Rhodes Scholarship

The Rhodes Scholarship was established in 1904 by Cecil Rhodes to promote international understanding and peace.

Each year, 32 scholarships are awarded to students in the United States for post-baccalaureate study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

Criteria

Prospective Rhodes Scholars are judged by four standards:

  1. literary and scholastic attainments
  2. energy to use one’s talents to the full
  3. truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship
  4. moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in one’s fellow beings

Eligibility

Prospective scholars must meet these requirements to apply:

  • Be between 18-24 years of age at time of application deadline (October 1, 2025)
  • Have obtained bachelor’s degree by October of entering year (October 1, 2026)
  • Be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident for at least 5 years as of application deadline (October 1, 2025)

Application Process

The application cycle for Rhodes Scholars beginning their program of study in October 2026 opens in Spring 2025 to ensure that students have sufficient support from the Scholarships & Fellowships Office and adequate time to put together a thorough application.

In Spring, the Scholarship & Fellowships Office hosts information sessions to share details about this fellowship opportunity.

Prospective applicants should use the end of spring semester through the summer to gather and complete their application materials. The application portal officially opens in early July, but students can get a head start by coming up with a plan of action, such as by researching potential programs of study and asking for letters of recommendation.

After the internal campus deadline has passed, the Scholarship & Fellowships Office forwards completed applications to a faculty selection committee for review and consideration. Select candidates are then invited to an interview with the committee, after which the committee recommends particular students to receive a formal University nomination.

Students who are chosen for University endorsement will continue to work with the Scholarship and Fellowships Office to gather and finalize the application materials due for the national deadline.

Endorsed candidates shall remain in communication with the Scholarship & Fellowships Office and provide application status updates. The Scholarships & Fellowships Office is committed to providing assistance and support throughout each student’s fellowship journey.

Click here for a detailed application timeline.

Application Requirements

Applications for the Rhodes Scholarship will require University endorsement. This means that students will not be allowed to submit their application directly to the agency that handles the Rhodes Scholarship, but rather via the University with a formal nomination on their behalf. It is imperative that candidates work closely with the Fellowship Advisor to ensure that all application deadlines and requirements are met. Contact information may be found here.

For tips on putting together the various components of the application, please visit the Application Resources page.

The internal campus application consists of:

  • Campus Application Cover Sheet
  • Rhodes Scholarship Application
    • List of Principal Activities
      List institutions attended, activities, work experience, and awards/recognition. Extracurricular activities should reflect a commitment to serve others, leadership and initiative, and how well-rounded a candidate is overall. While athletic activity is not a specific requirement, it does help your application.
    • Personal Statement
      Essay of no more than 1,000 words focusing on the candidate, his/her interests and aspirations, what s/he plans to study while at Oxford and why s/he is choosing a particular program.
      Students should not receive any outside guidance on this piece and must attest the statement as wholly his/her own work. Please conclude the statement with the attestation below, and follow it with a personal signature (the attestation and signature do not count towards the 1,000 word limit):
      “I attest that this personal statement is my own work and is wholly truthful. Neither it nor any of earlier draft has been edited by anyone other than me, nor has anyone else reviewed it to provide me with suggestions to improve it. I understand that any such editing or review would disqualify my application.”
      *It is highly recommended for candidates to get in touch with degree programs or faculty within the proposed program of study at the University of Oxford to demonstrate commitment to the Rhodes Scholarship. Including contacts made and steps taken to understand the UK educational system, Oxford culture, and the intended degree of study will help to strengthen the application.
  • 5 Letters of Recommendation
    Letters should be addressed to the Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee, signed on letterhead, include an institution/company contact email address, and represent a range of academic and professional references.
    • At least three of the letters should be from instructors/professors
    • At least one letter must speak to the student’s character
    • DO NOT have the letters submitted online; rather, ask recommenders to send letters electronically to ugfellow@hawaii.edu for the campus application deadline
  • Transcripts
    Students may submit a STAR report for all coursework taken within the UH system; official transcripts must be submitted for outside institutions.
  • Campus Interview
    Select candidates will be invited for an interview with the faculty review committee; candidates will be informed if advancing to the interview stage via email.

The UH Mānoa campus deadline to apply is 4:00pm HST on August 18, 2025.

If selected for University endorsement, the following will must be submitted:

  • Revised Rhodes Scholarship Application
    • Revised List of Principal Activities
    • Revised Personal Statement
      Applicants are not permitted to receive any feedback on their personal statements.
  • 5-8 Letters of Recommendation (1-3 letters in addition to the ones already submitted)
    • At least four of the letters should be from instructors/professors
    • At least one letter must speak to the student’s character.
  • Official Transcripts
    An official transcript must be submitted for all UH coursework.
  • University Endorsement
  • Proof of Citizenship/Residency Status
  • Passport-sized Photo

Nominated candidates must submit their final application to the UH Mānoa Scholarships & Fellowships Office by 4:00pm HST on September 22, 2025. The deadline for endorsed applications to the Rhodes Trust is 11:59pm ET on October 1, 2025.

Documents/Resources

Find information about academic programs at the University of Oxford website.

The Application Resources page houses general application documents applicable to all fellowships.

Application Timeline

Spring 2025Campus Announcement for Open Applications
Mar 26, 2025Rhodes/Marshall/Luce Info Session, 12:30pm via Zoom (fill out this GoogleForm to be emailed the meeting link during the week of this session)
Mar 27, 2025Rhodes/Marshall/Luce Info Session, 1:30pm via Zoom (fill out this GoogleForm to be emailed the meeting link during the week of this session)
Jul 1, 2025Rhodes Scholarship Application Available Online
mid Aug 2025Deadline for Internal Campus Application
late Aug 2025Campus Interviews for Select Candidates
early Sep 2025All Applicants Notified of Status
mid Sep 2025Deadline for Nominated Candidates to Commit
late Sep 2025Deadline for Final Application for Endorsed Candidates
Oct 1, 2025Deadline to Submit Applications to Rhodes Trust
Oct/Nov 2025Mock Interview for Finalists
Nov 2025Rhodes Finalist Interviews and Selection
Oct 2026Rhodes Scholars Begin Study