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Rhodes Scholarship Application Guide 2023

The document provides information for candidates applying for the Rhodes Scholarship from Zimbabwe for the year 2023. It outlines the background and selection criteria for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship program. Candidates must be citizens of Zimbabwe, have received at least 5 years of education in Zimbabwe between ages 9-20, and meet age and academic requirements. The application procedure and required documents are also described, including submitting an online application by the August 31st deadline. Shortlisted candidates will participate in an interview in Harare in November.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
17 views9 pages

Rhodes Scholarship Application Guide 2023

The document provides information for candidates applying for the Rhodes Scholarship from Zimbabwe for the year 2023. It outlines the background and selection criteria for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship program. Candidates must be citizens of Zimbabwe, have received at least 5 years of education in Zimbabwe between ages 9-20, and meet age and academic requirements. The application procedure and required documents are also described, including submitting an online application by the August 31st deadline. Shortlisted candidates will participate in an interview in Harare in November.
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

ZIMBABWE

THE RHODES SCHOLARSHIP FOR ZIMBABWE


- A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE RHODES TRUST AND THE NICKY OPPENHEIMER FOUNDATION

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES - for selection for 2023 only


(This Memorandum cancels those issued for previous years)

Background Information
The Rhodes Scholarships, established in 1903, are the oldest international scholarship programme in the world, and one of
the most prestigious. Administered by the Rhodes Trust in Oxford, the programme offers over 100 fully-funded Scholarships
each year for full-time postgraduate study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom - one of the world’s leading
universities. Rhodes Scholarships are for young leaders of outstanding intellect and character who are motivated to engage
with global challenges, committed to the service of others and show promise of becoming value-driven, principled leaders
for the world’s future. The selection criteria are:

 Academic excellence – specific academic requirements can be found under ‘Eligibility Criteria’ below.
 Energy to use your 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).
 Truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship.
 Moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in your fellow human beings.

Please see the Scholarships area of the Rhodes Trust website for full details: [Link]/scholarships/the-
rhodes-scholarship/.

Given the current situation with the Covid-19 pandemic, aspects of the application requirements and subsequent
selection processes may be subject to change. Our website and this document will be updated with any changes, and
once you have started an application any changes will be communicated via email. If you have any specific concerns
regarding the application requirements, please contact the National Secretary for your constituency.

1. Closing Date
Applications must be submitted online by 23:59 Central Africa Time, Wednesday, 31 August 2022.

2. Eligibility Criteria
a. Nationality/citizenship: You must be a citizen of Zimbabwe, or have been born in Zimbabwe. Applications from
refugees/asylum seekers in Zimbabwe will also be considered in this constituency.

b. Education/residency: You must have received at least five years of education in Zimbabwe between the ages of 9
- 20 years.
c. Age: You must meet either of the below criteria:
i. On 1 October 2022, you must be at least 18 and have not reached your 24th birthday (i.e. you must have been
born after 1 October 1998 and on or before 1 October 2004).
OR (for older candidates who completed their first undergraduate degree later than usual)
ii. On 1 October 2022, you must not have reached your 27th birthday (i.e. have been born after 1 October 1995)
AND you have met or will meet the academic requirements for completing your first undergraduate degree on or
after 1 October 2021*
* 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.

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d. Academic achievement: You must have already completed, or will have completed by July 2023, an undergraduate
degree (normally a Bachelor’s degree) with an academic background and grade that - at a minimum - meets or
exceeds the specific entry requirements of your chosen full-time course at the University of Oxford
([Link]
Given the very intense international competition for places at the University of Oxford, candidates will have a
greater chance of successful admission to Oxford if they have:
• A First Class Honours Degree or equivalent, or,
• A GPA of 3.70/4.0 or higher
Please contact the National Secretary if you require further advice about academic requirements of the Scholarship.
e. If unsuccessful in your first application to the Rhodes Scholarships, you may subsequently re-apply only once more
(and this must be in the same constituency), subject to meeting the eligibility criteria.
Multi-jurisdictional Candidates: If you meet the eligibility criteria for more than one Rhodes Constituency, you must only
apply to one. You should apply to the Rhodes Constituency with which you have the greatest connection.
Inter-jurisdictional Candidates: If you have strong and demonstrable connections to two or more Rhodes Constituencies
but do not meet the eligibility criteria for any of them, you may be eligible to apply for inter-jurisdictional consideration.
Please visit the ‘Applying for Inter-Jurisdictional Consideration’ page for further details.
Global Scholarship Candidates: If you are not eligible to apply to any existing Rhodes Constituency (see list here) and you
are not eligible to apply for inter-jurisdictional consideration, then you can apply for a Global Scholarship, subject to meeting
all other Global Scholarship eligibility criteria and subject to institutional nomination.

3. Application Procedure
a. You can apply online from 01 June 2022 at [Link]
b. You must submit your application online, with all supporting documents, by 23:59 Central Africa Time, 31 August
2022. All applications must be submitted online. No alternate method of application is accepted. There is no
application fee for submission of the Rhodes Scholarship application form.
c. In preparation for making your application, you should carefully read the information held on the Scholarships tab
on the Rhodes House website, the Conditions of Tenure for the Rhodes Scholarship, the information in this
document and the graduate admissions pages of the University of Oxford: [Link]/admissions/graduate.
d. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a social engagement (a reception) and a final interview. You must be
available to attend both, in person, as no accommodations can be made on date and time, or mode, of these events.
Interviews will be held in Harare in November. No candidate will be selected without an interview. If Covid19
restrictions persist, these details will be adjusted accordingly and the interviews and social engagement may be
held online.
e. All applicants will be emailed with the outcome of their application.
f. Please note – before starting an online Rhodes Scholarship application you should be aware of the Rhodes Trust
data protection policy for applications: [Link]

4. Documents and details to be submitted with application


You must submit a completed application form online with copies of the documents and information detailed below.
All documents must be submitted in English. If your official documents, such as your birth certificate, passport or
transcript are not in English you must submit them with English translations included. Please note that if you are invited
to interview, you may be asked to bring the originals of all documents with you:

a. Your birth certificate (or an affidavit of birth) confirming that you meet the age criterion.

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b. For those candidates not born in Zimbabwe, please also supply additional materials (passport or National
Identification Card, Refugee card) as necessary to validate citizenship and eligibility. Please do not submit a
baptismal certificate.
c. An official transcript from the college or university at which you are studying, or have studied, showing grades
achieved (to date).
d. Evidence that you have received at least five years of education in Zimbabwe between the ages of 9-20 years, e.g.
school records.
e. If English is not your first language, please also see Oxford University's English language requirements:
[Link]
f. A full curriculum vitae which should include specific details about academic qualifications, prizes, scholarships,
positions of leadership, employment positions, involvement in student, voluntary, community or political
activities and any cultural, musical or sporting accomplishments. This should not exceed two A4 (12pt font size)
pages in length. Please do not include a photograph in your CV. Your CV should be wholly accurate and a fair
representation of your achievements. You should anticipate that details will be checked for embellishments
and inaccuracies. Material misrepresentation will result in disqualification of an application or, where
appropriate, the rescinding of a scholarship. Examples of misrepresentation include exaggeration of
roles/accomplishments/ participation/biography; embellished publication lists; inflation of GPA/grades.
g. A head-and-shoulders colour photograph (jpg format). Please note your photo will not be available to the selection
committee until after final shortlisting decisions have been made. If you are selected, this photograph will be used
on the Rhodes webpage unless or until you provide another version.
h. A personal statement of no more than 750 words.
The personal statement is your chance to tell your story in your own voice: Who are you?
Your academic transcript and academic statement of study, your curriculum vitae, and your reference letters will
provide the substantive detail of your commitments and accomplishments, whereas the personal statement gives
you the opportunity to cast an overarching narrative for the selection committee.
Prompts
In your personal statement of 750 words, we ask you to address each of the following prompts (the word allocation
across the three is up to you):
1. Which Rhodes Scholar quality do you display most strongly, and how are other contexts and people helping
you to develop the others?
2. What would you like to learn from the Rhodes and wider community in Oxford?
3. From your place in the world, what is humanity’s greatest need?
Guidance
The Rhodes selection criteria are powerful and have remained largely unchanged over the past 100 years, having
been drawn directly from the founder’s Will.
In your personal statement we are asking you to reflect on your experiences, influences and intentions through the
lens of those Rhodes Scholar qualities outlined in the three criteria: “Energy to use one’s talents to the full”; “Truth,
courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship”;
“Moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in one’s fellow human beings”. [Note that
the fourth selection criterion of “Literary and scholastic attainments” are evidenced in your transcript, academic
statement of study and academic reference letters.]
The three prompts are set within the Rhodes leadership development framework that informs the Scholar Program
at Rhodes House in Oxford. It asks for reflection and engagement within three interrelated spheres of three voices
‘self, others, and world’:

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1st “self”: Which Rhodes Scholar quality do you display most strongly, and how are other contexts and people
helping you to develop the others? – this asks you to reflect on which of the Rhodes selection criteria you best
exemplify. But we don’t expect you to be the ‘finished product’, we want to hear how you intend to evolve further.
2nd “others”: What would you like to learn from the Rhodes and wider community in Oxford? – this asks you to
reflect on the relationship between self and community, on how you want to learn from the Rhodes and other
communities when you come to Oxford, and how you hope to grow through that experience.
3rd “world”: From your place in the world, what is humanity’s greatest need? – this asks you to look at the world
from the place that you are now and to reflect on what is missing in society, whilst considering the complexity and
nuance of the world’s challenges. We are seeking in Rhodes Scholars people who aspire to make a difference and
contribute in some way to “fighting the world’s fight.” Here we want to know your thoughts on what is most needed
in the world.
You can find further guidance on the personal statement on the ‘Application Overview’ page of our website. By
definition, each statement is individual; there is no single, “right”, model for the personal statement.
Your personal statement should be wholly accurate, and written in your own words from your own perspective.
Material misrepresentation will result in disqualification of an application or, where appropriate, the rescinding
of a scholarship. It should be entirely your own work, with no assistance received. Through the online application
form you will be asked to confirm that the entered / uploaded personal statement is accurate, is your own work
and that no external help was given in its creation or editing.
i. An academic statement of study of no more than 350 words.
The reason we ask for an academic statement is that entry to the University of Oxford is becoming ever more
competitive and, should you win a Rhodes Scholarship, you will have to submit your application to Oxford within a
very short timeframe. Researching and writing this statement will help you prepare for that. You should also be
aware that once you are at the University of Oxford it is very difficult to change courses. It is therefore advisable to
give some serious thought to your desired courses in advance. Rhodes selectors will use the statement to assess
whether you will thrive academically in one of the most competitive graduate environments in the world.
The academic statement of study should, in a factual and concise manner:
i. Tell us your reasons for wishing to study at the University of Oxford, what your chosen course(s) of study
is (are), and how this fits in your academic trajectory. Further, you may wish to explain how you hope to
be stretched academically at the University of Oxford, or any academic support you imagine might be
helpful.
ii. Demonstrate that you are able to at a minimum meet or exceed the specific entry and other academic
requirements of the course(s) you have chosen. Tell us how you are prepared for the course(s) academically
and otherwise.
It is very important that you have a firm idea of which courses are viable for you to study at the University
of Oxford (if you are listing a one-year course, please given an indication of your intentions for the second
year). Please read the Oxford graduate studies course pages carefully:
[Link] Note that not all University of Oxford courses are covered by
the Rhodes Scholarship - and you should refer to the Conditions of Tenure for further information. For
applicants interested in pursuing a second BA degree please see guidance under ‘Procedure after Selection’
below.
iii. If you wish to undertake a DPhil, provide a brief outline of your proposed research area, how it contributes
to your future career plans, and list both the Department in which you propose to undertake your research
and one or more researchers with whom you would like to work in Oxford.
It is a good idea to discuss your proposed course of study and your academic statement with your academic mentors
and/or professors or lecturers in that field, and, if possible, with someone who has knowledge of United Kingdom
universities.

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Additional sources of information are available online at [Link]/admissions, as well as on individual
faculty/departmental websites. If you are selected for the Scholarship you will have the opportunity to revisit your
course choice.
DPhil candidates: DPhil candidates: a number of Oxford departments recommend that applicants make contact
with potential research supervisor(s) before submitting an application to Oxford. Advice on contacting potential
supervisors in advance of your application is course-specific and you should follow the guidance found on the
individual prospectus pages, most often on the How to Apply tab.
Master’s candidates: please note that Oxford faculty members are not able to correspond with applicants.
j. You will need to provide a list of six people (your referees) who are willing to submit references on your behalf:
i. At least four of your referees should be academics who have formally taught and graded you in your
undergraduate (or, if relevant, postgraduate) studies and who can comment in detail on your academic
ability and how well they think you would fare at Oxford. In addition to uploading a reference, your
academic referees will be asked a small number of additional questions, including a request to provide an
estimated class ranking. Note – for successful Rhodes Scholarship applicants, these references can later be
used to form part of the application to study at the University of Oxford, so it is important that you and
your referees bear this in mind. See referee guidance on the final page of this document and on our
website: [Link]/scholarships/information-for-referees/.
ii. Additional referees – not being persons who have taught you - should testify to your character and/or your
involvement in extra-curricular/service or leadership activities. These referees should be persons who are
able to comment critically on whether you fulfil the extra-curricular, non-academic requirements of the
Scholarship and who can speak in detail to your character.
iii. You must ask their permission before listing them as referees.
iv. A good referee is one who knows you well, rather than a well-known person who only knows you
superficially. Please note that Zimbabwe Rhodes Scholarship referees should not be personal friends,
contemporaries or relatives. If a referee fits into one of these categories, they should decline the reference
request and inform the applicant so that another referee may be selected.
v. Choose reliable people who are likely to respond to your request for a detailed reference, as their letters
will be crucial to your application. If you do not have the minimum number of required references, your
application will not be considered by the Selection Committee.
vi. You will need to provide email addresses for all of your referees.
vii. You should forward the Guidance for Referees (available on our website) to your referees. They will receive
an automatically-generated email request for a reference once you have completed the referee
registration section of the online form. They will also be asked to provide their business and home (or
mobile) telephone, as well as their postal address for verification purposes.
viii. Ensure that you register your referees within the application form early, to allow them sufficient time to
provide a detailed reference letter. It is your responsibility to ensure that referees submit their references
online by 23:59 Central Africa Time, 31 August 2022. You can track the progress of their references within
the application form.
ix. Please note that your referees may be contacted for further information.
k. Please do not upload documents, certificates, testimonials or links / URL’s other than those required.

5. Selection Procedure
a. Selection for the Rhodes Scholarship is made without regard to financial means.
b. Selection for the Rhodes Scholarship is made without regard to marital status, race, ethnic origin, colour, gender,
religion, sexual orientation, social background, disability, caste or other irrelevant distinction. The provision of such

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information in the ‘Equity and Inclusion’ section of the application form is optional, but helps us to ensure that our
selection processes are fair and that our outreach efforts are effective. The information you provide does not form
part of your application and is only shared with those involved in selection in an anonymized format after
scholarships have been awarded. If you have disclosed a disability and requested additional support at interview
stage, your answers for this section may be shared with the National Secretary, who may contact you to discuss
and confirm your requested arrangements for support or suitable alternatives during the selection process. Any
requests made will not affect shortlisting, or the progress of your application, in any way.
c. You are applying for a Rhodes Scholarship for entry to the University of Oxford in October 2023; the scholarship
cannot be brought forward or deferred to a later academic year.
d. Applications are made in the first instance to the Rhodes Scholarships. Following the Rhodes Scholarship selection
process, successful candidates are then required to apply separately to their chosen programme of study via the
University of Oxford’s graduate application form. The Rhodes Scholarship is confirmed only upon successful
admission to the University of Oxford.
e. No selection will be made if a sufficiently qualified candidate cannot be found.
f. The decision of the Selection Committee is final.

6. Procedure after Selection


a. Please note that successful applicants will need to apply to the University of Oxford very soon after selection. Full
details will be given upon selection, however candidates who intend to apply for a course in Medical Sciences and
Engineering should note the graduate application deadline is now 9th December 2022.
b. The full application of successful candidates will be accessible to Rhodes House, Oxford, where the Scholarship
references can be re-used, if appropriate, in support of the successful candidate’s subsequent application to the
University of Oxford.
c. Applicants invited to the final interview or newly-selected Scholars who are intending to do a second BA at Oxford
can obtain an application form from the Registrar at Rhodes House (registrar@[Link]). The
completed form must reach the Registrar by no later than noon GMT Friday 25 November 2022. Depending on the
timing of the final Rhodes Scholarship interviews, candidates must either make a quick submission immediately
following selection or they will need to submit the completed form ahead of the final interview. Candidates who
are firm in their choice of a second BA may wish to maximise their chances of admittance onto the course by
applying via UCAS ahead of the UCAS mid-October deadline. If you miss both the UCAS and the Rhodes deadline for
the second BA application, the chances of successful admittance to the University of Oxford to study a second BA
with senior status are slim.
d. Successful candidates will be encouraged to disclose, in confidence, any medical condition or special needs which
may require academic or personal support in Oxford. This disclosure is entirely voluntary and is requested only to
enable Rhodes House to provide suitable support in Oxford and to make the transition to Oxford as smooth as
possible.

The Rhodes Trust may contact you some time after the submission deadline to ask for feedback on the application process
and any interactions you have had with the Rhodes Trust staff and volunteers.

Glossary of terms:
Conditions of Tenure: This document outlines what courses and course combinations are covered by the Rhodes
Scholarship. It details some of the exceptions and explains how many years of study are covered by the Scholarship.
Jurisdiction: See Rhodes Constituency below.
District/Regional/State Secretary: Some constituencies conduct selection by region/district/state/territory. In those cases,
the regional selection process is managed by a district/regional secretary, who will oversee outreach, queries, shortlisting
and final interviews. Selection across the constituency is still overseen by the National Secretary (see below).

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National Secretary: There is one National Secretary for each Rhodes constituency. The National Secretaries oversee the
selection process, from outreach, to applicant queries, to shortlisting and final selection. Most National Secretaries will also
sit on the Selection Committee, although where a National Secretary oversees multiple regions this may not always be
possible. For National Secretary contact details please see the constituency webpage.
Rhodes constituency: A Rhodes constituency is a country, a group of countries, and/or territories, and/or states for the
purposes of administering scholarships. The list of Rhodes constituencies and the countries they cover (where relevant)
can be found here: [Link]/scholarships/list-of-rhodes-scholarship-constituencies/
Second BA (with Senior Status): All Rhodes Scholarship candidates will have already completed, or will be about to
complete, an undergraduate degree. Successful candidates can apply to do a second undergraduate degree at Oxford
University over two years (i.e. with Senior Status). Senior Status is the only basis on which a Rhodes Scholar may pursue an
undergraduate degree. Further details can be found here. Please note you can apply for your Oxford BA to be converted to
an MA after a few years (see the 'When do graduates become eligible for the MA' question here). Second BA applications
have an early deadline – see the ‘Procedure after Selection’ instructions above.
Selection Committee: The selection committees conduct the final interviews and make the decisions that lead to the
selection of the Rhodes Scholars. The committee will include Senior Rhodes Scholars and distinguished members of the
community representing a diverse range of interests and experience.

Useful Links:
An explanation of the types of graduate degrees at Oxford University can be found here:
[Link]/admissions/graduate/courses/introducing-our-courses?wssl=1
Rhodes House Website: [Link]
Guidance on completing your application: [Link]/scholarships/application-overview/
Conditions of Tenure: [Link]/files/conditions-of-tenure
Data protection statement: [Link]/pages/personal-data-cookies/
Rhodes constituencies list: [Link]/scholarships/list-of-rhodes-scholarship-constituencies/
University of Oxford English language proficiency: [Link]/englishproficiency
University of Oxford Graduate Admissions: [Link]

For further information about the Rhodes Scholarship, see [Link]/scholarships/the-rhodes-scholarship/

The Rhodes Trust reserves the right to vary these conditions at any time without notice.

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THE RHODES SCHOLARSHIP FOR ZIMBABWE: 2023


- A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE RHODES TRUST AND THE NICKY OPPENHEIMER FOUNDATION

GUIDANCE FOR REFEREES


References must be written in English and must be uploaded by 23:59 Central Africa Time, 31 August 2022.
Thank you for your willingness to serve as a referee for an applicant for the Rhodes Scholarship. References form a crucial
part of the selection process, and your reference could make the difference to an applicant’s success. The following notes
are intended to serve as a guide as you write your reference.
Background Information
The Rhodes Scholarship programme is the oldest (established 1903), and perhaps the most prestigious, international
scholarship in the world. Administered by the Rhodes Trust in Oxford, the programme offers over 100 fully-funded
Scholarships each year for postgraduate study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom - one of the world’s leading
universities. Rhodes Scholarships are for young leaders of outstanding intellect and character who are motivated to engage
with global challenges and are committed to the service of others. They show promise of becoming value-driven, principled
leaders for the world’s future, wherever their careers might take them, and in any field.
 Academic excellence: the University of Oxford is one of the most competitive graduate environments in the world
and applicants must meet or exceed the entry requirements of their chosen course. (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).
 Truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship.
 Moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in their fellow human beings.
For further details, see: [Link]

Writing Your Letter of Recommendation


We would be grateful if you would provide a frank and confidential letter regarding the applicant’s qualifications and
suitability for the Rhodes Scholarship. You should consider the below points when writing your letter:
 The Selection Committee will have a copy of the applicant’s university academic transcript, curriculum vitae, and
their academic and personal statements. We would welcome any observations you have which would enhance the
Committee’s understanding of these documents.
 A brief introduction of yourself would be helpful, including any connections that you have with the Rhodes Trust,
Rhodes Scholars and the University of Oxford (such connections are certainly not necessary).
 Where you are able, you should comment on how the applicant demonstrates the four selection criteria outlined
above. While proven academic excellence is the first quality listed, the other criteria are equally important.
 It is not expected that you will be able to speak from first-hand knowledge of all of the applicant’s qualifications.
 Please speak of the applicant’s limitations as well as strong points. Committees tend naturally to be dubious of
hyperbole and appraisals that imply a given individual has no limitations. Your reply will, of course, be treated as
strictly confidential by the Selection Committee.
 References must be written in English and your comments should not exceed two A4 pages (minimum 10 point
type).

Applicants for the Rhodes Scholarships are asked to seek both character and academic references. The reference form will
clarify which type of reference you have been asked to submit.

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Academic referees:
If you are primarily acquainted with the candidate through a teacher/student relationship, it is expected that your reference
will concentrate primarily on academic quality and potential, although your assessment of other qualities will be welcomed.
A Rhodes Scholar will undertake postgraduate study at Oxford, a taught or research degree, or a second undergraduate
degree with senior status (over two years). In all cases, entry to Oxford is very competitive and so please consider whether
the applicant is prepared for their chosen course of study at one of the most competitive graduate environments in the
world.
Academic referees should note that, in the case of a successful applicant, your letter will be used by Oxford departments
and colleges for determining the applicant’s academic case for admission to postgraduate study. Consequently, a detailed
assessment of the candidate’s academic qualifications and suitability to undertake Master’s / doctoral level study at Oxford
will be very important. You are specifically asked to comment on:
a. The applicant’s relative academic standing in comparison with other students on the same course at the same
institution – e.g. top 1%, 3%, 5%, 10%, 25%?
b. How many students are in the applicant’s year group on their programme of study, i.e. with how many students
are you comparing the applicant?
c. On what basis are you making the assessment - personal assessment/official class rank?

Character referees:
If you are better acquainted with the applicant through non-academic interests, it is expected that you will concentrate on
assessment of character and non-academic qualities, in the knowledge that the Committee is looking for scholars who show
promise of outstanding achievement in later life. With reference to the selection criteria above, please pay particular
attention to the following: energy to use their talents to the full; truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and
protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship; moral force of character and instincts to lead.

Submitting Your Letter of Recommendation


 When an applicant has registered your details in the application form, you will receive an auto-generated email,
which will contain instructions on submitting your letter of recommendation. The email will include a link to the
online reference form where you will be able to upload your reference letter. The form will also include questions
requesting basic information about yourself and your relationship to the applicant.
 All letters of recommendation should be addressed to the Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee.
 The Selection Committee asks that your letter of recommendation be on headed paper, signed, and uploaded in
pdf format. If you are unable to access an official/institutional letterhead we can, on an exceptional basis, accept
references on a personal letterhead that clearly states your institutional affiliation and provides official contact
information including an email address and phone number.
 All letters of reference should be submitted via the online reference form. Please ensure that you press submit
once you have completed the form.
 Once you submit the reference form, both you and the applicant will receive an automated email to confirm receipt;
the applicant will not be able to see the submitted reference, which will remain confidential.
 Please note that during the selection process you may be contacted for further information.

Please note that Zimbabwe Rhodes Scholarship referees should not be personal friends, contemporaries or relatives. If a
referee fits into one of these categories, they should decline the reference request and inform the applicant so that
another referee may be selected.

References must be written in English and must be uploaded by 23:59 Central Africa Time, 31 August 2022.

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If a prospective Rhodes Scholar does not meet the eligibility criteria of any existing Rhodes Constituency, they have the option to apply for a Global Scholarship, provided they meet all other eligibility criteria for the Global Scholarship and receive institutional nomination .

Applicants should prepare a personal statement that is entirely their own work, reflecting on how they wish to learn from the Rhodes and Oxford community, and what they see as humanity’s greatest need from their perspective. It's crucial for this statement to be accurate and drafted without external assistance to prevent disqualification .

Applicants for the Rhodes Scholarship must submit their application online with all supporting documents by 23:59 Central Africa Time, 31 August 2022. Additionally, it is crucial to follow the guidelines on the Rhodes House website and ensure no external assistance is received during the preparation of personal statements .

The academic statement of study is used by the Rhodes selection committee to determine whether a candidate is academically prepared and likely to thrive in Oxford's competitive environment. The statement should concisely explain the candidate's reasons for choosing their course, how it fits their academic goals, and demonstrate their preparedness .

Rhodes Scholarship ensures fairness by requiring that references be submitted online where they remain confidential from the applicants. This prevents any bias or external influence on the recommendation process. Moreover, referees are asked to be candid about both the strengths and limitations of applicants, providing a balanced view to the selection committee .

An unsuccessful applicant may reapply only once more for the Rhodes Scholarship, and this must be in the same constituency where they originally applied, provided they continue to meet the eligibility criteria .

The Rhodes Trust aligns its language proficiency requirements with those of the University of Oxford, requiring applicants to meet the university's English language proficiency standards as detailed on the Oxford Graduate Admissions website .

Rhodes Scholars may encounter challenges due to the competitive academic environment at Oxford. The Rhodes Trust encourages candidates to disclose any special needs or medical conditions to provide suitable support and smoothen their transition. Additionally, careful preparation of an academic statement of study is advised, ensuring it's aligned with the scholar's academic trajectory and prepared to meet course requirements .

Reference letters can significantly influence the selection process by providing insights into the candidate's qualifications, character, and suitability for the Rhodes Scholarship. Referees should ensure letters are frank, balanced, address all four selection criteria—academic excellence and personal qualities—and follow submission guidelines, keeping them confidential and well-structured .

The Rhodes Scholarship program looks for candidates who exhibit truth, courage, devotion to duty, unselfishness, and fellowship, alongside the capacity to protect the weak and show kindliness. They must also demonstrate the energy to fully utilize their talents, exemplified by successes in various fields such as sports, music, or arts .

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