Applications are officially open for the Rhodes West Africa Scholarship 2027. Established in 1903, the Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest and arguably most prestigious international postgraduate award in the world.
Scholarship Overview
| Host Country | United Kingdom (UK) |
| Institution | University of Oxford |
| Study Location | Study in UK | Study in Europe |
| Eligible Countries | West Africa (18 specific countries) |
| Requirements | First-Class Honours Degree |
| Scholarship Category | Postgraduate Scholarships | Masters Scholarships | PhD Scholarships |
| Reward | Fully Funded |
| Application Closing Date | 27th August, 2026 |
Administered by the Rhodes Trust at the University of Oxford, this fully funded award selects young leaders of outstanding intellect and character from across West Africa. The scholarship enables chosen scholars to pursue full-time postgraduate studies (Masters or PhD) at Oxford, focusing on developing principled, value-driven leaders for the world’s future.
Benefits of Rhodes West Africa Scholarship 2026
The Rhodes Scholarship covers all essential costs for the normal duration of your degree program at Oxford:
- Complete coverage of Oxford University application fees and annual tuition/college fees.
- Annual living stipend of £20,400 per year.
- Travel provisions.
- Visa & health costs.
- A one-time financial allowance provided upon arrival in Oxford.
Related Scholarship Opportunities:
- Stephen Young Global Leaders Scholarship 2026
- Nestlé MBA Scholarship 2026
- McCall MacBain Scholarship 2026
- University of Montana Graduate Scholarship 2026
Eligible Countries
Applicants must be citizens of one of the following West African nations to apply under this specific constituency:
- 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 Principe
- Togo
Residency Rule: In addition to holding citizenship, you must have been a resident in one or more of the countries listed above for at least five of the last ten years.
Eligibility Criteria
Because this is one of the world’s most competitive awards, the eligibility baseline is strictly enforced:
1. Academic Requirements
- Completion of undergraduate Bachelor’s degree by the August application deadline.
- First-Class Honours Degree or its absolute institutional equivalent.
- For unclassified clinical degrees, the highest internal ranking is required. Specifically, clinical candidates must hold a distinction in at least three of these five areas:
- Medicine & Surgery
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
- Gynaecology
- Paediatrics.
2. English Language Proficiency
- You must adhere to the University of Oxford’s strict English language criteria.
- Most candidates will need to upload standard test results (IELTS/TOEFL) if your entire undergraduate degree was not officially taught and assessed in English.
3. Age Requirements
- Standard Track: You must be aged 18–24 on October 1, 2026.
- Professional Track: For graduates in Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Law, and Engineering, you must be aged 18–25 on October 1, 2026.
- Late-Graduate Track: For older candidates who finished their first degree later than usual, you must be under 27 on October 1, 2026 AND have graduated from your first degree on or after October 1, 2025.
Required Documents
All submitted materials must be in English or accompanied by an official, certified English translation.
- Proof of Identity, Age & Citizenship
- Proof of Regional Residency
- Official Academic Transcripts
- English Language Certificate
- Personal Statement & CV
How to Apply Rhodes West Africa Scholarship 2026
- Click on the application button below to start the process.
- Use the online eligibility checker to confirm you fit the West Africa requirements.
- Register your account on the Rhodes application platform.
- Fill out all sections of the application form.
- Input the names and email addresses of your references inside the portal early. They will receive an automated secure link to submit their reference letters directly.
- Review all uploaded documents and submit your final online application form before 23:59 GMT on August 27, 2026. No application fee is required.
- If selected as a Rhodes Scholar by the regional committee, you will then submit a formal application for admission directly to the University of Oxford for your chosen graduate course.
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