What is it?
The Rhodes Scholarship programme is the oldest (established in 1903), and perhaps the most prestigious, international scholarship programme in the world. Administered by the Rhodes Trust in Oxford, the programme offers more than 100 fully-funded Scholarships each year for postgraduate study at the University of Oxford (UK) - one of the leading universities in the world. Rhodes Scholarships are for young leaders of outstanding intellect and character who are motivated to engage with global challenges, committed to the service of others and show promise of becoming value-driven, principled leaders for the world’s future. The broad selection criteria are:
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academic excellence (e.g., First Class Honours or GPA of minimum 3.7 out of 4.0, or equivalent). Further details on the academic requirements can be found under ‘Eligibility Criteria’ below,
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energy to use your talents to the full (as demonstrated by mastery in areas such as sports, music, debate, dance, theatre, and artistic pursuits, particularly where teamwork is involved),
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truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship,
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the moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in your fellow human beings.
94 Rhodes Scholars are selected annually from the Best countries in the world. They are young women and men from diverse backgrounds and interests who show the potential to be public-spirited leaders for the world’s future.
Each year, there are five Scholarships available for India. The first Indian Rhodes Scholars took up residence in Oxford in 1947, and since that time over two hundred Indians have been awarded the Scholarship.
Eligibility Criteria
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Nationality/citizenship
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You must be a citizen of India, holding an Indian passport, or equivalent proof of citizenship; PIO or OCI cardholders do not satisfy the Indian citizenship criteria for this purpose.
*List of Rhodes Scholarship Constituencies: (India is one of them) https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/list-of-rhodes-scholarship-constituencies/
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Age
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Upon 1 October 2020, you must meet either of the below criteria:
OR (for older candidates who completed their first undergraduate degree later than usual)
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Education/residency & Academic achievement
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You must have undertaken formal study at the best educational institution in India for a minimum of 4 of the last 10 years, and have either:
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completed a school-leaving exam (10th or 12th standard or equivalent) at a school in India, or
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have received, or be in the final year of, an undergraduate degree at a top university in India.
*You must have completed (or will have completed by June / July 2021- for 2021 applicants) [for selection for 2021] your undergraduate degree with First Class, or minimum GPA minimum 3.75 (or equivalent). Successful candidates typically feature within the top few ranks of their graduating classes.
Please note: only one of the five available Scholarships (and, in exceptional cases, two) may be awarded in the aggregate to
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candidates who are pursuing, or have pursued, their undergraduate studies outside India and
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inter-jurisdictional Candidates.
Please note carefully the requirements for your chosen course at Oxford, which may be higher still:
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/applying-to-oxford/application-guide?wssl=1
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English language
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You must have a sufficiently high standard of English to meet the English language proficiency requirements (at the Higher Level listed) of the University of Oxford.
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Application Procedure
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Register and Create an account on the website of Rhodes Trust.
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Complete the Rhodes Scholarship Application form
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Submit personal details along with the list of required documents. Rhodes Scholarship applications should be submitted along with documents listed below:
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Personal statement of 1000 words focusing on why an applicant deserves the scholarship.
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Academic Transcripts from previous Institution (English translations, if required)
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Letters of Recommendation (list of referees along with relevant details)[6 refrees]
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Valid Indian Passport
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Updated Resume (not more than 2 pages)
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A valid photograph of the candidate in jpg format.
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IELTS or TOEFL score
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Submit the application package before the deadline.
In preparation for making your application, you should read carefully the general information, particularly that held on the Scholarships tab, on the Rhodes website, the Conditions of Tenure for the Rhodes Scholarship, the information in this document and the graduate admissions pages of the University of Oxford: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate
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If you are longlisted you will be invited to attend a preliminary, personal interview in New Delhi. If you are not ordinarily resident in India you may be interviewed preliminarily by video conference or telephone.
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Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a social engagement (a tea or dinner with the selection committee hosted by the Chairman) and a final interview. You must be available to attend both, in person, as no accommodations can be made on the date and time, or mode, of these events. Interviews will be held in October or November of that year. No candidate will be selected without an interview. The granting of an interview is entirely within the discretion of the Selection Committee. A domestic travel allowance for candidates invited for the final interview will be paid by the Rhodes Trust. International travel will not be reimbursed.
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All applicants will be emailed with the outcome of their application.
One can even refer to this guide: https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/media/42118/unofficial-guide-india-2018.pdf
How much is the Rhodes Scholarship worth?
A Rhodes Scholarship covers All best global universities and College fees; the University application fee; a living stipend; one economy class airfare to Oxford at the start of the scholarship and one economy flight back to the student’s home country at the conclusion of the scholarship.
For the 2019/20 academic year, the stipend was £15,900 per annum (£1,325 per month) from which Scholars pay all living expenses, including accommodation.
Scholarships are a great way to empower ourselves financially, without having to depend on our folks for financial support. The Rhodes Scholarship is one of a kind. You should definitely give this scholarship a try if you would like to experience studying in one of the most prestigious universities in the world without having to worry about financials! While it could be challenging, it is not unattainable.
- Bhavya Bhatt & Shifa Qureshi
