The prestigious Rhodes Trust Scholarship was established in 1902 and remains the oldest international scholarship programme in the world. It offers 100 exceptional students from around the world a unique opportunity to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. The scholarship is fully funded and is awarded on yearly basis by the Rhodes Trust.
South African students are invited to submit funding request applications for the 2026 academic year. This opportunity targets students from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Malawi, and eSwatini. Successful applicants will commence their postgraduate studies in 2026.
Fields of Study
The Rhodes Trust Scholarship South Africa supports postgraduate qualifications offered at the University of Oxford. The fall within various fields of study offered by the University.
Scholarships for 2026 will be distributed in various fields as follows:
Scholarships will be distributed as follows:
- 4 awards for general South African applicants
- 1 award exclusively for an applicant from KwaZulu-Natal
- 1 award for a candidate from Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Malawi, or eSwatini
- 1 school-specific award for alumni of:
- Bishops Diocesan College & partner schools (St Cyprian’s, St George’s Grammar, Herschel Girls’, LEAP 1)
- Paul Roos Gymnasium & partner schools (Rhenish Girls’ High, Bloemhof Girls’ High)
- South African College School & partner schools (Sans Souci Girls’, Rustenburg Girls’ High)
- St Andrew’s College & Diocesan School for Girls
Eligibility for the Rhodes Trust Scholarship 2026
Applicants who wish to participate in 2026 scholarship must meet all of the following requirements:
- Be a citizen or legal permanent resident of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Malawi, or eSwatini
(Refugees/asylum seekers in South Africa may apply ) - Have lived in one of these countries for at least 5 of the last 10 years
- Intend to begin full-time postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford in October 2026
- Have either:
- Been born between 1 October 2001 and 1 October 2007 (age 19–25), OR
- Be no older than 28 years old on 1 October 2026
- For MBBCh/MBChB graduates, the maximum age is 28 on 1 October 2025
- For other health sciences graduates (with mandatory internship/community service), you must be under 28 on 1 October 2026
- Hold, or be on track to complete, an undergraduate qualification (typically a Bachelor’s degree) by July 2026
- Fulfil the entry requirements of the chosen postgraduate course at Oxford
- Have strong academic credentials — preference is for applicants with:
- First Class Honours or equivalent
- GPA of 3.70/4.0 or higher
- Honours degree from a foreign university, or a Master’s degree from your home country
- Meet the English language proficiency requirements of Oxford
How To Apply?
If you have interest to apply, you must complete your application online via Rhodes Trust Scholarship Application 2026 official page.
Required Supporting Documents
All applicants must upload clear copies of the following:
- Birth certificate
- ID or passport
- Proof of residency or citizenship
- Academic transcripts
- Degree certificates
- School-leaving/matric certificate
- Completed CV (using the Rhodes CV template provided)
- Recent passport-style photo (JPG format)
- Personal statement (max 750 words)
- Academic statement of study (max 350 words)
- Details of 4 referees (refer to Rhodes Trust Guidance for Referees)
Application Deadline
The closing date for applications is 1 August 2025 – late applications will not qualify.
Scholarship Contact Details
- Contact Person: Ndumiso Luthuli
- Email address: [email protected]