Rhodes SJLP Scholarship 2027 UK (Fully Funded at Oxford)

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The Rhodes SJLP Scholarship 2027 is a fully funded postgraduate award for students from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine to study at the University of Oxford, UK. It covers tuition, a monthly stipend, flights, and visa costs. Applications close on 27 August 2026.

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Fully Funded Study at Oxford University, UK

If you come from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, or Palestine and dream of studying at one of the best universities in the world, the Rhodes Scholarship for Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine (SJLP) could change your life. This is a fully funded scholarship that lets you study a master’s degree or a PhD at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

The scholarship is offered by the Rhodes Trust, working together with the Saïd Foundation. It is one of the oldest and most respected scholarships in the world, and the SJLP track was created specifically to support talented young people from this region. Two scholarships are awarded each year, and one of them is reserved only for Syrian candidates.

This scholarship is highly prestigious because it does not just pay your fees. It covers your full tuition, gives you a monthly living stipend, pays for your flights, and even helps with your visa. It also connects you to a global network of Rhodes Scholars from more than 100 countries.

Any student from the region who is between 18 and 25 years old (with some flexibility for older applicants), has strong grades, and has completed or is about to complete their undergraduate degree should seriously consider applying. Below, we explain everything you need to know about the Rhodes SJLP Scholarship 2027, including who can apply, what documents you need, and how to apply step by step.

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Quick Overview Table

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About the Rhodes SJLP Scholarship

The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest international scholarship programme in the world, dating back to 1902. Its purpose has always been to bring talented young people from around the world to study at Oxford and to help them grow into leaders who serve others.

The SJLP track was announced in 2016, and the first scholars from the region arrived at Oxford in October 2017. It exists because the Rhodes Trust wanted to give students from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine the same life-changing opportunity that Rhodes Scholars from other parts of the world already had, especially given the difficult circumstances many students in this region face.

Every year, only two Rhodes Scholarships are awarded through the SJLP constituency, and one of these two is reserved exclusively for a Syrian candidate. This makes it a highly competitive scholarship, and only the strongest applicants are selected. Selection is overseen by the National Secretary for SJLP, Dr Farah Shamout, and her team.

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Scholarship Benefits

The Rhodes Scholarship is designed to remove financial barriers completely so that scholars can focus on their studies and their growth. Benefits include:

✔ Full tuition and college fees at the University of Oxford

✔ An annual living stipend of £20,400 (about £1,700 per month) to cover accommodation, food, and daily living costs

✔ Coverage of the University of Oxford application fee

✔ Payment of student visa fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which gives you access to the UK’s National Health Service

✔ Two economy class flights: one to the UK at the start of your studies and one back home at the end

✔ A settling-in allowance when you first arrive in Oxford

✔ Support for visa renewal and IHS fees if you continue to a second course at Oxford

✔ Access to Rhodes House, a dedicated space in Oxford for scholars to meet, study, and connect

✔ Membership in a lifelong global community of more than 4,500 Rhodes Scholars and alumni in over 100 countries

✔ Leadership development programming, cultural events, and networking opportunities throughout your time at Oxford

✔ Emergency financial assistance and grants for research, travel, or creative projects during your studies

Please note that the stipend is meant for the scholar only and is not designed to support a partner or dependents.

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Available Programs

The Rhodes SJLP Scholarship supports full-time postgraduate study at the University of Oxford, including:

• Master’s degrees (most one-year and two-year taught and research master’s courses)
• MPhil degrees
• DPhil (PhD) degrees, with up to three years of funding
• Combinations of courses that together cover at least two years of study

You can apply to almost any full-time postgraduate course offered by Oxford, as long as it is listed in the Rhodes Trust’s Conditions of Tenure document. Popular fields among Rhodes Scholars include public policy, international relations, law, medicine, engineering, and the sciences, but the scholarship is open to nearly all academic disciplines.

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Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the Rhodes SJLP Scholarship 2027, you must meet all of the following:

Nationality or residency: You must be a citizen of Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, or Palestine, or a legal permanent or temporary resident of one of these places.

Education or residency history: You must have lived and/or been educated in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, the West Bank, Gaza, or Israel for at least five years. Some exceptions are considered for applicants affected by conflict and displacement, or those with limited pathways to naturalisation.

Age: You must meet one of these two conditions:

• You are aged 18 to 25 on 1 October 2026 (born after 1 October 2000 and before 2 October 2008), OR
• You are under 27 on 1 October 2026 (born after 1 October 1999) AND you completed your first undergraduate degree on or after 1 October 2025, or your undergraduate studies were disrupted by the national context.

Academic achievement: You must complete your undergraduate degree by July 2027, and your grades must meet or exceed the entry requirements for your chosen Oxford course. Having a First Class Honours degree (or equivalent) or a GPA of 3.70/4.0 or higher will give you a stronger chance of admission.

English language proficiency: You must meet the University of Oxford’s English language requirements, usually through an approved test such as IELTS, unless you qualify for a waiver (for example, if your undergraduate degree was taught in English).

Selection is made without regard to financial means, marital status, race, gender, religion, disability, or similar factors.

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Required Documents

When you apply, you will need to prepare and upload:

• A birth certificate confirming your age
• A valid passport, refugee travel document, or national identity card
• Official transcripts from your college or university
• A certified high school certificate or Tawjihi results
• Evidence of English language proficiency (test scores or a waiver letter)
• Evidence that you meet the five-year residency/education requirement
• A CV (maximum two pages, using the official template or your own format)
• A head-and-shoulders colour photograph
• A personal statement (maximum 1,000 words)
• An academic statement of study (maximum 450 words)
• Details of three to six referees, with at least three being academic referees

All documents must be submitted in English, with certified translations where needed.

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Application Process

Follow these steps to apply for the Rhodes SJLP Scholarship 2027:

Step 1: Check your eligibility. Use the eligibility checker on the Rhodes Trust website to confirm that SJLP is the right constituency for you.

Step 2: Create your online application. Register on the Rhodes Trust’s application portal once applications open on 1 June 2026.

Step 3: Gather your documents. Collect your transcripts, ID documents, English test results, CV, and photograph well ahead of the deadline.

Step 4: Write your personal and academic statements. Take time to draft, revise, and refine your 1,000-word personal statement and your 450-word academic statement of study.

Step 5: Register your referees. Invite three to six referees, at least three of whom must be academic referees, and give them enough time to submit before the deadline.

Step 6: Submit your application before the deadline. Complete and submit everything online before 23:59 GMT on 27 August 2026. There is no application fee.

Step 7: Wait for shortlisting and attend the interview if selected. Shortlisted candidates are invited to an in-person interview in October 2026.

If you are not successful on your first attempt, you may apply one more time in the same constituency, as long as you still meet the eligibility criteria.

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Important Dates

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Important Links

• Official SJLP scholarship page: rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk (Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine section)
• Information for Candidates document (SJLP 2027)
• Guidance for Referees document (SJLP)
• Conditions of Tenure (list of courses covered)
• University of Oxford graduate admissions website
• National Secretary contact: SJLP.secretary@rhodestrust.com
• General scholarship queries: scholarship.queries@rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk

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Selection Process

1. Eligibility and completeness check: Every application is reviewed to confirm it meets the SJLP eligibility criteria and includes all required documents.
2. Longlisting: A longlist of the strongest applicants is compiled by the National Secretary’s committee.
3. Interview and social event: Longlisted candidates are invited to an in-person interview and a social engagement event in October 2026.
4. Final selection: The Selection Committee makes its final decision, which is not open to appeal.
5. Confirmation: The scholarship is only confirmed once the scholar is successfully admitted to their chosen course at Oxford.

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How to Increase Your Chances for Rhodes SJLP Scholarship

• Start your personal and academic statements early, and revise them several times
• Choose referees who know your academic work and character well, not just well-known names
• Show genuine engagement with your community, leadership, and extracurricular activities
• Research your chosen Oxford course thoroughly and explain clearly why it fits your goals
• Aim for a strong academic record, ideally a GPA of 3.70/4.0 or a First Class Honours degree
• Take your English language test early in case you need to retake it
• Apply as early as possible rather than waiting until the deadline

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting an incomplete application or missing documents
• Waiting until the last few days to register referees
• Writing a personal statement that does not answer the guiding questions
• Choosing an Oxford course without researching its entry requirements
• Submitting documents that are not in English or lack certified translations
• Listing referees who do not know you well academically or personally
• Missing the reference submission deadline

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Living in the United Kingdom

Oxford is a historic university city with a high cost of living, though the Rhodes stipend helps cover expenses like accommodation, food, transport, and books. The city is compact and walkable, with cycling being popular among students. It experiences mild, wet weather year-round, featuring warm summers and cool, damp winters. Healthcare is provided through the NHS once visa and health surcharge requirements are met, and there is a vibrant student life with numerous clubs, societies, and events available.

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Visa Information

As a Rhodes Scholar, you will need a UK student visa to study at Oxford. The Rhodes Trust covers the cost of your visa application and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which gives you access to NHS healthcare while you study. You will also need to attend a biometric appointment as part of the visa process. If you continue to a second course at Oxford, the Rhodes Trust also helps cover the costs of renewing your visa and IHS.

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Why Study in the United Kingdom

• The University of Oxford is consistently ranked among the top universities in the world
• Access to world-leading academic departments and researchers
• A vibrant, historic city with a strong international student community
• Strong global recognition of a UK postgraduate degree for future careers
• Opportunities to build a professional network through the Rhodes community and Oxford’s colleges

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Rhodes SJLP Scholarship fully funded? Yes. It covers tuition, a living stipend, flights, visa costs, and the Oxford application fee.

Who can apply for the Rhodes SJLP Scholarship? Citizens or legal residents of Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, or Palestine who meet the age, academic, residency, and English language requirements.

Can Syrian students apply? Yes, and one of the two SJLP scholarships each year is reserved only for Syrian candidates.

Can Jordanian students apply? Yes, Jordanian citizens or long-term residents are eligible.

Can Lebanese students apply? Yes, Lebanese citizens or long-term residents are eligible.

Can Palestinian students apply? Yes, including applicants connected to the West Bank, Gaza, or Israel who meet the residency and education requirement.

Is IELTS mandatory? Yes, unless you qualify for a University of Oxford English language test waiver.

Can I apply without IELTS? Only if you meet Oxford’s criteria for a waiver, such as having completed your undergraduate degree taught and assessed in English.

Is there an application fee? No, there is no fee to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship itself.

Can married students apply? Yes, marital status does not affect eligibility.

Can I bring my family to Oxford? The scholarship stipend is designed for the scholar only and is not sufficient to support a partner or dependents.

What GPA is required? There is no fixed minimum, but a GPA of 3.70/4.0 or higher, or a First Class Honours degree, gives you a stronger chance of admission.

Can I work while studying? Rhodes Scholars are expected to study full-time; any additional work would need to fit within UK student visa rules and Oxford’s own policies.

How many students are selected each year? Two scholarships are awarded each year through the SJLP constituency, with one reserved for Syrian candidates.

Can I apply for multiple Oxford courses? Yes, in your Rhodes application you list your course choices, and if selected, you are asked to make a primary and a strong second choice for your Oxford application.

Is age important? Yes. You must be 18–25 on 1 October 2026, or under 27 with additional conditions related to when you completed your degree or disruptions to your studies.

What happens after selection? Selected scholars must then apply to the University of Oxford for their chosen course, with support from the Rhodes Trust team.

How competitive is this scholarship? Very competitive, since only two scholarships are awarded each year across the entire SJLP region.

Can I apply with a pending undergraduate degree? Yes, as long as you will complete your undergraduate degree by July 2027.

What expenses are not covered? Costs for a partner or dependents, and expenses beyond the standard living stipend, are not covered.

Can I defer the scholarship? No, the scholarship cannot be brought forward or deferred to a later academic year.

Can I apply if I already hold another scholarship? An offer of another scholarship does not stop you from being considered, but you cannot hold another substantial scholarship at the same time as the Rhodes Scholarship, and you must inform the National Secretary.

How will I know if I am selected? All applicants are notified by email of their outcome by December 2026.

Can I reapply if I am unsuccessful? Yes, you may reapply one more time to the same constituency if you still meet the eligibility criteria.

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Final Summary

The Rhodes SJLP Scholarship 2027 is one of the most generous and prestigious scholarships available to students from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine. It offers full funding to study at the University of Oxford, a lifelong global network, and the chance to grow as a leader in your field. If you meet the eligibility criteria and are ready to put together a strong application, start preparing your documents, personal statement, and referees now. Applications open on 1 June 2026 and close on 27 August 2026 — don’t wait until the last moment. Always check the official Rhodes Trust website for the most current information before you apply.

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