The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest and perhaps best known of post-graduate scholarships. An endowment bequeathed by Cecil J. Rhodes in 1903 established the Rhodes Scholarship Trust to bring outstanding students from many countries around the world to the University of Oxford. The Rhodes is a scholarship which fully funds two years of graduate study at the University of Oxford. Rhodes Scholars may pursue any full-time graduate course offered by the University, whether a taught Master's program or research degree. Every year, thirty-two U.S. citizens win Rhodes Scholarships. 

For more information, visit the Rhodes Scholarship website.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and will be eligible if they are at least 18 years of age and have not reached their 24th birthday by October 1, 2023. A 3.7 minimum GPA is required unless there are exceptional extenuating circumstances. 

As stated by the Rhodes Trust: “Intellectual distinction is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for election to a Rhodes Scholarship. Selection committees are charged to seek excellence in qualities of mind and in qualities of person which, in combination, offer the promise of effective service to the world in the decades ahead. The Rhodes Scholarships, in short, are investments in individuals rather than in project proposals. Accordingly, applications are sought from talented students without restriction as to their field of academic specialization or career plans although the proposed course of study must be available at Oxford, and the applicant’s undergraduate program must provide a sufficient basis for further study in the proposed field.”

Applying for a Rhodes Scholarship is a multi-stage process involving summer advising and campus nomination for all enrolled students. Please follow the steps below.

1. Complete the UK Awards Intent to Apply Form by May 23, 2023 to sign up for Brown’s UK Awards Canvas Resource Guide and to be assigned a fellowship advisor

2. Explore Brown’s UK Awards Canvas Resource Guide and work with an assigned fellowship advisor to determine choice of program 

3. Complete the Rhodes Scholarship UFunds application, including

1. Personal Statement (Note: in accordance with the rules of the Rhodes Trust, you cannot receive feedback on this statement.) 

2. Academic Statement of Study

3. Activities List,  including extracurricular activities (such as community service, leadership, athletic participation) and academic involvements outside of the classroom such as research or publications, as well as other honors.

4. 5-8 letters of recommendation, at least three of which must be from Brown faculty (Note: Letters of recommendation should be addressed to the Rhodes Committee.)

5. An official or unofficial Brown University transcript – and if applicable, transcripts from other institutions attended both domestically and abroad (Note: You only need to supply a transcript from a school where you studied for an entire year.) 

4. Register your recommenders and submit your application through our UFunds online application system by the campus deadline of 11:59pm EST on July 21, 2023  Important Note: Do not submit your application to the Rhodes online application portal at this time

Brown’s Rhodes Review Committee meets in early August to review and nominate applicants. If you are nominated, you will:

1. Continue to work with your assigned fellowship advisor to discuss and revise your application, following committee feedback

2. Begin your official application and register your recommenders through the Rhodes online application system

3. Submit your final application through Rhodes online application system by the national deadline of 11:59pm EST on October 4, 2023

Application Timeline

• May 23, 2023 – Complete the UK Awards Intent to Apply Form to sign up for Fellowship Summer Advising and to gain access to the Brown’s UK Awards Canvas site

• 11:59pm EST on July 21, 2023 – Campus Deadline – Submit you Rhodes application for campus review and nomination through our UFunds site

• 11:59pm EST on October 4, 2023 – National Deadline for campus nominees  – Submit your revised application through the Rhodes online application system