Nationally Competitive Scholarships

Rhodes Scholarship

Purpose of the Award: The Rhodes Scholarship is intended to fund study at Oxford for a rising generation of world leaders. Rhodes Scholars come from many different disciplines and various countries. The Rhodes Scholarship enables students to study at Oxford and to take that experience with them as they return to contributive careers in their home countries.

Nature of the Award: Thirty-two Rhodes Scholarships are awarded annually to students from the United States and are tenable for a maximum of three years. Four students from each of eight geographic districts are chosen to receive the award. The Scholarship is tenable at the University of Oxford and covers educational, living, and travel expenses. The Scholarship is awarded for a minimum of two years of study and a maximum of three years.

Eligibility Requirements: An applicant must be a U.S. citizen and must, by October 1, of the application year have passed the eighteenth and not have passed the twenty-fourth birthday. In addition, an applicant must be able to complete a Bachelor's degree before October 1 of the following year.

Selection Criteria: The Rhodes Foundation lists 4 different criteria by which applicants are judged: literary and scholastic achievements; energy to use one's talents to the full; marks of healthy character, including truth, devotion to duty, unselfishness, and the life; and moral force of character and the ability to lead.

Application Procedures: All Rhodes applicants are required to secure the endorsement of their respective universities. Rhodes applicants from the University of Arizona must meet both the UA deadline and the Rhodes deadline (see important dates). UA applicants must submit the following to Dr. Karna Walter, the Rhodes Faculty Representative at the University of Arizona by the deadline below: a completed Rhodes application; an official college transcript or transcripts; a succinct statement of activities and honors in college; a personal statement describing academic and other interests; a copy of birth certificate, passport, or other proof of age and citizenship; and ten copies of an unmounted head and shoulders photograph of the applicant. Students who are nominated have several weeks after the UA deadline to strengthen their applications before the Faculty Representative must submit them to the Secretary of the State Committee of Selection.

**Please note: You are eligible to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship in another district if you are a permanent resident in a state outside of District VIII.

Nomination Procedures: The University of Arizona may nominate a limited number of students for the Rhodes Scholarship. Interviews with University faculty will determine which candidates will be nominated. The State Committee of Selection will interview selected applicants in early December. Selected applicants from the State interviews will interview a few days later with the District VIII Committee, which represents the following states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. The District VIII Committee will nominate 4 Rhodes Scholars.

Important Dates:

• September 7: Rhodes application materials due to Dr. Karna Walter
• October 3: Rhodes nomination materials due to State Committee of Selection
• November 18 & 19: Selected applicants interview with the District Committee.

Contact Information: Potential applicants should consult the Rhodes Scholarship website (to obtain specific details related to the Rhodes Scholarship. UA students considering applying for the Rhodes should contact Dr. Karna Walter, Assistant Director of International Studies and Scholarships, at 621-6546 or karna@u.arizona.edu. Dr. Walter is available to discuss application procedures and essay ideas.