The Rhodes Scholarships

The Rhodes Scholarship, established through the will of Cecil John Rhodes in 1902, is one of the oldest and most prestigious international graduate scholarship programs in the world. It enables outstanding students from around the globe to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Originally created to promote unity among English-speaking nations and develop civic-minded leaders with moral fortitude, the scholarship has evolved significantly since its inception.

Initially limited to male students from Commonwealth nations, Germany, and the United States, the Rhodes Scholarship has expanded its reach considerably over time. The program opened to women in 1977 following the Sex Discrimination Act, and has gradually become more inclusive across different regions and backgrounds. Today, the Rhodes Trust awards over 100 scholarships annually, providing recipients with comprehensive financial support for one to three years of study at Oxford, depending on their chosen degree program.