How Brendon Munashe Mahere, a Zimbabwean Scholar, Secured a Fully Funded Master’s Through the Rhodes Scholarship

My name is Brendon Munashe Mahere, and I am from Zimbabwe. I graduated from Al Akhawayn in 2024 with a BSc in Engineering and Management Science, summa cum laude, with a focus on renewable energy systems. My postgraduate studies at Oxford span the MSc in Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment and the MBA, across 2024–2026. My interest is in developing and financing energy businesses and infrastructure that address practical needs in African markets. Engineering gave me a technical foundation; further study in sustainability and business has helped me connect that foundation with questions of investment, strategy, and implementation.

Rhodes Scholarship Details

I was selected in November 2023 as one of Zimbabwe's two Rhodes Scholars for the 2024 cohort, to study at the University of Oxford. My 2024–25 financial award amounted to over £40k in Rhodes Scholarship funding for the full course fees of my MSc in Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment, whilst the total value for my MBA (2025-26) exceeded £100k.

Educational Background

Before Oxford, I was a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at Al Akhawayn University, where I earned a BSc in Engineering and Management Science (Renewable Energy Systems Specialization) with a 3.83/4.0 GPA (summa cum laude). Whilst this academic background helped in my applications to Oxford’s Sustainability and Energy Systems Master’s programs, it also helped that I took part in many extracurricular and entrepreneurial activities throughout my undergrad that demonstrated my passion to study the subjects further.I was also a recipient of full-ride academic scholarships since early in High School, so I had some experience in positioning myself and a strong network to leverage for more opportunities.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the University of Oxford?

How Did You Find Information About Rhodes Scholarship and University of Oxford?

I discovered most of my scholarships through a combination of networking with alumni from my schools, doing my own research into institutions I was interested in, and receiving referrals from other scholarship organizations. Alumni connections helped me learn about opportunities, while independent research allowed me to explore the schools and programmes for myself. Referrals also introduced me to scholarships beyond those I had already found.

My advice is to use several routes at once: stay in touch with alumni, research institutions directly, and ask scholarship organizations about other opportunities that might suit your interests.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

I took the SAT in 2017 but never needed it for my college applications. For my Oxford MSc application, I requested an English-language test waiver on the basis of my English-taught degree and supplied evidence of English-language instruction. I did not report a GRE score in that application. I did take the GRE for my MBA application in 2024 and basically prepared for it using official ETS prep material online.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Rhodes Scholarship?

The experiences behind my applications combined academic work, leadership, and practical engagement with sustainability. Alongside my engineering degree, I helped establish Al Akhawayn's FinTech Club, served as Engineering Design and Advisory subsector lead in the AL for Infrastructure network, and became Africa Regional Leader for PRME Global Students. I also founded two startups in Zimbabwe working at the intersection of housing, energy, and access to finance. These experiences gave me concrete examples of the problems I cared about and the ways I had begun to work on them. I also networked extensively with scholarship recipients to better understand the selection process and know if it was a good fit.

What Did You Pursue After the Rhodes Scholarship?

After completing my undergraduate degree in 2024, I worked in renewable energy project development before beginning postgraduate study at Oxford, where I was involved in various climate tech and enterprise AI projects. Following my time at Oxford, I’ll return to the startup scene and continue building in the climate tech space.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Not Knowing the Native Language?

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What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I believe the combination of academic achievement and practical initiative strengthened my application. At the time of my Oxford application, I could point to strong engineering results, the infrastructure design challenge, sustainability leadership through PRME Global Students, and experience founding Neron Proptech. These experiences connected my interest in Africa's development with specific activities I had already undertaken.

My story also showed a progression across disciplines from engineering and management towards the wider questions of sustainability, finance and business. That provided a clear reason for further study.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

I would begin documenting my experiences and their results earlier. A concise record of projects, responsibilities, lessons and evidence would make it easier to write specific applications and brief referees. Every experience matters. I would also distinguish more clearly between choosing a course and choosing a scholarship: the funding matters, but the course must fit the skills I need to build.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

Start with the problem or field you want to work on, then identify programmes that will help you make progress. Read the eligibility and funding conditions carefully, and give referees enough time to provide detailed references. Use concrete examples to explain what you have done, what you learned and why the next stage of education matters. Strong grades help, but make room for sustained service, practical projects and responsibility for others. My own pathway has connected engineering study, student leadership, entrepreneurship and energy work. You do not need to present a perfect story, but you need to explain your choices honestly and show what you have done with the opportunities available to you.