The Rhodes Scholarships 2026 for Young Africans | Fully Funded to UK

Applications are invited from qualified applicants worldwide to apply for the Rhodes Rhodes Scholarships 2026 for Young Africans .

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 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, committed to the service of others and show promise of becoming value-driven, principled leaders for the world’s future.

Brief Description

Scholarship Sponsor(s): Rhodes Trust

Scholarship Type: Fully Funded

Host Institution(s): University of Oxford, UK

Scholarship Worth: Not specified

Study Level: Postgraduate (Masters)

Nationality: International students

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Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the Rhodes Scholarships 2026 for Global students to study in the United Kingdom, applicants are to meet the following criteria:

• Applicant must be a citizen of one of the following countries:
  Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, the island of Saint Helena, Senegal, Sierra Leone, São Tomé and Principe and Togo.
• Applicant must have been resident in one or more of the countries listed above for at least five of the last ten years.
• Applicant must meet either of the below criteria:
  i. You must be aged 18-24 on 1st October 2025 (i.e. you must have been born after 1
  October 2000 and before 2 October 2007).
  OR for medical, dental, pharmaceutical, law and engineering students, to allow you to
  complete your professional internship –
  ii. You must be aged 18-25 on 1st October 2025 (i.e. you must have been born after 1
  October 1999 and before 2 October 2007) OR for older candidates who completed their first undergraduate degree later than usual –
  iii. You must be under the age of 27 on 1st October 2025 (i.e. have been born after 1
  October 1998) AND you must also have completed your first undergraduate degree on or after 1 October 2024*.
  *we would normally consider the date on your degree certificate as your graduation date.
• Applicant must have completed an undergraduate degree (usually a Bachelor’s) by the application deadline, and you must have an academic background and
  grade that is a First Class Honours Degree or equivalent.
  

Scholarship Benefits | Rhodes Scholarships 2026

• The Rhodes Scholarship covers Oxford University course fees, as well as providing an annual stipend.
• For the 2025-26 academic year, the stipend is £19,800 per annum (£1,650 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.

Required Documents

You will need to upload copies of the following documents. Please note that 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 also upload English translations. Please note that you may be asked to provide
the original documents at a later date.

• At least two of the following documents to confirm that you meet the citizenship, residency and
  age criteria (listed above):
  i. A certified copy of your birth certificate (or an affidavit of birth)
  ii. A National Identity Card.
  iii. A valid passport (with translation, if necessary)
  iv. A voter’s card
  v. An affidavit notarised by a competent authority confirming that you are a bonafide
  citizen of your country
• An official transcript from the college or university at which you are studying, or have studied,
  showing grades achieved (to date).
• Evidence of residency within the region for at least five of the last ten years, for example official
  school records.
• Evidence that you meet the University of Oxford’s English language requirements:
  o For most candidates you will need to upload a copy of your test results of a
  standardised English test that is recognised by the University of Oxford (e.g. TOEFL
  /IELTS)
  o Alternatively, if you meet the University of Oxford’s criteria for a test waiver, for example
  your undergraduate degree has been taught and assessed in English, you can write and
  upload a brief letter requesting a waiver to this requirement. Your letter should explain
  how you meet the requirements for a waiver, and include any relevant evidence.