DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A RHODES SCHOLAR?

Gilmour Hall

The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships accepts applications in September each year.
Application Deadline: September 16, 2011

Eleven Rhodes Scholarships are awarded to Canadians each fall (two in Ontario).  They entitle the winners to study at Oxford University in England for two and possibly three years commencing in October.


McMaster students are invited to apply.
Selection is made on the basis of school and college records without written examination.  The qualities which will be considered in making the selection are: literary and scholastic attainment; fondness and success in outdoor sports, qualities of truthfulness, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship; exhibition of moral force of character and of instincts to lead and to take an interest in one’s contemporaries.  Qualities of both character and intellect are the most important requirements for a Rhodes Scholarship and these are what the Selection Committees will seek.  Financial need does not receive special consideration.
The Rhodes Scholarship includes tuition, college fees, and a stipend covering living expenses for two and possibly three years study at the University of Oxford. As fees vary according to the subject and degree taken, as well as the residential college attended, it is impossible to state ahead of time the exact value of the scholarship. Given the general costs of tuition and fees and a living stipend of 958 UK pounds per month, the award is worth at least $50,000 per year.

Applicants must be:

  • on the Deans' Honour List (a Cumulative average of at least 10.0)
  • except for medical students, have received an undergraduate degree before taking up the scholarship
  • Canadian Citizen or permanent resident in Canada
  • Must be between 18 and 24 years of age.

 
Application forms are completed on-line. Go to http://www.canadianrhodes.org/how-to-apply and create an Account.  Once you create your account, read 1. Instructions carefully paying special attention to the Notes of Guidance.  Only students selected by the University’s nominating committee will receive an Institutional Endorsement.  The University President will write a letter and the student will receive an authorization code to submit the on-line application in time for the October due date.   Additional documentation required at that time will be an official birth certificate, medical certificate, an unmounted head and shoulders photograph and three additional reference letters.  A minimum of three of the six required reference letters should be from persons under whom the applicant has studied at University.

To receive an Institutional Endorsement, McMaster students must submit an application to the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships in the September of their final year of study.   The application must include the following information: 

  • A cover page which includes your personal information (e.g. name, address, phone no., e-mail address, Faculty, program, level, etc.)
  • A factual list of principal activities and honours while in University
  • A statement of general interest and activities, proposed course of study at Oxford and present intentions as to future career (this statement should not exceed 900 words in length.)
  • Three reference letters.  Two of these should be from persons under whom the applicant has studied at University.  Request your letter early!  Give your referee plenty of time to write an effective letter.
  • An official University transcript.  Include any study abroad or other University transcripts.

 

Hints & Suggestions: Preparing a Rhodes Scholarship Application
  • Start early. Be prepared to devote some time to developing your application. This includes spending some time researching the objectives of the Rhodes scholarship.
  • It is important to outline why you should be chosen based on academic and extracurricular activities/community contributions. This needs to be addressed in your statement, as well as letters of reference.
  • Your statement has to be clear (no grammatical or spelling errors) as well as distinctive in substance and style. Links to program of study as well as to future professional goals need to be made with direct reference to objectives of the Rhodes Scholarship. Your achievements need to be supported by evidence, such as a leadership role played in academic projects and extra-curricular activities.
  • Devote some time to selecting academic and other references. Ask yourself one major question: What is it that each person can contribute in support of my application?
  • Give the referees enough time and information to write a strong letter. For example, if you are asking a person to support your application based on demonstrated leadership qualities, you should provide that person with a resume of all of your activities as well as leadership positions. An academic reference should include information on candidate's exceptional achievements over and above normal expectations.
  • Be prepared for an oral interview, if one is requested. Anticipate the type of questions that might be asked based on the criteria outlined for the scholarship. Be prepared to state why you would be a worthy candidate to represent McMaster University and Canada at Oxford.
  • Selection committees are guided by the criteria for the award in question. If the award is based on superior academic achievement, as well as certain type of activities and demonstrated leadership qualities, the candidate needs to be strong in all categories. A lot depends on how you present your case, and this includes supporting evidence such as letters of reference.
Information for Referees

(Information for the person from whom a letter of appraisal has been requested)

The Selection Committee will be grateful if you will provide a frank statement regarding this applicant’s qualifications.

Proven intellectual and academic attainment of a high standard is the first quality required of applicants, but they will also be required to show integrity of character, sympathy for and protection of the weak, the ability to lead and the energy to use their talents to the full.
Mr. Rhodes believed that the last of these qualities was best tested through participation and success in sports. Sporting prowess, however, is not an essential if applicants demonstrate in other ways the physical vigour which will enable Rhodes Scholars to make an effective contribution to the world around them. Mr. Rhodes clearly expected this in expressing the hope that a Rhodes Scholar would come to ‘esteem the performance of public duties as his highest aim’.

It is not expected that you will be able to speak from first hand knowledge of the candidate’s qualifications under all those heads. If you are primarily acquainted with the candidate through an academic relationship you are requested to concentrate particularly on intellectual quality and potential (bearing in mind that your reference will be used for admission procedures at Oxford university) although your assessment of the other qualities will be very welcome to the Committee. If, on the other hand, you are better acquainted with the candidate through non-academic interests, you are requested to concentrate on assessment of character in the knowledge that the Committee is looking for persons who show promise of outstanding achievement in later life.

Please do not hesitate to speak of the candidate’s limitations as well as qualities. A critical appraisement will add to, rather than detract from, the force of your letter, since Committees naturally tend to be dubious of recommendations which imply that a candidate has no limitations whatever.

  

More information about Rhodes Scholars

University of Oxford, England


Questions? - email awards@mcmaster.ca