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 are part of the global Rhodes Scholarships programme, which supports outstanding students pursuing postgraduate study. Successful candidates will begin their studies at Oxford in October 2027. Two scholarships are reserved for Saudi applicants, and Saudi Arabia is one of 25 Rhodes constituencies from which scholars are selected each year.
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 consult the Conditions of Tenure and Oxford’s A–Z graduate course directory for full details of available study options.
Successful candidates must also apply separately to the University of Oxford for admission to their chosen course and meet the university’s graduate admissions requirements.
The Rhodes Scholarship covers full university and college fees and provides an annual stipend for living expenses and accommodation. For the current academic year, the stipend is £20,400 per annum (approximately £1,700 per month or $2,300). Applicants should note that this amount is intended for individual living costs and is not sufficient to support dependants.
Applications open on 1 June 2026, with a final deadline of 23 September 2026.
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 long attracted debate due to their original exclusion of women and Black Africans, a policy that was changed in 1977 following the UK’s Sex Discrimination Act.
The scholarship is normally awarded for two years, with the possibility of extension for a third year in some cases. One-year postgraduate programmes are also eligible.
The scholarship covers all university and college fees, provides an annual stipend for living expenses, and includes a settling-in allowance, health insurance, visa costs, and two economy-class flights between Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom at the beginning and end of studies in Oxford.
Applicants must be Saudi citizens and have been resident in Saudi Arabia for at least five of the last ten years. They must be at least 18 and no older than 24 years on 1 October 2026, meaning they must 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 and were born after 1 October 1999, and that they completed their degree on or after 1 October 2025. All applicants must hold a first-class honours bachelor’s degree or equivalent that meets or exceeds the entry requirements of their chosen Oxford course, and they must also satisfy the University of Oxford’s English language proficiency requirements at the higher level specified.
To apply, candidates must register an account and complete the online application form, providing personal contact details, proof of eligibility such as a valid passport with certified translation if required, and a full academic history with official transcripts from all institutions attended. If documents are not in English, both the original and a certified English translation must be submitted. Applicants must also specify their intended course of study at Oxford, submit a curriculum vitae, an academic statement of no more than 350 words, and a personal statement of no more than 1000 words. They must also provide details of 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 prepared by former Saudi Rhodes Scholars and the Application Overview page.