Rhodes Scholarship

Oxford course fees and a yearly stipend (£20,400 for 2025–26) for two or more years, plus the Oxford application fee, student visa and health surcharge, two economy flights and a settling-in allowance.

• Citizen (and usually resident) of a country or region with its own Rhodes constituency; the Global Scholarship is suspended
• Age limits set by your constituency (e.g. 18–24 on 1 October 2026 in West Africa, 18–23 in the USA, with exceptions for late graduates)
• Undergraduate degree finished by a date your constituency sets, with a top academic record (e.g. First Class or equivalent in West Africa)
• Meet Oxford's higher-level English language requirements
• Selection on academic excellence, energy to use your talents, character and instinct to lead
• If unsuccessful, you can re-apply only once more, in the same constituency

Only for citizens of countries and regions with their own Rhodes constituency. The Rhodes Global Scholarship, which covered everyone else, is suspended, so you can't currently apply if your country has no constituency. Age, degree and residence rules vary by constituency.

1. 1

   Step 1: Find your constituency's rules

   Use the eligibility checker and read your constituency's Information for Candidates, which sets the age, academic and residence rules and the dates.

2. 2

   Step 2: Submit the online application

   Complete the free online form before your constituency's deadline, with your statements, CV section, transcript and proof of eligibility. Apply to Rhodes before applying to Oxford.

3. 3

   Step 3: Get your references in

   Register 4–8 referees (the number depends on your constituency): mostly academics who taught you, plus at least one character referee. Make sure they all submit online by the reference deadline.

4. 4

   Step 4: Attend interviews if shortlisted

   Shortlisted candidates may have preliminary interviews. Finalists then attend a social event and a final panel interview, usually in November.

5. 5

   Step 5: Apply to Oxford if selected

   Scholars-elect then apply for their Oxford courses, usually with two course applications, with help from Rhodes House. The scholarship is confirmed only once Oxford admits you.

• Proof of citizenship and age (e.g. passport, national ID, birth certificate)
• Official university transcript
• Personal statement (up to 1,000 words)
• Academic statement (up to 450 words)
• CV, completed within the form
• 4–8 references, depending on constituency
• English test results or a waiver request, where your constituency asks
• College or university endorsement (USA)

Deadline

The 2027 round (for Oxford entry in October 2027) is closed. Dates varied by constituency, for example 1 June–27 August 2026 for West Africa and 1 July–7 October 2026 for the USA, and applications reopen in 2027 for 2028 entry.

Dates depend on your constituency; the US round, for example, ran from 1 July to 7 October 2026. All 2026 rounds are closed, and applications reopen in 2027 for entry to Oxford in 2028.