The Rhodes Scholarships, established in 1903, are the oldest international scholarship programme in the world, and one of the most prestigious. Administered by the Rhodes Trust in Oxford, the programme offers 100 fully-funded Scholarships each year for postgraduate study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom – one of the world’s leading universities. 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:
– Academic excellence – specific academic requirements can be found under ‘Eligibility Criteria’ below.
– Energy to use your talents to the full (as demonstrated by mastery in areas such as sports, music, debate, dance, theatre, and artistic pursuits, including where teamwork is involved).
– Truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship.
– Moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in your fellow human beings
The Scholarships for these countries are administered from a regional secretariat based in Johannesburg.
There are:
- four Scholarships every year for applicants from South Africa-at-Large,
- one for applicants from KwaZulu-Natal,
- one for an applicant from one of: Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia and eSwatini, and
- one each for applicants of or from Diocesan College, Rondebosch; South African College School, Newlands; Paul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch; and St Andrew’s College, Grahamstown (including their identified partner schools, which are listed here).
Countries, regions and schools
Scholarships in Southern Africa are distributed as follows:
a. South Africa-at-Large Scholarships: You should apply to the committee (the “Regional Selection Committee”) in whose area you permanently live or in which you have received, or are currently receiving, any considerable part of your education. Save for KwaZulu-Natal as explained below, all successful candidates from Regional Selection Committees are sent to the South Africa-at-Large Selection Committee, for the final round of interviews.
The South Africa-at-Large Selection Committee selects successful candidates and recommends them to the Rhodes Trust, which ultimately makes the scholarship awards. There are four regional Selection Committees, namely:
i. Eastern Cape and Free State;
ii. KwaZulu-Natal;
iii. Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North-West; and
iv. Western Cape and Northern Cape.
b. KwaZulu-Natal Scholarship: You may apply for the KwaZulu-Natal Scholarship if you live permanently or have
received, or are currently receiving, a considerable part of your education in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). The KZN SelectioncCommittee may make one direct recommendation (similar to that of the South Africa-at-Large Selection Committee) tocthe Rhodes Trust each year, and also acts as a Regional Selection Committee.
c. Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia and eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) Scholarship (BLMNS): You may apply tocthe BLMNS Selection Committee if you fulfil the citizenship or legal residence requirement in one of the mentioned ccountries. The BLMNS Selection Committee may make one direct recommendation (similar to that of the South Africaat-Large Selection Committee) to the Rhodes Trust each year.
d. Named and partner schools: Former pupils of the four named schools and their partner schools, namely:
i. Diocesan College (Bishops), St Cyprian’s School, St George’s Grammar School, Herschel Girls School, and LEAP 1 School (Langa), (all in Cape Town);
ii. Paul Roos Gymnasium, Rhenish Girls’ High School and Bloemhof Girls’ High School (all in Stellenbosch);
iii. South African College School (SACS), Sans Souci Girls’ High School and Rustenburg High School for Girls (all in Cape Town); and
iv. St Andrew’s College and Diocesan School for Girls (DSG) (both in Makhanda, formerly Grahamstown), may apply for their relevant school Scholarship, or for the South Africa-at-Large (including KZN) or BLMNS Scholarships.
NOTE – For South Africa applications, you may only apply to one region or one school.
Eligibility Criteria
a. Nationality/citizenship: You must be a citizen or legal permanent resident of South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia or eSwatini. Applications from refugees/asylum seekers in South Africa will also be considered in this constituency.
b. Education/residency: You must 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 eSwatini.
c. Age:
(i) Upon entry to Oxford on 01 October 2022, you must be at least 19 years old and not have passed your 25th birthday (which means you must have been born after 01 October 1997 and on or before 01 October 2003).
(ii) For older candidates who will have passed their 25th birthday on 01 October 2022, and completed their first undergraduate degree later than usual:
• Candidates must have completed their first undergraduate degree within the last 2 years, i.e. after 1 October 2020; and
• may not have passed their 28th birthday on 01 October 2022 (which means they must have been born after 01 October 1994).
(iii) For candidates who are MBBCh or MBChB graduates, and required to complete their compulsory internship and/or community service:
• Candidates may not have passed their 28th birthday on 01 October 2022 (which means they must have been born after 01 October 1994).
• Candidates should apply either during their second year of internship, or during their community service year, provided that they meet the age requirement above.
• Candidates that can apply in their community service year (without breaching the age requirement above) are encouraged to do so.
Application Procedure
a. You can apply online from 01 June 2021 at http://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/apply via the scholarships tab.
b. You must submit your application online, with all supporting documents, by 23:59 SAST, 15 August 2021.
c. In preparation for making your application, you should read carefully the general information, particularly that held on the Scholarships tab, on the Rhodes House 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.
d. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a social engagement and a final interview. You must be available to attend both, in person, as no accommodations can be made on date and time, or mode, of these events. Interviews will be held in the region to which you have applied, all interviews will have taken place by the end of November. The Selection Committees for KZN, BLMNS, regions and schools, meet in October/November annually. The South Africa at-Large selections are usually held on the last weekend of November. No candidate will be selected without an interview. Reasonable travel expenses to the designated Selection Committee for the purposes of interviews will be paid. The Trust will not be responsible for the cost of overseas travel. Accommodation within South Africa will be provided, where necessary.
e. All applicants will be emailed with the outcome of their application. We regret that we are unable to provide feedback to applicants or finalists who are unsuccessful in their applications. The Selection Committees’ decisions are final.
- Information for Candidates – Southern Africa
- Guidance for Referees – Southern Africa
- Courses covered by the Rhodes Scholarship
Click to Visit the Official Webpage of the Rhodes Southern Africa Scholarships Programme
