2009 Rhodes Scholarships Zambia for Oxford University UK. Memorandum for Applicants during 2008 (For entry in October, 2009)
Introduction
- he Rhodes Scholarships were founded by the Will of Cecil Rhodes. Throughout their history, the Scholarships have been highly regarded for the achievements of the men and women who have held them. There are normally 84 Rhodes Scholars selected worldwide each year.
- A Rhodes Scholarship is a financial award tenable at the University of Oxford, the University at which Cecil Rhodes himself studied. The Scholarship covers full time study and pays the tuition fees required by the University and College as well as a living allowance. Presently the stipend is not less than £958 per month. The Scholarship also pays the cost of the elected Scholar's airfare to Oxford and from Oxford at the completion of the course of study. Tenure of other awards in conjunction with the Scholarship is not permitted without the prior authorisation of the Warden of Rhodes House.
- The basic tenure of scholarships is for two years, subject always to satisfactory academic performance and personal conduct. Nonetheless, Scholars may leave at the end of one year. At the discretion of the Trustees, a scholarship may be extended for a third year under special circumstances.
- Courses open to Rhodes Scholars Successful applicants may choose any fulltime graduate degree at the University of Oxford? (please note, however, that the Masters in Financial Economics (MFE) and the MBA may only be taken in the second year of the tenure of the Scholarship):
- (a) a oneyear taught Masters degree followed, should they so wish, by another in their second year subject to a satisfactory outcome to the first year?
- (b) a two year BPhil, MPhil, or BCL/MPhil degree?
- (c) direct entry to the DPhil (the third year of funding will be at the discretion of the Trustees and dependent upon satisfactory reports from supervisors). NB Applicants should check the University prospectus carefully - see note below.
Notes on routes to the DPhil
Not all faculties/departments will admit direct to the DPhil? in these instances, the MSc, MSt or MPhil is a recognised route to the DPhil. However, applicants must be aware that the University fee regulations have changed and these routes carry a fee liability of 12 terms. Scholars taking one of these routes to the DPhil will need to be prepared (if awarded a third year of Scholarship, see (c) above, to find alternative funding for the final three terms of fees.
Alternatively, a successful applicant may apply to read for a second undergraduate degree. A good undergraduate degree following a course of at least three years makes the holder eligible to apply for 'Senior Status' at Oxford and to take a Final Honour School in two years (six terms) without having to take the First Public Examination. Subject to the consent of a College, Scholars may read for the Oxford BA (with senior status)in any of the Final Honour Schools. Please note, however, that the deadline for application for a second BA (specially extended for Rhodes Scholars) is 5 December in the year of election.
Details of all courses at the University of Oxford are available on the University's Web site at http://www.ox.ac.uk.
- A Rhodes Scholarship does not provide a guarantee of acceptance for any particular course of the University or a guarantee of acceptance by any particular college. Once chosen, the Rhodes ScholarElect must still meet the admissions requirements of the University of Oxford. Admission for postgraduate programmes is through the University in the first instance and then by college.
For those wishing to study a second BA, admission is directly by a college.
Number of Scholarships for 2009
For the selections in 2008 (for admission to Oxford in 2009), three (3) Scholarships are available for Zambia. In the absence of sufficiently qualified candidates, the Selection Committee will make no election.
Conditions of Eligibility
- When Cecil Rhodes drew up the conditions of the Scholarship in his Will, he was looking for certain qualities. He grouped these into four main areas: literary and scholastic attainments? fondness of and success in outdoor sports? qualities of truth, courage, devotion to duty? sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindness, unselfishness and fellowship? exhibition of moral force of character and instincts to lead and to take an interest in one's contemporaries. Sporting prowess, however, is not an essential attribute if an applicant demonstrates in other ways the physical vigour that will enable one to make an effective contribution to the world. The Zambian Selection Committee has over the years placed a high premium on the intellectual and academic attainments of those chosen whilst always bearing in mind the injunction of Cecil Rhodes that his Scholars should not be "mere bookworms."
- Cecil Rhodes' Will specifies that 'no student shall be qualified or disqualified for election to a Scholarship on account of race or religious opinions'. There is also no discrimination on grounds of gender, physical disability or sexual orientation.
- Applicants for a Rhodes Scholarship must meet the following conditions:
- must be ordinarily resident in and have lived in Zambia?
- must have graduated from a university (in Zambia or abroad) and resided for a number of years in Zambia.
- must be older than nineteen, and younger than twenty seven years when arriving in Oxford (i.e. 1 October, 2009)?
- must have a first degree which Oxford would accept for admission.
- only those who have obtained a degree classification of merit or distinction (and equivalent elsewhere) are considered.
Submission of Applications and Selection of Rhodes Scholars Elect
- Each September, the National Secretary for Zambia advertises in the national press inviting applicants for the Scholarship. Only applications submitted by Friday 17 October 2008 will be considered. The address to which all applications should be submitted is as follows:
National Secretary Zambia
The Rhodes Trust
29 Njoka Road, Olympia Park
P.O. Box, 38163
Lusaka, Zambia
These application forms are also available at the same address. They may also be downloaded
directly from the Rhodes Trust (Zambia) website: www.rhodestrust.org.zm - Once shortlisted, an applicant is sent the relevant documentation, which includes the Oxford
University undergraduate and graduate prospectuses. The Selection Committee for Zambia meets
once a year to interview shortlisted applicants. No shortlisted applicant shall be considered
without appearing before the Selection Committee. Interviewed applicants who will not have heard
from the National Secretary by 1 December 2008 should consider their application as having been
unsuccessful.
All applicants shall submit the following:
- A fullycompleted application form (obtainable from the address above or downloaded from www.rhodestrust.org.zm
- A certified copy of birth certificate (or affidavit of birth)
- A certified copy of National Registration Card (NRC) or passport to confirm Zambian citizenship
- Certified copies of certificates showing formal academic achievements.
- Officially certified transcripts of courses and results at the university level.
- Curriculum Vitae, showing details on school career? college or university career, with details of any involvement in student or community affairs, cultural, sporting or political activities, plus any other significant achievements or involvements.
All shortlisted applicants shall be informed accordingly and shall be invited to appear before the Selection Committee for Zambia whole interviews are tentatively scheduled for Friday 21 November 2008.
Shortlisted candidates shall be required to submit the following additional documentation:
- A medical certificate on the prescribed form (obtainable from the address above or downloaded from www.rhodestrust.org.zm
- A signed statement (strictly up to two pages only) in which the applicant explains the background of his/her general interests and activities, how they plan to spend their time at Oxford, and what they plan to do with your life upon completion of studies in Oxford.
- Two recent 6 x 4 colour photographs of the applicant (head and shoulders only).
It is noteworthy that one's HIV/AIDS status would not be a consideration for the award of the Rhodes Scholarship and the medical examinations need not necessarily include this test.
Procedure after Selection
- After receipt of notice of selection as a Rhodes Scholarelect, the Scholar will be asked to write to the Warden of Rhodes House stating, on the form to be provided by the National Secretary for Zambia, the course for which he/she wishes to be considered and the preferred college. It is possible for Rhodes Scholarselect to make an open college application under which allocation is made to a college by Rhodes House.
- Most Rhodes Scholars today study a postgraduate course whilst at Oxford. This may be a Master's programme or a doctoral programme. A small number of Scholars still study for a second BA. The Trust is willing to support its Scholars to pursue either a postgraduate degree or a second Bachelor's degree over two years. A Scholar may only read for the MBA or for the Masters in Financial Economics in the second year of the tenure of the Scholarship.
- Rhodes Scholarselect who wish to read for any degree (BA or advanced) in any Arts or Social Studies subject (i.e. in any subject except Psychology or a medical or scientific subject) must forward to Rhodes House, with their list of college preferences, two samples of written work, preferably but not necessarily related to the subject which they hope to study at Oxford. Candidates for graduate degrees in Philosophy must submit essays on philosophical subjects. These samples should be approximately 2000 words each and may be essays or part of a longer work. They must be in English and must be typed.
- Detailed information on all courses available at Oxford is provided on the University's website at http://www.ox.ac.uk The website also provides a very clear guide to the application process, its dates and rules. This site provides hyperlinks to the websites of all colleges. Candidates should check carefully the requirements for their intended course of study.
- The Rhodes Trust website (www.rhodestrust.org) has useful information and all applicants are encouraged to visit it. The website has a hyperlink to the University's guides for student admission and courses.
- All candidates elected must go into residence at Oxford not later than October 2009. Failure to take up the scholarship in for the year awarded shall result in its forfeiture.
- The first instalment of the stipend will be paid at the beginning of the Scholar's first term at Oxford. Earlier payment cannot be considered. The Rhodes Trust shall directly pay for air tickets to and from the UK.
- The cost of the visa to the United Kingdom upon the award of the Rhodes Scholarship shall be borne by the Rhodes ScholarElect.
Hard copies of this Memorandum can be obtained from:
National Secretary Zambia
The Rhodes Trust
P. O. Box 38163
Lusaka, Zambia
Physical Address:
Premier Consult
29 Njoka Road (off Kwacha Road)
Olympia Park
Lusaka
Zambia
Email: secretaryrhodestrust[at]coppernent.zm
www.rhodestrust.org.zm
Tel: +260(1)290056
Fax: +260(1)290581
Or from
The Warden Rhodes House South Parks Road
Oxford OX1 3RG
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1865 270902
Fax: +44(0)1865 270914
Email: admin@rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk
www.rhodestrust.org
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