Rhodes Trust Scholarship

Who can apply

• Be a citizen or legal permanent resident in any of these countries: South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Malawi, eSwatini (refugees or asylum seekers in South Africa may also be considered)
• Have lived in any of the above countries for a minimum period of 5 years of the last 10 years
• Intend on studying towards a postgraduate qualification at Oxford University
• Intend on studying on a full time basis, for a minimum period of 2 years
• Meet the English language proficiency requirements
• Be between 19 and 25 years old on 1 October 2027, when entering Oxford (ie born between 1 October 2002 and 1 October 2008)
  • Candidates who are older than 25 years old on 1 October 2027: you must have completed your first undergraduate degree within the last 2 years and not be older than 28 years old on 1 October 2027
  • Candidates who are MBBCh or MBChB graduates: you must not be older than 28 years old on 1 October 2027
  • Candidates who are other health sciences graduates and are required to complete their internship and/or community service: you must not be older than 28 years old on 1 October 2027
• Have completed an undergraduate degree or will complete an undergraduate degree by no later than July 2027 (generally a Bachelor’s degree)
• Have satisfy the specific entry requirements of your full-time course at the University of Oxford (view the Oxford course list here)
• Preference will be given to applicants who have either of the following: a First Class Honours Degree or equivalent, a GPA of 3.70/4.0 or higher, an Honours degree (or have taken an Honours year) from a University outside of their country, or have studied to Masters level within your country

Documents you will need

• Birth certificate (copy)
• ID document or passport (copy)
• Proof of citizenship, legal permanent residency or refugee status (if not born in one of the above countries)
• Official full academic transcript from the institution you are studying, or have studied at (copy)
• Degree certificates (copy)
• Matric/ school leaving certificate (copy)
• Full Curriculum Vitae (to be completed on the editable Rhodes Trust Scholarship CV Template (.pdf)
• Photograph (head-and-shoulders colour, in jpg format)
• Personal statement (maximum 750 words) (see the “Rhodes Trust Scholarship Information for Candidates” document above, page 5, for further information)
• Academic statement of study (maximum 350 words) (see the “Rhodes Trust Scholarship Information for Candidates” document above, page 5 and 6, for further information)
• 4 referees (read the Rhodes Trust Scholarship Guidance for Referees (.pdf) and see the “Rhodes Trust Scholarship Information for Candidates” document above, page 6 and 7, for further information)

Full bursary documents checklist

How to apply

1. Check the requirements

   Make sure you meet every requirement listed above. Applications that miss one are usually rejected automatically.

2. Prepare your documents

   Scan clear copies of everything the provider asks for, certified where required.

3. Apply through the official channel
   • Rhodes Trust Scholarship Application 2027
   • Login
   • Rhodes Trust Scholarship Information for Candidates

   Applications must be submitted online at: Rhodes Trust Scholarship Application 2027

   Applications will be required to Register and Account before they can Login and apply.

   Candidates should read the Rhodes Trust Scholarship Information for Candidates before applying.

4. Submit before the closing date

   Usually closes around August. Late applications are almost never accepted.

Applications for the current cycle have closed. This bursary usually opens again each year, so prepare your documents now and check back.

Genuine bursaries never charge an application fee. How to spot bursary scams

Contact the bursary provider

• Email [email protected]

Contact the provider only with questions about this bursary. StudentBursaries.co.za does not process applications.

About Rhodes Trust

The Rhodes Trust has run the Rhodes Scholarship, the oldest international graduate scholarship programme, since 1902.