Rhodes University (RU) Undergraduate Prospectus 2027 Summary
At a Quick Glance
Minimum APS Score Range: You will need an APS between 34 and 45+, depending on your chosen faculty and degree. An APS of 45 or above gets you a provisional offer at most faculties, while scores from 34 to 44 may still be considered at the Dean's discretion.
Application Fee: The prospectus does not publish a fixed application fee. The exact deposit amount will be stated in your individual letter of offer once you are accepted.
Application Dates: Applications open on 01 April 2027 and close on 30 September 2027. There is no separate late or medical deadline — Rhodes does not offer a Medicine degree.
Faculty Requirements Breakdown
Faculty of Commerce
You will need a minimum APS of 34 for extended commerce degrees and up to 45 for a provisional offer on most programmes. The Bachelor of Business Science is the most competitive, requiring Mathematics at Level 6 (70–79%) and English at Level 4. The standard BCom and BEco degrees accept Mathematics at Level 4, making them more accessible if your maths mark is in the 50–59% range. An Extended Studies BCom is available over four years for students with an APS of 34–37 from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Faculty of Humanities
You will need an APS between 34 and 45 across all Humanities degrees, including the BA, Bachelor of Social Science, Bachelor of Journalism, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Bachelor of Music. Every Humanities degree requires English Home Language at 60% or English First Additional Language at 65% — this is non-negotiable across the board. If you are applying for Fine Art or Music, note that some programmes also require a portfolio as part of your application.
Faculty of Education
You will need an APS of at least 39 for Dean's discretion consideration, and 44 or above for a provisional offer on the four-year Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching. English at Level 4 is required, along with Mathematics at Level 3 or Mathematical Literacy at Level 4. If you already hold a bachelor's degree, you can also apply for the one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), which prepares you to teach at Senior Phase (Grades 7–9) or FET level (Grades 10–12).
Faculty of Law
You will need an APS of 40 to be considered at the Dean's discretion, and 45 or above for a provisional offer on the four-year LLB degree. English requirements are higher here than in other faculties — Home Language at Level 5 (60–69%) or First Additional Language at Level 6 (70–79%). Note that Rhodes admits only a limited number of students directly into first-year LLB. Most students who want to study law first complete a general degree in another faculty, then continue into LLB, so a change of direction in first year does not cost you an academic year.
Faculty of Pharmacy
This is one of the more demanding faculties to enter. You will need an APS of 40–44 for Dean's discretion consideration, with Mathematics, Life Sciences, and Physical Science all at Level 5 (60–69%). For a provisional offer at 45+, all three subjects must be at Level 6 (70–79%). There are no substitutions — all three science subjects are compulsory. The BPharm is a four-year degree registered at NQF Level 8, and the curriculum is set by the South African Pharmacy Council.
Faculty of Science
You will need an APS between 39 and 44 for Dean's discretion, and 45 or above for a provisional offer on the three-year BSc. One of the strengths of the BSc at Rhodes is its flexibility — you can combine science majors with subjects from Commerce, Humanities, or Law. The Bachelor of Information Systems (BScInfoSys) requires English at Level 5, Mathematics at Level 4, and Physical Science at Level 5.
The VarsityToolkit Insider Tips
When calculating your APS for Rhodes University, do not include Life Orientation — it is explicitly excluded from the points calculation. You still need to achieve at least Level 4 (50%) in Life Orientation to be accepted, but it adds zero to your APS. Many applicants miscalculate by including it and overestimate their score.
Write the National Benchmark Test (NBT) before your final matric results come out. If your APS falls in the Dean's discretion range (34–44), your NBT result can be the deciding factor in whether you are offered a place. It can also work in your favour if your final exam results come in lower than expected. All applicants should write the AQL (Academic and Quantitative Literacy) test. If you are applying to Commerce, Pharmacy, or Science, you must also write the MAT (Mathematics) test.
Merit scholarships for NSC candidates are automatic — you do not need to apply separately. If your final Grade 12 APS is 47 or above, Rhodes applies the scholarship to your student account without any additional paperwork on your part.