Rhodes Scholarship: Everything You Need to Know 

The Rhodes Scholarship is one of the most prestigious international scholarships in the world. Rhodes Scholars receive full financial support to pursue a postgraduate degree at the University of Oxford. The scholarship has an impressive track record of creating opportunities for exceptional students, and is particularly suitable for those who wish to pursue public service. If you think you have what it takes to become a Rhodes scholar, here’s everything you need to know!

What is the Rhodes Scholarship?

Since its founding in 1902, the Rhodes Scholarship has supported students from around the world to attend the University of Oxford in England. Every year, 32 American Rhodes scholars are selected, while award numbers vary for other countries. For 2-3 years the scholarship will cover all of the following:

• Tuition
• Fees
• Annual stipend for living expenses (£19,800 per year or £1,650 per month)
• Health care coverage
• Flights to and from the U.K.

The total amount varies, but can reach approximately $250,000. Scholars can earn a second bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, or a doctoral degree in any field at Oxford.

Why Should You Apply for the Rhodes Scholarship in 2025? 

Top-notch academics

Becoming a Rhodes Scholar and getting the chance to study at the University of Oxford is the opportunity of a lifetime. Oxford leads the world in research, offers state-of-the-art learning facilities, and consistently contributes to global academic and societal advancement.

Not to mention, Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world and is consistently ranked as one of the world’s top universities. Oxford offers over 350 graduate courses across four academic divisions, including the humanities, medical sciences, social sciences, and the mathematical, physical, and life sciences.

Change the world!

While attending Oxford is an incredible educational experience, Rhodes is more than just an academic scholarship. It’s an opportunity to pursue passion projects and change the world for the better. One of the tenets of the program is commitment to service, meaning that students dedicate their time to worthwhile causes. Rhodes scholars take on important projects that range from addressing rural poverty in South Africa to improving the field of disaster medicine. In the process, students expand their worldview, connect with people from across the globe, and become leaders and innovators.

Applying for the Rhodes Scholarship 

Thousands of students from around the world apply for the Rhodes Scholarship every year. The selection process is very competitive, with the global acceptance rate standing at 0.7%. Thousands of students apply, but only about 100 students are chosen every year. The application is available each year starting in early July and the deadline is the first Wednesday of October each year. Students interested in applying should visit this page.

Eligibility 

Although age requirements and deadlines vary by country, the Rhodes Trust evaluates all applicants using the same selection criteria. Find the rules for your particular country or region on the Rhodes Scholarship website. The following eligibility requirements apply to U.S. applicants:

• Be at least 18, but not yet 24 at the time of application submission, some exceptions apply for older students
• Have completed an undergraduate degree with a GPA of 3.70 or higher (no rounding allowed)
• Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or DACA recipient

Criteria for Selection

The guiding criteria for selection have remained the same since the Rhodes Scholarship was first awarded in 1902. The organization bases its selections not only on the basis of intellect, but also of character, leadership, and commitment to service. Here’s what selection committees are looking for in applicants:

1. Literary and scholastic attainments (academic excellence)
2. Energy to use one’s talents to the full (as demonstrated by mastery in areas such as sports, music, debate, dance, theater, and artistic pursuits, particularly where teamwork is involved)
3. Truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship
4. Moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in one’s fellow beings

Application Procedures + Timeline

The best time to apply is during a student’s junior year of college, as the application process can take multiple months. The application for the Rhodes Scholarship includes the following requirements:

• An endorsement letter from your institution’s president or dean
• An official transcript
• A full CV
• Five to eight letters of reference
• A personal statement of no more than 1,000 words

The U.S. application deadline is the first Wednesday in October. This year, it falls on October 1, 2025. After applying, candidates go through a series of interviews and then winners are announced in November. Keep in mind that students who apply for Rhodes still have to apply to the university separately.

Which Countries Are Eligible for the Rhodes Scholarship?

While in this article, we mainly focus on the application process for students in the U.S., keep in mind that this is a global scholarship. Each year there are a select number of scholarships available from each of Rhodes constituent countries. These countries include:

• Australia (9 Scholarships)
• Bermuda (1 Scholarship)
• Canada (11 Scholarships)
• China (4 Scholarships)
• Commonwealth Caribbean (1 Scholarship)

Covering Anguilla, Antigua, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Montserrat, St Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent, Trindad and Tobago, and, the Turks and Caicos Islands

• East Africa (2 Scholarships)

Covering Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and Burundi

• Germany (2 Scholarships)
• Global (2 Scholarships)
• Hong Kong (1 Scholarship)
• India (6 Scholarships)
• Israel (2 Scholarships)
• Jamaica (1 Scholarship)
• Kenya (2 Scholarships)
• Malaysia (1 Scholarship)
• New Zealand (3 Scholarships)
• Pakistan (2 Scholarships)
• Saudi Arabia (2 Scholarships)
• Singapore (1 Scholarship)
• Southern Africa (10 Scholarships)

Covering South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia and eSwatini

• Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine (2 Scholarships)
• United Arab Emirates (2 Scholarships)
• United States of America (32 Scholarships)

Covering the 50 states of the US, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

• West Africa (3 Scholarships)

Covering Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, the island of Saint Helena, Senegal, Sierra Leone, São Tomé and Principe and Togo

• Zambia (2 Scholarships)
• Zimbabwe (2 Scholarships)

Other resources for Rhodes Scholarship hopefuls

If you are looking into post-graduate opportunities, we have a host of resources available to help guide you through the process. Check out our guide on funding your graduate school education to start off. We’ve also got resources to help you get into grad school if you had a low GPA in undergrad. Additionally, you can check out our guides to graduate assistantships, filling out the FAFSA for grad school, and deferring your student loans while in grad school. Good luck and don’t forget to check back if you have any more questions! Make sure you also apply for all the scholarships you are eligible for!

Key Takeaways

• Rhodes Scholars should be students who are interested in and passionate about making real change in the world through their academic pursuits
• Students interested in applying should maintain the best academic record possible, as well as a mix of strong extracurricular activities
• In completing your application, you’ll want strong and varied letters of recommendation, a memorable personal statement, and impressive interviews
• Becoming a Rhodes scholar is a phenomenal achievement, and you shouldn’t let the rigorous application process stand in your way

Frequently asked questions about the Rhodes Scholarship