Rhodes University application 2027: Explore courses, faculties, campuses, admission requirements, application deadline and how to apply.
For a Grade 12 learner, choosing a university is about more than finding a place to submit an application. It is about imagining the next few years of your life: the subjects you will study, the kind of work you could eventually do, where you will live and whether the university environment suits the person you want to become.
If Rhodes University is on your list for 2027, it is worth looking beyond the name of the institution and understanding what it actually offers.
Rhodes University is located in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape and has six academic faculties: Humanities, Science, Commerce, Education, Law and Pharmacy. Its relatively compact university environment means that students are not choosing from a single narrow academic path. There are opportunities ranging from accounting and computer science to journalism, pharmacy, law, education, environmental science and the creative arts.
Here is what prospective students should know before applying for the 2027 academic year.
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Rhodes University Application 2027: What Students Should Know
Rhodes University applications are handled through its Admissions Gateway, with online applications available through the university’s application system.
For undergraduate admission, the university states that completed applications for enrolment in the following year should be received by 30 September. Late applications may only be considered at the discretion of the Registrar, so students should not deliberately wait until the deadline.
The important point is that meeting the basic university requirement does not automatically mean that you will receive an offer. Rhodes explains that applicants must qualify for Bachelor’s degree study and also satisfy the requirements of the particular faculty or programme they have selected.
That distinction matters because a student who qualifies for university in general may still fall short of the subject or points requirements for a particular course.
What Can You Study at Rhodes University?
One of the strengths of Rhodes is the breadth of its undergraduate subject choices. Instead of simply choosing a course because its name sounds attractive, applicants should look at the subjects behind the qualification and think about how those subjects connect with their interests and possible career direction.
The university’s published list includes subjects such as Accounting, Economics, Management, Information Systems and Computer Science, as well as Psychology, Sociology, Journalism and Media Studies, English, History, Political and International Studies and Philosophy.
For students interested in science, options include Biochemistry and Microbiology, Botany, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, Mathematics, Physics and Electronics, Statistics, Zoology and Entomology.
There are also creative and language-based options including Drama, Fine Art, Music and Musicology, Afrikaans and Netherlandic Studies, Chinese, French, German and isiXhosa. Pharmacy and Education provide further professional and career-focused pathways.
Rhodes University Faculties
| Faculty | Examples of study areas |
|---|---|
| Commerce | Accounting, Economics, Management, Information Systems, Business |
| Humanities | Journalism, Psychology, Sociology, History, Languages, Politics, Drama, Fine Art |
| Science | Computer Science, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, Biology-related fields |
| Education | Teacher education and education-related study |
| Law | Law and legal studies |
| Pharmacy | Pharmacy |
This list is intended to give applicants a sense of the choices available. The exact degree structure, subject combinations and admission requirements should always be checked against the programme information for the year in which you are applying.
A Useful Feature: You Are Not Always Locked Into One Academic Area
One thing that can easily be missed when comparing universities is how subjects can work together.
Rhodes’ Science Faculty, for example, describes its BSc as a flexible three-year first degree in which students can combine subjects in different ways, subject to timetable and programme requirements. The university gives examples of combinations that cross traditional faculty boundaries, such as Environmental Science with Anthropology or Human Kinetics and Ergonomics with Psychology.
That flexibility can be valuable for a student who knows the broad direction they want to take but is not interested in being restricted to one discipline.
It also means applicants should not judge a programme solely by its degree title. Read the curriculum and find out what you will actually be studying.
Where Is Rhodes University Located?
Rhodes University is based in Makhanda, Eastern Cape, formerly known as Grahamstown. This is important for students planning their move because Rhodes is not a university spread across several major South African cities.
The university’s campus is centred around Makhanda, with academic, residential, administrative and sporting areas forming part of the university environment.
Rhodes’ campus map identifies different areas including the main academic and administrative zone, St Peter’s Campus, the Upper Campus which is mainly residential, sports facilities and the Gavin Reilly Postgraduate Village.
So when students ask about “Rhodes University campuses”, it is useful to understand the distinction: these are campus areas within the Makhanda university environment rather than separate metropolitan campuses where applicants choose between completely different locations.
For someone coming from another province, this is worth considering before accepting an offer. Think about accommodation, transport, living costs and whether you are comfortable relocating to a smaller university town.
Rhodes University Admission Requirements for 2027
Rhodes does not use one single set of marks for every degree.
The university lists different requirements for its faculties. For example, certain Commerce programmes require English and Mathematics, while the Bachelor of Business Science has a higher Mathematics requirement. Science programmes have specific requirements involving Mathematics and either Life Sciences or Physical Sciences. Pharmacy also has subject requirements involving Mathematics, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences.
Humanities, Education and Law have their own requirements as well.
This is why students should avoid the common mistake of searching for one “Rhodes APS requirement” and assuming that number applies to every course.
Rhodes also makes an important point on its admissions information: meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance.
If you are still in Grade 12, your latest school results can therefore give you an indication of where you stand, but they should not be treated as a guarantee of admission.
How to Apply for Rhodes University in 2027
The application process is easier when you prepare before opening the form.
Start by deciding which qualification and subject combination you are interested in. Then check the faculty-specific requirements rather than relying on general admission information.
You should also have your relevant academic information and supporting documents available when completing the application. Carefully check every section before submitting because an application containing incorrect information can create unnecessary problems later.
Applications can be made through the Rhodes University Admissions Gateway, which provides the university’s application procedure, entry requirements, curriculum information and online application access.
Official application information: Rhodes University Admissions Gateway
What Should You Do Before Applying?
If Rhodes is one of several universities you are considering, do not submit applications based only on reputation.
Ask yourself three practical questions:
Can I meet the subject requirements?
A course may sound perfect for you, but your Grade 12 subjects and marks still need to align with its requirements.
Do I understand what I will study?
Look beyond the qualification title. Find the first-year subjects and consider whether you would genuinely enjoy studying them.
Can I manage the move to Makhanda?
University life includes more than lectures. Accommodation, food, transport, books and day-to-day living all form part of the decision.
Taking time to answer these questions can prevent a student from accepting a place simply because it is a well-known university, only to discover later that the programme or environment was not what they expected.
Still exploring your university options? View our university category for other institutions currently accepting applications for 2027.
Rhodes University Application 2027: Start Early
Applying to university can feel like a straightforward online form, but the decisions behind that form are much more important.
For Rhodes University, the best starting point is to identify the faculty and qualification that genuinely fit your interests, check the exact academic requirements, and make sure you understand the campus environment in Makhanda before applying.
The university offers a wide selection of study areas across six faculties, from commerce and science to humanities, education, law and pharmacy.
If you are aiming for 2027 entry, do not leave the process until the final days. Rhodes indicates 30 September as the deadline for undergraduate applications for the following year, with late applications subject to the Registrar’s discretion.
Most importantly, choose a programme because it makes sense for your interests, strengths and future plans—not simply because the university has a good reputation. A university application is the beginning of a much bigger decision about the direction you want your life to take.