Rhodes Scholarship

Please review our updated step-by-step guide and timeline for Penn's 2027 Rhodes application process!

Penn students and alumni requiring Penn nomination must complete Penn's Internal Rhodes Application no later than July 31, at 4:00pm Eastern US Time. 

Penn’s Application Process for applicants including applicants from the US or Canada:

• The Rhodes Scholarship accepts nominations from institutions – students and alumni may not apply independently. To apply for Penn’s endorsement, you must complete the following steps byPenn’s Internal Deadline of July 31, 2026, 4:00pm.
• Potential candidates should indicate their intent to apply for endorsement for the Rhodes Scholarship and/or Marshall Scholarshipas soon as possible (ideally no later than May 15) by completing the Penn's Spring Consultations form. Candidates will then be assigned a Fellowship Advisor who will help the candidate clarify goals, values, and purposes, assist with application details, and draft the university's endorsement letter. Candidates requesting endorsement after July 1 must contact Michaile Rainey at michaile@upenn.edu to request consideration for University of Pennsylvania endorsement
• As soon as you have arranged for letters of recommendation for the Rhodes Scholarship, begin working on your CURF Rhodes Application. If you are also applying for the Marshall Scholarship (which US applicants are strongly encouraged to do), separate requests must be submitted for each award.  At this point, DO NOT request letters of recommendation through the Rhodes application system. Letters of recommendation must be submitted to CURF via the webform no later than 4:00pm on July 31, 2026
• Complete Penn's Internal Rhodes application form, including the upload of your personal statement, list of principal activities and honors in college, unofficial transcript from Penn InTouch (and other institutions, if relevant), a high-quality digital photograph of yourself (one that would be appropriate for a passport), and evidence of nationality.  If you do not receive an email confirming your submission within 4 hours, please IMMEDIATELY email curf@upenn.edu to make sure CURF has received your submission. Submission is due by 4:00pm on July 31, 2026
• Following Penn’s internal deadline, candidate materials are reviewed by the University of Pennsylvania’s Nationally Competitive Fellowships Faculty Review Committee. The Committee will select candidates to interview for consideration for Penn endorsement.
• Candidates selected for endorsement for the Rhodes Scholarship will receive further instructions

Letters of Recommendation:

• The Rhodes Scholarship (US competition, other country deadlines and recommendation requirements vary) requires at least five recommendations and permits up to eight. At least four of these letters must be academic.
• Applicants for the Rhodes must first register their referees via the internal Penn Rhodes Process.
• Those recommendations are due at the campus deadline, as are all of the applicant's Rhodes application materials.
• Once nominated, applicants must then register their referees with the Rhodes application.  Referees and endorsed applicants must then meet the Rhodes final deadline.