RHODES SCHOLARSHIP 2027 — WEST AFRICA (UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD)

The Rhodes Scholarship is the world’s oldest and most prestigious international scholarship, established in 1902 and based at the University of Oxford. Each year, three fully funded scholarships are awarded to outstanding students from the West Africa constituency, established in 2017, with the first scholar arriving at Oxford in 2018. For Nigerian, Ghanaian, and other West African students, this is widely regarded as the single most prestigious postgraduate award available on the continent.

The Rhodes Scholarship is not purely academic — selectors look for proven intellectual ability combined with strong character, leadership, energy to achieve goals, and a genuine commitment to using one’s talents for the benefit of others. Past Rhodes Scholars have gone on to lead governments, international organisations, universities, and major businesses worldwide.

What It Covers

• Full University of Oxford tuition and college fees
• Annual living stipend (approximately £20,400/year, or £1,700/month)
• The Oxford application fee
• UK student visa fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
• Two economy-class return flights between your home country and the UK
• Settling-in allowance on arrival at Oxford
• Access to Rhodes House — a dedicated community space in Oxford — and a lifelong global network of over 8,000 Rhodes Scholars across more than 100 countries

Who Can Apply

• Citizens of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Helena, Senegal, Sierra Leone, São Tomé and Príncipe, or Togo
• Hold, or be on track to complete, an undergraduate degree of at least upper-second-class (2:1) honours standard or equivalent
• Typically aged 19–25 at the time of application (some flexibility for unusual circumstances)
• Demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, energy to achieve goals, and a commitment to public service
• Intend to pursue full-time postgraduate study at Oxford for a minimum of two years
• Note: the Rhodes Trust has suspended its separate “Global” constituency scholarship; applicants must apply through their eligible national/regional constituency

Study Levels: Master’s, PhD (most full-time postgraduate Oxford courses)
Host Country: United Kingdom
Number Available: 3 scholarships per year for West Africa
Deadline: Opens June 1, 2026; closes 23:59 GMT, August 27, 2026

Application Window (Spring 2027): January 15 – March 1, 2027

How to Apply

Apply online through the Rhodes Trust’s official application portal. Use the eligibility checker first to confirm you should apply through the West Africa constituency. You will need a CV using the Rhodes Trust template, a personal statement (max 750 words), an academic statement of study (max 350 words), academic transcripts, and four references. Start early — strong applications typically take several months to prepare.