Former Supreme Court pres. Hayut joins Rhodes Scholarship committee in Israel

Rhodes is the oldest scholarship program in the world. Established at Oxford University in 1903, next year’s edition will mark a decade since the program arrived in Israel.

The $300,000 Rhodes Scholarship program announced that former Israeli Supreme Court President Esther Hayut will join the selection committee in Israel, helping select the next two recipients of the award.

Hayut stated, “I believe Israeli scholars need to be at the international table where ideas, values, and futures are shaped. The Rhodes Scholarship represents a tradition of intellectual courage and serious engagement.

At a time when public discourse is often polarised and divisive, it is more important than ever to champion depth, nuance, and integrity. I am proud to support young Israelis who embody those qualities.”

Rhodes is the oldest scholarship program in the world. Established at Oxford University in 1903, next year’s edition will mark a decade since the program arrived in Israel.

Since it arrived in 2016, 18 Israeli students, known as Rhodes Scholars, have received the comprehensive package that includes full tuition for 2–3 years of postgraduate study, a living stipend, housing, airfare, and more.

How to apply to the Rhodes Scholarship?

According to the organization, the deadline for applications is October 15, 2025. In order to apply, students must be up to 27 years old, have an Israeli passport, have resided in Israel for at least five of the past ten years, and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.7 (93).

“Israel Rhodes Selection Committee member and former deputy governor of the Bank of Israel, Dr. Nadine Baudot-Trajtenberg, received the Scholarship some 30 years ago, as a resident of Canada, before immigrating to Israel,” shared the organization.

Doron Weber, National Secretary for the Rhodes Scholarships for Israel, said: “The Rhodes Scholarship represents academic excellence in a wide range of fields, but it also honours exceptional leadership, character and public service. It’s a platform for nurturing original thinkers and bold, principled leaders.”

During difficult times when divisions run deep, and certain problems may seem intractable, it is imperative that Israeli voices of every stripe remain part of the global conversation, bringing their experience, empathy, and sense of purpose to the challenges facing our world.”

Other notable Rhodes Israel alumni include Nadav Lidor, co-founder of the fintech infrastructure company Weav, which Brex acquired for $50 million, and Lian Ryan-Hume, the first Arab-Israeli Rhodes Scholar, who now leads Trust & Safety Policy for TikTok in the Middle East.

Previous winners’ alma mater’s include Tel Aviv University, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Hebrew University, Reichmann University, and the University of Haifa.