| one of a number of scholarships at Oxford University, established by the will of Cecil Rhodes, for selected students (Rhodes scholars) from the British Commonwealth and the United States. |
| Rhodes scholar n. A student who holds a scholarship established by the will of Cecil J. Rhodes that permits attendance at Oxford University for a period of two or three years. Rhodes scholarship n. |
A scholarship for study at Oxford University. Cecil Rhodes, an English financier of the late nineteenth century, established the scholarships to train potential leaders. They are designed for students from Germany and from nations formerly part of the British Empire, including the United States. Rhodes scholars are chosen for ability, moral character, and success in sports.