Rhodes Scholarships

This information is provided as a resource only. Case Western Reserve University cannot verify the accuracy, availability or requirements for any listing.

About

The Rhodes Scholarship, the oldest international fellowship, was initiated after the death of Cecil Rhodes in 1902, and brings outstanding students from many countries around the world to the University of Oxford. The first American Scholars were elected in 1904.

American Rhodes Scholars are selected through a decentralized process by which regional selection committees choose 32 Scholars each year from among those nominated by selection committees in each of the fifty states. Through 2004, applicants from more than 300 American colleges and universities had been selected as Rhodes Scholars. In most years, a Rhodes Scholar is selected from an institution which has not formerly supplied a successful applicant.

Eligibility Criteria

Citizenship & Status: U.S. citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident, or active DACA recipient. (Note: DACA recipients assume all travel/visa risks independently.)

Age Requirements (as of October 1, 2026):

• Standard: Aged 18–23 (born Oct 2, 2002 – Oct 1, 2008); OR
• Older Applicants: Aged 24–26 (born Oct 2, 1999 – Oct 1, 2002) if your first bachelor's degree was completed on or after October 1, 2025.

Academic Requirements:

• Must complete a bachelor's degree by July 2027.
• Must meet Oxford's program-specific entry requirements.
• A minimum 3.70 GPA is strongly recommended for competitiveness. (GPAs below 3.70 require a university-initiated exception request submitted by Sept. 15).

English Proficiency: Non-native English speakers must meet Oxford’s "higher level" requirement. Proof is not required for the Rhodes application itself, but will be needed for Oxford admission.

Qualifications

Literary and scholastic achievement (academic excellence)

• You are intellectually curious, with a deep love of learning and can think critically about a range of subjects
• You are consistently one of the top performers in your class
• You thrive in academically challenging and rigorous courses

Energy to use one's 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)

• Your passion for developing yourself extends outside the classroom 
• You have worked hard to develop mastery in your skills, whether competitive, cultural or creative
• You can demonstrate sustained and outstanding achievement in your chosen pursuit

Truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship

• You seek to live out your values in all that you do
• Serving others is a duty you take seriously, whether your community is large or small, local or international

Moral force of character and instincts to lead and to take an interest in one's fellow beings

• You have the courage to act on your initiative and inspire others to follow
• You demonstrate leadership in both thought and action

Application & Campus Endorsement Procedure

To receive Case Western Reserve University’s institutional endorsement for the Rhodes Scholarship, candidates must complete the following selection steps:

1. Initial Consultation

• Connect with the Undergraduate Advising Support Office (scholarshipsandfellowships@case.edu) to discuss your goals and application strategy.
• Timeline: Preferably during your junior year, and no later than May 31 preceding your senior year.

2. Register Institutional Endorsement

• Begin your application on the Rhodes Trust website via Embark. Register Undergraduate Advising Support / Case Western Reserve University as your endorsing institution.

3. Submit Campus Application Materials

• Combine all required application materials into a single PDF file and email it to scholarshipsandfellowships@case.edu by the campus deadline: September 21, 2026.
• Your single PDF packet must include:
  • Proof of Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Resident Status
  • Unofficial Transcript: (Note: Official transcripts will be uploaded directly to Embark upon final submission).
  • A list of courses you plan to take at the University of Oxford
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Academic Statement: Maximum 450 words
  • Personal Statement: Maximum 1,000 words.
  • Letters of Recommendation (5–8 total)
    • At least 4 letters must come from faculty members who have given you undergraduate instruction.
    • At least 1 letter (e.g., the 5th) must address your leadership and moral character.
    • Submission Note: Recommenders may email their letters directly to scholarshipsandfellowships@case.edu as letters must be confidential.

4. Campus Interview

• All candidates seeking endorsement are required to complete a campus interview.
  • Timeline: Late September or Early October (exact dates scheduled around committee availability and your class schedule).

5. Final National Submission

• Following campus interviews, endorsed candidates will finalize their application in Embark. The Undergraduate Advising Support Office will submit the official institutional endorsement letter before the national deadline.

Value of the Award

Rhodes Scholars are elected for two years of study at the University of Oxford, with the possibility of renewal for a third year. All educational costs, such as matriculation, tuition, laboratory and certain other fees, are paid on the Scholar's behalf by the Rhodes Trustees. Each Scholar receives in addition a maintenance allowance adequate to meet necessary expenses for term-time and vacations. The Rhodes Trustees cover the necessary costs of travel to and from Oxford, and upon application, may approve additional grants for research purposes or study-related travel.

Contact

The Rhodes Trust
8229 Boone Boulevard, Suite 240
Vienna, VA 22182
703.821.5960

Past Winners

2007 

Shaan-Chirag Gandhi
Class of 2007
Biochemistry

View the full list of U.S. Rhodes Scholarship Winners

Return to National Fellowships and Scholarships