Rhodes Scholarship

Web site: http://www.rhodesscholar.org

Campus deadline: August 17, 2009
Foundation deadline: October 5, 2009

**Candidates must be nominated by UW–Madison and may not apply directly. Students interested in applying should contact the Undergraduate Academic Awards Office for more information about the application process. Contact person: Julie Stubbs, 265-2428, awards@provost.wisc.edu

Purpose: Initiated after the death of Cecil Rhodes in 1902, the Rhodes Scholarships bring outstanding students from many countries around the world to the University of Oxford. Mr. Rhodes intended the scholarships to “improve the world through the diffusion of leaders motivated to serve their contemporaries trained in the contemplative life of the mind, and broadened by their acquaintance with one another and by their exposure to cultures different from their own.”

Award: The Scholarship covers tuition and fees, airfare, living expenses, and related expenses such as books, for two years of graduate or undergraduate study leading to a degree at Oxford University. At the discretion of the Rhodes Trustees, a scholarship may be renewed for a third year. Up to 32 scholarships are awarded each year to American students.

Eligibility

  • U.S. citizen
  • At least 18 but not yet 24 years old on October 1st of the year of application
  • Attain bachelor’s degree before scholarship begins
  • GPA ≥ 3.8 recommended

Selection Criteria (as Cecil Rhodes set forth in his will)

  • Proven intellectual and academic achievement
  • Integrity of character
  • Interest in and respect for their fellow beings
  • Ability to lead
  • Energy to use one’s talents to the full, as exemplified by fondness for and success in sports*

* Involvement in athletics is not required. Applicants may demonstrate the required “energy” in other ways.

Application Process: To be considered for nomination, submit a complete application to the UAA Office by the campus deadline. An online application can be found at http://www.rhodesscholar.org/application. Please note that UW–Madison representatives have no way of accessing the online application; see section below for campus submission instructions. In early September, the campus committee reviews applications, interviews strong applicants and endorses top candidates. Endorsed candidates may revise application materials before submitting to the district level of competition in October. The district committees interview finalists and select scholars in late November.

Application Submission: Submit one copy of the following to the UAA Office by 4:30 p.m.on the day of the campus deadline:

  • Campus Application form: (Contains information from pages 1-5 of online application.
  • Letters of recommendation: Ask recommenders to mail letters to the UAA Office, or email them to awards@provost.wisc.edu. Please do not have recommenders post letters to the online application until after the campus nomination process. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all letters of recommendation are received at the UAA Office by the campus deadline.
  • Personal Statement/Essay
  • CV/Resume/List of Principal Activities
  • Academic Transcripts. For the campus competition, applicants may submit an unofficial UW–Madison transcript (student record available through MyUW); transcripts from other universities must be official.

Hardcopy materials must be received by the campus deadline, and sent to:

Rhodes and Marshall Nominating Committee, c/o Undergraduate Academic Awards Office, 271 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI 53706

Resources: Available for download.