Rhodes Southern Africa Scholarships Programme 2027 for Postgraduate study at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom (Fully Funded)

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Application Deadline: 23:59, SAST, 3 August 2026

Applications are now open for the 2027 Rhodes Southern Africa Scholarships Programme. The Rhodes Scholarship is a fully-funded postgraduate award which enables talented young people from around the world to study full-time at the University of Oxford. The Rhodes Scholarship is merit-based, with the purpose of developing public-spirited leaders, and to promote international understanding and peace through an international community of Scholars. 

The Rhodes Scholarship programme is the oldest (established 1902), and perhaps the most prestigious, international scholarship in the world. The selection criteria for the scholarship are as follows:

• Moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in their fellow human beings.
• Academic excellence: the University of Oxford is one of the most competitive graduate environments in the world and applicants must, at minimum, meet the entry requirements of their chosen course. Most successful applicants will exceed these minimums. (candidates will have a greater chance of successful admission if they have a First Class Honours or GPA of 3.70/4.00 or higher, or equivalent).
• Energy to use their talents to the full: as demonstrated by success in areas such as sports, music, debate, dance, theatre, and artistic pursuits, including where teamwork is involved
• The Virtues: truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship.

Eligibility Criteria

• Nationality/citizenship: You must be a citizen or legal permanent resident of South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia or eSwatini. Applications from refugees/asylum seekers in South Africa will also be considered in this constituency.
• Residency: You must have been resident in South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia or eSwatini for at least five of the last ten years.
• Age:
  (i) Upon entry to Oxford on 01 October 2027, you must be at least 19 years old and not have passed your 25th birthday (which means you must have been born after 01 October 2002 and on or before 01 October 2008).
  (ii) For older candidates who will have passed their 25th birthday on 01 October 2027 and completed their first undergraduate degree later than usual:
• Candidates must have completed their first undergraduate degree within the last 2 years, i.e. after 1 October 2025*; and
• may not have passed their 28th birthday on 01 October 2027 (which means they must have been born after 01 October 1999).
  (iii) For candidates who are MBBCh or an MBChB graduates, and required to complete their compulsory internship and/or community service:
• Candidates may not have passed their 28th birthday on 01 October 2027 (which means they must have been born after 01 October 1999).
• Candidates should apply either during their second year of internship, or during their community service year, provided that they meet the age requirement above.
• Candidates that can apply in their community service year (without breaching the age requirement in above) are encouraged to do so.
  NOTE: For candidates that have to or choose to apply in their second year of internship, the Rhodes Scholarship National Secretariat will endeavour, as it has done in past years, to reach agreement with the National Department of Health to allow those medical doctors awarded the Rhodes Scholarship to complete their community service year requirement by September, in the year after they apply, and before going to Oxford in October 2027. While the Secretariat will strive to reach such dispensations, the granting of such cannot be guaranteed.
  (iv) Other Health Sciences graduates in order to complete any compulsory internship and/or community service:
• Candidates who have completed the necessary Health Sciences degrees for admission to, and intend to be admitted to, any registered health profession that requires the completion of any compulsory internship and/or community service, should write to the Rhodes Scholarship National Secretariat to seek exemption to allow them to apply in their internship or community service year, provided that they will not have passed their 28th birthday on 01 October 2027.

Benefits

• The Rhodes Scholarship covers University of Oxford course fees, as well as providing an annual stipend.
• For the 2026-27 academic year, the stipend is £20,400 per annum (£1,700 per month) from which Scholars pay all living expenses, including accommodation. Please note: this is not sufficient to cover partners or dependents. 

Following selection for the Scholarship, the Rhodes Trust will also cover: 

• The fee required to apply to study at the University of Oxford 

• Fees for a student visa and associated International Health Surcharge (IHS), which enables international students to access the UK’s National Health Service 

• 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 will receive assistance to cover the fees for visa renewal and further application.

How to Apply

• To apply for the Rhodes Scholarship, you must complete and submit our online application form before 23:59 SAST, 03 August 2026.
• There is no application fee for submission of the Rhodes Scholarship application. You must submit your application online, before the deadline, and we can’t accept any other form of application.
• You should apply for the Rhodes Scholarship before applying for your proposed course at the University of Oxford.
• Candidates selected for the Rhodes Scholarship are then required to apply for their chosen course via the University of Oxford’s graduate application form, with support from the team at Rhodes House.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Rhodes Southern Africa Scholarships Programme