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:''Disambiguation: '''Rhodes Scholars''' redirects here. For the wrestling tag team this refer to, see [[Team Rhodes Scholars]].''
'''Zach Brister is a beast and logan smells bad''' :''Disambiguation: '''Rhodes Scholars''' redirects here. For the wrestling tag team this refer to, see [[Team Rhodes Scholars]].''
[[Image:RhodesHouseOxford20040909 CopyrightKaihsuTai.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[Rhodes House]] in [[Oxford]], designed by Sir [[Herbert Baker]].]]
[[Image:RhodesHouseOxford20040909 CopyrightKaihsuTai.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[Rhodes House]] in [[Oxford]], designed by Sir [[Herbert Baker]].]]
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Revision as of 19:49, 11 February 2013

Zach Brister is a beast and logan smells bad :Disambiguation: Rhodes Scholars redirects here. For the wrestling tag team this refer to, see Team Rhodes Scholars.

Rhodes House in Oxford, designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil John Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for selected foreign students to study at the University of Oxford.[1] It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships,[2] and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as Time,[3] Yale University Press,[4] The McGill Reporter,[5] and Associated Press.[6]

Rhodes Scholars may study any full-time postgraduate course offered by the University,[7] whether a taught Master’s programme, a research degree, or a second undergraduate degree (senior status). In the first instance, the scholarship is awarded for two years. However, it may also be held for one year or three years. Applications for a third year are considered during the course of the second year.

University and College fees are paid by the Rhodes Trust. In addition, Scholars receive a monthly maintenance stipend to cover accommodation and living expenses.[8][9] Although all scholars become affiliated with a residential college while at Oxford, they also enjoy access to Rhodes House, an early 20th century mansion with numerous public rooms, gardens, a library, study areas, and other facilities.

"For more than a century, Rhodes scholars have left Oxford with virtually any job available to them. For much of this time, they have overwhelmingly chosen paths in scholarship, teaching, writing, medicine, scientific research, law, the military and public service. They have reached the highest levels in virtually all fields."[10]

History

Known as an old and prestigious international graduate scholarship,[11] the Rhodes Scholarships are administered and awarded by the Rhodes Trust, which was established in 1902 under the terms and conditions of the will of Cecil John Rhodes, and funded by his estate under the administration of Nathan Rothschild.[12] Scholarships have been awarded to applicants annually since 1902 on the basis of academic achievement and strength of character. There have been more than 7,000 Rhodes Scholars since the inception of the Trust. More than 4,000 are still living.[13]

In 1925, the Commonwealth Fund Fellowships (later renamed the Harkness Fellowships) were established to reciprocate the Rhodes Scholarships by enabling British graduates to study in the United States.[14] The Kennedy Scholarship program, created in 1966 as a living memorial to John F. Kennedy, adopts a comparable selection process to the Rhodes Scholarships to allow 10 British post-graduate students per year to study at either Harvard or MIT.[15][16]

The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 in the United Kingdom did not affect wills, but another Act of Parliament changed the Rhodes' will to extend selection criteria to include women. In 1977, the first year women were eligible, 24 women (out of 72 total scholars) were selected worldwide, with 13 women and 19 men selected from the U.S.[17] The average female share of the scholarship in the U.S. had been around 35 percent[17] but has since increased. From 2003 to 2012, 46 percent of scholarship winners from the U.S. were women.

Standards

Rhodes' legacy specified four standards by which applicants were to be judged:

  • Literary and scholastic attainments;
  • Energy to use one's talents to the fullest, 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 because it was thought that " ... a good understanding between England, Germany and the United States of America will secure the peace of the world ... "[12]

Rhodes, who attended Oxford University (as a member of Oriel College), 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

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 1929, nor from 1940 to 1969.[18]

Rhodes' bequest was whittled down considerably in the first decades after his death, as various scholarship trustees were forced to pay taxes upon their own deaths.[citation needed] A change occurred in 1929, when an Act of Parliament established a fund separate from the original proceeds of Rhodes' will and made it possible to expand the number of scholarships. 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 Rhodes' will to extend selection criteria in 1977 to include women.

For at least its first 75 years, scholars usually studied for a Bachelor of Arts degree. While that remains an option, more recent scholars usually study for an advanced degree.

Allocations

Geographic
constituency 		2012
allocation
 1902
allocation
[12][18]
Australia[19][20] 9 6
Bermuda[21] 1 1
Canada[22] 11 2
Newfoundland 0 1
Germany[23] 2  —
Hong Kong 1  —
India[24][25] 6  —
Jamaica[26] 1 1
Commonwealth
Caribbean 		1  —
Kenya 2  —
New Zealand[27][28][29] 3 1
Pakistan 1  —
Southern Africa[30][31] 10 5
USA[32][33][34] 32 32
Zambia &
Zimbabwe
(formerly Rhodesia) 		1
1
—		  —
—
3
Total 82 52

There were originally 52 scholarships.[12][18]

Four South African boys' schools were mentioned in Rhodes' will, each to receive an annual scholarship: the Boys High School, in Stellenbosch (today known as Paul Roos Gymnasium); the Diocesan College (Bishops) in Rondebosch; the South African College Schools (SACS) in Newlands; and St Andrew's College in Grahamstown.

During the ensuing 100 years, the Trustees added at one time or another approximately another 40 scholarships, though not all have continued. Some of these extended the scheme to Commonwealth countries not mentioned in the Will.[13] A more detailed allocation by region by year can be found at Rhodes Scholarship Allocations. Very brief summaries of some of the terms and conditions can be found on the Trust's web site.[35][36] Complete details can be obtained from the nominating countries.[37]

Currently, scholars are selected from citizens of 14 specified geographic constituencies,[38][39] namely: Australia; Bermuda; Canada; Germany; Hong Kong; India; Jamaica & Commonwealth Caribbean; Kenya; New Zealand; Pakistan; Southern Africa (South Africa and neighbours Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia and Swaziland); USA; Zambia; and Zimbabwe.

From 2006, 11 scholarships were suspended for a period of 5 years.[why?][citation needed] The scholarships for Hong Kong were abolished in July 1997 following its withdrawal from the Commonwealth (due to the transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China), although a Commonwealth country Sri Lanka has not been granted scholarships since 1974, even though scholarships were granted to Ceylon.[40][41] However, with the benefaction from the Lee Hysan Foundation (described by the Rhodes Trust as "substantial and generous"[citation needed]), the Rhodes Scholarships for Hong Kong were reintroduced in late 2006.[42]

Notable Rhodes Scholars

Main article: List of Rhodes Scholars
See also: Rhodes scholars category

Centenary degrees

In recognition of the centenary of the foundation of the Rhodes Trust in 2003, four 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. (Bob) Hawke (Western Australia & University 1953), Prime Minister of Australia, 1983–1991
  • Rex Nettleford (Jamaica & Oriel 1957), Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, author, dance director
  • David R. Woods (Rhodes & University 1963), Vice-Chancellor of Rhodes University

Further reading

  • Rotberg, R. I. (1988), The Founder: Cecil Rhodes and the Pursuit of Power, New York: Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-504968-3.
  • Kenny, Anthony, ed. (2001), The History of the Rhodes Trust, Oxford: Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-920191-9.
  • Ziegler, Philip (2008), Legacy: Cecil Rhodes, the Rhodes Trust and Rhodes Scholarships, Yale: Yale University Press, ISBN 978-0-300-11835-3.

See also

References and notes

In the Oxford University Calendar,[43] the Greek letter rho (ρ) against a name indicates that the person is a former Rhodes Scholar. This symbol should precede the name.[44]

  1. ^ Rhodes Trust (2009) The Rhodes Scholarships, www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  2. ^ The American Rhodes Scholarships: A Review of the First Forty Years, Review author[s]: Harvie Branscomb, The American Historical Review © 1947 American Historical Association
  3. ^ "Education: Reunion of a Scholarly Elite". Time.com. 11 July 1983. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  4. ^ Ziegler, Philip. "Legacy. Cecil Rhodes, the Rhodes Trust and Rhodes Scholarships". Yale University Press. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  5. ^ McCabe, Daniel (13 December 2001). "The Rhodes to glory". 34 (7). Mc Gill Reporter. Retrieved 6 December 2010. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ "Swimmers, poets among 2010 Rhodes Scholars Winners selected from 805 applicants at 326 schools". Associated Press. Updated 23 November 2009. Retrieved 6 December 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ Periodically the Rhodes Trustees include or exclude the MBA from the courses offered.
  8. ^ "FAQs about the Scholarships". Rhodes Trust. 2009. Retrieved 6 December 2010. In 2009, the stipend was UKPounds 958/month
  9. ^ Gerson, Elliot F. (21 November 2009). "From the Office of the American Secretary" (PDF) (Press release). Retrieved 6 December 2010. Amongst other things, the press release states that the value of the Rhodes Scholarship varies depending on the academic field and the degree (B.A., master's, doctoral) chosen. For American Rhodes Scholars, Gerson estimates that the total value of the Scholarship averages approximately US$50,000 per year, or up to as much as US$175,000 for Scholars who remain in Oxford for four years.{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  10. ^ Gerson, Elliot (21 November 2009). "From Oxford to Wall Street". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  11. ^ Willen, Liz (29 December 2004). "Harvard Rhodes Scholar Factory Spurs Imitation at U.S. Colleges". bloomberg.com.
  12. ^ a b c d Cecil Rhodes & William Thomas Stead (1902). The last will and testament of Cecil John Rhodes: with elucidatory notes to which are added some chapters describing the political and religious ideas of the testator. "Review of Reviews" Office.
  13. ^ a b "Brief history of the Rhodes Trust".[dead link‍]
  14. ^ History of the Harkness Fellowships, nla.gov.au
  15. ^ Cannadine, David (6 January 2006). "JFK's legacy - a point of view". BBC News. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  16. ^ William Waldegrave, Baron Waldegrave of North Hill, the current chairman of the Rhodes Scholarship program, attended Harvard University as a Kennedy Scholar "?".[dead link‍]
  17. ^ a b Second-class citizens: How women became Rhodes Scholars, 29 January 2010, therhodesproject.wordpress.com
  18. ^ a b c "Lists of Rhodes Scholars".
  19. ^ "The Rhodes Scholarships in Australia". Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  20. ^ "Australian Rhodes Scholarships".
  21. ^ "The Rhodes Scholarships in Bermuda".
  22. ^ "The Canadian Association of Rhodes Scholars".
  23. ^ "The Rhodes Scholarships in Germany".
  24. ^ "The Rhodes Scholarships in India".
  25. ^ "Indian Rhodes Scholarships".
  26. ^ "The Rhodes Scholarships for Jamaica & the Commonwealth Caribbean".
  27. ^ "The Rhodes Scholarships in New Zealand".
  28. ^ "New Zealand Vice-Chancellors' Committee page on Rhodes Scholarships".
  29. ^ "New Zealand Rhodes Scholars, listed for 1903 to 1964".
  30. ^ "The Rhodes Scholarships in South Africa".
  31. ^ "The Mandela Rhodes Foundation in South Africa".
  32. ^ "The Rhodes Trust, USA".
  33. ^ "Association of American Rhodes Scholars".
  34. ^ "United States Naval Academy Rhodes Scholars".
  35. ^ "Rhodes Scholarship FAQ".
  36. ^ "Information about the Scholarships".
  37. ^ "Country Websites and Information".
  38. ^ "Rhodes Scholarship constituencies".
  39. ^ "Countries from which Rhodes Scholars are selected".
  40. ^ "No longer a bastion for the elite". sundaytimes.lk.
  41. ^ "The Oxford Society". sundayobserver.lk.
  42. ^ "The Rhodes Scholarship for Hong Kong - Memorandum for 2007" (PDF).
  43. ^ "Oxford University Calendar".
  44. ^ "Notes on style" (PDF). Oxford University Calendar. 7 April 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.

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