This page is aimed at prospective students who wish to find out more about what is demanded before they arrive here.

While every attempt is made to ensure that the information here is comprehensive, accurate and up to date, we cannot promise that there are no errors.

Entrance requirements

Updated 23 May 2011

Rhodes University has a well-defined - but rather complex - set of criteria for judging whether to accept an application to study here. It all depends on where you have studied at school, so please read the following very carefully!

National Senior Certificate

Students leaving South African schools from the end of 2008 will normally have earned the National Senior Certificate (NSC). To qualify for the NSC, students must "pass" seven subjects, four of which are compulsory (two languages, Life Orientation and either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy) and three are of the student's own choice from the subjects on offer at their school.

To qualify for degree study at university at least four of the seven subjects must fall within the list of "designated subjects" set out below and the student must have obtained at an achievement rating of 4 (adequate achievement 50-59%) or above in at least four of the "designated subjects". The designated subject list is:

   Accounting                               Agricultural Sciences
   Business Studies                         Dramatic Arts
   Economics                                Engineering Graphics and Design
   Geography                                History
   Consumer Studies                         Information Technology
   Languages                                Life Sciences
   Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy     Music
   Physical Sciences                        Religion Studies
   Visual Arts

If passed at an achievement rating of 4 or above, the compulsory subjects will give you three of the required subjects from the 'designated list' (two languages and either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy). You must ensure that at least one more of your chosen subjects is also from the list but you are advised to choose at least two from the list if you are weak in Maths and in danger of not obtaining an achievement rating of 4 in either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy.

In terms of the new NSC, the minimum requirements per degree for admission to "science" degrees at Rhodes University in 2012 are set out in the table below. Note (a) the differences in the achievement levels that are needed for Mathematical Literacy, (b) the need for Life or Physical Science subjects for degrees in Science or Pharmacy and (c) the point levels that are required. Please note that these are minimum scores and if all subjects are passed at the minimum level, you will not score sufficient points for entry to the Science Faculty.

BSc

• English (Home Language or Additional Language) and another language both at rating 4 or above
• Either Mathematics at rating 5 or above or Mathematical Literacy at rating 6 or above
• Either Life Sciences at rating 4 or above or Physical Sciences at rating 4 or above
• Life Orientation at rating 4 or above - but no points are scored for this subject
• Any two other subjects (preferably one of which should be another science).

Note that the Dean will consider applicants with Maths at level 4, but these students will be encouraged not to try taking subjects such as maths, physics, statistics or computer science as majors. Students who have only taken Maths Literacy will not be allowed to try majoring in subjects such as maths, physics, statistics or computer science

BSc (Information Systems) and BSc (Software Development)

• English (Home Language or Additional Language) and another language both at rating 4 or above
• Mathematics at rating 5 or above (Information Systems) or rating 6 or above (Software Development)
• Life Orientation at rating 4 or above
• Three other subjects, one of which MUST be from the designated list at rating 4 or above

BPharm

• English (Home Language or Additional Language) and another language both at rating 4 or above
• Mathematics at rating 4 or above
• Life Sciences and Physical Sciences both at rating 4 or above
• Life Orientation at rating 4 or above
• Any one other subject

South African Matriculation prior to 2008

If you studied at school in South Africa for the old Senior Certificate/Matric that was in place before 2008, then before you can register for study towards a BSc, BSc(Information Systems) or BSc(Software Development) degree, you normally need to have obtained

• A "university exemption" matriculation certificate
• A pass in Mathematics at the Higher Grade

If you have studied at school in South Africa, then before you can register for study towards a BSc degree (rather than a BSc(Information Systems) or BSc(Software Development) degree), you also need to have obtained

• A pass in either or both of Physical Science and Biology (at Higher Grade).

If you have studied for O and A levels, rather than for a South African Matric, then you normally need to have obtained

• At least two A level passes in the sciences, and at least three O level passes in subjects other than those taken at A level
• A pass in Mathematics at a level of at least a B for O level, and a pass in English at least at O level.

Schooling abroad

If you have studied for O and AS levels, rather than for a South African Matric, then you normally need to have obtained

• At least four AS level passes, one of which must be English.
• One O level pass - C symbol or better
• These subjects should include Mathematics and either Science or Biology

If you have studied for ICCSEs and HIGCSEs, rather than for a South African Matric, then you normally need to have obtained

• At least four HIGCSE level passes, one of which must be English.
• One IGCSE level pass - C symbol or better
• These subjects should include Mathematics and either Science or Biology

If you have studied the International Baccalaureate (IB), rather than for a South African Matric, then you normally need to have obtained

• Three High Level (HL) subjects
• At least grade 4 on HL for each of Maths, Science and Biology.
• A DIPLOMA (not a CERTIFICATE) of the IB.

The "point score"

In addition to the minimum requirements mentioned above, Rhodes will base admission decisions on an Admission Points Score. Typically, provisional admission is based on your final Grade 11 results with final admission based on your final Grade 12 results.

Applicants with 40 points and above and a suitable pass in maths and physical or life science will receive a firm offer. Applicants with points between 30 and 39 will be carefully considered by the Dean and may be offered a place in the BSc or, if appropriate, in the extended studies programme (BScF). Applicants with fewer than 29 points are unlikely to be successful.

However, since we appreciate that point scores are not an infallible guide, applicants who have 30-35 points may be accepted at the Dean's discretion, and so students in the latter category are encouraged to apply - the Dean considers these applications carefully "in context" and in the light of motivation from the applicant, school reports, evidence of other interests and study, and so on.

The points score is a measure of how well you have done in your final school exams. You can work out your own one by scoring each of your results according to the following chart, and adding the total.

(If you have taken A/O levels or HIGCSE/IGCSE or AS/O levels, or IB examinations, you score the five best of these, multiply the sum by 1.2 and then deduct 2. You may not count O/IGCSE level passes in subjects that have been counted at A/HIGCSE/AS level.)

Applications

Applications for admission are not made through the Faculty Office, or through academic departments, but on special forms available from the Admissions Office. This office can also be reached by e-mail

An application is usually (and wisely) made well in advance of knowing your final results, in which case the application form requires your school to supply provisional results, based on their own internal examinations. If possible, marks (as percentages) should be provided as well as scores.

If provisional scores are very promising - typically about 38 or more - you may well be offered a place to study even before you take the final examinations, but this offer will still be subject to a satisfactory pass in the final examinations.

Applications from foreign students will not be considered after 30 September

Merit Bursaries

Very promising students may be offered "merit bursaries" to help them cover the costs of their studies.

Marginal cases

Less promising students are usually put onto a waiting list before a decision is made. All students want to go to good universities; naturally good universities prefer to choose students who promise to be the good students of which such universities are made!

If you do not meet the minimum requirements specified above, you may still be considered for a place at the Dean's discretion . Such places are usually offered with some extra conditions. Some places are offered to students with weak point scores who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, on condition that they take the degree over a minimum of four (rather than three) years in an "Extended Programme". Some places are offered to students with weak matric point scores who have, nevertheless, managed to obtain some tertiary qualification between school and the time they wish to come to Rhodes, and so on. When you apply to study at the University, if you know that you fall into one of these categories, make sure that you fill in your application form to make quite clear any special circumstances that you would like to bring to the attention of the Dean who has to consider the application.