Rhodes Scholarship 2025: Eligibility, Requirements, Acceptance Rate, & Deadline

Want to study at the University Of Oxford without paying a fortune? The Rhodes Trust is a global charity, which brings together brilliant minds from across the world under one roof. Funded by the Rhodes Trust, The Rhodes Scholarship is the perfect opportunity for students who want to study at one of the best universities in the world, the University Of Oxford without spending all their savings.

To apply for the Rhodes Scholarship 2025 hassle-free or to know everything about the Rhodes Scholarship India 2025, keep reading this blog with The Student Helpline.

What Is The Rhodes Scholarship?

The Rhodes Scholarship is a highly prestigious yet highly competitive scholarship for multi-talented people across the globe to study at one of the best colleges in the world, the University Of Oxford. This scholarship is funded by the Rhodes Trust and has been supporting students since 1902. It is a full-time, fully funded, merit-based scholarship that enables the student to study at Oxford University without spending a penny.

The objective of the Rhodes Scholarship is to promote and support young aspiring global leaders, with a helping spirit and the ambition to create an internationally peaceful community. The Rhode Scholarship covers a tenure of 2 or more years and offer their selected candidates to come to the UK to pursue full-time postgraduate courses at Oxford University.

The key dates for the Rhodes Scholarship applications 2025 have although passed but for the year 2026 intake, the application process is expected to start from June 2025, since the new session at the University Of Oxford starts on the 1st of October each year.

The latest dates are yet to be updated.

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The Rhodes Scholarship India 2025: Scholars From India

Over 200 Indian Rhodes Scholars have been awarded to study at the University Of Oxford under the Rhodes Scholarship, and the first one was announced in the year 1947. Every year 5 lucky Indian Rhodes Scholars get hand-picked to study at Oxford University.

The Rhodes Scholarship scholar selection is done by the Rhodes' national secretary of the particular country and their team. The selection is based on the selection criteria and eligibilities set by the Rhodes Trust, irrespective of the country the applicant is applying from. For India, the national secretary for the Rhode Trust is Dr. Dhvani Mehta.

Listed below are the names of some Indians awarded with the Rhodes Scholarship:

1. Lavraj Kumar in 1947
2. Assim Datta in 1947
3. Caithra Warriors in 1948
4. Eric Philip in 1948
5. Chandra Chandrasekhar in 1949
6. Raghavan Iyer in 1950
7. Raman Ananthraman in 1951
8. George Isaac in 1952
9. Sid Dhawan in 2024
10. Zayaan Azimi in 2024

Chart 1: Number of Women Rhodes Scholar From each Constituency.

How Competitive Is The Rhodes Scholarship? The Rhodes Scholarship Acceptance Rate

Thousands of brilliant minds from across the globe apply for the Rhodes Scholarship each year. The Rhodes Scholarship acceptance rate is around 0.7-1%, which means only 7-10 students are selected out of every 1,000 applicants. Therefore, the Rhodes Scholarship is one of the most highly competitive scholarships in the world. Being the highly prestigious award that gives an opportunity for multi-talented students from all over the world to study at the University Of Oxford, it is also the hardest to crack.

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The Rhodes Scholarship Eligibility Criteria For Indian Students

The Rhodes Scholarship eligibility criteria is constituency-based, therefore meaning that the overall selection process for this scholarship often varies depending on the applicant's country or constituency.

Below are the Rhodes Scholarship India eligibility criteria, brought to you by The Student Helpline:

The Rhodes Scholarship India Eligibility:

If you have citizenship of India and dream of applying for the Rhodes Scholarship India 2025, first ensure that you meet all the Rhodes Scholarship India eligibility criteria stated below:

• Nationality/Citizenship: To apply for the Rhodes Scholarship India, you must be a citizen of India, possessing an Indian passport or equivalent ID as proof of your citizenship. The refugees or the asylum seekers will also be considered under the Indian constituency.
• Education/Residency: To be eligible for the Rhodes Scholarship India 2025,
  1. you must have undertaken formal study for at least 4 years out of the last 10 years at an Indian institution physically located in India only, or
  2. Completed 10th or 12th or equivalent from an Indian school, or
  3. Be in the final year of or hold an undergraduate degree from an Indian University.
• Age: The age limit for Rhodes Scholarship requires either:
  1. You must be a minimum of 18 years old and under 24 years old on 1 October 2025, or
  2. Students who started their undergraduate later than usual must be under 27 years and also must have their first completed undergraduate degree on or after 1 October 2023.
• Academic Achievements: To qualify for the Rhodes Scholarship India eligibility, you must have an undergraduate degree by July 2025, and in your previous academics, you must meet the minimum academic score set by the University for your opted course at the University Of Oxford. The candidate has a higher chance of getting the Rhodes Scholarship if they have a First Class Honors Degree.

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The Rhodes Scholarship Requirements: Documents To Be Submitted

The Rhodes Scholarship requirements include valid and complete documents and the candidate's qualities and achievements also matter. One of the world's most competitive scholarships demands the following documents and traits, check it out:

Rhodes Scholarship Documents Required:

• Birth Certificate
• Valid Passport
• 10th and 12th board examination transcripts
• IELTS or any English language test scores with a minimum of 7.0 band or equivalent.
• A recent resume showcasing everything like academic excellence, prizes and awards, scholarships, certificates, co-curriculum records, etc.
• Passport size photos
• An impressive personal statement, perfectly describing how the candidate deserves the Rhodes Scholarship.
• 6 reference letters which are verified by the referees along with the list of references.

Traits of a Rhodes Scholarship Candidate:

• Literary and Scholastic (academic excellence)
• Evidence of individual's teamwork abilities in sports, music, debate, dance, etc.
• Truthfulness, kindness, unselfishness, fellowship, sympathetic, and courageous qualities.
• Leadership and moral force of character.

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What Does The Rhodes Scholarship Covers: Amount And Coverage

The biggest question among the students has been, what is the Rhodes Scholarship amount? The most prestigious award in the world funded by the Rhodes Trust that helps brilliant students study at the University Of Oxford, The Rhodes Scholarship covers the following expenses:

• The Rhodes Scholarship covers Oxford University's course fees and student visa fees.
• An annual stipend, enough to finance the candidate's living expenses in the UK, including accommodation.
• The fee required to apply to study at Oxford University will also be covered by the Rhodes Trust.
• The International Health Surcharge will also be covered under the Rhodes Scholarship.
• The Rhodes Scholarship provides air-travel fare.
• When you arrive at the Oxford University, you will receive a settling-in allowance.
• The Rhodes Scholarship awardees, who want to study a second course at Oxford University will receive a student visa renewal fee and further international health surcharge coverage amount, AGAIN!

See Also: Erasmus Mundus Scholarship 

Courses Covered Under The Rhodes Scholarship: UG, PG, And PhD

Mainly, the Rhodes Scholarship covers a vast number of. masters' courses at the University Of Oxford. Although, there is no Rhode Scholarship for undergraduates, however, the Rhodes Scholarship covers a full-time second undergraduate degree for the selected candidates.

The Rhodes Scholarship for PhD can also be awarded to deserving candidates. Usually, the Rhodes Scholarship tenure is 2 years but it can be held for one year or 3 years depending on the eligibility of the candidate and the course selected.

Some courses covered under the Rhodes Scholarship are listed below, take a look:

• Any senior-status Bachelor's Program completed in 2 years like a Bachelor's in Mathematics, Music, Biochemistry, History, or any field after a previous bachelor's degree.
• Any Master's Program without a foundation year M.Sc, Oxford 1+1 MBA, 1+1 (MPP+M.Sc), etc.
• 2 years research programs like MTh, MPhil
• DPhil courses for 3 years.

Learn In Depth About: MBA In UK For Indian Students

Need Guidance With The Rhodes Scholarship 2025? A Perfect Guide For You

The Rhodes Scholarship is one of the oldest and the highly reputed international scholarships. Regarded as one of the elite scholarships in the world, it is also highly competitive with the Rhodes Scholarship acceptance rate of 0.7% to 1%. Therefore, the Rhodes Scholarship applications need to be very carefully checked and verified, one mistake and you lose your dream scholarship.

But don't worry, the highly experienced and professional consultants of The Student Helpline is here to guide you through every step of applying for your dream scholarship. From eligibility check to assistance with the final interview, we've got it all covered for you. Worry less and trust The Student Helpline.

FAQs Regarding The Rhodes Scholarship

What is the Rhodes Scholarship?

The Rhodes Scholarship is a fully funded, full-time masters' scholarship for students studying at Oxford University, UK. It offers an opportunity for low-income students dreaming of studying at Oxford University. The Rhodes Scholarship is applicable for two years, making studying at Oxford more accessible and easier for exceptional students. For more details regarding the Rhodes Scholarship India, contact The Student Helpline today.

How to Get a Rhodes Scholarship?

Anyone between the age group of 18 to 24 having an undergraduate degree with a GPA of 3.7 or higher, from any country can apply for the Rhodes Scholarship. The Rhodes Trust Group selects roughly 100 applicants each year from all over the world for the Rhodes Scholarship. To increase your chances of getting the Rhodes Scholarship 2025, get in touch with The Student Helpline.

How to Apply for Rhodes Scholarships?

Check if you're eligible for the Rhodes Scholarship, if yes, choose an Oxford course that suits you the most, prepare a great personal statement that helps you get the scholarship, prepare an impressive academic statement showcasing your academic excellence and extra-curriculum achievements, get your references ready from the suitable referees, mention your social engagements and charities, and finally the selected applicants get the call for the final interview. To apply for the Rhodes Scholarship 2025 without any hassle, choose The Student Helpline as your guide.

How to Qualify for the Rhodes Scholarship?

Students with academic excellence, an undergraduate degree, citizenship of their home country, and active with social engagements and charities, have the energy to use their talent to the fullest in any area such as music, sports, debate, theater, and artistic pursuits, especially where teamwork is involved, can be qualified for the Rhodes Scholarship. To know about the Rhodes Scholarship eligibility, contact The Student Helpline.

What Does the Rhodes Scholarship Cover?

£19,092 per annum is the Rhodes Scholarship stipend for the year 2023-24. To know in detail about the Rhodes Scholarship amount and coverage, contact The Student Helpline.

Is a Rhodes Scholarship Worth It?

Indeed, the Rhodes Scholarship is a great opportunity to study at Oxford University for students with lower income. It covers 2 years of postgraduate Oxford fees with an annual stipend to cover the living expenses including accommodation for the scholars. Get the full details of the Rhodes Scholarship India by enrolling with The Student Helpline.

How Competitive is a Rhode Scholarship?

0.7%, is the acceptance rate of the Rhodes Scholarship. Out of a thousand applications, only top 100 applications get selected for this scholarship. To know more about the Rhodes Scholarship acceptance rate, contact The Student Helpline today.

Who Can Apply for the Rhodes Scholarship?

Students from all over the globe with citizenship of their home country, academic excellence, having energy to use talent to the fullest in any field like music, sports, art, etc especially involving teamwork, and engagement in social events and charities, can apply for the Rhodes Scholarship. To apply for the Rhodes Scholarship 2025, get enrolled with The Student Helpline.

What Courses Does the Rhodes Scholarship Cover?

Any full-time postgraduate, research, or second undergraduate degrees are covered under the Rhodes Scholarship. It also covers the cost required to apply at the University of Oxford, a student visa plus international health surcharge(IHS) fees, and 2 economy class air tickets (to and from the UK). To know everything about the Rhodes Scholarship amount and coverage, contact The Student Helpline.

When Can I Apply for the Rhodes Scholarship 2025?

The applications for the Rhodes Scholarship 2025 are closed. You can apply for the Rhodes Scholarship 2026, the applications will re-open in June 2025. To stay updated with the Rhodes Scholarship deadlines, enroll with The Student Helpline.