Rhodes University Application Forms for 2016

Rhodes University Application Forms for 2016

Rhodes University is based in the Eastern Cape town of Grahamstown, Rhodes University is more than a century old. The university has around 6 000 students, of which a quarter are international students from 57 different countries. Nearly half the student body live on campus, in residences. Rhodes offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the faculties of humanities, science, commerce, pharmacy, law, and education. It boasts the highest academic staff to student ratio of any university in South Africa and is perhaps best known for its journalism and media studies department.

Admission to Rhodes University

When you apply for admission to the University you are admitted to a particular Faculty of the University and this is determined by the degree for which you wish to read. Your first step in applying for admission to the University is to decide which degree you wish to take. Refer to the Curriculum Selection section and the Faculty information to see which degrees are offered.

Entry requirements

Your application will only be considered for admission to the University if you qualify for bachelor degree study AND you satisfy the faculty requirements. NOTE: If you meet the minimum admission requirements this only means that you are eligible for selection; it does NOT mean that you will necessarily be accepted.

CANDIDATES CURRENTLY AT SCHOOL DOING SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE (NSC)

Students leaving school at the end of 2014 will earn the National Senior Certificate (NSC). To qualify for the NSC with bachelor degree study 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 their school. To qualify for degree studies at a 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 an achievement rating of 4 (adequate achievement 50-59%) or above in these four subjects. The designated subject list is:

Accounting                              `                                History

Agricultural Sciences                                                  Information Technology

Business Studies                                                        Languages

Consumer Studies                                                      Life Sciences

Dramatic Arts                                                            Mathematics/Mathematical Literacy

Economics                   `                                            Music

Engineering                                                               Physical Science

Graphics and Design                                                  Religion Studies

Geography                                                                Visual Arts

The minimum entry requirements for admission to Rhodes University in 2015 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	73%	7.3 points
Afrikaans/isiXhosa first/Additional  Language	69%	6.9 points
Mathematics	84%	8.4 points
Life Sciences	86%	8.6 points
Music	90%	9.0 points
Accounting	69%	6.9 points
Life Orientation	70%	0 points
Mathematics Paper 3	50%	0 points
TOTAL POINTS		47.1 points

ADMISSION AND DEANS DECISIONS

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 internal examinations. If your provisional scores are very promising you may well be offered a place to study even before you take the final examinations. Please note an offer is conditional subject to you obtaining “Bachelor Degree Status” and your admissions point score (APS) being maintained or improved.

If you do not meet the minimum admissions point 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 their degree over a minimum of one more year than the normal period by enrolling in the Extended Studies Programme. 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.

NATIONAL BENCHMARK TESTS (NBT’S)

It is recommended that all first-time entering South African applicants write the NBT’s. If the applicant does not meet the automatic entry requirements the NBT results will be used by the Dean to make decisions 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 NBT’s. The Academic and Quantitative literacy test (AQL) consists of two components, namely academic literacy and quantitative literacy. An applicant will be awarded separate scores for each component, even though they are written as one test. Applicants to all faculties should write the AQL. The Mathematics test is based on the Mathematics Grade 12 Syllabus. Applicants who wish to enter Pharmacy, Science or Commerce should write the Mathematics Test. One score is awarded for the Mathematics Test.

For further information about the NBT’s, dates and venues, please visit www.nbt.ac.za or 021 650 5462.

CANDIDATES WHO COMPLETED THE SOUTH AFRICAN SENIOR CERTIFICATE (Matric pre 2008)

If you have already matriculated, you must send a certified copy of your Matriculation exemption certificate with your application form. Please note that if you have passed the Matriculation examination with ordinary conditional exemption you will not be accepted at this University. Please contact us for information about the minimum requirements for admission. The information is not included here as we now receive very few applications from students with the pre-2008 “Matric”.

CANDIDATES WHO ARE CURRENTLY DOING OR HAVE COMPLETED A LEVELS AND O LEVELS

(Cambridge or ZimSec) OR OTHER FOREIGN QUALIFICATIONS

A LEVEL AND O LEVEL QUALIFICATIONS

The basic minimum requirement for admission to the University is a certificate of Full Exemption or Foreign Conditional Exemption from the Matriculation Board. Applicants who have passed A levels are eligible for full exemption provided the passes in approved subjects meet the following requirements:

A Levels / AS Levels / O Levels

(A Levels symbols A – E, AS Levels Symbols A – D and O Levels symbols A – C only)

If you are applying for Pharmacy your A Levels or AS Levels must include Mathematics, Science and Biology. If you are applying for Science your A Levels, AS Levels or O Levels should include Mathematics, Science and Biology

2 Subjects at A level (Symbols A – E) and 3 different subjects at O level

Or

3 subjects at A level and 2 different subjects at O level

Or

4 AS levels and 1 different subject at O level

With at least 1 subject from each of the following groups:

Group I	English
Group II	Afrikaans, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Nederlands, Portuguese orany other language approved by HESA
Group III	Biology, Botany, Chemistry, General Science, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Physics & Chemistry, Zoology or any of the following if not offered under Group II – Afrikaans, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, Nederlands or any other language approved by HESA

Please note that Psychology, Sociology, Physical Education, General Paper and Thinking Skills are not recognised subjects for entry to a South African University.

If you have 2 A Level passes but do not have a second language, application should be made to HESA (through your University after registration) for a Foreign Conditional Exemption. The onus is on you to acquire this certificate.

HIGCSE / IGCSE QUALIFICATIONS

If you have studied HIGCSEs and IGCSEs you need to have obtained:

• At least four HIGCSE passes (symbols 1 – 3 only) one of which must be English or Afrikaans first language
•  One IGCSE pass – C symbol or above
• If you are applying for Science or Pharmacy these subjects must include Mathematics, Science and Biology.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB)

If you have studied the International Baccalaureate you normally need to have obtained the following:

• 3 High Level (HL) subjects
• At least grade 4 HL Mathematics or grade 5 on SL
• For Science and Pharmacy a grade 4 on HL for Maths / or 5 on SL Maths, Science and Biology is required
• For Commerce a grade 4 on HL Maths is required
• A Natural Science subject at least Grade 5 at SL or grade 4 at HL: Physics / Chemistry / Biology.
• English (at least SL)
•  The points required by each Faculty.

Rhodes University Online Undergraduate Admissions

Click here to apply or Download Application Form

Closing Dates

The closing date for applications from all new students for admission to the University is 30 September 2015