Rhodes West Africa Scholarship 2026 [Study In Africa]

Unlock the Door to a Fully Funded Master’s at Oxford University: Apply Now for the Rhodes West Africa Scholarship 2026.

Applications for the Rhodes West Africa Scholarship 2026 have begun for interested and qualified candidates.

The Rhodes Scholarship 2026 offers fully funded opportunities for selected candidates to pursue Master’s degrees at Oxford University with all the expenses of tuition, living stipend, accommodation, and flight costs covered.

SCHOLARSHIP AT A GLANCE:

Facts About the University of Oxford

1. Oldest University in the English-Speaking World: The University of Oxford is over 900 years old, with teaching dating back to the 11th century.
2. Home to the Bodleian Library: The Bodleian Library is one of the oldest and largest libraries in Europe, with over 12 million books and manuscripts.
3. Birthplace of Famous Alumni: Oxford has educated over 26 British Prime Ministers, including David Cameron and Theresa May.
4. Nobel Laureates: Oxford has produced 27 Nobel Prize winners in various fields, including Physics, Chemistry, and Literature.
5. Iconic Architecture: Oxford’s colleges and buildings are some of the most iconic and beautiful in the world, with stunning Gothic and Victorian architecture.
6. Global Research Hub: Oxford is a global leader in research, with a strong focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.
7. Diverse Student Body: Oxford has a diverse student body, with students from over 140 countries studying at the university.
8. Oxford Union: The Oxford Union is one of the oldest and most prestigious debating societies in the world, with famous alumni like Stephen Fry and Bill Clinton.
9. Academic Excellence: Oxford is consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the world, with many of its programs ranked #1 globally.
10. Rich History of Innovation: Oxford has a long history of innovation, from the invention of the jet engine to the development of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Details For Rhodes West Africa Scholarship 2026

Applications are now open for the Rhodes West Africa Scholarships 2026. The Rhodes Scholarships, established in 1903, are the oldest international scholarship programme in the world, and one of the most prestigious.

Administered by the Rhodes Trust in Oxford, the programme offers 100 fully-funded Scholarships each year for postgraduate study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom – one of the world’s leading universities.

Rhodes Scholarships 2026 are for young leaders of outstanding intellect and character who are motivated to engage with global challenges, committed to the service of others and show promise of becoming value-driven, principled leaders for the world’s future.

Eligibility Requirements For Rhodes West Africa Scholarship 2026

To be considered for the Rhodes West Africa Scholarship 2026, you must:

• Nationality/citizenship: You must be a citizen of one of the following countries:
  Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia,
  Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, the island of Saint Helena, Senegal, Sierra Leone, São Tomé
  and Principe and Togo.
• Residency: You must have been resident in one or more of the countries listed above for at
  least five of the last ten years.
• Age: You must meet either of the below criteria:
  • You must be aged 18-24 on 1st October 2025 (i.e. you must have been born after 1
    October 2000 and before 2 October 2007).
    OR for medical, dental, pharmaceutical, law and engineering students, to allow you to complete your professional internship –
  • You must be aged 18-25 on 1st October 2025 (i.e. you must have been born after 1
    October 1999 and before 2 October 2007)
    OR for older candidates who completed their first undergraduate degree later than
    usual –
  • You must be under the age of 27 on 1st October 2025 (i.e. have been born after 1
    October 1998) AND you must also have completed your first undergraduate degree on
    or after 1 October 2024*.
    *The Rhodes Trust would normally consider the date on your degree certificate as your graduation date.
• Academic achievement: You must have completed an undergraduate degree (usually a
  Bachelor’s) by the application deadline, and you must have an academic background and
  grade that is a First Class Honours Degree or equivalent.
• In the case of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy courses, the highest classification is your
  University awards, e.g., a Distinction, would be considered equivalent to a First Class Honours
  Degree.
  • Candidates must also have achieved a distinction in at least three of the five following
    subject areas:
    o Medicine & surgery
    o Pathology
    o Pharmacology
    o Gynaecology
    o Paediatrics
• Candidates will have a greater chance of successful admission to Oxford if they have:
  • An Honours degree (or have taken an Honours year) from a University outside of your
    country or if you have studied to Masters level within your country (with the exception
    of those studying in Nigeria and Ghana, and, for some countries, those studying
    medicine).

Rewards For Rhodes West Africa Scholarship 2026

• The Rhodes Scholarship covers Oxford University course fees, as well as providing an annual stipend.
• For the 2025-26 academic year, the stipend is £19,800 per annum (£1,650 per month) from which Scholars pay all living expenses, including accommodation. Please note: this is not sufficient to cover partners or dependents.

Following selection for the Scholarship, the Rhodes Trust will also cover: 

• The fee required to apply to study at the University of Oxford 
• Fees for a student visa and associated International Health Surcharge (IHS), which enables international students to access the UK’s National Health Service 
• Two economy class flights to and from the UK, for the beginning and end of studies in Oxford. 

Required Documents For Rhodes West Africa Scholarship 2026

To apply, candidates must be ready to submit the following documents;

• At least two of the following documents to confirm that you meet the citizenship, residency and
  age criteria (listed above):
  i. A certified copy of your birth certificate (or an affidavit of birth)
  ii. A National Identity Card.
  iii. A valid passport (with translation, if necessary)
  iv. A voter’s card
  v. An affidavit notarised by a competent authority confirming that you are a bonafide
  citizen of your country
• An official transcript from the college or university at which you are studying, or have studied,
  showing grades achieved (to date).
• Evidence of residency within the region for at least five of the last ten years, for example official
  school records.
• Evidence that you meet the University of Oxford’s English language requirements:
  o For most candidates you will need to upload a copy of your test results of a
  standardised English test that is recognised by the University of Oxford (e.g. TOEFL
  /IELTS).
• Alternatively, if you meet the University of Oxford’s criteria for a test waiver, for example
  your undergraduate degree has been taught and assessed in English, you can write and
  upload a brief letter requesting a waiver to this requirement.
• Your letter should explain how you meet the requirements for a waiver, and include any relevant evidence.

How To Apply For Rhodes West Africa Scholarship 2026

To apply for the Rhodes West Africa Scholarship 2026, interested and qualified candidates should;

• Click the button below to visit the University of Oxford’s website.
• Confirm that you are eligible and proceed to apply for the Rhodes Trust Scholarship.
• You will need to upload copies of the required documents.
• Please note that all documents must be
  submitted in English. If your official documents, such as your birth certificate, passport, or transcript, are not in English, you must also upload English translations.
• Please note that you may be asked to provide the original documents at a later date. 
• Application Deadline is 31 July, 2025

Source: https://you.ubc.ca/