At Rhodes University, an APS of 45 earns a provisional offer in most faculties, but the score itself works differently from other universities. Rhodes divides each subject percentage by 10 and keeps the decimal. A 78% in English is worth 7.8 points, not a flat 6 or 7. Rhodes took 2027 applications from 1 April to 30 September 2026, so the main window has now closed.
The current prospectus is RU Ready! Undergraduate Prospectus (PDF), a 24-page booklet. The Rhodes Admission Gateway lists it as the “Undergraduate Prospectus 2027”, although the file name carries 2026 and a March 2026 date, and the booklet prints no year. It holds the APS method, faculty-by-faculty entry tables, merit scholarships, residence life and student support.
Working out a Rhodes APS
Add up the points for six subjects, leaving out Life Orientation. Life Orientation earns no points, but every faculty requires at least Level 4 (50%) in it. The prospectus example (p. 7) shows a learner with 43.3 points. That learner falls short of 45 but sits inside the Dean’s discretion range.
- 45 points and above: the provisional-offer score in Commerce (BBusSc), Humanities, Law, Pharmacy and Science
- 40 points and above: enough for a BCom or a Bachelor of Economics (BEco)
- 36 to 44 points: the Dean may still offer a place, often with conditions or through the extended studies route
- Education sets its own provisional line at 44
Because the Dean’s discretion depends on the whole application, Rhodes asks applicants below the cut-off to complete the motivation section of the form in full. NBT results also count here. Rhodes recommends the Academic and Quantitative Literacy test for every first-time South African applicant. It adds the Mathematics test for Commerce, Pharmacy and Science, and the Dean uses those results when your APS falls short.
Faculty entry levels in the prospectus
- Bachelor of Business Science (p. 13): 45+ for a provisional offer, 38–44 at the Dean’s discretion. English Level 4 (50–59%) and Mathematics Level 6 (70–79%).
- BCom and BEco (p. 13): 40+ provisional, 34–39 at the Dean’s discretion. English and Mathematics at Level 4.
- BPharm (p. 18): 45+ with Level 6 (70–79%) in Mathematics, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences. At the Dean’s discretion, 40–44 with those three subjects at Level 5.
- LLB, four-year route (p. 17): 45+ provisional, 40–44 at the Dean’s discretion. English Home Language Level 5 or First Additional Language Level 6, plus Level 4 Mathematics (Level 5 if you took Mathematical Literacy).
- BA, BSS, BJourn, BFA and BMus (p. 15): 45+ provisional, 34–44 at the Dean’s discretion. English at 60% (Home Language) or 65% (First Additional Language). Some programmes also ask for a portfolio.
- BSc (p. 19): 45+ provisional, 39–44 at the Dean’s discretion, with the same English percentages as Humanities. The subject line, as printed, reads Life Sciences Level 5 or Mathematics Level 4, with Physical Sciences Level 5, so confirm the combination for your majors with the Science Faculty.
- Bachelor of Education (Foundation Phase) (p. 16): 44+, or 39–43 at the Dean’s discretion. English at Level 4, and either Level 3 in Mathematics or Level 4 in Mathematical Literacy.
Most law students at Rhodes start with a general degree and move into the LLB later, because the Law Faculty admits only a limited number of students straight into LLB1.
A small-town, residential university
Rhodes sits in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape. The prospectus describes it as small, residential and research-intensive, and its residences serve students three meals a day. Its general formative degrees let you combine majors across faculties, such as Law with Biochemistry. A one-year extended studies programme supports promising applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds.
High achievers don’t need a separate scholarship application. For South African NSC candidates, the merit table on p. 11 awards full tuition for an APS of 53–56. Lower bands from 47 points earn smaller awards that vary by faculty.
Fees, dates and contacts
The Rhodes application procedure page sets the application fee at R100 and asks for all applications to be in by the end of September. The prospectus adds that you may apply with your final Grade 11 report or your Grade 12 Term 2 report. Rhodes sets tuition fees in October or November each year, so the 2027 amounts are not yet in the prospectus.
Our Rhodes applications guide explains the ROSS online portal. Our university closing dates page lists the deadlines at other universities. The prospectus hub lists guides for the rest of the country.
The Rhodes Student Bureau handles admission enquiries on 046 603 8276 or at registrar@ru.ac.za.
Where does an APS of 42 leave me at Rhodes?
A score of 42 clears the 40-point line for a BCom or BEco, provided you meet the subject levels. For the degrees that need 45, it falls inside the Dean’s discretion band, so the NBTs and a complete motivation section carry real weight.