Rhodes University

About

Rhodes University, located in Makhanda, South Africa, is a small, research-intensive public university renowned for its high-quality education and strong academic reputation, often likened to a liberal arts institution. It excels particularly in the sciences, humanities, and commerce, with strong programs in areas like Environmental Science, Pharmacy, and Journalism. For international students, Rhodes offers a welcoming and supportive environment through its dedicated International Office, which assists with admissions, visas, and integration into university life, alongside various English-taught degree and exchange programs. The university's strong residential system further fosters a close-knit and diverse community. A distinctive characteristic is its intimate size, fostering a high staff-to-student ratio for personalized learning.

Background

Rhodes University (Afrikaans: Rhodes Universiteit) is a public research university located in Makhanda (Grahamstown) in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is one of four universities in the province. Established in 1904, Rhodes University is the province's oldest university, and it is the sixth oldest South African university in continuous operation, being preceded by the University of the Free State (1904), University of Witwatersrand (1896), University of South Africa (1873) as the University of the Cape of Good Hope, Stellenbosch University (1866) and the University of Cape Town (1829). 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. The university had an enrollment of over 8,000 students in the 2015 academic year, of whom just over 3,600 lived in 51 residences on the campus, with the rest (known as Oppidans) taking residence off-campus (in rented "digs" or in their own homes).

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