The Rhodes Scholarship

What is the Rhodes Scholarship?

The Rhodes Scholarship offers talented students the opportunity to study a postgraduate program of their choice at the University of Oxford. It was established in 1903 and every year, 9 Australian students are selected for this prestigious award. The scholarship covers course fees and provides students with an annual stipend.

Am I eligible?

The Rhodes Trust establishes the following criteria for selection:

  • literary and scholastic attainments (academic excellence)
  • energy to use one's talents to the full (as demonstrated by mastery in areas such as sports, music, debate, dance, theatre, and artistic pursuits, particularly where teamwork is involved)
  • truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship
  • moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in one's fellow beings.

How are recipients selected?

Each Australian State Committee selects a candidate for this scholarship, whereas the remaining 3 are Australia-at-Large Scholarships awarded by a Selection Committee in Canberra. For more information for Australian candidates, and the age stipulations to be eligible, please check the Rhodes website for Australia.

How do I apply and who can help me with my application?

A Rhodes Scholarship is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and the application process will take time and effort to collate, so if you are interested in applying for a Rhodes Scholarship you need to prepare well in advance.

It is important to start thinking about it early, even if you are in the first year of your program, so that you can seek opportunities to practice your leadership skills and meet the selection criteria by the time you are on the 3rd or 4th year of your degree.

If you are interested in applying for Rhodes or other high achiever scholarship in the near future, please complete an Expression of Interest and we will connect you with academic staff who can guide you through this process.

Applications for admission in 2025 will open in June 2024.

Check the Rhodes Scholarships for Australia summary here.

 

Other High Achiever Opportunities

The John Monash Scholarships are awarded annually to outstanding Australian graduates to support them with postgraduate study at the world’s best universities. The Scholarships are not limited by age, gender, academic field of study or choice of university, with successful applicants having demonstrated excellence in their field, leadership potential and a vision for how they can contribute to a better Australia. The John Monash Scholarships are proudly supported by the Australian Government, private sector organisations, universities and individuals.

Eligibility criteria

  • Be an Australian citizen
  • Have completed (or nearly completed) a degree at an Australian university
  • Be planning to undertake postgraduate study overseas commencing in the calendar year following the year of application (it is not necessary to have already been accepted to the institution at the time of applying)

Applicants who have been successful in securing a Rhodes, Fulbright or Ramsay scholarship are not eligible for a John Monash Scholarship.

Selection criteria

In awarding John Monash Scholarships, factors considered include:

  • Excellence - may be evidenced through a degree obtained with outstanding results. It can also be demonstrated through prizes, awards, publications, performances, exhibitions, enterprises and excellence in professional endeavours.
  • Leadership - applicants should demonstrate leadership experience or potential. This can come from their studies, professional environments and/or the community.
  • Citizenship - a clearly identified career pathway that evidences applicant’s ability to contribute to Australia and a clear career trajectory that demonstrates the benefit to society. This includes a well-developed case for choosing a university relevant to the proposed area of study.

Three references are required. Referees should be senior people who can speak to the applicant’s leadership capabilities, whether they be academic, professional or personal.

This scholarship provides $75,000 AUD in funding per year up to maximum of 3 years of study. The following world class universities offer partial or full fee waivers to John Monash Scholars, for certain degree types: King’s College London (UK), Cranfield University (UK), IE University Madrid (Spain) and The University of Groningen (The Netherlands).

The General Sir John Monash Scholarships are now closed for 2023. These scholarships will reopen in 2024. For more information about application opening dates, please check the John Monash Foundation website.

Cambridge Australia Scholarships are aimed at high achieving students who have completed the majority of their pre-University studies in Australia and enable them to complete a Masters or PhD course at the University of Cambridge. Students do not apply directly to the Cambridge Australia Scholarship, but rather they apply for entry into a program via their Graduate Admissions Office, and tick that they wish to be considered for the scholarship.

For more information about how to apply for this scholarship, please see this information handout and consult the Cambridge Australia website.

Fulbright Scholarships offer scholarship opportunities to Australian postgraduate students to undertake research in the United Sates. The Postgraduate Scholarships allow PhD students to conduct research for 4 months (and up to 10) in the US, or supports enrolment in a graduate degree program. The Postdoctoral Scholarships allow individuals who have completed their PhD in the last five years or will have their PhD conferred before their departure date to undertake postdoctoral research in the US for a period between 4 and 10 months. The Scholar Scholarships offer the chance to undertake a short-term research program in the US of up to 4 months to academics (at Associate or full Professorial level) and mid-career professionals (with an undergraduate qualification and minimum 10 years work experience).

Applications are now closed for 2023.

For information about eligibility, guidelines on applying, and application dates for 2024, please see the Fulbright Australia FAQs.

Rhodes and Prestigious Scholarships Seminar 2023

Introduction

Hear from Professor Sandra Orgeig, Dean of Graduate studies, about these high achiever opportunities.

Rhodes Scholarship

Hear from Professor Marnie Hughes-Warrington AO, Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research and Enterprise about the Rhodes Scholarship, how to apply and what they are looking for.

Fulbright Scholarships

Hear from Tara Whitfield, Partnerships and Program Manager at Fulbright Australia about the Fulbright Scholarship opportunities. Also hear from Associate Professor Stephanie Reuter Lange from UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences about her Fulbright experience and tips for applicants.

General Sir John Monash Scholarship

Hear from Sarah Ramantanis, Marketing Manager at General Sir John Monash Foundation, about the John Monash scholarship application and opportunities.

Cambridge Australia Scholarship

Hear from Associate Professor Joe McIntyre from UniSA Justice and Society about the Cambridge Australia opportunities and how to apply.

Additional information

Please see links to these schemes and other similar opportunities on this brochure.

Rhodes and Prestigious Scholarships Seminar 2019

Introduction

Rhodes Scholarship

General Sir John Monash Scholarship

Cambridge Australia Scholarship

Fulbright Scholarships