Scholarship Criteria

The most famous scholarships held at Oxford are the Rhodes Scholarships established a century ago; the criteria of the Hill Scholarships mirror those adopted by the Rhodes Trust which emphasise, alongside scholastic attainments, a series of human qualities including truth and courage, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship. The letters of reference and recommendation for intending Hill Scholars should give evidence that the candidate shares these values and qualities.

The Hill Foundation Scholarship will cover the period of your selected course (subject to satisfactory performance) and will cover University and College fees and provide you with a maintenance grant (one third of which will be paid at the beginning of each of the three academic terms). The 2008/9 maintenance grant was set at £10,500.

Eligibility for Scholarships

Applicants for Hill Scholarships must be either:

(i) citizens of the Russian Federation, whose first degree has been taken at a Russian university and who have not subsequently taken any other degree; or
(ii) Israeli passport holders who are the immediate children of a Russian national or Soviet national born in the Russian Federation whose first degree has been taken at an Israeli University and who have not taken any other degree.
Applicants should normally not be more than 25 years of age.
These conditions may be waived in special circumstances by the Trustees. Unsuccessful applicants for a Hill Foundation Chevening Scholarship are eligible for a Hill Foundation scholarship.

There is no restriction as to the type of degree or subject studied. Most Hill Scholars come to Oxford to do research or study for a higher degree but the Trustees also encourage applications from graduates of Russian/Israeli Universities who would like to benefit from the experience of the Oxford tutorial system and take a ‘second first degree’ with senior status, which can be done in two years. This enables a student better scope also for experiencing Oxford college life to the full.