Rhodes University Patrick and Margaret Flanagan Scholarship 2027

Established in the mid-1980s, the Rhodes University Patrick and Margaret Flanagan Scholarship is a prestigious and empowering bursary that enables young South African women to complete their postgraduate university studies internationally. Over the decades, Flanagan Scholars have taken up leadership positions n many formerly male-dominated fields of endeavour. They have pecome top lawyers, global communicators, ground-breaking medical scientists, language lecturers, philosophers, journalists, iterary agents, musicians, psychologists, and economists working to Denefit developing countries.

• Table of Content
• About Rhodes University
• Rhodes University Patrick and Margaret Flanagan Scholarship Postgraduate Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of Rhodes University Patrick and Margaret Flanagan Scholarship Postgraduate Scholarship
• Requirements for Rhodes University Patrick and Margaret Flanagan Scholarship Postgraduate Scholarship Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

Rhodes University Patrick and Margaret Flanagan Scholarship Postgraduate Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of Rhodes University Patrick and Margaret Flanagan Scholarship Postgraduate Scholarship

• Full cost funding for international masters & doctoral studies.

Requirements for Rhodes University Patrick and Margaret Flanagan Scholarship Postgraduate Scholarship Qualification

• The scholarship is intended for women. The Committee confirmed that women are eligible irrespective of colour or creed.
• The scholarship is for postgraduate study. The original documentation does not restrict the postgraduate award specifically to a Master’s degree. The Scholarship Agreement itself expressly refers to both Master’s and Doctoral degrees.
• All disciplines are eligible. There should be no restriction on the field of study. Where candidates are otherwise of equal standing, the historical Committee decision recommended preference for a candidate intending to study English or a cognate discipline.
• A central principle of the Will is that the beneficiaries should be English-speaking or have a real love and affection for the English language and wish to express themselves in English. The current General Conditions interpret this pragmatically: proficiency in English for tertiary study is sufficient.
• Preference should be given to applicants of South African descent. This is a preference rather than an absolute citizenship requirement.
• Academic achievement is an important consideration, but it is not intended to be the sole selection criterion. The Will places emphasis on the candidate's broader qualities and potential to benefit from higher education.
• Character and intellect are important considerations. The documentation also identifies an implied expectation that recipients should have the potential and intention to make a meaningful leadership contribution to South Africa and future generations.
• Financial circumstances should be considered. Where candidates are otherwise comparable, preference should be given to someone whose parents could not otherwise afford the international educational opportunity.
• There is no formal age limit. The Committee specifically agreed that no age limit should be set. However, the Scholarship has subsequently been described as a “starter” programme rather than a mid-career development programme.
• Married women remain eligible. Marital status should not affect eligibility or the value of the award.
• The original intention is for international postgraduate education. Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh/St Andrews and Trinity College Dublin were expressed as preferred institutions, but the Committee confirmed that the scholarship is not restricted to these universities.
• “Overseas” has historically been interpreted as outside South Africa, rather than being restricted to the UK/Ireland institutions named in the Will. A later Committee decision also permits registration at a South African university where there is appropriate co-supervision/research at an overseas institution.
• There is a longstanding criterion that scholars should return to South Africa after completing their studies and contribute their skills to the benefit of fellow South Africans. A later Committee decision further stated that scholars should remain in South Africa for a period equivalent to the number of years funded.
• The established position is two years of funding. Historically, one- or two-year periods have been awarded, with requests for a third year considered only exceptionally/ad hoc, particularly where a PhD requires an additional year.
• The current conditions state that the scholar should normally be enrolled full-time for the approved degree.
• The award is subject to the applicant being accepted by the university/institution at which she intends to study.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

The following documents are to be submitted to [email protected] as a SINGLE PDF document, saved as “Your Surname P&M Flanagan Scholarship Application”:

1. Letter of motivation: The motivation should include:

• Why do you plan to study at an international university.
• What you plan to do upon completion of your Masters or PhD.
• Your intended Research Focus.
• Which university you wish to enroll with, and why you have selected that university.

2. Detailed ACADEMIC CV: including email contact details of three ACADEMIC referees one of which must be a Head of Department or Dean

3. A full academic transcript, certi?ed.

4. Certi?ed ID/Passport copy.

Flanagan App Form.doc

For more information, kindly visit Rhodes University scholarship webpage.