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The Rhodes Scholarships were initiated after the death of Cecil John Rhodes and have been awarded to applicants annually since 1902 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 toward the establishment of a scholarship fund to reward applicants who exhibited worthy qualities of intellect, character, and physical ability.

Standards

The requirements for applicants are high. Rhodes' legacy 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.

This legacy 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 University, 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.

Rhodes' original aim with the Scholarship, and subsequent changes

There has been some controversy over the original aim of the scholarships, as Rhodes held what many believe today to be racist opinions about the superiority of the Anglo race, and his intention was to use the scholarships to educate future foreign leaders in Britain so that they could help spread British influence when they returned to their home countries.

In his will, he left his money for the establishment of a so-called secret society, that would enable Britain to rule the entire productive world. The exact words are as follows:

To and for the establishment, promotion and development of a Secret Society, the true aim and object whereof shall be for the extension of British rule throughout the world, the perfecting of a system of emigration from the United Kingdom, and of colonisation by British subjects of all lands where the means of livelihood are attainable by energy, labour and enterprise, and especially the occupation by British settlers of the entire Continent of Africa, the Holy Land, the Valley of the Euphrates, the Islands of Cyprus and Candia, the whole of South America, the Islands of the Pacific not heretofore possessed by Great Britain, the whole of the Malay Archipelago, the seaboard of China and Japan, the ultimate recovery of the United States of America as an integral part of the British Empire, the inauguration of a system of Colonial representation in the Imperial Parliament which may tend to weld together the disjointed members of the Empire and, finally, the foundation of so great a Power as to render wars impossible, and promote the best interests of humanity.

The Rhodes Trust has since firmly rejected these parts of Rhodes's original ideals, and the last wish of the man whose money they now control. 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, nor from 1939 to 1970.

The bequest of Cecil John 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 Rhodes's will. This made it possible to expand the number of scholarships. For example, between 1993 and 1995, scholarships were extended to other countries in the European Community.

Because the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 in the United Kingdom did not affect wills, it took another Act of Parliament to change the will of Cecil John 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. From 2006, 11 scholarships will be suspended for a period of 5 years, and the scholarship for Hong Kong abolished, following its withdrawal from the Commonwealth since the transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China in July 1997.

Country2005 (2006)
allocation		1903
allocation
USA3232
Canada112
South Africa
(originally Southern Africa)		105
Australia11 (9)*6
India6 (5)-
Germany4 (2)5
New Zealand31
Caribbean Commonwealth2 (1)-
Kenya2-
Pakistan2 (1)-
Zimbabwe
(originally Rhodesia)		23
Newfoundland11
Bangladesh1 (-)-
Bermuda11
Hong Kong1 (-)-
Jamaica11
Malaysia1 (-)-
Singapore1 (-)-
Uganda1 (-)-
Zambia1-
* Effective 2007

Notable Rhodes Scholarship recipients

See also: Rhodes scholars category

Before 1920

1920s

1930s

  • Charles Herbert Little (Brasenose 1930), Director of Canadian Naval Intelligence during World War II
  • E. F. Schumacher (Germany & New College 1930), German social theorist
  • Carl B. Albert (Oklahoma & St Peter's 1931), Speaker of U.S. House of Representatives (1971-1977), U.S. Congressman (Oklahoma), 1947-1977
  • Dean Rusk (North Carolina & St John's 1931), U.S. Secretary of State, 1961-1969
  • Adam von Trott zu Solz (Germany & Balliol 1931), German diplomat and anti-Nazi patriot, executed in 1944
  • W.L. Morton (Manitoba & St. John's 1932) Canadian historian
  • Ivan A. Getting (Massachusetts & Merton 1933), American weapons scientist and co-inventor of GPS technology
  • Daniel J. Boorstin (Oklahoma & Balliol 1934), U.S. Librarian of Congress, 1975-1987
  • Max Gluckman (Transvaal & Exeter 1934), South African-British-Israeli social anthropologist
  • Sir John M. Templeton (Connecticut & Balliol 1934), businessman and founder of Templeton College, Oxford
  • George C. McGhee (Oklahoma & Queen's 1934), U.S. Ambassador to Turkey (1952-1953) and to Germany (1963-1968)
  • W. R. Jackett (Saskatchewan & Queen's 1934), Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Canada
  • Sir Arnold C. Smith (Ontario & Christ Church 1935), first Secretary-General of the Commonwealth
  • Walter H. Stockmayer (Jesus 1935), American polymer chemist
  • Dan Davin (New Zealand & Balliol 1936), New Zealand novelist and head of Oxford University Press
  • Philip Mayer Kaiser (Wisconsin & Balliol 1936), U.S. Ambassador to Mauritania (1961-1964), Hungary (1977-1980), and Austria (1980-1981), U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for International Affairs (1949-1953), Special Assistant to Governor Averell Harriman (1955-1959)
  • Gordon A. Craig (New Jersey & Balliol 1936), American historian and OSS veteran
  • Howard K. Smith (Louisiana & Merton 1937), broadcast journalist
  • W. Denham Sutcliffe (Hertford 1937), English scholar at Bates College, Kenyon, and Harvard.
  • Courtney Craig Smith (Iowa & Merton 1938), educationalist, President of Swarthmore College
  • David Lewis (McGill), leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada
  • Byron R. White (Colorado & Hertford 1938), football player, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, 1962-1993
  • Dominic Mintoff (Malta & Hertford 1939), Prime Minister of Malta, 1955-1957 & 1971-1984

1940s

1950s

  • James H. Billington (New Jersey & Balliol 1950), U.S. Librarian of Congress, 1987-
  • John Brademas (Indiana & Brasenose 1950), American politician, President of New York University, 1981-1992, U.S. Congressman (Indiana), 1959-1981
  • Tanjore R. Anantharaman (India & Trinity 1951), Indian metallurgist
  • Richard N. Gardner (New York & Balliol 1951), U.S. Ambassador to Italy (1977-1981) and to Spain (1993-1997)
  • Stuart Hall (Jamaica & Merton 1951), British cultural theorist
  • Thomas A. Bartlett (Oregon & University 1951), President of the American University in Cairo, 1963-1969, Interim President of AUC, 2002-2003; Chancellor of the University of Alabama System, 1981-1989; Chancellor of the State University of New York, 1994-1996
  • John R. Searle (Wisconsin & Christ Church 1952), American philosopher
  • James A. Gobbo CVO AC QC (Victoria & Magdalen 1952), Australian Supreme Court Judge and Governor of Victoria
  • Elliott H. Levitas (Georgia & University 1952), U.S. Congressman (Georgia), 1975-1985
  • Guido Calabresi (Connecticut & Magdalen 1953), American legal academic, Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, Professor and Dean at Yale Law School
  • Ronald M. Dworkin (Rhode Island & Magdalen 1953), American legal philosopher
  • Edward de Bono (Malta & Christ Church 1953), Maltese writer
  • Julian Ogilvie Thompson (Diocesan College & Worcester 1953), businessman
  • Robert J. L. Hawke (Western Australia & University 1953), Prime Minister of Australia, 1983-1991
  • Laurie Ackermann (Cape Province & Worcester 1954), Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa
  • Lord (Leonard) Hoffman (South African College School & Queen's 1954), UK Lord Justice of Appeal
  • Norman F. Cantor (Manitoba & Oriel 1954), Canadian historian of the Middle Ages
  • Richard G. Lugar (Indiana & Pembroke 1954), U.S. Senator for Indiana, 1977-
  • Paul S. Sarbanes (Maryland & Balliol 1954), U.S. Senator for Maryland, 1977-2007
  • Robert O. Paxton (Virginia & Merton 1954), American historian of France
  • Ranjit Roy Chaudhury (India & Magdalen 1955), medical scientist
  • Reynolds Price (North Carolina & Merton 1955), American poet and novelist
  • Lord (Johan) Steyn (Cape Province & University 1955), UK Lord Justice of Appeal
  • Virendra Dayal (India & University 1956), Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
  • Neil L. Rudenstine (Connecticut & New College 1956), American educator, President of Harvard University, 1991-2001
  • Arthur Kroeger CC (Alberta & Pembroke 1956), Canadian civil servant and diplomat, Chancellor of Carleton University, 1993-2002
  • Ranjit Bhatia (India & Jesus 1957), Indian Olympic athlete
  • Robert I. Rotberg (New Jersey & University 1957), American political scientist
  • Kristoffer Kristofferson (California & Merton 1958), American actor and musician
  • Joseph S. Nye, Jr. (New Jersey & Exeter 1958), American political scientist, Chairman of the National Intelligence Council (1993-1994), Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (1994-1995), Dean of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard
  • Jonathan Kozol (Massachusetts & Magdalen 1958), American writer and social activist
  • Manmohan Malhoutra (India & Balliol 1958), Assistant Secretary-General of the Commonwealth
  • Pete Dawkins (Michigan & Brasenose 1959), 1958 Heisman Trophy Winner, Brigadier General, US Army (Ret. 1983), Chairman and CEO of Diversified Distribution Services, Travelers Group

1960s

1970s

  • Geoffrey Robertson QC (Sydney, 1970), barrister and international human rights activist
  • Richard H. Trainor (Rhode Island & Merton 1970), Principal of Kings College London
  • Jack Phillips (McGill & Balliol 1978), American Political Advisor and Inventor
  • Franklin D. Raines (Washington & Magdalen 1971), Chairman and CEO of Fannie Mae, 1999-2004; Director of the Office of Management and Budget, 1996-1998
  • Kurt L. Schmoke (Maryland & Balliol 1971), Mayor of Baltimore, 1987-1999; Dean of Howard University School of Law
  • James R. Atlas (Illinois & New College 1971), American writer (The New Yorker)
  • James Fallows (California & Queen's 1970), American writer (The Atlantic Monthly)
  • Geoffrey I. Gallop (Western Australia 1972), Premier of Western Australia, 2001-2006
  • Michael E. Kinsley (Michigan & Magdalen 1972), American journalist (Los Angeles Times), founder of Slate magazine, editor of The New Republic
  • Thomas F. Birmingham (Massachusetts & Exeter 1972), President of the Massachusetts Senate, Candidate for Democratic nomintion for Governor of Massachusetts, 2002
  • Kim C. Beazley (1973), Australian politician, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, Leader of the Opposition
  • Richard N. Haass (Florida & Wadham & St Antony's 1973), President of the Council on Foreign Relations, Director of the Policy Planning Staff at the U.S. Department of State, 2001-2003
  • E. J. Dionne (Massachusetts & Balliol 1973), American journalist and Washington Post columnist
  • Paul Blustein (Wisconsin & Merton 1973), American author and journalist (The Washington Post)
  • Sir Rod Eddington (Western Australia & Lincoln 1974), Former CEO of British Airways
  • C. Thomas McMillen (Maryland & University 1974), NBA basketball player, U.S. Congressman (Maryland), 1987-1993
  • Walter Isaacson (Louisiana & Pembroke 1974), author, President of the Aspen Institute, Managing Editor of Time magazine (1995-2001), Chairman and CEO of CNN
  • Elliot F. Gerson (Connecticut & Magdalen 1974), American Secretary of the Rhodes Trust, Vice President of the Aspen Institute, Deputy Attorney General of Connecticut
  • Edwin Cameron (South Africa-at-Large & Keble 1975), Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, African National Congress lawyer and AIDS activist
  • Larry J. Sabato (Virginia & Queen's 1975), American political scientist
  • Russell D. Feingold (Wisconsin & Magdalen 1975), U.S. Senator for Wisconsin, 1993-
  • Michael Sandel (Massachusetts & Balliol 1975), American political philosopher and professor at Harvard University
  • Melvin J. Reynolds (Illinois & Lincoln 1975), U.S. Congressman (Illinois), 1993-1995
  • Malcolm Turnbull (Sydney 1978), Australian lawyer, banker, and politician, Liberal Member of the House of Representatives, 2004-
  • C. David Naylor (Ontario & Hertford 1979), Canadian medical researcher, President of the University of Toronto
  • Nancy-Ann Min DeParle (Tennessee & Balliol 1979), Administrator of the U.S. Health Care Financing Administration, 1997-2000

1980s

1990s

Undated

Centenary degrees

In recognition of the centenary of the foundation of the Rhodes Trust in 2003, five scholars were awarded honorary degrees by the University of Oxford:

  • John Brademas (Indiana & Brasenose 1950), President of New York University, U.S. Congressman (Indiana), 1959-1981
  • Robert J. L. Hawke (Western Australia & University 1953), Prime Minister of Australia, 1983-1991
  • Rex Nettleford (Jamaica 1957), Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, author, dance director
  • David R. Woods (Natal & University 1963), Vice-Chancellor of Rhodes University

Notable universities

U.S. Institutions With the Most Rhodes Scholars Per Year (1947-2006)
1947-1998 1999-2003 2004-2006 Totals (rough)
Harvard University 4.7 2.8 3.0 315
Yale University 2.9 1.8 2.0 166
Princeton University 2.3 1.0 0.7 126
United States Military Academy 1.1 2.0 1.0 70
Stanford University 1.1 0.8 1.7 65
University of Virginia 1.0 1.0 1.3 59
Duke University 0.4 1.3 2 40
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 0.7 0.3 0.7 39
Dartmouth College 0.7 0.3 0.3 39
United States Naval Academy 0.5 0.2 2.3 34
United States Air Force Academy 0.6 0.2 0.3 33
University of Chicago 0.4 1.0 2.0 32
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 0.4 0.8 0.7 27
Adapted from the New York Times

Former trustees

References

External links

University of Oxford | Scholarships | Financial aid

Rhodes-Stipendium | 罗兹奖学金

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Rhodes Scholarship".

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