University in South Africa
Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South Africa
University profile
Rhodes University is a public university in Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown), Eastern Cape. Its motto is Where Leaders Learn. The Vice-Chancellor's welcome describes it as a small, research-intensive institution that emphasises close contact between students and academics, and the Facts and Figures page gives a student-staff ratio of between 1:14 and 1:16.
The university has about 150 buildings, including 51 residences, on 203 hectares in Makhanda. Several buildings are National Monuments, and the campus is small enough to walk. The Facts and Figures page (2023 to 2025) gives between 8,700 and 9,300 registered students, with 6,400 to 6,550 undergraduates and 2,500 to 2,750 postgraduates. About 20% of registrations are international students; the Vice-Chancellor's welcome cites students from 54 countries.
Faculties. Degrees are offered through six faculties: Commerce, Education, Humanities, Law, Pharmacy and Science. Departments and schools include Accounting, Anthropology, Biochemistry and Microbiology, Botany, the Business School, Chemistry, Computer Science, Drama, Economics, Fine Art, Geography, Geology, History, Information Systems, Journalism and Media Studies, Law, Mathematics, Music and Musicology, Pharmacy, Philosophy, Physics and Electronics, Political and International Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Statistics, Zoology and Entomology, and language departments covering African Languages, Afrikaans, Chinese, French, German and English.
Research strengths. The university hosts research institutes and units such as the Institute for Water Research, the Biopharmaceutical Research Institute, the Institute for Social and Economic Research, the International Library of African Music, the Sol Plaatje Media Leadership Institute and the Centre for Biological Control, and is affiliated with the Albany Museum, SAIAB, SAEON and the National English Literary Museum. It lists 14 South African Research Chairs, with a 15th hosted through SAIAB.
Student life and residences. The Facts and Figures page lists 14 halls of residence and 51 residences, with 40% to 50% of students living in residence and about 4,000 oppidan students. Residences are organised into halls such as Mandela, Miriam Makeba, Founders, Drostdy, Hobson and St Mary, each made up of named houses; the Student Life page mentions more than 13 dining halls. Students run self-government through the SRC and hall and house committees, and take part in societies, sport, arts and community engagement. A Health Centre staffed by five nursing sisters and a Counselling Centre serve students.
International students. The Global Engagement office is the first point of call for international students and staff. Rhodes accepts Cambridge A, AS and O Levels, IGCSE, HIGCSE and the International Baccalaureate, assessed for Matriculation Board exemption, and international fee payments run through Flywire.
The Financial Aid Office (Eden Grove, tel +27 46 603 8248) handles undergraduate funding. Rhodes' undergraduate funding protocol describes bursaries (mostly for South African citizens and often tied to degrees), merit-based scholarships open to full-time students of any nationality, automatic first-year merit awards for South African matriculants, tuition rebates for continuing students based on academic performance, and the Vice-Chancellor's Guarantee for academically qualifying continuing students with financial barriers. Amounts are not published on the pages read; confirm with the Financial Aid Office. See Fees and Financial Aid.
The university's NSFAS page states that students from households with combined income up to R350,000 qualify for the NSFAS bursary (R600,000 for students with disabilities), and that a loan applies to households between R350,000 and R600,000. Applications go through NSFAS; the 2026 closing date listed was 15 November 2025.
The Postgraduate Funding Office also lists merit awards and nominated Honours scholarships. Full list and application instructions: Internal postgraduate funding. Postgraduate funding office: tel +27 46 603 8755.
Rhodes University Postgraduate Scholarship 2027 →
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View scholarships for Rhodes University →Applicants take seven subjects: two languages, Life Orientation, Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy, and three further subjects. English must be passed at level 4 (50-59%) or above, and at least four of the seven subjects must be from the recommended subject list at level 4 or above. Faculty subject requirements must also be met. The university states that meeting the minimum does not guarantee acceptance.
Each percentage converts to points (78% gives 7.8). The APS is the sum of six subjects including English and required subjects, excluding Life Orientation; results below 40% earn no points. Mathematics Paper 3 is not counted. A score of 45 points meets the automatic acceptance threshold, and scores of 38 to 44 may be considered at the Dean's discretion, usually with extra conditions.
NBTs are recommended for all first-time South African entrants. The Academic and Quantitative Literacy (AQL) test is required for all applicants, and the Mathematics (MAT) test for Commerce, Pharmacy and Science. NBT results can inform the Dean's decision. A limited number of places on the Extended Studies Programme, which adds a year, are offered to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who show potential.
International applicants with an APS of 40 or more receive a firm offer; 37 to 39 is held until the end of September pending space. A Levels, AS Levels, O Levels, HIGCSE, IGCSE and IB are assessed. Minimum entry is Full Exemption or Foreign Conditional Exemption from the Matriculation Board. Pharmacy and Science applicants need Mathematics, Science and Biology at A, AS or O Level, and subjects must include English, a second language and a science or mathematics subject. Psychology, Sociology, Physical Education, General Paper and Thinking Skills are not recognised. No applications from foreign students are considered after 30 September.
Apply online through ROSS at ross.ru.ac.za or on the paper form posted to the Student Bureau, PO Box 94, Makhanda 6140. The non-refundable application fee is R100. Applications should be submitted before the end of September, and late applications from South African applicants may be considered. Applicants who have studied elsewhere must include a full academic transcript, and those still at school need a principal's report. After acceptance, a tuition acceptance fee of R1,000 and a residence deposit of R1,000 (both non-refundable, 2025 figures) are payable.
Postgraduate applications are made through ROSS and managed through the Centre for Postgraduate Studies; entry requirements are not set out on the Postgrad Gateway page.
Tuition ranges from R44,030 to R78,404 depending on the degree; books and stationery about R5,500; undergraduate residence R87,844 to R92,225 including meals, and postgraduate residence R112,003.
Rhodes has a single main campus in Makhanda, Eastern Cape, described as about 150 buildings on 203 hectares, including the St Peter's campus, which houses several residences.
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