Overview
Applications for the Rhodes Scholarship 2027 are open! Click here to learn more. Applications for the Rhodes Scholarship 2027 are open! Start your Application The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest international scholarship programme in the world, enabling outstanding young people from around the world to undertake full-time postgraduate study at the University of Oxford. Navigate below to understand each stage of the application process. 1. The Rhodes Scholarship Find out more about what the Rhodes Scholarship is, the costs covered, and what makes it special. 2. The Selection Criteria What makes a Rhodes Scholar? Learn about the selection criteria which determined the first Rhodes Scholars in 1902, and still guide us today. 3. Check Your Eligibility and Apply Find out if you are eligible to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship, which constituency you should apply through, and start your appli
Complete scholarship details
Full Job Description
Applications for the Rhodes Scholarship 2027 are open! Click here to learn more.
Applications for the Rhodes Scholarship 2027 are open!
Start your Application
The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest international scholarship programme in the world, enabling outstanding young people from around the world to undertake full-time postgraduate study at the University of Oxford.
Navigate below to understand each stage of the application process.
-
- The Rhodes Scholarship
Find out more about what the Rhodes Scholarship is, the costs covered, and what makes it special.
-
- The Selection Criteria
What makes a Rhodes Scholar? Learn about the selection criteria which determined the first Rhodes Scholars in 1902, and still guide us today.
-
- Check Your Eligibility and Apply
Find out if you are eligible to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship, which constituency you should apply through, and start your application!
- Frequently Asked Questions
Consult our comprehensive list of FAQs about the Scholarship, funding, eligibility criteria, application process and more.
- The Rhodes Scholarship
Find out more about what the Rhodes Scholarship is, the costs covered, and what makes it special.
- The Selection Criteria
What makes a Rhodes Scholar? Learn about the selection criteria which determined the first Rhodes Scholars in 1902, and still guide us today.
- Check Your Eligibility and Apply
Find out if you are eligible to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship, which constituency you should apply through, and start your application!
Frequently Asked Questions
Consult our comprehensive list of FAQs about the Scholarship, funding, eligibility criteria, application process and more.
You are here : Scholarships > Institutional Certifications & Endorsements
An institutional certification or endorsement is a mandatory prerequisite of the Rhodes Scholarship application in Canada and the United States respectively. The guidance below explains this process for each constituency.
What Makes A Rhodes Scholar
The Rhodes Scholarship is a merit scholarship, and there is no such thing as a 'type' when considering who gets selected. In fact, the strength of the Scholarship comes from its rigorous selection criteria and diversity.
The selection criteria which determined the first Rhodes Scholars in 1902 still guide us today:
Academic excellence is a foundational requirement of the Rhodes Scholarship. Candidates are expected to demonstrate intellectual and scholarly achievement at the highest level, broadly equivalent to the academic calibre required for entry to Canada’s and the United States’ most selective graduate programmes. A GPA of 3.7/4.0 is considered the minimum threshold for admission to the University of Oxford.
While academic excellence is essential, it must be combined with exceptional strength of character, a commitment to serving others, and instincts for leadership. A candidate who excels academically but does not demonstrate these qualities in equal measure is unlikely to succeed in their application.
All candidates applying from the Canada constituency must obtain formal certification (previously known as 'endorsement') from their university.
University officials will need to complete a short certification form attesting to the applicant’s status at the institution. You may also choose to provide additional commentary about a particular applicant's candidacy at your discretion.
Please note the deadline for submitting applicant certifications for the Rhodes Scholarship for Canada is 23:59 PT, 28 September 2026.
In case your institution is organising any internal selection processes, please also note the separate deadline for endorsing candidates applying from the United States constituency.
Detailed guidance on providing certifications can be found here.
United States
As part of the endorsement process, institutions are invited (but not required to) organise internal committees to assess the relative merits of applicants for the Rhodes Scholarship as per the selection criteria outlined above. Institutions or internal committees may also wish to advise and prepare candidates they have chosen to endorse as outlined in Information for Academic Advisors.
Please note the deadline for endorsing candidates for the Rhodes Scholarships for the United States is 23:59 ET, 7 October 2026.
In case your institution is organising any internal selection processes, please also note the earlier deadline for submitting certifications for candidates applying from the Canada constituency.
Detailed guidance on providing institutional endorsements can be found here.
Guidance For Referees
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Tips for this scholarship
Practical Job and Scholarship guidance. These tips do not replace official rules or create new eligibility requirements.
- Check eligibility, funding coverage, study/project level and every required document before investing time in the application.
- Prepare transcripts, references, language tests, proposal/motivation statement and proof documents early.
- Separate the scholarship deadline from any university/program admission deadline; they may be different.
- Treat “fully funded” as a source fact only when the official provider explicitly confirms the covered costs.
Verification notes
Extracted from a public opportunity page using specific title, application/deadline, eligibility and benefit signals. Aggregator/news pages remain review-controlled unless an official provider page is successfully verified.
Job and Scholarship is the discovery and verification layer. Confirm eligibility, dates, salary/funding and application instructions on the original source before submitting anything.
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