DIFS Entry Requirements

The Rhodes University Faculty of Science Entry Requirements are:

If you have studied at school in South Africa, before you can register for study towards a BSc, BSc (Information Systems) or BSc (Software Development) degree, you normally need to have obtained:

• A "university exemption" matriculation certificate
• A pass in Mathematics at the Higher Grade
• If you have studied at school in South Africa, before you can register for study towards a BSc degree (rather than a BSc (Information Systems) or BSc (Software Development) degree), you also need to have obtained: - A pass in either or both of Physical Science and Biology (at Higher Grade).
• If you have studied for O and A levels, rather than for a South African Matric, then you normally need to have obtained: - At least two A level passes in the sciences, and at least three O level passes in subjects other than those taken at A level
• A pass in Mathematics at a level of at least a B for O level, and a pass in English at least at O level
• If you have studied for O and AS levels, rather than for a South African Matric, then you normally need to have obtained: - At least four AS four level passes, one of which must be English. - One O level pass - C symbol or better
• These subjects should include Mathematics and either Science or Biology
• Regardless of where you have studied, you also need: - A score of at least 35 "Swedish points" for SA students, 37 points for foreign students, on your best six subjects (matric) or best five subjects (A/O, AS/O or HIGCSE/IGCSE levels).
  

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 their own internal examinations. If provisional scores are very promising, you may well be offered a place to study even before you take the final examinations. This offer will be conditional upon you obtaining a matriculation exemption and, in the Faculties of Pharmacy and Science, it will still be subject to a satisfactory pass in the final examinations.

If you do not meet the minimum 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. For example, places in Faculties which normally require Mathematics at the Higher Grade are sometimes offered to promising students who have only passed Mathematics at the Standard Grade, provided that they do not attempt to enrol for degrees that require them to take Mathematics. 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 year more than the normal period and attend a special foundation course. Some places are offered to students with weak matric point scores who have, nevertheless, managed to obtain some tertiary qualification between school and the time they wish to enrol at Rhodes. When you apply to study at the University, if you know that you fall into one of these categories, make sure that you fill in your application form to make quite clear any special circumstances that you would like to bring to the attention of the Dean who has to consider the application.

In addition to the requirements of the Faculty of Science, each applicant must qualify for a Matriculation exemption certificate. NOTE: If you hold the minimum admission requirements this means only that you are eligible for selection it does not mean that you will necessarily be accepted.