Status: Closed for 2027 entry. The Rhodes Scholarship 2028 at Oxford University is the next cycle of the Rhodes Scholarship, the fully-funded postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. Applications for the current round are now closed, and applications reopen in 2027 for entry to the University of Oxford in 2028. This article explains the scholarship as the Rhodes Trust publishes it, including what it covers, who it is for, and how to prepare while the application is closed.
The Rhodes Scholarship is a life-changing postgraduate opportunity to join outstanding people from around the world to study at the University of Oxford. It is a fully-funded postgraduate award which enables talented people from around the world to study full-time at the University of Oxford, and it is merit-based, with the purpose of developing public-spirited leaders and promoting international understanding and peace through an international community of Scholars. Rhodes Scholars come to the UK for two or more years and can apply to study most full-time postgraduate courses in almost any field offered by Oxford University.
Summary
| Programme | Rhodes Scholarship |
|---|---|
| Host university | University of Oxford, United Kingdom |
| Funded by | Rhodes Trust |
| Study level | Full-time postgraduate (most courses in almost any field) |
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Stipend (2025-26) | £20,400 per annum (£1,700 per month) |
| Applications | Reopen in 2027 for Oxford entry in 2028 |
| Status | Closed for 2027 entry |
What the scholarship covers
The Rhodes Scholarship covers University of Oxford course fees, as well as providing an annual stipend. For the 2025-26 academic year, the stipend is £20,400 per annum, or £1,700 per month, from which Scholars pay all living expenses, including accommodation. The Rhodes Trust notes that this is not sufficient to cover partners or dependents, so scholars who plan to bring a family should understand that limit before they apply.
The Trust also covers, following selection, the fee required to apply to study at the University of Oxford, fees for a student visa and the associated International Health Surcharge, which enables international students to access the UK’s National Health Service, and two economy class flights to and from the UK for the beginning and end of studies in Oxford. On arrival in Oxford, Scholars receive a settling in allowance, and Scholars who transition to a second course of study in Oxford receive assistance to cover the fees for visa renewal and further application for the International Health Surcharge.
The detailed Conditions of Tenure document sets out permitted combinations of degrees and how many years of study are covered by the Scholarship, because the latter depends on course choice — for example, up to three years of fees and stipend is available to Scholars who undertake a DPhil (PhD) at Oxford. That document is the authority for how long your funding lasts, and you should read it before you choose your course combination.
What makes the Rhodes Scholarship special
The Rhodes Scholarship is about more than the money. The University of Oxford consistently ranks among the top universities globally, and Rhodes Scholars receive an exceptional postgraduate education with access to world-leading academic departments, while being part of an interdisciplinary college community with outstanding social, sports and cultural facilities. As a Rhodes Scholar you will also have Rhodes House, a place to meet, think and learn in the heart of Oxford, and living in the historic city is, in the Trust’s words, an experience of a kind.
From the moment you are selected, you are welcomed into a global, lifelong community of Rhodes Scholars, Alumni, and Fellows from partnership programmes. With a community of Rhodes Scholars representing over 70 countries, Rhodes House is a space for cultivating international collaboration and deepening cross-cultural understanding. The programming develops your skills to lead with integrity and purpose, fostering a lifelong commitment to service in your chosen field, and it includes welcome weeks, cultural celebrations, networking events, and leadership and career development workshops.
The Trust also provides support that goes beyond the stipend. A dedicated Scholar Team supports you pastorally and financially at every stage of your journey, from selection to the end of your studies, and helps with settling in and thriving in a new environment, to ensure your academic, professional and personal success. The Trust also provides emergency financial assistance and grants to fund research, travel and creative opportunities to help you make the most of your time at Oxford.
Who can apply
Applying for the Scholarship is a challenge, but it is an experience which has helped generations of people to succeed, and the Trust encourages applications from talented students around the world. You apply through the Rhodes constituency that covers your country or region, and each constituency has its own eligibility rules, including age and education requirements. The Rhodes Trust publishes a “Check Your Eligibility and Apply” section on its website for each constituency, and that is where you should confirm your own eligibility.
Because the details differ by constituency, this article does not give a single age limit or a single education requirement. The right step is to find your constituency on the Rhodes Trust website, read its information, and confirm that you meet its rules before you prepare an application. The selection criteria are published by the Rhodes Trust and are the same in outline for every constituency: academic excellence, the quality of character with which you will lead, an awareness of the range of cultures and concerns of the modern world, and the capacity for outstanding contributions to society. Those criteria reflect the purpose of the award — developing public-spirited leaders — and your application should show evidence under each of them.
Deadlines: applications reopen in 2027
Applications for the Rhodes Scholarship are now closed. You can sign up to the Rhodes Trust’s mailing list to be notified when applications reopen in 2027, for entry to the University of Oxford in 2028. Each constituency sets its own application deadline inside that cycle, so there is no single date for the whole world. When applications reopen, find your constituency’s deadline on the Rhodes Trust website, and work backwards from it: your Oxford course application, your references and your essays all need to be ready before the constituency closes.
How to prepare while applications are closed
The months while applications are closed are the best time to prepare. The Rhodes application is judged on academic excellence, on character and leadership, and on service to others, so the evidence you build now matters more than the form itself. Strengthen your academic record, take on leadership that has a real effect, and be able to explain what you will do at Oxford and what you will do afterwards. If you want to study a DPhil at Oxford, start thinking about the research topic and the supervisor who could work with you, because the course choice determines how many years of fees and stipend the scholarship covers.
Sign up for the Rhodes Scholarship application advice mailing list on the Rhodes Trust website, so that you are notified when applications reopen. Attend an information session when the Trust offers one, and read the FAQs and the advice published for applicants. When the next cycle opens, you will know the constituency, the deadline and the documents you need, and you will have had time to prepare them well.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Rhodes Scholarship fully funded?
Yes. The Rhodes Scholarship is a fully-funded postgraduate award. It covers Oxford course fees and provides an annual stipend — £20,400 per annum in 2025-26 — and the Rhodes Trust also covers the Oxford application fee, student visa fees and the International Health Surcharge, two economy flights, and a settling in allowance.
How long does the scholarship last?
Rhodes Scholars come to the UK for two or more years. Up to three years of fees and stipend is available to Scholars who undertake a DPhil (PhD) at Oxford. The exact duration depends on your course choice, as set out in the Conditions of Tenure.
What can I study?
Most full-time postgraduate courses in almost any field offered by Oxford University.
When do applications reopen?
In 2027, for entry to the University of Oxford in 2028. Applications are currently closed.
Does the stipend cover partners or dependents?
No. The Rhodes Trust states that the stipend is not sufficient to cover partners or dependents.
Official source
All funding, eligibility and deadline details in this article were checked against the official Rhodes Trust website on 13 November 2026.
Official page: The Rhodes Scholarship — Rhodes Trust
Last checked: 13 November 2026. Dates and constituency rules can change; the official Rhodes Trust website is the authority.