The Rhodes Scholarship For Southern Africa 2022 At Oxford University

  Masters PhD  

How to Apply


Apply online via http://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/apply


Email: [email protected]
Deadline: 15 August 2021 [CLOSED]
Funding: The Rhodes Trust  |  Amount:  Not specified
Specific Conditions: Studies: Masters PhD  |  Host countries: United Kingdom  |  Specialization: Any

About the The Rhodes Scholarship For Southern Africa 2022 At Oxford University

The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest (first awarded in 1902) and perhaps most prestigious international scholarship programme, enabling outstanding young people from around the world to study at the University of Oxford. It was founded in 1902 by Cecil John Rhodes, to promote unity between English-speaking nations and instill a sense of civic-minded leadership and moral fortitude in future leaders irrespective of their chosen career paths.

The Scholarship is not just a financial bursary, it is a life-changing opportunity for exceptional young people with the potential to make a difference for good in the world. Rhodes Scholars are people who have a vision of how the world could be better and the energy to make a difference – whatever their sphere of interest. Rhodes alumni have distinguished themselves in every field. Notable Rhodes scholars including former US President Bill Clinton and 2-time Interim President of Pakistan, Wasim Sajjad.

Scholars are selected not only on the basis of intellect, but also of character, leadership and commitment to service . The Scholar Program at Oxford University aims to build on these Rhodes Scholar qualities, with the first and second-year retreats, workshops, conferences and social events.

Read more about the program on the Rhodes Scholarship official website.


Broad Selection Criteria

  • 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.

Closing Date

Applications must be submitted online by 23:59 SAST, Sunday, 15 August 2021.

Countries, Regions and Schools

  • South Africa
  • Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia and eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) Scholarship (BLMNS):  Candidates from these countries may apply to the BLMNS Selection Committee if they fulfil the citizenship or legal residence requirement in one of the mentioned countries. The BLMNS Selection Committee may make one direct recommendation (similar to that of the South Africa-at-Large Selection Committee) to the Rhodes Trust each year.

Eligibility Criteria

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Age:
    • 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).
    • 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).
    • 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.
        Note: For candidates that have to or choose to apply in their second year of internship, the Rhodes Scholarship National Secretariat will endeavour, as it has done in past years, to reach agreement with the National Department of Health to allow those medical doctors awarded the Rhodes Scholarship to complete their community service year requirement by September, in the year after they apply, and before going to Oxford in October 2022. While the Secretariat will strive to reach such dispensations, the granting of such cannot be guaranteed.
    • Other health sciences graduates in order to complete any compulsory internship and/or community service: Candidates who have completed the necessary health sciences degrees for admission to, and intend to be admitted to, any registered health profession that requires the completion of any compulsory internship and/or community service, may write to the Rhodes Scholarship National Secretariat to seek exemption to allow them to apply in their internship or community service year, provided that they will not have passed their 28th birthday on 01 October 2022 (which means they must have been born after 01 October 1994), and if:
      • they cannot be accommodated under (c)(i) (ii) above; a
      • they are in a similar position to medical students given that, even if there are no delays or breaks in or between the completion of their compulsory university studies, internship and/or community service, they would not be able to be accommodated either under the general age limit or under exception (c)(ii) above;
  4. Academic achievement: You must have completed (or will have completed by 30 June 2022) an undergraduate degree from a college or university (normally a Bachelor’s degree) to a sufficiently high standard to be admitted to postgraduate study at the University of Oxford. In this respect, please note carefully the requirements for your chosen course at Oxford.
  5. Given the very intense international competition for places at the University of Oxford, candidates (with the exception of those studying in South Africa and Namibia and, for some countries, those studying medicine) will have a greater chance of successful admission to Oxford if they have an Honours degree (or have taken an Honours year) from a University outside of their country or if they have studied to Masters level within their country. Please contact your National Secretary if you require further advice. Candidates may wish to consider applying to the Rhodes Trust’s sister Foundation, The Mandela Rhodes Foundation (https://mandelarhodes.org/), to pursue an Honour’s year or a Master’s degree prior to making an application for the Rhodes Scholarship.
  6. If unsuccessful in your first application to the Rhodes Scholarships, you may subsequently re-apply only once more (and this must be in the same constituency), subject to meeting the eligibility criteria.

Download detailed application requirements here.