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*] (Alberta and Hertford, 1919), Governor General of Canada *] (Alberta and Hertford, 1919), Governor General of Canada
*] (New Jersey and Balliol, 1920), U.S. Supreme Court Justice *] (New Jersey and Balliol, 1920), U.S. Supreme Court Justice
*] ], Australian Nobel prize winner in Physiology *] (]), Australian Nobel prize winner in Physiology
*] (Australia and Magdalen, 1921), Nobel prize winner in Physiology *] (Australia and Magdalen, 1921), Nobel prize winner in Physiology
*] (Victoria and Magdalen, 1925), Australian scientist *] (Victoria and Magdalen, 1925), Australian scientist
*] (Arkansas and Pembroke, 1925), originator of the ] program. *] (Arkansas and Pembroke, 1925), originator of the ] program.
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*] (Oklahoma and St. Peter's, 1931), speaker of U.S. House of Representatives *] (Oklahoma and St. Peter's, 1931), speaker of U.S. House of Representatives
*] (North Carolina and St. John's, 1931), U.S. Secretary of State *] (North Carolina and St. John's, 1931), U.S. Secretary of State
*] (Germany and Balliol, 1931), German anti-Nazi patriot *] (Germany and Balliol, 1931), German anti-Nazi patriot, executed in 1944
*] (Oklahoma and Balliol, 1934), Librarian of Congress *] (Oklahoma and Balliol, 1934), Librarian of Congress
*] (Transvaal and Exeter, 1934), anthropologist *] (Transvaal and Exeter, 1934), anthropologist
*] (Connecticut and Balliol, 1934), Businessman and Founder of Templeton College *] (Connecticut and Balliol, 1934), Businessman and Founder of Templeton College
*] (Ontario and Christ Church, 1935), first Secretary-General of the Commonwealth *] (Ontario and Christ Church, 1935), first Secretary-General of the Commonwealth
*] (1935), polymer chemist *] (1935), polymer chemist
*] (New Zealand and Balliol, 1936), special Assistant to the U.S. President *] (New Zealand and Balliol, 1936), special Assistant to the U.S. President
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*] (Malta and Hertford, 1939), Prime Minister of Malta *] (Malta and Hertford, 1939), Prime Minister of Malta
*] (Victoria, 1941), Australian jurist and academic, Governor General of Australia *] (Victoria, 1941), Australian jurist and academic, Governor General of Australia
*] (New Jersey and Balliol, 1947), U.S. Attorney General *] (New Jersey and Balliol, 1947), U.S. Attorney General
*] (Kansas and University College, 1947), NATO Supreme commander *] (Kansas and University College, 1947), NATO Supreme commander
*] (Illinois and Exeter, 1947), Director of CIA *] (Illinois and Exeter, 1947), Director of CIA
*] (India and Christ Church, 1948), Olympic athlete *] (India and Christ Church, 1948), Olympic athlete
*] (New Zealand and Magdalen, 1949), Editor of ] *] (New Zealand and Magdalen, 1949), editor of the ]
*] (New Jersey and Balliol, 1950), Librarian of Congress *] (New Jersey and Balliol, 1950), Librarian of Congress
*] (India and Trinity, 1951), metallurgist *] (India and Trinity, 1951), metallurgist
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*] (Arkansas and University, 1968) 42nd President of the United States *] (Arkansas and University, 1968) 42nd President of the United States
*] (New Hampshire and University, 1968), U.S. Secretary of Labor *] (New Hampshire and University, 1968), U.S. Secretary of Labor
*] (]), Canadian commentator
*] (]) *] (])
*] (]) White House Senior Aide 1993-1999; Chairman of Clinton Foundation *] (]) White House Senior Aide 1993-1999; Chairman of Clinton Foundation
*] (Maryland-DC and Balliol, 1971), mayor of ] *] (Maryland-DC and Balliol, 1971), former mayor of ]
*] (]) *] (])
*] (Michigan and Magdalen College, 1972), journalist, founder of ] magazine *] (Michigan and Magdalen College, 1972), journalist, founder of '']'' magazine
*] (]) *] (])
*] (South Africa-at-large and Keble, 1975), ] lawyer and AIDS activist *] (South Africa-at-large and Keble, 1975), ] lawyer and AIDS activist
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*] (Oregon and Magdalen, 1981), ] reporter and columnist *] (Oregon and Magdalen, 1981), ] reporter and columnist
*] (New Hampshire and Jesus, 1982), U.S. member of Congress, New Mexico *] (New Hampshire and Jesus, 1982), U.S. member of Congress, New Mexico
*] (Connecticut and New College, 1985), U.S. author and social critic *] (Connecticut and New College, 1985), U.S. author and feminist social critic
*] (]), American physicist and string theorist *] (]), American physicist and string theorist
*] (Illinois and New College, 1987), journalist and editor of '']'' magazine *] (Illinois and New College, 1987), journalist and editor of '']'' magazine
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*], Australian politician *], Australian politician
*], Australian politician *], Australian politician
*] *], Canadian historian
*]
*], Canadian liberal leader and Prime Minister *], Canadian liberal leader and Prime Minister


Revision as of 21:03, 27 December 2004

Rhodes House in Oxford

Rhodes Scholarships were created by Cecil John Rhodes. They are awarded annually since 1903 by the Oxford-based Rhodes Trust, on the basis of academic qualities as well as those of character. They provide the successful candidate with two years of study at the University of Oxford in England, possibly extended for a third year.

When Rhodes died in 1902, his will stipulated that the greater part of his fortune was to go towards the establishment of a scholarship fund. The scholarships, originally worth £300, would reward those applicants who exhibited worthy qualities of intellect, character, and physical ability with the aim of promoting cross-cultural understanding and peace between nations.

Standards

With such lofty aims in mind, the requirements for applicants are equally high. Rhodes' will specified four standards by which applicants were to be judged:

  • literary and scholastic attainments;
  • energy to use one's talents to the full, as exemplified by fondness for and success in sports;
  • truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship;
  • moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in one's fellow beings.

Rhodes' aim in setting these stringent standards was his hope that his Scholars would be physically, intellectually and morally capable of leadership, and that wherever their future careers might take them, they would seek to improve the lot of humanity.

Rhodes' will originally provided for scholarships for the British colonies, the United States, and Germany. These three were chosen so that "an understanding between the three great powers will render war impossible."

Rhodes, who attended Oxford, chose his alma mater as the site of his great experiment because he believed its residential colleges provided the ideal environment for intellectual contemplation and personal development.

Changes

The program has evolved over its century of existence.

An early change was the elimination of the scholarships for Germany during World Wars I and II. No German scholars were chosen from 1914 to 1932 and from 1939 to 1970.

The bequest of Cecil Rhodes was whittled down considerably in the first decades after his death, as various scholarship trustees were forced to pay taxes upon their own deaths. A change occurred in 1929, when an Act of Parliament established a fund separate from the original proceeds of Cecil Rhodes will. This made it possible for an expansions to the number of scholarships. For example, between 1993 and 1995, scholarships were extended to other countries in the European Community.

Despite the passage of the Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 in the UK, it took another Act of Parliament to change the will of Cecil Rhodes to extend selection criteria in 1977 to include women.

For at least its first 75 years, scholars usually read for a Bachelor of Arts degree. While that remains an option, more recent scholars usually read for an advanced degree.


Allocations

Approximately 90 Scholars are selected worldwide each year.

Country2003
allocation		1903
allocation
USA3232
Canada112
Newfoundland
(originally separate)		-1
South Africa
(originally Southern Africa)		105
Australia96
India6-
Germany45
New Zealand31
Caribbean Commonwealth2-
Kenya2-
Pakistan2-
Zimbabwe
(originally Rhodesia)		23
Bangladesh1-
Bermuda11
Hong Kong1-
Jamaica11
Malaysia1-
Singapore1-
Uganda1-
Zambia1-

Notable Rhodes Scholarship recipients


In recognition of the centenary of the foundation of the Rhodes Trust in 2003, four scholars were awarded honorary degrees to Oxford:

  • John Brademas (Indiana and Brasenose, 1950), former U.S. Member of Congress, Indiana
  • Bob Hawke (Western Australia and University, 1953]]), former Prime Minister of Australia
  • Rex Nettleford (1957), pro-vice-chancellor of the University of the West Indies, author, dance director
  • David R. Woods (Natal and University, 1963), vice-chancellor at Rhodes University



Notable Universities

The universities of Harvard, Yale and Princeton hold the top three spots, respectively, in terms of largest numbers of U.S. Rhodes Scholarships won by their graduates. In 2004, the number of students selected from Harvard, Yale and Princeton to be Rhodes scholars were 5, 2, and 0, respectively.

McGill University leads among Canadian institutions in the overall number of Rhodes recipients.

Former Trustees

External links

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