Rhodes Australia-At-Large Scholarships to Oxford
The Australia-At-Large Rhodes Scholars for 2012 (announced in December 2011)
- Angela Darby (VIC) - Degree of Bachelor of Architectural Studies from the University of Melbourne. Proposes to undertake the MSc in Environmental Change and Management at Oxford.
- Lauren Dancer (QLD) - Degree of Bachelor of Laws with Honours and the Degree of Bachelor of International Relations from Griffith University. Proposes to undertake the Degree of Bachelor of Civil Law at Oxford.
- Dr Vinay Menon (WA) - Degree of Bachelor of Medical Science with Honours in Paediatrics and the Degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery with Honours from the University of Western Australia. Proposes to undertake athe MSc in Global Health Science at Oxford.
Background
Each year, nine Rhodes Scholarships are available for outstanding Australians to study at the University of Oxford. One Rhodes Scholarship is offered in each of the States (NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA and TAS) and three for Australia At Large.
Value
Fees are paid by the Rhodes Trust directly to the College and Rhodes Scholars receive a monthly stipend and assistance with travel expenses to the United Kingdom.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible to apply for a Rhodes Scholarship, candidates must:
- be Australian citizens and have been resident in Australia for at least five of the past ten years;
- have not turned 25 by 1 October in the year of application; and must
- have completed (or expect to complete in the year of application) their degree with first class honours (or upper second).
Candidates must apply in the State in which they received (or will receive) their first degree.
Competition for Rhodes Scholarships is extremely competitive and candidates selected for interview are of outstanding quality. Before candidates submit an application, they should realistically assess their ability to meet all of the qualification and eligibility criteria and to compete at this elite level. Entry to Oxford is also extremely competitive.
All candidates are advised to refer to the national website of the Rhodes Trust in Australia to view a list of the State Honorary Secretaries and for general information on the preparation of applications and the selection of referees. Please note though that instructions may vary from State to State and that Australia At Large candidates must follow the instructions on this website.
Australia-At-Large Scholarships for 2013
Candidates who receive/d their first degree in the Australian Capital Territory or the Northern Territory must apply directly for the Australia-At-Large Rhodes Scholarships. These applications are considered by the Commonwealth Territories Selection Committee in Canberra. Following the interviews (usually conducted in October). The Committee may nominate up to two candidates to progress to the Australia-At-Large round.
Following the selection of the Rhodes Scholars from each of the six States (VIC, NSW, QLD, WA, TAS, SA) each State may also nominate up to two candidates to automatically progress to the Australia-At-Large round to compete for the three Australia-At-Large Scholarships.
The State and Territory Selection Committees may only nominate candidates to progress to the Australia-At-Large round whom they regard as fully worthy of appointment as a Rhodes Scholar.
Candidates who have been nominated to progress to the national round will be invited to Canberra (usually in December) to attend a reception at Government House and dinner (with the Selection Committee members and other candidates) followed by the interviews held the next day at the ANU. Following the interviews, up to three scholars-elect will be announced.
The list of Australia At Large Rhodes Scholars since 1977 (PDF, 42KB) is available.
Application process
Candidates from the Commonwealth Territories must contact the Honorary Secretary for Australia-At-Large to discuss their eligibility to apply and to receive a password to access the Application Form online - Rhodes House at Oxford.
Please note that as candidates are required to submit with their application a personal statement, resume, original academic transcripts, birth certificate, a photograph and the names and contact details of six referees, they are advised to begin the application process early.
Application due date
Applications must be submitted online no later than 1st September 2012. Please note that the official academic transcript/s and the original birth certificate (or certified copy) must also be sighted by the Honorary Secretary for Australia-At-Large by the due date.
Referee reports
Candidates are required to contact their referees to confirm that they are able to submit a reference by the due date, then to enter their referees' contact details into the on-line Application Form. Please note that once the referee details have been typed in and saved to the system, an email will be automatically sent to referees with instructions on how to submit their reference on-line. The system will then attach the referee reports to the candidate's application for viewing by the Selection Committee members. Please note that as we have now moved to an electronic system, we no longer expect to receive hard copy references.
The Australia-At-Large Secretary does not contact referees seeking reports - it is up to each candidate to check with the Secretary that all their reports have been received.
All referee reports are due to be with the Honorary Secretary by 1st September 2012. The Selection Committee may not be in a position to make use of reports received after this date.
Qualities of a Rhodes Scholar
Cecil Rhodes listed in his Will, the qualities that he was seeking in his scholars, including:
Literary and scholastic attainment; fondness of and success in outdoor sports; qualities of truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship; exhibition of moral force of character and instincts to lead and take an interest in one's contemporaries.
Candidates must demonstrate academic excellence, strong leadership qualities, community mindedness and a willingness to help those less fortunate. The Committee also seeks candidates who are determined to succeed in life and have the strength of character, stamina and energy to fulfill their ambitions. These qualities may be demonstrated through such things as, involvement in extra-curricular activities, community or volunteer work and participation in sport and physical activity.
Candidates are advised to frame their resume into the following or similar categories: academic prizes and scholarships; leadership positions; community and voluntary work; sporting activities and achievements; other extra-curricular activities. Also include employment experience, publications, languages and other interests, if relevant.
Oxford University
Candidates intending to apply for a research degree are strongly advised to contact the relevant department at Oxford. The Selection Committee will expect to see evidence that the planned project is of interest to and can be supported by that department.
Steps to follow to apply for an Australia-At-Large Rhodes Scholarship
- Read the information on the Rhodes Trust in Australia website.
- View the Oxford University Graduate Studies Prospectus or Undergraduate Prospectus and information on admissions.
- Contact the Honorary Secretary to check your eligibility to apply fora Rhodes. You will need to make an appointment to discuss your application and to obtain a password.
For further information
Ms Karen Holt
Honorary Secretary, Rhodes Australia at Large
Governance Office
1.09 Chancelry Building 10
The Australian National University
CANBERRA ACT 0200
T +61 2 6125 2825
F +61 2 6125 8524
E Governance@anu.edu.au
