Application Deadline: 27 August 2026.
Applications are now open for the 2027 Rhodes East Africa Scholarships. 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.
Eligibility Criteria
- Nationality/citizenship: You must be a citizen of Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania or Uganda.
- Residency: You must have been resident in one or more of the countries listed above, or in Kenya, for at least five of the last ten years.
- Age: You must meet either of the below criteria:
i. You must be aged 18-24 on 1 October 2026 (i.e. you must have been born after 1 October 2001 and before 2 October 2008) OR (for older candidates who completed their first undergraduate degree later than usual)
ii. You must be under the age of 27 on 1st October 2026 (i.e. have been born after 1 October 1999) AND you must also have completed your first undergraduate degree on or after 1 July 2025*
- A university’s policy determines the date of completion of academic requirement for a degree and this may be different from when a degree is considered awarded by the university or the date of a graduation ceremony. In ambiguous cases, the decision of the National Secretary is final.
- Academic achievement: You must have completed an undergraduate degree (usually a Bachelor’s) by July 2027, and you must have an academic background and grade that – at a minimum – meets or exceeds the specific entry requirements of your chosen course at the University of Oxford.
Candidates will have a higher chance of successful admission to Oxford if they have:
o A First Class Honours Degree or equivalent,
o A GPA of 3.70/4.0 or higher,
o A GPA of 4.5/5 or higher,
o or the equivalent grade*
- English Language proficiency: You must meet the University of Oxford’s English language requirements. This means that unless you qualify for a test waiver, you must provide English test results with scores that meet the University’s higher level requirement. Please check the University of Oxford’s webpage to see which tests are accepted, the scores required, and the full conditions for a language test waiver.
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 for IHS.
How to Apply
- To apply for the Rhodes Scholarship, you must complete and submit our online application form before 23:59 East Africa Time (EAT), 27 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 East Africa Scholarship
