Saudi students are invited to apply for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarships, which provide fully funded, full-time postgraduate awards at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
The Rhodes Saudi Scholarships form part of the wider global Rhodes Scholarships programme, which supports outstanding students pursuing postgraduate education. Successful applicants will begin their studies at Oxford in October 2027.
Two scholarships are reserved annually for Saudi applicants, with Saudi Arabia recognised as one of 25 Rhodes constituencies worldwide from which scholars are selected each year.
Funding and Study Opportunities at Oxford
Funding for the Saudi scholarships was initiated in 2018 by Muhammad Alagil, co-founder of Jarir Bookstores.
Rhodes Scholars may pursue any full-time postgraduate degree at Oxford, subject to programme requirements and a limited number of exceptions. Applicants are encouraged to review the Conditions of Tenure and Oxford’s A to Z graduate course directory for complete details on available study options.
Successful candidates must also submit a separate application to the University of Oxford for admission to their chosen course and meet all graduate admissions requirements.
The Rhodes Scholarship covers full university and college fees and includes an annual stipend for living expenses and accommodation. For the current academic year, the stipend stands at £20,400 per annum, approximately £1,700 per month or $2,300.
Applicants should note that the funding is intended for individual living expenses and is not sufficient to support dependants.
Applications open on 1 June 2026 and close on 23 September 2026.
History and Structure of the Rhodes Scholarships
The Rhodes Scholarships are named after Cecil Rhodes, a 19th-century British mining magnate, imperialist, and politician in South Africa who established the programme in his will.
The scholarships have attracted debate over the years due to the programme’s original exclusion of women and Black Africans. This policy changed in 1977 following the United Kingdom’s Sex Discrimination Act.
The scholarship is generally awarded for two years, although extensions for a third year may be approved in some cases. One-year postgraduate programmes are also eligible.
In addition to tuition and living costs, the scholarship covers a settling-in allowance, health insurance, visa expenses, and two economy-class flights between Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom at the beginning and end of studies in Oxford.
Eligibility Requirements for Saudi Applicants
Applicants must be Saudi citizens and must have lived in Saudi Arabia for at least five of the previous ten years.
Candidates must be at least 18 years old and no older than 24 on 1 October 2026. This means applicants should have been born between 1 October 2001 and 2 October 2008.
Older candidates may also apply if they completed their first undergraduate degree later than usual, provided they are under 27 years old on 1 October 2026, were born after 1 October 1999, and completed their degree on or after 1 October 2025.
All applicants must hold a first-class honours bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification that meets or exceeds the entry requirements for their chosen Oxford course. Candidates must also satisfy the University of Oxford’s English language proficiency requirements at the higher specified level.
Application Process and Required Documents
Applicants must create an account and complete the online application form.
Required documents include personal contact details, proof of eligibility such as a valid passport with certified translation where necessary, and a complete academic history with official transcripts from all institutions attended.
Where documents are not in English, applicants must provide both the original documents and certified English translations.
Candidates must also indicate their intended course of study at Oxford, submit a curriculum vitae, provide an academic statement of no more than 350 words, and complete a personal statement of up to 1,000 words. Applicants are also required to provide details for four to five referees, including at least three academic referees and one or two character referees.
Guidance on preparing application statements is available through an unofficial guide produced by former Saudi Rhodes Scholars and through the Application Overview page.
Further Reading:
- Ashmore Saudi Expands Education Investment Strategy in Riyadh
- Mecca Schools Shift to Distance Learning Ahead of Hajj Season