Rhodes Scholarship for India

Winners get a fully funded place for full-time postgraduate study at the University of Oxford. The Rhodes Scholarship covers University of Oxford course fees, as well as providing an annual stipend. The scheme is a partnership: The Rhodes Trust provides the Rhodes Scholarships in partnership with the Second Century Founders, John McCall MacBain O.C.

India has five places in this scheme. The cycle for entry in October 2027 used applications made in 2026, so it is not a 2026-27 intake. There are five Rhodes Scholarships available for India. Applications for the Rhodes Scholarship are now closed. You can sign up to our mailing list to be notified when applications reopen in 2027, for entry to University of Oxford in 2028.

What you get

The stipend figure in the official pages is for 2025-26. The fetched sources do not give the 2026-27 amount, and they give no rupee figure.

• Oxford course fees, paid for the length of the course.
• A living stipend of £20,400 a year, or £1,700 a month, for the 2025-26 academic year. Living costs, accommodation included, come out of this sum.
• The fee to apply to Oxford.
• The student visa fee and the International Health Surcharge.
• Two economy class flights, for the start and end of studies.
• A settling-in allowance on arrival in Oxford.

Course length matters. The Rhodes Scholarship covers at least two years of study at the University of Oxford. Doctoral study can be funded for up to three years. Partners and dependants fall outside what the stipend can meet.

Who can apply

• Citizenship: Applicants need Indian citizenship, shown by an Indian passport or equivalent proof such as a Voter ID.
• Refugees: The Trust also considers applications from refugees and asylum seekers living in India.
• Who cannot apply through India: PIO and OCI cardholders do not meet the citizenship rule for this route.
• Study in India: Candidates need at least 4 of the last 10 years of formal study at an institution in India. They also need either a 10th or 12th school leaving exam taken in India, or a final-year or completed undergraduate degree from an Indian university. The Trust counts school years, not calendar years.
• Age (standard route): Age is counted on 1 October 2026, and the range is 18 to 23 years.
• Age (older route): Candidates under 27 on 1 October 2026 qualify if they completed their first degree requirements on or after 1 October 2025.
• Academic: Degree completion by July 2027 is required, together with the entry requirements of the chosen Oxford course. The official sources do not set a minimum percentage. A first class honours degree improves the chance of admission.
• English: Non-native English speakers must meet Oxford’s higher level English standard.
• Course: Courses covered are listed in the Conditions of Tenure document, which candidates should check.
• Limit on places: Of the five places, only one can go to people whose undergraduate study was outside India, counting inter-jurisdictional candidates together.
• Family income: The scheme has no income limit. Selection is made without regard to financial means.

How to apply

1. Read the Information for Candidates for India and the Conditions of Tenure before you start.
2. Register four referees. Three should be academics who taught and graded you, and one should be a character referee.
3. Apply for the Rhodes Scholarship before you apply to Oxford for your course.
4. Fill in the online form. It asks for your details, evidence of eligibility, education history and chosen course(s).
5. Choose a primary Oxford course and a strong second choice.
6. Write a personal statement of up to 1,000 words and an academic statement of up to 450 words.
7. Complete the CV section inside the form. You cannot upload a separate CV.
8. Upload your documents and submit online. The application is free.

Documents you need

• A birth certificate or valid passport that confirms your age.
• An Indian passport, or equivalent proof of citizenship such as a Voter ID.
• An official transcript from your college or university.
• Official 10th and 12th marksheets, or equivalent.
• Proof of study in India, if you are not studying at an Indian university now.
• A head-and-shoulders colour photograph in jpg format.

All documents must be in English, with official translations uploaded where needed.

How students are selected

Applications are checked for eligibility and completeness, and a longlist is compiled. Longlisted candidates then take a preliminary interview in September or October 2026, which may be in person or by video. A semi-final interview may follow. The final interview and a social event take place in November 2026, and finalists must attend in person.

• Domestic travel to the final interview is paid. International travel is not reimbursed.
• Selection looks for academic excellence, energy to use one’s talents, the virtues named in the Rhodes criteria, and moral force of character with instincts to lead.
• Results are emailed by December 2026. The Trust does not give feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
• The scholarship is confirmed only when Oxford admits the candidate.

For questions, the National Secretary for India, Dr Dhvani Mehta, can be reached at india.secretary@rhodestrust.com.

Renewal

The official sources do not describe a separate renewal process. The award runs for the length of the course. Scholars who move to a second Oxford course receive help with visa renewal and the health surcharge.

Important dates

For the 2026 cycle, entry in October 2027:

• 1 June 2026, 00:01 IST: applications opened.
• 23 July 2026, 23:59 IST: applications closed.
• 6 August 2026, 23:59 IST: reference deadline.
• September or October 2026: preliminary interviews.
• November 2026: final interview.
• By December 2026: outcomes emailed.