West LA Times

UCLA student Mohammed Alharthi has been awarded a Rhodes scholarship, recognized as one of the most prestigious awards for international postgraduate study. Alharthi, who will graduate in June 2025 with degrees in political science and mathematics/economics, is set to join over 100 new Rhodes scholars at the University of Oxford next fall. There, he plans to pursue master's degrees in diplomacy and global governance and financial economics. The scholarship covers all expenses for up to three years at Oxford.

Alharthi is from Saudi Arabia and is the first international student from UCLA to receive this honor. He is also the first UCLA-affiliated scholar selected since 2009. Each year, the Rhodes Trust awards scholarships to young individuals from 26 constituencies worldwide, including two "global" recipients from countries outside those constituencies. Alharthi applied through the Saudi Arabia constituency.

The Rhodes scholarship was established in 1902 to support students who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to improving the world. It aims to develop leaders who promote global understanding and peace.

“I’ve always thought of myself as a public servant who understands his nation and the world,” Alharthi said. “The scholarship provides a passport to form lifetime relationships across the globe with some of the world’s most promising scholars and leaders, as we walk our paths at Oxford.”

At UCLA, Alharthi has been active in campus life, engaging with global policymaking and institution building. He participated in work at the UCLA Center for Middle East Development and served on the UCLA Academic Senate’s committee on international education. Additionally, he was an operations officer for the Saudi Arabian Students Association on campus.

“The weight of UCLA, with its long list of contributions to humanity, has only fueled the momentum to maximize what I get from this special Bruin moment,” Alharthi said.

Salma Mousa, assistant professor of political science at UCLA, praised Alharthi's academic work: “Mohammed has designed and implemented an impressive honors thesis — scraping Arabic-language newspapers across the Middle East using AI tools... measuring how foreign investment can shape soft power.” She added that his recognition is "a win for UCLA and the Arab world."

Alharthi expanded his policy and economic development knowledge through internships with McKinsey & Company; the United Nations Secretariat; and the Saudi Industrial Development Fund. He also co-founded Furas, a startup focused on expanding internship opportunities for young Saudis.

His application process was supported by UCLA's Center for Scholarships and Scholar Enrichment.