Rhodes Trust

About the Rhodes Trust

The Rhodes Trust was set up in 1902 under the will of Cecil John Rhodes. It runs the Rhodes Scholarship, which is widely described as the oldest international scholarship programme for postgraduate study. Scholars have studied at the University of Oxford since 1903. Today the Trust works from Rhodes House in Oxford and selects scholars from many countries and regions. The Trust is open about the history behind its funding. Rhodes made his wealth in the colonial era. In recent years the Trust has said it wants to widen access, grow the number of constituencies and strengthen its equity and inclusion work. Applicants should know this background before they apply.

How the Rhodes Trust supports students

This is a full scholarship, not a small top-up. According to the Trust's recent information, the award covers Oxford course fees and an annual stipend. For the 2025-26 year the stipend was £20,400, and scholars pay their own living costs from it. The package also covers Oxford application fees, student visa and health surcharge costs, two economy flights and a settling-in allowance. A DPhil scholar can receive fees and stipend for up to three years. Amounts change, so check the official page for the current figures.

Selection looks at more than marks. Academic excellence matters, but so do character, leadership and a commitment to serving others. As a result, strong results alone will not carry an application. Panels want to see a record of using your abilities for the benefit of other people.

What to know before applying

South Africa sits in the Southern Africa constituency, together with Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia and eSwatini. Only a small number of scholarships, around ten a year, are awarded to the whole constituency. Competition is therefore very high.

Recent guidance for candidates in this region says applicants should be citizens or legal permanent residents of one of these countries and should have lived there for at least five of the last ten years. There are age limits, which differ slightly by field of study, so read the current rules carefully. You also need a first degree, usually a Bachelor's, that is strong enough to gain you admission to postgraduate study at Oxford. Applications are normally made a year or more before the course starts in October, and the deadline changes each cycle.

Start early. Choose your Oxford course, ask referees well in advance and collect proof of your leadership and service. Use only the Rhodes Trust's own website for forms, dates and rules. Be wary of anyone who offers to "secure" a Rhodes Scholarship for you, because selection is run by the Trust itself.