The Rhodes Scholarship for Southern African Students


The Rhodes Scholarships are postgraduate awards supporting exceptional students from around the world to study at the University of Oxford. Established in the will of Cecil Rhodes, the Rhodes is the oldest and perhaps the most prestigious international scholarship programme in the world, which aims to nurture public-spirited leaders for the world's future. They are based at Rhodes House, Oxford.

The Rhodes Trust partnered with Nelson Mandela in 2003 to form The Mandela Rhodes Foundation.

University of Oxford Information

University of Oxford Grants

The Rhodes Scholarship for Southern African Students Founded in 1096, University of Oxford is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large town of Oxford (population range of 50,000-249,999 inhabitants), South East England. Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Privy Council, University of Oxford is a large (uniRank enrollment range: 25,000-29,999 students) coeducational higher education institution. University of Oxford offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. This 923 years old higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic record and grades. The admission rate range is 20-30% making this UK higher education organization a very selective institution. International students are welcome to apply for enrollment.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility criteria

a. You must have a first degree by the time you start at Oxford, which means that you must be at least in the final year of your first degree when you apply for the Scholarship.

b. Generally, applicants from South African universities will have had to do very well in their discipline. You will need to obtain a first class or a very strong upper second class degree

c. You must be a citizen or legal permanent resident of, and have resided for at least five years within the period of ten years immediately preceding your application, in South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia or Swaziland.

d. You must have reached your 19th and not have passed your 25th birthday on 01 October 2016, which means you must have been born after 30 September 1991 and on or before 01 October 1997.

e. For medical students and medical doctors the age limit is extended by three years. This means applicants must have been born after 30 September 1988 and on or before 1 October, 1997.The intention is to: i. Avoid successful medical school applicants having to postpone taking up the Scholarship; ii. Enable applicants to complete their medical internships before going to Oxford and to take up the Scholarship before completing their post-internship medical residency.

f. If you are registered for an MBBCh or an MBChB degree you may apply during your internship, provided that you have not passed your 28th birthday on 1 October in the year after selection, i.e. the year you would start at Oxford.

Offered Benefits

The Rhodes Scholarship covers University and College fees and a stipend for living expenses for two and possibly three years of study at the University of Oxford. Scholarship also covers travel to and from Oxford at the commencement and conclusion of tenure (subject to certain conditions), and private health insurance. In some cases, fees for a fourth year of doctoral study are underwritten.

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