Rhodes Scholarship 2027 for Pakistan: COMSATS and LUMS graduates win places at Oxford

The 2027 Rhodes Scholarships for Pakistan have gone to Hafsa Qureshi of COMSATS University Islamabad and Rafia Imran of LUMS, Business Recorder reported on Friday 30 October. Both will start graduate study at the University of Oxford in October 2027, joining more than 100 Rhodes Scholars from around the world.

The two scholars

A tougher year to win

• Applications more than doubled this year.
• Fewer than 1% of applicants were selected.
• Ten finalists reached interview, from Adelphi University, Bard College, COMSATS, LUMS and Quaid-i-Azam University.

"The sharp increase in applications is particularly encouraging," said Professor Ali Cheema, National Secretary for the Rhodes Scholarships in Pakistan. A COMSATS winner is a notable result: recent Pakistani Rhodes Scholars at Oxford came from Harvard, LUMS, NYU Abu Dhabi, UET Lahore, Wellesley and Yale.

What the scholarship pays for

The Rhodes Scholarship, the world's oldest international graduate scholarship, covers Oxford tuition and fees and pays a living stipend, along with travel to and from the UK. Pakistan has its own constituency, so Pakistani applicants compete against each other rather than the world.

Thinking of applying next year?

The Pakistan round opens each summer for graduates in their early twenties with a strong academic record and evidence of leadership and service. Your CGPA is the first thing a committee reads: convert marks with the CGPA calculator, and check the Rhodes Trust's own site for the next round's dates and eligibility before you start.