Scholarships and Awards

The Davenport Scholarship

Rodney Davenport, Professor of History at Rhodes University from 1975 to 1990, has generously donated a sum of money to establish a scholarship for Rhodes University History graduates. In the first instance, the scholarship will be open to Rhodes History graduates either entering History Honours or embarking on a Masters or Ph.D. degree in History at Rhodes. Candidates should have obtained at least a high upper-second in History 3 (if entering Honours) or the same standard in Honours (if embarking upon a Masters Degree). If there are no suitably qualified candidates who are Rhodes graduates, graduates from other universities embarking on or engaged in a Masters or Ph.D. at Rhodes may be considered.

The scholarship will be worth approximately R5000 p.a. It will be held for one year, but award-holders can apply for the scholarship a second time. Applications for the scholarship, including a brief CV, should be submitted to the Head of Department, Department of History, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, normally by the end of November.

The Ernest Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Scholarship

This scholarship, of the value of R35 000 for one year, is awarded to a postgraduate student working in the field of South African history. Students who have completed an honours degree are eligible to apply. The closing date for applications (available from the Dean of Research's office) is normally in August.

The Milner Memorial Prize

This prize, worth R1500, is awarded annually to the student who writes the best essay on a topic chosen from a list that will be posted on the History Department notice-board during the first semester.

The Winifred Maxwell Prizes

Two prizes will be awarded each year. One goes to the top first-level History student who proceeds to second-level History. The other goes to the first-level History student who, in the opinion of the department, has made the most progress during the year (and who proceeds to second-level History).

The Sole Prize for Historical Research

This prize, worth approximately R500, will be awarded annually to the student who produces the best masters thesis in history on a South African topic.

The Van Riebeeck Society Book Prize

Each year the Van Riebeeck Society produces a publication in South African History (usually a reprint of an older text or an edited diary). This book will be awarded as a prize to the best student in History 202.