The Rhodes Scholarship, 2020

Rhodes scholarship is one of the most well-known and prestigious scholarship for the outstanding students who wish to pursue their two year master degree in any field at Oxford university, England. Rhodes scholarship is world famous and thousands of applications are submitted each year. Becoming an achiever of the Rhodes scholarship always has been a pride for the students and their parents. As much as students want to achieve this prestigious award, there is a very tough competition all around the globe for it. To achieve the Rhodes award, not only academic excellence in required but strong determination, a strong character and the quality of staying committed to others play an important role in the selection as well. Rhodes scholarship for studying at Oxford University is named after a politician Cecil John Rhodes who was a mining tycoon as well. The Rhodes scholarship is an international scholarship for students which gives them a chance to study at Oxford University and is fully funded.

Every year, 32 US students are awarded Rhodes scholarship which support 2 year Master degree at Oxford University, England. The Rhodes scholarship is considered as a long term investment in the students who are equally outstanding in all the fields. The students who are selected for the Rhodes scholarship not only excel in their respective academic fields but also in the co-curricular activities. The backgrounds of the selectors who compose the Rhodes scholarship committee are fields such as law, government, academia, medicine, and journalism.

Rhodes Scholarship Background:

The prestigious Rhodes scholarship was created and is named after Cecil John Rhodes. Cecil John Rhodes was a British mining magnate and a politician. The Rhodes scholarship is considered to be the oldest as it was established in 1902 and most prestigious scholarship which is awarded to the international students every year. The students who are pursuing secondary bachelor’s degrees or graduate degrees at Oxford University can avail the Rhodes scholarship. The first recipients of the Rhodes scholarship entered Oxford in 1903 and since then, 7500 students have attended Oxford from all around the world.

Identifying the young leaders and their potential was one of the founding aims of the Rhodes scholarship. The Rhodes scholarship focuses on the betterment of mankind so it prepares the students to lead the world in a better way.

Why opt for the Rhodes scholarship at Oxford:

The program is made for the young leaders. It not only enhances their capabilities but also makes sure they leave with the potential to make a change. The Rhodes scholarship is said to be life transforming experience for the students and this is accepted globally.

The Rhodes scholarship sets you apart in the entire world as only 100 students are chosen for the Rhodes scholarship. The Rhodes scholarship makes its scholars highly desirable in not only academic but professional fields also.

Why Study at Oxford University?

Oxford University offers one of the best educations in the world. It has a large international community and world class resources and structures. Students are free to study the full range of disciplines offered at Oxford, including life sciences, arts and humanities, social sciences, mathematics and the physical sciences.

When Should International Student Apply for The Rhodes Scholarship?

The Rhodes scholarship applications are opened during the spring and summer of the preceding year for the Rhodes scholarship. The application deadline for Rhodes scholarship program is 11:59 PM U.S. Eastern Time on the first Wednesday of October each year. Applications open in July each year.

Rhodes Scholarship Selection Process:

The selection criteria fall into 4 broad categories

Academic excellence (Example a GPA of at least 3.7)
The energy to use the talents to the fullest
Attributes like devotion, service, honor
Moral force of character and instincts to become a leader

Eligibility Criteria for the Rhodes Scholarship:

The eligibility criteria for the Rhodes scholarship is given below

Citizenship and Residency:

The applicants are required to fill in the residency and citizenship requirements when they are applying for the Rhodes scholarship. Currently, only the countries listed below are eligible for the Rhodes scholarship.

Australia
Bermuda
Canada
Germany
Hong Kong
India
Jamaica and the Commonwealth Caribbean
Kenya
New Zealand
Pakistan
Southern Africa (South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia and Swaziland)
United States
Zambia
Zimbabwe

There are only 14 countries currently where citizens are eligible for the Rhodes scholarship program.

Age:

The minimum age to apply for Rhodes scholarship is 18 and the maximum age limit to apply for the Rhodes scholarship is 28 by October 1 of each year following selection. In most of the constituencies, the age limit is 24 or 25. It is best to check the age limit of your constituency before applying for the Rhodes scholarship.

Education:

All the applicants for the Rhodes scholarship are required to have an academic standing sufficiently advance to assure completion of their bachelor degree by October following selection. Since the requirements to get admission in the Oxford University are sufficiently high, the candidates must have a strong academic background. It is the requirement of some constituencies that an undergraduate degree should have been taken within the constituency of the application. 1^st or equivalent must be specified by some individual constituencies.

Field/level of studies:

Any full time post-graduate degree may be studied by the Rhodes scholars at Oxford University.

How to Apply for The Rhodes Scholarship Program for Study at Oxford University?

The following is a guide for the interested students who want to apply for the Rhodes scholarship program to study at Oxford University in England.

Choosing a Program:

Students are offered a wide range of subjects from which they have to select one to pursue their degrees. Students applying should be very careful while choosing the subject. They should make sure the subject they chose is of their interest and it is of relevance to what they have been studying previously. Students are required to a proper research on the subject. They should also consult peers or elders who might have an idea and have studied abroad too. Proper consultation is a very important process of choosing the right subject. Students should also make sure they study all the given details on the Rhodes website of their subject of interest. Students should also check the Rhodes Conditions of Tenure that is available on the webpage for more information related to the courses that are covered by the Rhodes scholarship. Keep in mind that diplomas and certificates are not offered by Rhodes.

A Personal Statement:

A personal statement is the most important part of the selection process as it reflects the image of the applicant and it also serves as a basis of the subsequent interviews. The applicant should make sure his/her personal statement relates to him/her as a person. The personal statement reflects ones personality, interests etc.

Personal statement should include details about you and your future goals. It should describe your aims and why you are applying for the Rhodes scholarship. It should define the changes you want to bring in the world and how the Rhodes scholarship and studying in Oxford University would help you achieve that.

Applicants are required to sign an undertaking stating that no external help was taken from anyone in writing the personal statements as it is a personal narrative. Applicant should make sure that various aspects of personal and professional lives are put together and that their statement serves as a story to the reviewers which should describe their motivation that helps them to process.

Applicants should make sure that the personal statement must not exceed two A4 sized papers with a 10 point font. Personal statement should be within the 1000 word limit as stated in the application rule.

Identifying Referees:

To apply for the Rhodes scholarship, applicant needs to have 4-5 referees. Most of the countries require at least 3 referees which can be university professors or teachers. However, the exact number depends upon the constituency the applicant is applying from.

The referees should be able to provide evidence pertaining to the applicant’s characters and active participation in the extra-curricular activities. The referees that the applicant chooses are required to give a critical analysis of the applicant’s performance throughout and also an insight of the activities that the applicant has participated in. the applicant should make sure that he/she is selecting referees that have time and would be able to provide detailed reports on all the things required. Incomplete information can lead to disqualification as well. Asking friends, peers to be referees is not a good idea either.

Referees are also required to provide a comparison of the academic performance of the applicant. It should also be mentioned that to what number of students the applicant is being compared too. Referees are also required to present the strong and weak points of the applicant.

Curriculum Vitae:

CV plays an important role in the selection process of the Rhodes scholarship. A well written CV can get the candidate selected. Relevant information and experiences are required to be mentioned accurately. The CV is limited to one page only. Make sure you mention skills, educational awards, past experiences and your extra-curricular achievements. These all can play a vital role in securing the Rhodes scholarship successfully.

Interview:

The interviews for the Rhodes scholarship are quite the different than the other interviews. The interviews for the Rhodes scholarship are primarily based on testing the process of thinking and the ability of the candidate to express his thoughts confidently. The knowledge of the candidate about the field he/she wants to pursue is also tested. Candidates are also asked about the skills, experiences that are mentioned in his/her personal statements. Candidates should be confident in the answers. They should prepare for the interview well by researching on the subject they have chosen and the current affairs.

Rhodes Scholarship Acceptance Rate:

The Rhodes scholarship is said to be the most competitive scholarship till date as the acceptance rate is 0.7 percent. Each year, about 32 scholars are selected from American universities. The acceptance rate is much lower for Rhodes scholarship as compared to Harvard acceptance rate which is 5.6%.

The competition for the Rhodes scholarship has always been tough for the students but the selection committee not only focuses on the academic achievements but also the athletic achievements, good moral character and their service to others as well.

Rhodes Scholarship Value:

This fully funded Rhodes scholarship average about $70,000 per year and cover all expenses for two or three (in some cases, four) years of graduate study. .

The scholarship covers the following

Full tuition fees,

Living Expenses,

Flights to and from the U.K., and

The fee for health Care

Scholars can earn a second bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree or a doctoral degree in a variety of subjects. The total amount may vary, but can reach up to $250,000.

Highlights:

Students must be at least 18 years old and not have passed their 24th birthday on Oct. 1 in the year in which they are applying.

Applicants must also have completed or will have completed an undergraduate degree from a college or university

GPA should not be lower than 3.70,

an official transcript,

a full CV,

five to eight letters of reference

a personal statement of no more than 1,000 words.

APPLY NOW

Corporate Scholarships, International Scholarships, Oxford University Scholarships, PhD Scholarships, Postgraduate Scholarships, UK Scholarships, Undergraduate Scholarships

Program:

Award:

Offering to:

University / Organization:

Deadline: