The Rhodes Scholarship

The Rhodes Scholarship is a postgraduate award supporting exceptional students from around the world to study at the University of Oxford. The program was established in 1903 and first awarded in Canada in 1904. To date, the University of Manitoba has had the privilege of cultivating 100 Rhodes Scholars.

Up to 11 Rhodes Scholarships are awarded annually in Canada, including three in the Prairie Region of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The Scholarship is tenable for studies at the University of Oxford in England for two or three years, beginning each year in October. Selection is made by committee after personal interviews and on the basis of the candidate’s record.

Eligibility

For the 2025 competition (2026 Rhodes Scholarship), it is anticipated that the following Eligibility Criteria apply:

  1. Nationality/citizenship: You must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada. Applications from refugees/asylum seekers currently residing in Canada will also be considered.
  2. Residency: You must be domiciled in Canada.
  3. Age: You must meet either of the below criteria:

    • You must be aged 18-23 on October 1st, 2025 (i.e., you must have been born after October 1st, 2001, and before October 2nd, 2007).

      OR (for older candidates who completed their first undergraduate degree later than usual)

    • You must be under the age of 27 on October 1st, 2025 (i.e. have been born after October 1st, 1998) AND you must also have completed your first undergraduate degree on or after October 1st, 2024.
  4. Academic achievement: You must have completed an undergraduate degree (usually a Bachelor’s) by July 2026, and you must have an academic background and grade that - at a minimum - meets or exceeds the specific entry requirements of your chosen course at the University of Oxford (https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/courses-a-z-listing) .  Candidates will have a higher chance of successful admission to Oxford if they have:

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:

  1. ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
  2. 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
  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 your fellow human beings

In short, 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.

The 2025 Rhodes Scholarship guidelines are anticipated to be released in May 2025. Last year’s guidelines are available here: https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/applications/canada/#apply-now.

Please visit the Rhodes Trust website for further information: https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/.

How to Apply Through the University of Manitoba

Our institution implements an annual internal selection process to select a limited number of applicants that will be officially endorsed by the University of Manitoba to apply for a Rhodes Scholarship.

Further information regarding the requirements of our institution’s internal selection process will be available in May 2025.

Please contact Mr. Brent Deere, Manager, Research Awards (brent.deere@umanitoba.ca) for enquiries.
 

Revised January 13, 2025