Rhodes Scholarship : Introduction

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Areas of Study :
PG
Level :
Post Graduate
Scholarship Funded by :
Rhodes House
Provided to :
Indian Students for pursuing postgraduate studies at University of Oxford.

The Rhodes Scholarship is awarded for postgraduate studies at University of Oxford. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious international fellowships. Approximately 95 scholarships are awarded each year.

Rhodes Scholars can pursue any full-time postgraduate course offered by the Oxford University except MBA. They can also pursue a second undergraduate degree (senior status) over two years. The scholarship is offered for two years only. However, it can be extended to one more year depending on the discretion of the Trustees. The Scholarship covers the University and College Fees and the scholars receive a monthly stipend to cover their accommodation and living expenses.

Rhodes Scholarships are awarded to applicants from the selecting countries which include Australia, Bermuda, Canada, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Jamaica & the Commonwealth Caribbean, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Southern Africa (including South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia and Swaziland), SJLP (including Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine), United Arab Emirates, United States, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The selection of the Rhodes Scholars is overseen by a National Secretary of the Rhodes Trust in each selecting country.

The Rhodes Scholarship is administered by the Rhodes Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom. Scholarships are awarded in 20 Rhodes constituencies (64 different countries) around the world. Selection Committees for the Rhodes Scholarship are looking for outstanding leaders who are motivated to engage with global challenges, to 'esteem the performance of public duties as their highest aim', and to promote international understanding and peace. In short, Selection Committees seek young women and men of outstanding intellect, character, leadership, and commitment to service, and who demonstrate a strong propensity to emerge as 'leaders for the world’s future'.

Each year, there are five Scholarships available for India. The first Indian Rhodes Scholars took up residence in Oxford in 1947, and since that time over two hundred Indians have been awarded the Scholarshi

Please see the Rhodes Trust website for full details : www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk

Eligibility:

Nationality/citizenship : You must be a citizen of India, holding an Indian passport, or equivalent proof of citizenship; PIO or OCI card holders are not eligible.
Education/residency : You must have undertaken formal study at an educational institution in India for a minimum of 4 of the last 10 years, and have either (i) completed a school leaving exam (10th or 12th standard) at a school in India, or (ii) have received, or be in the final year of, an undergraduate degree at a university in India
Age : You must have reached your 19th and not have passed your 25th birthday on 1 October of the year of admission.
Please note: For medical students and medical doctors who are pursuing, or who have completed, their one-year internship (CRRI), the age limit is extended by one year.
Academic achievement : You must have completed (or will have completed by the summer of next year) your undergraduate degree with First Class, or equivalent. Please note: only one of the five available Scholarships (and, in exceptional cases, two) may be awarded to candidates who are pursuing, or have pursued, their undergraduate studies outside India.

Application Procedure :

Candidates may apply online at http://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk via the scholarships tab.
You must submit your application online, with all supporting documents
In preparation for making their application, all candidates should read carefully the general information for candidates on the Rhodes website, the Conditions of Tenure for the Rhodes Scholarship, the information in this document and the graduate admissions pages of the University of Oxford: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate.
Longlisted candidates will be invited to attend a preliminary, personal interview at regional centres, which may include Bangalore and Delhi. Candidates not ordinarily resident in India may be interviewed preliminarily by video conference or telephone.
Candidates selected from these preliminary interviews will be called for a final in-person interview, on a date in October or November. You must be available to attend the final interview, in person, as no accommodations can be made on date and time of interview. No candidate will be selected without interview. The granting of an interview is entirely within the discretion of the Selection Committee. Travel expenses (2nd class return rail fare) for candidates invited for the final interview will be paid by the Rhodes Trust. International travel will not be reimbursed.
Candidates who do not receive further communication by the above date should assume that their application has not been successful.
Documents and details to be submitted with application
You must submit a completed application form on-line (please see 3a) with the documents and information detailed below. All documents must be submitted in English, or English translations provided. Please note that, if you are invited to interview, you will be asked to bring the originals of all documents with you:
Your birth certificate confirming that you meet the age criterion;
A copy of a valid passport (with translation, if necessary), confirming that you meet the citizenship criteria. You must be a citizen of India, holding an Indian passport, or equivalent proof of citizenship; PIO or OCI card holders are not eligible
An official transcript from the university at which you are studying, or have studied, showing grades achieved.
If you are neither a graduate of a university in India nor in the final year of undergraduate study at a university in India, you must provide evidence (see 2b above) of formal study at an educational institution in India for at least 4 of the last 10 years as of the date of application and completion of a school leaving exam at a school in India (10th or 12th grade).
A full curriculum vitae which should include details about prizes, scholarships, positions of leadership, involvement in student, voluntary, community or political activities and any cultural, musical or sporting accomplishments. This should not exceed two A4 (12pt) pages in length.
A head-and-shoulder colour photograph (jpg format). Please note your photo will not be available to the Selection. Committee until after final shortlisting decisions have been made.
A signed personal statement of no more than 1,000 words which:
i. Addresses your general interests and activities and what you plan to do with your life once you have
completed your studies;
ii. Discusses your aims and priorities and the contribution you have made and would like to make to your
home country and the region;
iii. Indicates the course of study and degree you wish to follow at Oxford.
It is very important for you to have considered what course and degree you wish to follow at Oxford before you submit your application. It is a good idea to discuss your proposed course of study with your professors or lecturers in that field, and, if possible, with someone who has knowledge of United Kingdom universities. Additional sources of information are available online at www.ox.ac.uk/admissions, as well as on individual faculty/departmental websites;
iv. Demonstrates that you are able to meet the requirements of the specific course you have chosen. Candidates are advised that it is a requirement of many post-graduate courses to submit samples of written work. Some courses also require successful completion of the GRE or GMAT. Please read the Oxford graduate studies prospectus carefully at: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions; and
v. If you wish to undertake a DPhil, you should provide a brief outline of your proposed research area, how it contributes to your future career plans and list one or more researchers under whom you would like to work in Oxford.

Your personal statement must be clearly signed by you and must state under your signature that it is your own work and that no external help was given in its creation or editing.

Notes on the personal statement: The personal statement is your chance to tell your story in your own voice: Who are you? What matters to you? What are you hoping to do in the world? Your academic transcript, your curriculum vitae and your reference letters will provide the substantive detail of your commitments and accomplishments, but this essay gives you the opportunity to cast the overarching narrative for the selection committee. You can see current Rhodes Scholars speaking about the personal statement via the link within the ‘Have you prepared a personal statement?’ section at www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarship/how-to-apply-fora-rhodes-scholarship/
You will need to provide a list of six people (your referees), who are willing to submit references on your behalf:
i. You will need to provide email addresses of all your referees.
ii. At least three of your referees should be academics who have taught you in your undergraduate studies and who can comment in detail on your academic ability and how well they think you would fare at Oxford.
iii. Additional referees should testify to your character and/or your involvement in extra-curricular/service or leadership activities. These referees should be teachers or other persons who are able to comment critically on whether you fulfil the extra-curricular, non-academic requirements of the Scholarship and who can speak in detail to your character. A good referee is one who knows you well, rather than a wellknown person who only knows you superficially. Your referees must not be personal friends, relations or contemporaries.
iv. Choose reliable people who are likely to respond to your request for a detailed reference, as their reports will be crucial to your application.
v. Ask their permission before listing them as referees.
vi. Forward to them the Guidance for Referees available on the final page of this document. They will receive an auto-generated email request for reference once you have completed the referee section of the online form. They will also be asked to provide their business and home (or mobile) telephone and fax numbers as well as their postal address for verification purposes.
vii. It is your responsibility to ensure that referees submit their reference in good time (before the application deadline
Candidates should not include documents, certificates or testimonials other than those required.
All applications must be submitted online. No alternate method of application is accepted. .

Procedure after Selection:

Please note that successful applicants will need to apply to the University of Oxford very soon after selection. Full details will be given upon selection.
The full application of successful candidates will be forwarded to Rhodes House, Oxford, where the Scholarship references will be used as appropriate in support of the candidate’s subsequent application to Oxford.
Applicants for a second undergraduate degree with senior status will need to submit a paper application, provided on selection, which must reach Oxford by Friday, 1 December. Candidates must therefore make a quick submission immediately following selection.
Successful candidates will be encouraged to disclose, in confidence, any medical condition or special needs which may require academic or personal support in Oxford. This disclosure is entirely voluntary and is requested only to enable Rhodes House to provide suitable support in Oxford and to make the transition to Oxford as smooth as possible.

Useful Contact

Office of the Indian Secretary, Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee
PO Box 2108
Delhi - 110007, India
E-Mail : Contact Now
Website: www.rhodesscholarships-india.com

Rhodes House
South Parks Road
Oxford OX1 3RG
Phone: +44 1865 270902
Fax: +44 1865 270914
E-Mail : Contact Now
Website: www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk

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