International Student Information

This section is compiled from information provided by the South African National
Department of Home Affairs, and from the University’s own experience. Information
provided is for guidance only and should not be considered as definitive or of legal status.

The language of instruction at Rhodes is English.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

International students should note carefully that late applications cannot be considered.
The closing date for applications will be strictly enforced.

(a) All International applications will only be considered after the closing date
of 30 September:
Receipt of your application will be acknowledged and you will be notified of the
outcome of your application in October.

(b) Undergraduate students who have already completed their school-leaving
examinations:
International applicants may qualify for exemption through AEB or Cambridge
examinations if they have two “A” level passes (A, B or C) or equivalent. It is not
sufficient to pass in “O” levels alone. Application for exemption will be made through
the University after registration. The University accepts no responsibility for deciding
whether a student qualifies for matriculation exemption or not. It should be noted that
obtaining an exemption certificate from the Matriculation Board does not mean that
selection is assured.

(c) Undergraduates who are in the process of writing their “A” level, or
other school-leaving examinations.
Please send a copy of your “O” level certificates and a copy of your latest school
report showing your exam results. If you are accepted on the basis of your “O” level
results and provisional “A” level results, you will receive a provisional offer to study
at Rhodes. Once your “A” level certificate is received (July/August) you should bring
this to the Student Bureau and obtain an application form for submission to the Matriculation
Board.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS

All applicants, whether at undergraduate or postgraduate level, must have attained
a certain level of proficiency in English and must be required to submit evidence of
this as part of their application to study as outlined below.

English Foreign Language (EFL) applicants whose primary language is not English
are required to submit the following:

• A recent overall band score of 7.0 (with no individual element of the test scoring
below 6.0) on the International English Language Test System (IELTS).

(Note: an EFL country is defined as one in which English is not, for example, the
medium of communication between educated groups or people who do not share
a common language, or is not the medium of instruction in schools or a significant
medium of written communication.)

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS LIVING IN RESIDENCE

Please note that during the June/July vacation NO ACCOMMODATION is available
for undergraduate students.