Every year five scholarships are given to Indian students with excellent academic performance, chosen on the basis of the following:

• character
• intellect
• commitment to service
• leadership qualities

The scholarship is given for 2 years and is subject to your academic performance and behaviour over these two years. In certain cases the scholarship extended to the 3rd year as well. (Read: Conditions of tenure of Rhodes Scholarship) The scholarship which provides an annual stipend of approximately £13,390 will cover the following expenses:

• College fee
• Necessary living expenses (term time and vacations)
• Air travel fare (economy class) – to the United Kingdom and back to India after completion of studies.

Award of the scholarship is based primarily on academic performance. Globally, 83 scholars are chosen to be trained as global leaders. The first Indian scholarship was given in the year 1947 and since then such scholarships have been given to personalities such as:

• Mahesh Rangarajan (India and Balliol 1986): Researcher, historian and author who specialises in colonialism in India.
• Lavanya Rajamani (India and Hertford 1996): Advisor, writer in international environment law. Professor at the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi.
• Girish Karnad (India and Magdalen 1960): Film director, writer, playwright and actor.
• Montek Singh Ahluwalia (India and Magdalen 1964): Prominent policy maker in India, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission of India.

The scholarship entails all college and university fees, an annual stipend worth about 13,000 pounds, travel and health insurance and travelling expenses to and from University of Oxford.

News update: Five Indians selected as Rhodes Scholars for 2015 session at University of Oxford