How I Secured a Fully Funded Master’s at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom Through the Rhodes Scholarship

My name is Meret Ebsary, and I am a Swiss Canadian from the province of Newfoundland. I am currently pursuing a Master’s in Comparative and International Education at the University of Oxford. While I am definitely an interdisciplinary researcher at heart, my research fits into the area of political history; I am fascinated by systems of Government and how we can make them stronger and more reflective of the societies we govern. My bachelor’s degree is in Political Science, and I hold a Master’s in Global Health, and now I’ve bridged to Education.

I decided to study Global Health after the pandemic. I wanted to use my background in political science to help understand the gaps in the system that became apparent in the pandemic. I went to Geneva, the center of Global Health and found out that a lot of the issues and potential solutions rest in education – spreading information about the importance and limits of international cooperation.

Rhodes Scholarship Details

The name of the scholarship is the Rhodes Scholarship at the University of Oxford. The Rhodes Scholarship covers University of Oxford course fees, as well as providing an annual stipend. For the 2025-26 academic year, the stipend is £20,400 per annum

Educational Background

I have an International Bachelor of Arts Honours in Political Science from Memorial University (concentration in Global Studies). I also have a Master of Science in Global Health from the University of Geneva. Both of my final transcripts were at the A-level.

People are often surprised by my background because my degrees are so different. There is constantly an emphasis for students to have an aligned path, but that certainly isn’t my case, and I try to emphasize that every time I talk about my experience; it is actually a strength to learn different things and to come to fields from a different perspective. In an interdisciplinary world, we need different perspectives more than ever. Life isn’t often linear; it’s an ideal to assume it is, but that isn’t the reality. I think it’s always good for students to be proud of their path instead of trying to create one that makes sense.

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

The Rhodes Scholarship is a scholarship that is tied to the University of Oxford. The Scholarship is sorted into constituencies, so be sure to read up on your specific requirements. I remember for the Canadian constituency we found out the results in November, but shortly after winning the scholarship, you have to apply to the University of Oxford. Having a Rhodes Scholarship does not guarantee a space at the University, and competition can be fierce, so be sure to have a strong academic statement and rationale ready for your course early.

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

I had known about the Rhodes Scholarship since I was in middle school; I had heard about it from educators and friends, but all of the supplementary information can be found online: https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/the-rhodes-scholarship/.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Rhodes Scholarship?

I think the section I prepared the most for was the personal statement. It took a very long time to put my story and vision into 1000 words, and unlike other things I have applied for, it took a lot of thinking before the writing. This wasn’t something I was prepared for, but a lot of thinking goes into the Rhodes Scholarship in general. For the Canadian Constituency, I needed to have character and academic references who could speak to my personal and academic statement. There are so many resources online that I’m sure could also be found about a specific constituency; I remember watching and reading as much about the scholarship as I could before applying, regardless of whether it was relevant to my specific constituency or not. After being shortlisted, I prepared for my interview, and I just read through my personal statement highlighting what I thought was relevant and important to my story. There is a lot of information online that is useful, but I think the most important thing is telling your story well and in a way that is true to you.

How is Your Experience at the University of Oxford?

I absolutely loved my time at the University of Oxford. The Rhodes Scholarship Community is so wonderful and welcoming; it truly feels like a home away from home. Oxford itself is such an incredible institution; in a way, it feels like I have learned more from the people and community at Oxford than I have anywhere else. It has been such a transformative experience.

How Does the University of Oxford Support International Students?

As a Rhodes Scholar, you have three different “homes” at Oxford: college, department, and Rhodes. All of which prepare you very well for arrival. Your college and department typically have lots of support on visas, arrival, etc., and welcome events for international students. However, the Rhodes community is an entire community of scholarship winners from all around the world dedicated to providing a community and support for international students.

What Did You Pursue After the Rhodes Scholarship?

Further study – the Rhodes Scholarship provides at least 2 years of Study at the University of Oxford.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

One of the beautiful things about the Rhodes Scholarship is that it truly is an application where it gives you the space to tell your story – the context of where you are in the world, and what you aim to do with it. I think every single Rhodes Scholarship is different and individual, so I have to be honest when I say I am not sure what made my application stand out specifically – but I know that I told my story in a way that it could be something that I was proud of.

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

I think I would have planned out my academic statement more thoroughly. The process really is very quick from application to being shortlisted to being awarded the scholarship and applying to Oxford. I think I would have thought earlier about applying to Oxford instead of just applying to Rhodes. It would have saved me a lot less stress in the few months after winning the scholarship if I had my Oxford application ready sooner.

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

Interestingly enough, my advice is always that there isn’t a formula for winning the Rhodes Scholarship and there isn’t a certain type of person the Rhodes Scholarship is looking for. When I think about all of the scholars I have met, we are all so different. The only thing I would say we all have in common is a passion for our subject and the will to create a difference in the world. Be creative, be visionary, and have fun telling your story! Even if the Rhodes Scholarship does not work out, there are so many other scholarships you can apply for after having a solid application like Rhodes. I encourage anyone looking into it to apply.