Rhodes Scholarship for West Africa (University of Oxford)
The Rhodes Trust · University of Oxford
At a glance
- Award
- Fully Funded. Covers 100% of University and College fees, an annual living stipend (approx. £20,400 per year), settling-in allowance, NHS health surcharge, student visa fees, and two economy flights (to/from Oxford).
- Deadline
- 27 Aug 2026
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Field
- All Fields / Open Discipline
- Status
- active
- Contact
- westafrica.secretary@rhodestrust.com
About the scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship for West Africa at the University of Oxford is a fully funded opportunity provided by the Rhodes Trust. It covers 100% of University and College fees, an annual living stipend (approx. £20,400 per year), settling-in allowance, NHS health surcharge, student visa fees, and two economy flights (to/from Oxford).
The scholarship supports virtually any full-time postgraduate course offered by the University of Oxford, including postgraduate law degrees such as the Master of Laws (LL.M.), Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL), Magister Juris (MJur), MPhil in Law, or DPhil in Law.
Key details include:
- No Application Fee: Submitting a Rhodes Scholarship application is completely free.
- Apply Before Oxford: You apply for the Rhodes Scholarship first. If selected as a finalist, the Rhodes Trust team assists you directly with your Oxford graduate program application.
- Interview Stages: Shortlisted candidates participate in preliminary virtual interviews, followed by a final in-person panel interview in Abuja, Accra, or Lagos in November 2026 (travel/accommodation expenses covered by the Trust).
- References Required: Requires multiple referee letters, including academic references and personal references assessing your leadership and character.
Eligibility
- Citizenship & Residency: Must be a citizen of an eligible West African country (Nigeria is eligible) and have been resident in the region for at least 5 of the last 10 years.
- Academic Standard: Must hold a first degree (Bachelor's) with a First Class Honours or equivalent.
- Age Limits (Standard vs. Professional Degrees):
- Standard track: Aged 18–24 on October 1, 2026.
- Extended age for Law, Medicine, Engineering, etc. (to allow completion of internship/law school): Aged 18–25 on October 1, 2026 (born after October 1, 2000 and before October 2, 2008).
- Candidates under 27 who completed their first degree after October 1, 2025 are also eligible.
