formatting, deadlines, and required documents
- Not preparing for the interview
Relatable Examples
Ntokozo Qwabe (South Africa)
He came from humble beginnings: first in his family to attend university, worked as a cashier to save for fees.
Excelled academically (graduated summa cum laude) and used that achievement along with outward leadership and activism in his application.
Ren Naying (China)
Studied at a top Chinese university (Tsinghua), but was also deeply involved in activism: co-founded an LGBT+ youth network.
Applied for the Rhodes Scholarship with a strong academic record, but also a clear commitment to social issues (gender, equality) and institutional change.
Final Thought
Be authentic: Don’t try to “sound like a Rhodes Scholar.” Be deeply yourself.
Tell your story: Your personal growth, your why, your impact — that’s what matters.
Start early: The process is intense — references, personal statement, interviews. Give it time.
Expect challenge: You may doubt yourself, and you might not get it. But applying seriously helps you grow in profound ways — win or lose.
