The Rhodes Scholarship // Unstop

All that you need to know about The Rhodes Scholarship

GENERAL REGULATIONS
A Rhodes Scholarship is tenable at the University of Oxford. Confirmation of the Scholarship at election is however, subject to the Scholar-elect’s acceptance by a college and by the concerned faculty in case of a research degree. The Scholarship is initially for a period of two years but if necessary, can be extended to a third year. The Rhodes Trustees would consider granting a third year only if it is clear that the additional year is eminently in the interest of a scholar’s studies and future career. It is essential to have a satisfactory conduct and general record for this. Two years is the minimum period (and three years the maximum) for which a Rhodes Scholarship can be awarded. A Rhodes Scholarship covers approved university and college fees for which payment is made directly to the Scholar’s college. It also covers living expenses sufficient to enable a Scholar to meet the necessary expenses for term-time and vacations. The Trust will also meet the cost of a Scholar’s air travel, economy class, to the United Kingdom and of return to India on completion of studies at Oxford. Tenure of other awards in conjunction with a Rhodes Scholarship is not permitted without prior consultation with the Secretary to the Trust in Oxford. The Scholarship for which application is to be made in 2014 will be tenable from October 2015.
II. CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY
1. The Scholarships are open to citizens of India.
2. Candidates must be of such an age that they will have passed their 19th and not have passed their 25th birthday on the 1st October 2015.
3. Candidates must have at least a first class degree in Humanities, Sciences, Law, Engineering, Agriculture or Medicine from an Indian University. Candidates who are in the final year of a degree course and have exceptionally bright academic record may also apply.
4. Candidates for medical studies, especially those wishing to do research in clinical departments, should consult the Secretary, as well as the Medical School Offices at Oxford, before submitting an application.
5. Married candidates should bear in mind that the scholarship stipend is sufficient only for one person, and that the Trust takes no financial responsibility for the support of a scholar’s spouse. Moreover, spouses who are not British citizens will find it very difficult to obtain permission to undertake paid work in England.

6. Subject to ratification by the Rhodes Trustees, the Committee of Selection for India is responsible for deciding whether candidates comply with forgoing conditions, and for making the nominations.

III. BASIS OF SELECTION

In making nominations, the Selection Committee will have regard to those qualities which Cecil Rhodes listed in that section of his will in which he attempted to define the type of Scholar he was seeking; literary and scholastic attainments; fondness of and success in outdoor sports, qualities of truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship, exhibition of moral force of character and instincts to lead and to take an interest in one’s contemporaries.

Qualities of intellect, character and leadership are what the committee will be looking for in a candidate. A Rhodes Scholar should not be one-sided or selfish. Intellectual ability must be founded upon sound character and integrity of character upon sound intellect. Cecil Rhodes regarded leadership consisting of moral courage and interest in one’s fellow beings, as in the more aggressive qualities. It was his hope that a Rhodes Scholar would come to esteem the performance of public duties as the highest aim. Nowadays, it is not a requirement to be an outstanding sports-person, providing a candidate can demonstrate physical vigor to use one’s talents to the full and to make an effective contribution to society

Financial need gives no special claim to a Rhodes Scholarship. A selection committee will make no nomination if it is of the opinion that there is no sufficiently qualified candidate.

The Rhodes Trust and Oxford University require that selection for a Scholarship and for admission to the University will be without regard to marital status, race, ethnic origin, colour, sex and gender, religion, sexual orientation, social background, disability, caste or other irrelevant distinction.

IV. METHOD OF SELECTION

Candidates should make and submit an application before 31st July, 2014. The preferred means of application is on-line via the link to be published on the Rhodes Trust websites from 1 June 2014 http://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/about/rhodes-countries/rhodes-india. Candidates who have difficulty submitting on-line should submit by registered post to the Secretary of the Selection Committee, using the application form attached to this Memorandum. The material specified must be furnished before 31st July, 2014.

In the normal course, applicants are short listed for a preliminary, personal interview, held at four regional centres including Mumbai (Pune), Bangalore, Kolkata and Delhi. Candidates selected from these regional interviews are then called for the final interview in December. No candidate can be selected without appearing for the final interview.

The granting of an interview is entirely within the discretion of the Selection Committee.

Traveling expenses (2nd class return rail fare) of candidates invited for the final interview will be paid by the Rhodes Trust. Candidates for interview must bring with them their original certificates. Candidates who do not receive any communication by December 1, 2014 must assume that their application has been unsuccessful.

V. MATERIAL TO BE SUBMITTED BY THE CANDIDATES

Candidates applying online (from 1 June 2014 https://apply.embark.com/scholarship/RhodesTrust/) may upload electronic copies of the following documents. However, all candidates for interview must bring with them their original certificates, as indicated below:

1. Either a School leaving certificate or an extract from a University Register signed by the Registrar, as evidence of age (attested copy only, which will not be returned.)

2. Evidence of courses taken and degrees, honours and other academic distinctions obtained. This evidence must be formally certified by the Registrar or any other responsible officer of the candidate’s University (attested copies of certificates only, which will not be returned).

3. (a) A signed essay (preferably typed) by the candidate detailing the proposed course of study at Oxford, general interests and activities, including sports and future aims of the candidate.

(b) The essay should not exceed 1000 words and should be in simple and direct English.

(c) Please take time and write this essay carefully. It is your opportunity to tell us not just what you have achieved and hope to achieve, but who you are. (For further details please see the short video here: http://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/apply ). The essay will assist the Selection Committee in determining who to invite for interview.

4. The names and addresses of six persons well acquainted with the candidate, under at least three of whom he/she must have studied. Please ensure that at least three of the six referees write about the candidate’s academic ability and attainments. These references will be used in making application to Oxford Colleges. It is neither necessary nor desirable to include names of prominent persons in the country, if they do not know the candidate well. Such references often go waste. Instead include names of those who know the candidates well and know their strengths and weaknesses.

5. A photograph, digital and hard copy (passport-size, unmounted) will be requested from shortlisted candidates.

6. Successful candidates will be asked to provide a voluntary medical statement.

VI. PROCEDURE AFTER SELECTION

Immediately after election, a Scholar will be given the necessary information to make an application to the University of Oxford. Those applying for postgraduate courses will need to make application to Oxford in early January (in the case of the 2nd BA, the application must reach Oxford at the latest by 2 December 2014).

The Scholar will come into residence at Oxford in October, 2015. Postponement will not be sanctioned save in exceptional circumstances, and with the express permission of the Rhodes Trustees. The first installment of the Scholarship will be paid at the beginning of the Scholar’s first term at Oxford. No request for earlier payment will be considered.

VII. COURSES OPEN TO RHODES SCHOLARS

Subject to limited restrictions, Rhodes Scholars may read for any full-time postgraduate degree (including the BA with senior status over two years) at the University of Oxford. The basic tenure of the Scholarship is two years, subject always, and at all times, to satisfactory academic performance and personal conduct. For the full listing of degrees offered by the University of Oxford, visit www.ox.ac.uk. At the discretion of the Trustees, the Scholarship may be extended for a third year for those who take a recognized route to the DPhil. The Masters of Business Administration (MBA) and the Masters of Financial Economics (MFE) are only tenable in the second year of the Scholarship. For detailed Conditions of Tenure, including exceptions and qualifications to the above, please see http://files.www.rhodesscholarshiptrust.com/Application/Conditions-of-Tenure.pdf.

It is expected that all candidates who are invited to interview will have spent time exploring the Oxford University prospectus (www.ox.ac.uk) and will have a clear idea of the degree for which they intend to apply if elected. Candidates should also have familiarised themselves with the materials that will need to be submitted with their application to the University of Oxford. These

requirements are set out clearly in the Application Guide on the Oxford University website (http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses/apply/application_guide/index.html). For example, 2 pieces of written work** are required for most Humanities and Social Sciences applications and GRE certificate is required for applications for Economics subjects.

Copies of this Memorandum may be obtained from the Secretary, Rhodes Scholarships (India), International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), PO Box 10504, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi-110 067. For more information visit: http://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/about/rhodes-countries/rhodes-india

Please note that successful candidates will apply to Oxford via a special Rhodes online graduate application form (and not via the University of Oxford website).

*A Scholar may apply to read for a second BA degree (with senior status) over two years. A first class honours degree from an Indian University following a course of at least three years qualifies the holder to apply for Senior Status at Oxford, and to take the BA in two years (six terms).

**Clear guidelines for written work can be found in the Application Guide (see link above). Written work must be typed and in English.

For further information on the Rhodes Trust and the Rhodes Scholarships, please visit www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk

Candidates may apply online (preferred) at https://apply.embark.com/scholarship/RhodesTrust/.