The Rhodes Scholarship is like the OG of international scholarship programs. It’s been around since 1902, and it gives candidates from all over the world a chance to study at the prestigious University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. How awesome is that?
The Rhodes Trust, based in Oxford, is the organization that administers this fully-funded scholarship. Every year, they select over 100 deserving candidates for full-time postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford. Talk about an amazing opportunity!
Now, here’s the exciting part. The Rhodes Trust is currently inviting students from Southern Africa (that includes South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Malawi, and eSwatini) to apply for the Rhodes Scholarships for the 2023 academic year. If you’re from one of these countries, listen up!
The scholarship covers postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford starting from October 2023. But hey, before you get too excited, make sure to check out the Rhodes Trust Scholarship Conditions of Tenure to see which courses are covered. Gotta know what you’re signing up for, right?
Oh, and if you’re interested in other postgraduate bursaries and scholarships, or if you want to explore more bursaries closing in August 2022, the article provides links for you to check them out. It’s always good to keep your options open!
Now, let’s talk about the types of awards and selection process. Brace yourself because this is important stuff. They’re offering four scholarships for applicants from South Africa, one scholarship specifically for KwaZulu-Natal province, and one scholarship for applicants from Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Malawi, and eSwatini. They’re also reserving one scholarship for applicants from specific schools or past pupils. Those lucky individuals!
If you make the shortlist, you’ll be invited to attend a social engagement and a final interview. The interviews will take place by the end of November in the region you’ve applied to (except for KwaZulu-Natal, BLMNS regions, and schools that will meet in September and October). So mark those dates on your calendar!
Once the selection process is done, successful candidates will receive feedback via email. If you don’t get selected, don’t worry, they won’t contact you. It’s always good to manage expectations, right?
Now, let’s talk eligibility. Here are the basic requirements you need to meet before applying:
- You must be a citizen or legal permanent resident of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Malawi, or eSwatini. And hey, if you’re a refugee or asylum seeker in South Africa, you might still be considered. Cool, huh?
- You should have lived in one of the above countries for at least 5 years out of the last 10 years. They want to make sure you have a solid connection to the region.
- You need to meet the English language proficiency requirements. No worries, they want to ensure you can rock your studies at Oxford.
- Your age matters too. You should be between 19 and 25 years old on 1 October 2023. If you were born between 1 October 2004 and 1 October 1998, you’re in the sweet spot.
- Now, if you’re older than 25 but have completed your first undergraduate degree within the last 2 years, you can still apply. Just make sure you’re not older than 28 on 1 October 2023. Phew!
- Attention, MBBCh or MBChB graduates who need to complete their internship and/or community service! You must apply during your second year of internship or community service year, as long as you meet the age requirement of not being older than 28 on 1 October 2023.
- Health sciences graduates who need to complete their internship and/or community service, listen up. You should have completed the required health sciences degrees and intend to pursue any registered health profession that requires internship and/or community service.
- You must have completed or will complete an undergraduate degree by July 2023. That’s usually a Bachelor’s degree, just so you know.
- Make sure you meet the specific entry requirements of your chosen full-time course at the University of Oxford. They don’t want any surprises, so do your homework and check out the Oxford course list.
- While they consider all applicants, they have a soft spot for those with impressive academic achievements. So if you have a First Class Honours Degree or equivalent, a high GPA, an Honours degree from a university outside your country, or even a Master’s degree, you’ll have a little extra edge.
Phew, that was quite a list, but it’s important stuff! Now let’s get to the nitty-gritty: how to apply for the Rhodes Trust Scholarship.
First things first, you need to submit your application online through the Rhodes Trust Scholarship Application portal. Easy peasy, right? Just make sure to register an account before you can log in and apply. Oh, and don’t forget to read the Rhodes Trust Scholarship Information for Candidates before diving in. Knowledge is power!
Now, here comes the paperwork part. You need to provide clear copies of various supporting documents along with your application. These include your birth certificate, ID document or passport, proof of citizenship or residency, academic transcripts, degree certificates, school leaving certificate, and a full curriculum vitae showcasing your academic achievements, leadership positions, work experience, and any noteworthy accomplishments. They also want a head-and-shoulders color photograph of you and a personal statement explaining why you deserve this scholarship. Let your personality shine!
Oh, and don’t forget about the academic statement of study and your referees. They need four referees who can vouch for you, so make sure to check out the Rhodes Trust Scholarship Guidance for Referees for more information. References are important, folks!
Lastly, mark your calendar! The closing date for the Rhodes Trust Scholarship is 1 August 2022 at 23:59. Yep, that’s a deadline you don’t want to miss. So apply before that date to ensure your application is considered. You got this!
If you have any questions or need more info, feel free to reach out to the Rhodes Trust directly. They have a National Secretary for Southern Africa named Ndumiso Luthuli, and you can contact them at southernafrica.secretary@rhodestrust.com. Oh, and don’t forget to check out the Rhodes Trust Scholarship FAQ’s before bombarding them with questions.
