Rhodes Scholarship

Deadline

Overview

The Rhodes Scholarship provides full funding for two or more years of postgraduate study at the University of Oxford.

Established in 1903, the Rhodes Scholarships are among the oldest and most prestigious international fellowship awards in the world. For the United States constituency, 32 Scholars are selected each year, representing the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. 

Rhodes Scholars are chosen not only for outstanding academic achievement, but also for character, leadership, commitment to service, and the potential to address pressing global challenges. The selection criteria, drawn from the will of Cecil Rhodes, emphasize:

• Academic excellence
• Energy to use one’s talents to the full
• Truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy, kindliness, unselfishness, and fellowship
• Moral force of character and instincts to lead

Benefits

The Rhodes Scholarship covers the full cost of study at Oxford for at least two years and may extend to a third year for doctoral study, subject to approval.

The scholarship includes:

• Oxford University and college fees
• An annual stipend to cover living expenses (approximately £19,000–£20,000 per year, subject to annual adjustment)
• One economy-class airfare to the UK at the start of the scholarship and return airfare to the U.S. at its conclusion

Visa and health surcharge fees

• Access to the Rhodes leadership and Scholar community programming

The scholarship cannot be deferred and is for entry in October 2027 for the current competition cycle. 

Eligibility criteria

The following criteria apply to applicants to the U.S. Rhodes Scholarship for entry in October 2027. 

Citizenship
To be eligible to apply in the United States constituency, you must be:

• A U.S. citizen; OR
• A lawful permanent resident of the United States; OR

• A DACA recipient with active status (with acknowledgment of travel and re-entry risks). 

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Age
You must meet one of the following:

• Be aged 18–23 on 1 October 2026 (born after 1 October 2002 and before 2 October 2008); OR
• Be under 27 on 1 October 2026 (born after 1 October 1999) and have completed your first undergraduate degree on or after 1 October 2025.

Academic Achievement

• You must complete your undergraduate degree by July 2026.
• You must meet or exceed the entry requirements for your chosen Oxford course.
• The minimum cumulative GPA is 3.7; competitive applicants typically have a GPA above 3.9 (unweighted). 

District Eligibility
 

• Applicants apply through one of 16 U.S. districts. Each district selects two Scholars annually. Typically, one's application district is determined by permanent residency.
• Simultaneous application to more than one district or constituency results in disqualification. 

Award requirements

Rhodes Scholars must pursue full-time study at the University of Oxford.

The scholarship normally supports:

• Two years of graduate study (most common pathway), OR
• A combination of degrees covering at least two years, OR
• A DPhil (PhD), with possible third-year funding; OR
• A second BA degree, over two years.

Scholars must apply separately to Oxford after selection, with support from Rhodes House.

Selection criteria

The Rhodes Trust evaluates applicants using the following criteria: 

• Academic excellence
• Energy to use one’s talents to the full
• Truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship
• Moral force of character and instincts to lead

The current U.S. personal statement requires applicants to address three prompts (maximum 1,000 words total):

• Which Rhodes Scholar quality do you display most strongly, and how are you developing the others?
• What would you like to learn from and contribute to the Rhodes community?
• From your place in the world, how will you use your energy and talents to address humanity’s pressing challenges?

Application Process

The Rhodes Scholarship requires institutional endorsement. At ASU, nomination is determined through a structured, spring-centered process designed to assess readiness early and provide intensive summer support to endorsed candidates.

Although the Rhodes national deadline is typically the first Wednesday of October, preparation begins in the spring prior to application. 

ASU’s full nomination instructions are available at: https://onsa.asu.edu/marshall-rhodes-scholarships

Below is a brief overview of the process.

ASU’s process unfolds in four stages:

• Intake and Early Advising (February–April)
• Spring Readiness Review and Endorsement Decision (May 1 deadline)
• Summer Application Preparation (June–August)
• Final Review and National Submission (September–October)

Institutional endorsement is not automatic. It reflects a collective judgment that a candidate is prepared to represent ASU at the highest level of national competition.

Step 1: Intake Questionnaire (Opens February)

Students and eligible alumni begin by completing a short intake questionnaire early in the spring semester.

The intake process...

• Assesses eligibility and award fit
• Helps determine whether the upcoming cycle is appropriate
• Allows ONSA to provide early guidance

Completing the intake questionnaire does not constitute a formal application.

Step 2: Spring Readiness Review (Deadline: May 1)

Students seeking nomination in the upcoming cycle must submit full readiness materials by May 1.

Required materials typically include:

• Résumé or CV
• Unofficial transcripts
• A statement outlining academic direction and long-term goals
• Information about intended recommenders

This review determines whether ASU will offer institutional endorsement for the Marshall and/or Rhodes Scholarships.

Candidates who are not endorsed at this stage are encouraged to consider other fellowship opportunities or prepare for a future cycle.

Step 3: Summer Application Preparation (June–August)

Only endorsed candidates proceed to intensive summer advising.

During this stage, candidates will:

• Finalize Oxford course selection
• Draft and revise required essays
• Coordinate letters of recommendation
• Prepare for potential interviews

Because advising resources are limited, students who are not endorsed do not continue in the Rhodes process during the summer.

Step 4: Final Review and National Submission (September–October)

In early fall:

• Endorsed candidates participate in final nomination interviews (early September).

• Applications are submitted to the Rhodes Trust by the national deadline (October 1, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time). 

   

District interviews are held in mid-November.  Each U.S. district selects two Scholars annually; no alternates are named. 

Alumni and Late Entry Consideration

In limited and exceptional cases, eligible alumni may be considered for late-entry nomination in early summer. Late entry is not available to currently enrolled students and depends on demonstrated readiness and advising capacity.

For full details—including deadlines, materials, and eligibility requirements—students should consult: https://onsa.asu.edu/marshall-rhodes-scholarships

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