The Rhodes Scholarship is a fully funded postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. The 2027 cohort is open across Rhodes constituencies, with scholars selected in 2026 beginning study at Oxford in October 2027. The scholarship covers Oxford course fees, an annual living stipend, visa and health-surcharge costs, and economy flights to and from the United Kingdom. Application deadlines are constituency-specific, so there is no single global closing date.
Rhodes applications are place-based, and each constituency publishes its own eligibility rules, opening date, deadline and selection process. For example, the Pakistan constituency closed on 5 August 2026 at 23:59 PKT, while the United States constituency closes on 7 October 2026 at 23:59 Eastern Time. A generic Rhodes page therefore must not flatten these routes into one deadline. Guidance Gem classifies the structured deadline as varies and directs applicants to the correct constituency page.
Rhodes Scholarship Details
The Rhodes Scholarship supports full-time postgraduate study at the University of Oxford and is awarded through geographical constituencies. More than 100 scholarships are awarded each year, and most scholars pursue two or more years of postgraduate study.
The standard scholarship tenure is two years, although some approved pathways, including certain doctoral programmes, can receive support for longer under the Conditions of Tenure. Scholarship selection is separate from Oxford admission; selected scholars apply to Oxford after election.
Host | University of Oxford |
|---|---|
Study level | Postgraduate |
Annual awards | More than 100 |
Standard tenure | 2 years |
Funding | Fully funded |
Deadline | Varies by constituency |
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Rhodes Scholarship Benefits
The scholarship covers University of Oxford course fees and provides an annual stipend for living costs. The current Rhodes FAQ lists a £21,060 annual stipend for 2026/27, paid in monthly instalments, although the rate can change by academic year.
The Rhodes Trust also covers the Oxford application fee, student visa and Immigration Health Surcharge, two economy flights, and a settling-in allowance. These benefits support tuition and living costs, so the award qualifies as fully funded. Also Check: applicants comparing another prestigious fully funded UK postgraduate award can review the published Marshall Scholarship.
Related opportunity: Readers comparing this opportunity can also review the Commonwealth Graduate Scholarships as a related PhD funding option.
Also explore: Readers comparing this opportunity can also review the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship as a related PhD funding option.
Rhodes Scholarship Eligibility
Eligibility is constituency-specific. Applicants must first identify the Rhodes constituency through which they are eligible and then satisfy that constituency’s citizenship or residency, age, education and academic requirements.
Age rules and some education criteria differ between constituencies, so a universal age cutoff would be misleading. Applicants should use the Rhodes eligibility checker and their constituency’s Information for Candidates document before beginning the application.
Requirements and Required Documents
Application requirements vary slightly by constituency, but candidates should expect to provide academic information, a personal application, references and evidence supporting eligibility. Each constituency publishes an Information for Candidates document with the exact current requirements.
Applicants should prepare the Rhodes application before applying to Oxford. If selected for the scholarship, the scholar then completes the Oxford graduate admission process with support from the Rhodes Trust.
How to Apply for the Scholarship
Candidates should begin by identifying the correct constituency and checking its current eligibility criteria. The constituency page provides the application window, deadline and local selection process for the 2027 cohort.
Because deadlines differ by constituency, candidates should not rely on a date published for another country or region. The application must be completed through the Rhodes system by the deadline shown for the applicant’s own constituency.
Application Deadline
The Rhodes Scholarship programme does not have one universal deadline. The Pakistan constituency closed on 5 August 2026 at 23:59 PKT, while the United States constituency closes on 7 October 2026 at 23:59 Eastern Time.
Other constituencies publish their own dates and may already be closed or still open. The structured deadline is therefore varies, and applicants must follow the deadline on their own constituency page.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most important points are the constituency system, full funding, Oxford-only study and the separate Oxford admission process. These answers use the current Rhodes Trust programme and 2027 application information.
Applicants should still use their constituency page for precise eligibility and deadline rules because those details cannot be safely generalized across all countries.
Is the scholarship fully funded?
Yes. It covers Oxford course fees, a living stipend, visa and health-surcharge costs, flights and additional arrival support.
Can I use the scholarship at another university?
No. The Rhodes Scholarship programme is for eligible postgraduate study at the University of Oxford.
Is there one global application deadline?
No. Deadlines and some eligibility rules vary by Rhodes constituency.
When do 2027 scholars begin at Oxford?
Applicants selected in 2026 for the 2027 cohort begin their Oxford studies in October 2027.
Conclusion
The Rhodes Scholarship offers fully funded postgraduate study at Oxford for outstanding applicants selected through constituencies around the world. It covers course fees, living support, flights and key immigration costs while providing access to the Rhodes Scholar community.
Applicants should identify their constituency first, verify its eligibility rules and submit before its own deadline. A deadline from another country or region should never be used as a substitute for the applicant’s constituency-specific closing date.
