Rhodes was founded in 1904 as Rhodes University College, named after Cecil Rhodes, through a grant from the Rhodes Trust. It became a constituent college of the University of South Africa in 1918 before becoming an independent university in 1951.

Postgraduate degrees and diplomas are advanced academic qualifications offered to students who have completed a first degree. One such program is the Honours in Journalism and Media Studies, as well as the Masters in Journalism and Media Studies. These programs are designed to provide students with specialized knowledge and skills in the field of journalism and media, preparing them for careers in media organizations, communications agencies, and other related industries.

In order to be admitted into the Honours in Journalism and Media Studies program, applicants typically need to have successfully completed a relevant bachelor’s degree in journalism, media studies, or a related field. They may also be required to submit letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and possibly a writing sample. For the Masters in Journalism and Media Studies program, applicants usually need to have a strong academic background in journalism or a related field, as well as relevant work experience.

The university in question had an enrolment of over 8,000 students in the 2015 academic year, with a portion of students living on campus in residences while others lived off-campus in their own accommodations. The admission process at the university typically involves submitting an online application, academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and possibly standardized test scores. Applicants may also be required to attend an interview or participate in an assessment as part of the selection process.

Postgraduate Degrees and Diplomas	Number of Students	Type of Residence	Number of Students in Residence
Honours in Journalism and Media Studies	300	On-campus residences	200
Masters in Journalism and Media Studies	500	Off-campus residences	100

Rhodes university courses and requirements

Minimum Faculty Requirements:

Subject Required	Extended Studies	Dean’s Discretion	Points
Commerce:
Mathematics	34 – 37	38 – 44	45+
Education:
Two languages at level 4 (50 – 59%) Maths/Maths Lit  level 4 (50% – 59%) level 3 (40 – 49%)		32 – 39	40+
Humanities:
	30 – 34	34 – 44	45+
Pharmacy:
Mathematics, Life and Physical Sciences		40 – 44	45
Science:
Mathematics, Physical Science or Life Science		38 – 44	45

Your application will only be considered for admission to the University if you qualify for Bachelor’s degree study AND you satisfy the faculty requirements. To qualify for with a Bachelor’s pass status, learners are required to take seven subjects, four of which are compulsory (two languages, Life Orientation and either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy) and three of the learner’s own choice from the subjects on offer at the school.

To qualify for degree studies at Rhodes University, learners must pass:  

English language at an achievement rating of 4 (50 – 59%) or above.

At least four of the seven subjects must be from the list of recommended subject list set out below and sutdents must have obtained an achievement rating of 4 (50 – 59%) or above.

Meet Faculty requirements:  subject requirements and percentage required.

PLEASE NOTE:  Obtaining the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance!

Recommended subject list:

Accounting, Agricultural Science, Business Studies, Consumer Studies, Dramatic Arts, Engineering Graphics & Design, Economics, Geography, History, Information Technology, Languanges, Life Sciences, Mathematics / Mathematical Literacy, Music, Physical Science, Religion Studies, Visual Arts.

The minimum entry requirements for admission to Rhodes University in 2022 are set out in the following table below. Note (a) the point levels that are required (b) the differences in the achievement levels that are needed for Mathematical Literacy, (c) the need for Life and/or Physical Sciences for degrees in Science or Pharmacy.

HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR ADMISSION POINT SCORE (APS)

The percentages achieved in National Senior Certificate examinations (preliminary and final examinations) will be allocated an admissions score using the percentage obtained for each subject. The sum of six subject scores, excluding Life Orientation but including English and any other required subject(s) for the relevant programme is considered when deciding on admission. Results below 40% for any subject do not attract a score. Mathematics Paper 3 does not contribute to the APS score but the results will be captured for the Dean to note when making an admission decision.

EXAMPLES OF POINTS CALCULATIONS

English Home Language	78%	7.8 points
Afrikaans/isiXhosa first/Additional  Language	73%	7.3 points
Mathematics	69%	6.9 points
Life Sciences	70%	7.0 points
Dramatic Arts	89%	8.9 points
Accounting	73%	7.3 points
Life Orientation	90%	0 points
Additional Mathematics	60%	0 points
TOTAL POINTS		45.2 points

Apply online visit:  www.ru.ac.za/admissiongateway

Apply online visit:  https://ross.ru.ac.za

1.  Register on the online system at https://ross.ru.ac.za/ using your email address and creating a password

2.  You will then be sent an email with a link to activate you on the system.

3.  Click the link to activate your registration.

4.  This process will take you back to ROSS where you need to click the Admission/Other button (clicking the right button here is important)

5.  You will then be allowed to enter your login and password created in step one.

6.  Once you have completed your application you need to tick the button accepting the terms and conditions and submit.

7.  When you have submitted you are required to pay the R100 application fee.  Various options are provided by the system.

8.  If you pay your application fee to the bank you need to use your application number as the reference and email the deposit slip to us.

9.  Once you have completed the process above we will process the application and you are provided a student number and login.

DEANS DECISIONS

If you do not meet the APS score of 45 points for automatic acceptance, 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 usually offered to students with an APS score of 38 – 44 with some extra conditions (see extended studies below).  It is therefore very important to give full information when completing the application form as this is the information that the Dean will use for making a decision.

Extended Studies Programme

As an alternative route to university studies at Rhodes, a limited number of students who show potential to succeed are exposed to a carefully designed and supportive learning environment which enhances their ability to succeed. This option is for students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds on condition that they take their degree over an extra year at University.  It is therefore, essential full information is provided when completing the application form as this forms part of the decision-making process by the Dean. 

NATIONAL BENCHMARK TESTS (NBT’S)

It is recommended that all first-time university entering South African applicants write the NBT’s. If the applicant does not meet the automatic entry requirements the NBT results will form part of the Dean’s decision-making on applications. These test results can also be used if a candidate does not meet the entrance requirements in their final examinations.

There are two tests which are written throughout the year at various centres:

*  The Academic and Quantitative literacy test (AQL) consists of two components, namely academic literacy and quantitative literacy. All applicants should write the AQL test.  

*  The Mathematics test (MAT), this test is for applicants who wish to enter the following faculties:  Commerce, Pharmacy and Science. 

For further information about the NBT, dates and venues, please visit: www.nbt.ac.za or call

021 650 3523.

International requirements

An APS score of 40 points and above will receive a firm offer, 37-39 points will remain on hold until the end of September to be considered by the Dean if space is available.  Candidates who offer a combination of Advanced level (A), Advanced Subsidiary level (AS), Ordinary level (O), Higher International General Certificate of Secondary Education (HIGCSE) and International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), five (5) different subjects are counted.  The basic minimum requirements for admission to the University is a certificate of Full Exemption or Foreign Conditional Exemption from the Matriculation Board.

(visit: https://mbit-application.usaf.ac.za/assessment/). 

Rhodes university undergraduate diploma courses

• Postgraduate Diploma in Media Management Overview.
• Diploma in International Studies.
• Postgraduate Diploma in Media Management.
• Post Graduate Diploma in Economic Journalism.
• Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Media Studies.

There are postgraduate degrees and diplomas offered to students who have completed a first degree. These include:

• Honours in Journalism and Media Studies
• Masters in Journalism and Media Studies
• PhD in Journalism and Media Studies
• Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism and Media Studies
•  Postgraduate Diploma in Economic Journalism
• Postgraduate Diploma in Media Management
• Vist the Rhodes Postgraduate Gateway for applications forms and more information.

Rhodes university courses offered

Faculty of Commerce

• Bachelor of Business Science
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Economics
• Postgraduate Diploma in Accountancy
• Postgraduate Diploma in Enterprise Management

Faculty of Education

• BEd (Foundation Phase Teaching) degree
• BEd (in-service) degrees
• Postgraduate Certificate in Education
• Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education
• Bachelor of Education Honours
• Masters in Education degrees
• PhD (Education) degrees

Faculty of Humanities

• Bachelor of Art – BA
• Bachelor of Fine Art – BFA
• Bachelor of Journalism – BJourn
• Bachelor of Music – BMus
• Bachelor of Social Science – BSS

Faulty of Law

• LLB

Faculty of Pharmacy

• Bachelor of Pharmacy degree

Faculty of Science

List of Departments

• Accounting
• Afrikaans and Netherlandic Studies
• African Languages
• Anthropology
• Biochemistry, Microbiology
• Biotechnology Innovation Centre
• Botany
• Business School
• Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning
• Chemistry
• Chinese
• Classical Studies
• Computer Science
• Drama
• Economics and Economics History
• Education
• English Language and Linguistics
• Environmental Science
• Extended Studies Unit
• Fine Art
• French
• Geography
• Geology
• German
• History
• Human Kinetics and Ergonomics
• Ichthyology and Fisheries Science
• Information Systems
• Journalism & Media Studies
• Law
• Literary Studies in English
• Management
• Mathematics (Pure and Applied)
• Modern Fiction
• Music & Musicology
• Pharmacy
• Philosophy
• Physics and Electronics
• Political and International Studies
• Psychology
• School of Languages
• Sociology
• Statistics
• Zoology and Entomology

Rhodes university bcom accounting requirements

Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) – three-year programme

General

1st Year	2nd Year	3rd Year
Choose:Acc 101 and (102 or 112)	Compulsory:Ecos 201 and 202	Choose a major course
Compulsory:Ecos 101 and 102	Choose a 2nd-year course	Choose another major course
Compulsory:Management 101 and 102	Choose another 2nd-year course
Choose:Commercial Law 101 and 102 or Psychology 1	Choose:Commercial Law 101 and 102 or any course
Choose:Theory of Finance and Statistics 1D or Maths 1C	Compulsory:Prof Communications
Optional:Computer Science 112

Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) – three-year programme

Accounting (Chartered Accountant)

1st Year	2nd Year	3rd Year
Compulsory:Acc 101 and 102	Compulsory:Ecos 201 and 202	Compulsory:Acc 3
Compulsory:Ecos 101 and 102	Compulsory:Acc 2	Compulsory:Auditing 3
Compulsory:Management 101 and 102	Compulsory:Info Systems 201 and 203	Compulsory:Taxation 3
Compulsory:Commercial Law 101 and 102	Compulsory:Principles of Professional Accounting	Compulsory:Management Accounting and Finance 3
Compulsory:Theory of Finance and Statistics 1D	Compulsory:Prof Communication for Accountants
Compulsory:Computer Science 112