Rhodes Scholarship

Campus Deadline:

Friday, August 15, 2025

Who Should Apply?: 

Seniors and alumni; U.S. citizens

Citizen of a qualifying Rhodes country or global applicants from countries not covered above 

U.K./Ireland Pre-Application must be completed and submitted by June 1.

What It's For: 

Graduate degree at University of Oxford, England

Fields of Study: 

Any field

Scholarship Website: 

Rhodes Scholarship

The Rhodes Scholarship supports exceptional, well-rounded students with promising leadership potential and a commitment to public service who plan to enroll in any graduate degree program at the University of Oxford. The Rhodes is the oldest and perhaps the most prestigious international graduate scholarship program in the world. The foundation seeks to develop outstanding leaders who are committed to the common good and who will promote international understanding and peace. The scholarship covers all university and college fees for one to two years, plus a personal stipend and airfare to and from the U.K.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Applicants from one of the Rhodes eligible countries must apply for the Rhodes Scholarship for that country; all other applicants may apply for the Global Rhodes Scholarship. 

    The following information primarily applies to applicants from the United States, Canada, and those eligible for a Global Rhodes Scholarship. These individuals must seek a nomination from UMass Amherst. 

  • Candidates for the United States, Canada, and the Global Rhodes Scholarship must: 
    • be a U.S. or Canadian citizen or lawful permanent resident, DACA recipient, or citizen of a country not covered by an existing Rhodes Scholarship 
    • be age 18, but not yet 24, by October 1 of application year or be up to a maximum age of 28 if the first undergraduate degree was earned within the last 2 years 
    • have academic standing sufficiently advanced to assure completion of a bachelor's degree before October 1 of year following application 

Candidate Profile:

  • Record of literary and scholastic achievement beyond outstanding grades
  • Strong moral character: truth, courage, devotion to public duty, humility
  • Ambitious vision, the drive to make that vision a reality, and the ability to inspire others
  • Energy to use one's talents to the fullest (demonstrated by extracurricular strength, such as in sport, debate, music, dance, etc.)
  • Rationale for the chosen program of study at Oxford and a clear link with future goals

Application Components:

  • 5-8 recommendation letters, 4 of which must be from individuals who have instructed you academically at the university level. Share this important information with your recommenders: Instructions for Recommenders: U.K. & Ireland Awards.
  • 1,000 word personal statement
  • A list of principal activities (a focused resume or CV)
  • Evidence of age (e.g., birth certificate or passport)
  • Certified transcript (or transcripts)
  • Passport-size photograph
  • Proof of citizenship
  • English language proficiency (if English is not the applicant’s first language)

Application Procedure

All applicants MUST be nominated by their college or university. As such, UMass applicants must apply through ONSA.

ONSA staff encourage you to set an advising appointment during the spring semester to discuss your eligibility and competitiveness for the UK/Ireland scholarships. After discussing with us your academic record and leadership experience for these highly competitive scholarships, students will pre-apply with ONSA by June 1.

The pre-application process officially informs ONSA about your application plan and allows students to start working early on their applications.

After June 1 pre-application deadline, you will work on your essays, which will allow you to move forward with a full application for the campus endorsement process. In some cases, we may recommend that you consider other opportunities that are a better fit.

U.K./Ireland Pre-Application

APPLY with ONSA by August 15:

Finalize your Rhodes application on the national website. We will access your application from there.

THE CAMPUS DEADLINE OF AUGUST 15 IS REQUIRED. WE WILL NOT ACCEPT APPLICATIONS AFTER THIS DATE.

After August 15, we will review your application and inform you if you will be endorsed for the national competition.