General Scholarships

Students need to submit a motivation for the scholarship/bursary for which they would like to apply. Scholarships and bursaries are awarded on the basis of merit and need.

The application letter should include:

a) the award(s) for which you are applying, and

b) a brief motivation for financial assistance.

Applications should be handed in to Vusi Mnyobe or emailed to v.mnyobe@ru.ac.za before

13 December 2023

2nd year BMus Bursary

Awarded to a student in the second year of their BMus studies. This bursary is worth approximately R20, 000.00.

The Rhodes University Charles Bryars Scholarship

Normally intended for those planning on studying organ as a major instrument all instruments are considered eligible while studying for one of the following degrees: BMus, BA or BSc. This bursary is worth approximately R40, 000.00.

Robert B Lloyd Bursary

Awarded on the recommendation of the Head of Department of Music to a promising male student in the BMus degree course. If there is no eligible student in this category consideration will be given to a student registered for a Masters degree or higher in music. The amount for this bursary is approximately R10.000.00.

Rupert Onderwysstigting Prize

Awarded on the recommendation of the Head of Department, this bursary is worth approximately R1,500.00.

Lamond Paterson Scholarship

This is for third and/or fourth year students only. The amount per year is approximately R7 500.00.

The recipient must display talent for performing classical music composed before the year 1950, particularly in Solo Recital or in Chamber Music.

Betty Shuttleworth Bursary

Outstanding Piano Performance for advanced students. Award is made on the recommendation of the HoD. This award is worth approximately R500.

Raymond Pullen

Administered by the Research Office, this award is made on the recommendation of the Head of Department. This is only applicable for postgraduate (MMus and PhD) students. The amount for this bursary is around R60, 000.00 Applicant wishing to be considered, must submit evidence of other funding received. It is awarded for up to MMus2 and PhD3.

Grahamstown Training College Fund

The value of the bursary is approximately R15 000.00

Founded in 1954 by Hugh Tracey, ILAM is the greatest repository of African music in the world. A research institution devoted to the study of music and oral arts in Africa, it preserves thousands of historical recordings going back to 1929 and supports contemporary fieldwork. It is currently digitizing its collections. Its journal, African Music, is nearly into its fourth decade.

ILAM aims to discover, record, analyze, and archive the music of sub-Saharan Africa, with the object of establishing a theory of music making in Africa and assessing the social, cultural, and artistic values of African music. ILAM is attached to the Music Department at Rhodes University and coordinates its Ethnomusicology Programme which offers undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in Ethnomusicology that include training in performance of African music.

Click here to visit the ILAM website

The Sound Branch Library, situated in the Music Department in Beethoven House on St. Peters Campus, is a facility used by Rhodes staff and students, local music teachers and visitors. The Library has an open floor plan accommodating the collection, study tables, audiovisual facilities and networked computers which provide access to the OPAC, online databases and electronic resources.

The Collection

The Sound Library houses audiovisual material including CDs, LPs, cassettes, DVDs and videos; scores, including analyses and anthologies of scores; theory workbooks; hymnals; and a Reference Collection.

Music books and journals are housed in the Main Library with the Humanities collection on Level 4.

The Music Subject Guide is designed to help you find and use music resources available to you in or via the Rhodes University Sound Library and the Rhodes University Main Library.

 Opening Hours:  

Contact Information

The Library is staffed by Ilana Chirombo.

Telephone: +27-046-603-8492

Fax: +27-046-622-7111

Email: I.chirombo@ru.ac.za

Beethoven Room is a small concert venue which seats approximately 140 people and is ideal for chamber music recitals. It is used for concerts held by staff and students (such as the Jazz in Beethoven series) and local and international visiting artists, and is used for lectures and master classes. It is also home to the Department's two grand pianos, a Bösendorfer and a brand new Kawai, as well as a vintage German harpsichord. The Beethoven Room is an intimate venue, aesthetically charming in character with fine acoustics.