Rhodes Scholarship

The Rhodes Scholarships, widely considered the world’s most prestigious international scholarship program, support outstanding students from around the world in postgraduate study at the University of Oxford. Established in the will of Cecil Rhodes, the program aims to nurture public-spirited leaders for the world's future, and to promote international understanding and peace. Rhodes Scholars are selected on the basis of outstanding intellect and character, capacity and instincts for high leadership, demonstrated rigor and commitment to service and extracurricular activity, with a focus on effecting positive change in the world.

A class of 100 Scholars is selected each year from over 60 countries around the world. A Rhodes Scholarship covers all University and College fees, a personal stipend and one economy class airfare to Oxford at the start of the Scholarship, as well as an economy flight back to the student's home country at the conclusion of the Scholarship. Successful candidates in the upcoming competition will undertake their programs of choice at Oxford in the fall of 2024. 

International and domestic candidates seeking the endorsement of Western University's President must submit a competitive application by the SGPS deadline and undergo a successful interview by members of Western’s Rhodes Scholarships Selection Committee. 

Spotlight on Recent Western Rhodes Scholars

Value and Duration

The Scholarship is normally tenable for two years and consists of:

  • Direct payment to Oxford University and the Scholar’s College to cover costs such as matriculation, tuition, laboratory and certain other ancillary fees
  • Direct payment to the Scholar of a personal stipend and one economy class airfare to and from Oxford at the beginning and end of the Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates for the Rhodes Scholarships, who are current undergraduate or graduate students, must seek endorsement from their undergraduate university. The Rhodes Trust now accepts applications from all citizens in all countries around the world. The majority of applicants will be eligible to apply for a Rhodes Scholarship through one constituency only, such as Canada. A small number will meet the eligibility criteria for more than one constituency and, as they can only apply to one Rhodes Scholarship in a year, they will need to choose. Candidates who do not meet the eligibility criteria for any constituency may be able to apply for inter-jurisdictional consideration or for one of the new Global Rhodes Scholarships. Read more detail here.

The following eligibility criteria apply to all applicants for the Rhodes Scholarships:

  • Citizenship and residency: Each applicant must fulfil the citizenship and residency requirements of the Rhodes constituency for which they are applying.  
  • Age: Age limits vary between constituencies and range from a minimum age limit of 18 to a maximum of 28 by October 1st of the year following selection. In most constituencies, the age limit is 24 or 25. Please check carefully the specific age requirements for your constituency before applying.  Successful candidates will arrive at Oxford the October following the selection process.  The Scholarship may not normally be deferred.
  • Education: All applicants must have achieved the completion of an honours bachelor's degree by the October following election. As well, academic standing must be sufficiently high to ensure admission to the University of Oxford, which has very competitive entry requirements. In Canada, a GPA of minimum 3.70/4.0, or equivalent, is expected.

Rhodes-Eligible Postgraduate Degrees at Oxford

Rhodes Scholars may undertake any full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Oxford. The basic tenure of the Scholarship is two years, subject always, and at all times, to satisfactory academic performance and personal conduct. For the full listing of degrees offered by the University of Oxford, visit www.ox.ac.uk.

  • At the discretion of the Trustees, the Scholarship may be extended for a third year for those who continue to the DPhil.
  • The Masters of Business Administration (MBA) and the Masters of Financial Economics (MFE) are only tenable in the second year of the Scholarship.
  • For the detailed conditions of tenure, including exceptions and qualifications to the above, please review them here.

Important Note: Since the residential colleges and academic departments at Oxford determine their own admissions, there is no guarantee of a place and the offer of the Scholarship is not confirmed by the Rhodes Trustees until the Scholar-elect has been accepted by both the University and a College.

Timeline and Deadlines

  • June: Annual competition launched by the Rhodes Trust
  • University deadline to receive complete Rhodes applications is 4:00 pm (EDT) Friday, August 18, 2023 
  • September: University committee members review applications for endorsement, and select candidates for endorsement.
  • Global deadline for endorsed candidates to file applications online is 23:59 PT (PDT) Wednesday, September 28, 2023
  • October/early November:
    • Regional Rhodes Committee Secretaries send interview invitations to successful candidates
    • Mock Interviews at Western to prepare invited candidate(s)
    • Regional Rhodes Candidates’ Receptions followed by Interviews and Selection
  • By early December: Announcement of new 2024 Rhodes Scholars-Elect

How to Prepare Your Candidacy at Western

  • Application Process: The online application opens in spring each year.
    All candidates for the Scholarship should read the global information about the Scholarships, and then proceed to their country-specific page. Applicants in Canada must read the Information for Candidates - Canada. Western's selection committee asks you to provide documents that are required in your final Rhodes application and they are listed here: https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/application-overview/ Reference letters may be sent directly to SGPS by the referees to pmenzies@uwo.ca by the internal deadline.
  • Submission Deadline: Applications (single PDF), excluding any references that have been sent to SGPS directly by the deadline, must be submitted to pmenzies@uwo.ca by Friday, August 18, 2023.
  • Candidates are recommended for endorsement after a review of the applications by members of the university committee.
  • The Committee selects successful candidates based on the merits of their application.
  • Western will attach an official letter of endorsement to the application of each successful candidate

Selection Criteria

Selection of successful candidates will be based on the criteria set out by the Rhodes Trust. They are:

  • literary and scholastic attainments
  • energy to use one's talents to the full
  • 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.

If You Are Selected for an Interview in Your Constituency

  • You will receive a message from the regional committee secretary inviting you to the final phase of competition by way of an invitation to a reception and interview.
  • Notify SGPS as soon as possible if you receive an invitation.
  • SGPS will convene the university Mock Interview Panel to help you prepare.

Resources

All information last updated May 2023