Through the Rhodes Scholarship, one of the world’s pre-eminent graduate scholarships, the Rhodes Trust invests in young people to develop and connect compassionate, innovative, and courageous young people committed to solving humanity’s challenges. Each year, over 100 students are selected as Rhodes Scholars to study at the University of Oxford, in any field of study, based on great academic achievement, character, leadership and commitment to service. Scholars are provided with support to develop these qualities, including through retreats, workshops, and conferences.
In 2013, John & Marcy McCall MacBain, through the McCall MacBain Foundation, became the Second Century Founders of the Rhodes Scholarships, ensuring the scholarships could exist in perpetuity. As a Rhodes Scholar himself, John McCall MacBain recognized the transformative power of the scholarship and its community and understood the limitations of its geographical reach. The Foundation’s gift of 75 million British pounds catalyzed the significant expansion — from 83 scholarships awarded to students from any of 14 countries each year, to more than 100 awarded to students from over 70 countries to date.
The Foundation underwrites scholars from Canada, Australia, Germany, India, Kenya, Pakistan, South Africa, the United States and Zambia. Since 2013, we have underwritten over 300 scholarships in these jurisdictions. We have also supported the continued growth in access to the Rhodes Scholarships to new jurisdictions globally. A new gift in 2023 is helping to expand the scholarships on the African continent.
Read more about our partnership:
Second Century Founders | Rhodes Trust
Press Release | 19 September 2013: £75 million donation to Rhodes Trust announced