Rhodes scholarship,one of the most prestigious and oldest scholarship programmes, is internationally acclaimed for offering financial assistance to bright students coming from different corners of the world. Offered jointly by the Rhodes Trust and the Second Century Founder, John McCall MacBain O.C., the scholarship aims at enabling the exceptionally meritorious students to pursue a full-time postgraduate programme at the University of Oxford. Started in the year 1902 with the will of Cecil John Rhodes, the scholarship turned out to be a visionary project over time benefiting over hundreds of students worldwide. However, the first Rhodes Scholarship India was awarded in the year 1947.
Who are the students eligible for Rhodes Scholarship to study abroad? What are the must-have qualities for the students to become a Rhodes scholar? How can a student apply for the scholarship? When is the scholarship announced? What are the benefits that a student can avail through this scholarship? Get an answer to all these questions in detail in this article. It provides you with in-depth information about the scholarship including its detailed eligibility, application procedure, rewards, selection procedure and more.
Rhodes Scholarship An Overview
Having an existence of over 100 years, the Rhodes scholarship is given to students across 22 designated constituencies out of which India is a prominent name. The Rhodes Scholarship India is applicable for students having Indian citizenship or a valid Indian passport. The students who have a PIO or OCI card are not eligible to apply for the scholarship. Adding to this, the table below highlights a detailed overview of the scholarship thereby making you aware of all its relevant details.
Detailed Overview of the Rhodes Scholarship
| S.No. | Particulars | Details |
| 1. | Name of the scholarship | Rhodes Scholarship for India |
| 2. | Provider details | The Rhodes Trust & the Second Century Founder, John McCall MacBain O.C. |
| 3. | Place of study | The University of Oxford, UK |
| 4. | Level of study | Postgraduate |
| 5. | Scholarship application start date | 1 June 2019* |
| 6. | Scholarship application closing date | 31 July 2019* |
| 7. | Number of scholarships available | 5 |
| 8. | Scholarship amount | Annual stipend of approx. GBP 15,141
Covers the college fees Economy class air tickets Settling in allowance |
| 9. | Scholarship duration | 2 years |
| 10. | Scholarship application | Online through the official website of Rhodes Trust |
*The dates mentioned above are applicable for the academic year 2019-20. It may change every year on the discretion of the scholarship provider.
Rhodes Scholarship Key Eligibility
Who are the prospective candidates for the Rhodes scholarship? What are the eligibility conditions to be fulfilled by them? The answers to all these questions are covered in this section. In order to become a Rhodes scholar, an applicant must possess qualities like outstanding intellect, leadership, commitment to service and character. Besides these qualities, the key eligibility criterion for the scholarship include
- The students must have taken their formal education at an Indian institution for a minimum of 4 years of the last 10 years.
- The students who have either completed class 12 exam or have received/pursuing the final year of an undergraduate degree can also apply for the scholarship.
- The age of the applicant should be above 19 years and below 25 years as on 1 October 2020 (for academic the Rhodes Scholarship 2020). This means, the students born between 30 September 1994 and on or before 1 October 2000 are eligible to apply for the Rhodes scholarship 2019.
- The applicants must have completed (or will complete by June/July 2020) their undergraduate degree with a First class or equivalent.
- The students must also intend to enroll in a full-time postgraduate programme at the University of Oxford.
Courses Applicable for the Rhodes Scholarship
Find below the details of degree courses or degree combinations which are permissible for students to obtain the Rhodes scholarship
- A BA programme with senior status, i.e., done over two years
- A one-year taught Masters course like BCL, MSt or MSc which is followed by another one-year taught Masters course in the second year
- A one-year taught Masters course like BCL, MSt or MSc which may progress to D.Phil. In this combination, the students can apply for the scholarship for the third year. (Note: This movement is not applicable for students in Physical & Life Sciences and Maths division).
- A two-year BPhil or MPhil or BCL programme that progresses to DPhil. In this scenario too, the students can apply for the thirdyear of the scholarship.
- A two-year MLitt or MSc by research. (Note: No scholarship will be given for the third year in this scenario).
- A three-year DPhil programme.
Furthermore, to know more about the courses and exceptions, refer to the official notification.
Rhodes Scholarship Application Process
The application process of Rhodes scholarship involves the students to clear multiple stages. In all, there are seven major steps that a student needs to follow to get the scholarship. Given below is a step-wise description of the application process.
Rhodes Scholarship Application Process
