Rhodes Scholarship for New Zealand

2022 Rhodes Scholarship recipient Maisy Bentley (centre)
2022 Rhodes Scholar Maisy Bentley front row, third from right. Read more about Maisy's time at Oxford below.

The Rhodes Scholarship for New Zealand is a partnership between the Rhodes Trust and the Robertson Foundation. More informaiton onRhodes Scholareships for New Zealand please follow this link to Rhodes House.

Rhodes Scholarships are postgraduate awards supporting outstanding all-round students at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom and providing transformative opportunities for exceptional individuals. 

Established in 1903 under the will of Cecil Rhodes, the Rhodes is the oldest and perhaps most prestigious international graduate scholarship programme in the world.

Rhodes's vision in founding the Scholarship was to develop outstanding leaders who would be motivated to "fight the world's fight", to "esteem the performance of public duties as their highest aim" and to promote international understanding and peace.

The Rhodes Trust provides the Rhodes Scholarship in partnership with the Second Century Founder, John McCall McBain, and other generous benefactors.

In New Zealand the application and selection process is administered by Universities New Zealand – Te Pōkai Tara.

 

Eligibility

Candidates must:

  • On 1 August in the year of application hold New Zealand citizenship or a New Zealand Permanent Resident Visa
  • On 1 August in the year of application have spent at least five of the previous 10 years in New Zealand
  • by the time of entry to Oxford have graduated with an undergraduate degree with a GPA of 7.50/9.00.

Age – you must meet either of the below criteria:

  • On 1 October 2025, you must be 18 - 24 and have not reached your 25th birthday (i.e., you must have been born after 1 October 2000 and on or before 2 October 2007).
  • OR (for older candidates who completed their first undergraduate degree later than usual)
    On 1 October 2025, you must not have reached your 27th birthday (i.e., have been born after 1 October 1998) AND have met or will meet the academic requirements for completing your first undergraduate degree on or after 1 October 2024.

Value and number awarded

The value of the Rhodes Scholarship is set by the Rhodes Trust. Refer to the FAQ on the Rhodes House website.

Fees are paid directly by the Trust to the College and University.

Up to three scholars are elected from New Zealand each year.

Support

Rhodes Scholarship Advisers are available at each New Zealand university.

Their role is to encourage and support applications for the Rhodes Scholarship for New Zealand.

The advisers are:

Candidates who have specific questions about eligibility, the application form/process, the selection process, etc, should contact the Scholarships Office of their university or Universities New Zealand: scholarships@universitiesnz.ac.nz.

Overseas candidates may contact scholarships advisers at their home university or Professor Kris Gledhill at AUT: kris.gledhill@aut.ac.nz.

Applications 

Please use this link to check your eligibility.

Further information for candidates is available here.

Make sure your referees read the Guidance for Referees.

Use the online application system.

Opening date

2 June 2025.

Closing date

1 August 2025.

Decisions made

November 2025.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries regarding eligibility or process to scholarships@universitiesnz.ac.nz.

New Zealand Rhodes Scholars Association

Membership of the New Zealand Rhodes Scholars Association is open to all those who have been Rhodes Scholars, or Rhodes Visiting Fellows, from New Zealand, and other Rhodes Scholars living in New Zealand. The main purposes of the Association are:

  • to help promote knowledge of the Rhodes Scholarship in New Zealand
  • to recognise the achievements of newly selected Scholars – e.g., through functions to farewell them before they leave for Oxford.

Newsletters keep members up to date with what is happening in the 'Rhodes community'. The Association can also put prospective candidates for a Rhodes Scholarship in touch with recently returned Scholars, if they wish.

The Association can be contacted through its Honorary Secretary, Professor Peter Rutledge: peter.rutledge@sydney.edu.au.

Previous Scholars

A list of New Zealand Rhodes Scholars from 1904 is available here.

The experience of being a Rhodes Scholar

The Rhodes Scholarship is recognized as one of the most prestigious international graduate scholarships in the world, giving outstanding students the opportunity to study at the University of Oxford.
But what is it actually like to be a Rhodes scholar?

Maisy Bentley (pictured above), graduate of Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington and 2023 Rhodes Scholar reflects on her time in Oxford so far:

“The three themes of the application process and interview (broadly speaking: character, learning, and contribution) provide a good road map to highlight just a few of the wonderful experiences I have had at Oxford.
I am particularly enjoying my elective course on women’s intellectual history which has deeply enriched my understanding of the world of women’s work and intellectual life through long reading lists, weekly essays and intensive seminar sessions.

Beyond my course, I have enjoyed a range of lectures that have broadened my understanding of the world. Just in the last week, I have heard from several interesting speakers that range from the Former Vice President of Costa Rica to Ginger Spice. There have been many moments that prompt self-reflection while at Oxford. I have mostly been finding space to do that reflection through twice-weekly yoga sessions offered by Rhodes House in the beautiful newly built glass pavilion situated in the middle of the gardens.

Ultimately, people have been invaluable to my experience so far. Meeting people from other disciplines and countries has given me many wonderful opportunities to grow academically and personally.”