How to become a Rhodes Scholar: a complete guide

Every year thousands of applicants apply for one of the oldest and prestigious Rhodes scholarship. A candidate should not only requires academic excellence but also many character qualities from kindness to courage and exemplary leadership skills. It is awarded to students from 22 designated constituencies, India is one of them.

What is a Rhodes Scholarship?

The Rhodes is one of the oldest, first awarded in 1902, and the most prestigious international scholarship programmes enabling candidates from across the world to fulfill their dream of studying at the University of Oxford. In this article, we will inform you how to win a Rhodes scholarship?

Who is a Rhodes Scholar?

A Rhodes Scholar is someone who has received the Rhodes scholarship that allows the recipient to pursue a postgraduate degree at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Rhodes scholarship covers all University and College fees, a personal stipend and one economy class airfare to Oxford at the start of the Scholarship, as well as an economy flight back to the student's home country at the conclusion of the Scholarship.

Rhodes scholarship is one of the most sought after scholarship programmes offered to students looking to pursue postgraduate courses from the University of Oxford. This is one of the oldest scholarship programmes that started in 1902 with the will of Cecil John Rhodes. However, it was in 1947, the first Rhodes scholarship was awarded in India. It is not only the most prestigious but arduous scholarship to get.

What is covered under the Rhodes Scholarship?

Rhodes scholars need not worry about the following expenses as the below-mentioned expenses are covered by the awarding body of the Rhodes financial aid. Rhodes scholarship covers

• Tuition fees
• Living expenses
• Flights to and from the UK
•  Health care coverage (fee) for a period of two years at least

The total amount of financial aid may vary and can reach about $2,50,000.

Rhodes scholarship for different courses:

Who can apply for the Rhodes scholarship?

Students having a valid Indian passport or Indian citizenship can apply for Rhodes Scholarship India. Candidates are nominated by their university, approved by their state Rhodes committee, go through a state-level interview, and then a cocktail party and again pass a regional level interview.

What is the Application Process for Rhodes Scholarships?

Candidates should note that the Rhodes Scholarship applications for 2020 are now closed on July 31, 2020.

• From June 01, 2020, candidates can apply online at http://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/apply and go to the scholarship tab
• Candidates need to submit their application online along with the supportive documents by July 31, 2020
• Candidates should read the general information given on the official Rhodes website carefully and the graduate admission pages of the University of Oxford: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate
• Longlisted candidates will be invited to attend a preliminary, personal interview in New Delhi and if they are not ordinarily resident of India, they may be interviewed preliminary by video conference or telephone
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a social engagement and a final interview.
• They 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 are held in October or November. Candidates will not be selected without an interview
• The granting of an interview is entirely within the discretion of the Selection Committee. Candidates invited for the final interview will be paid a domestic travel allowance.
• All the candidates will be informed of the status of their application through email

Documents needed for Rhodes scholarship

Candidates need to submit a complete application form online with copies of the documents mentioned below. All documents must be in English and English translation should be included. Candidates invited for the interview may be asked to bring the following documents (originals):

• Birth certificate/a valid passport that confirms your age criteria
• A valid passport or a voter ID confirming that you meet the citizenship criteria
• (Note: PIO or OCI cardholders do not satisfy the Indian citizenship criteria for this purpose)
• An official transcript from the college/university where you have studied or currently studying showing your grades till date
• 10th and 12th certificates
• If you are neither a graduate of a university in India nor in the final year of undergraduate study in India then you must provide evidence of formal study at an educational institution in India for at least 4 of the last 10 years as of the date of application
• If English is not your first language, check the University's English language requirements: http://www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/englishproficiency
• Curriculum vitae (not more than two pages) explaining your academic qualifications, employment details, achievements
• A head-and-shoulders colour photograph in jpg format
• A personal statement of no more than 1,000 words

References

Apart from this, a candidate should provide a list of six references (by six referees) who are willing to submit references on your behalf. At least three of your references should be academics who have taught you formally. Additional references should testify to your involvement in extracurricular or other activities or testify to your any other skills.

All applications must be submitted online. The authorised body will accept no other method of application. Also, there is no application fee for the submission of the Rhodes Scholarship application form.

Also Read

• How to Win a Chevening Scholarship – Complete Guide
• Chevening Scholarship Interview Tips