What Is Rhodes University and How Do You Navigate Its Official Website?

Rhodes University is a South African university based in Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown), and its official website is ru.ac.za. The site is the starting point for prospective and current students: you can apply online, explore undergraduate and postgraduate study options, check fees and financial aid, and reach student support, library, residence, and staff directory pages from the homepage. Use it when you need official admission routes or campus services rather than third-party summaries.

Start With the Homepage

The homepage is organized around a few core areas: Studying, About Rhodes, Research, Library, News, and Admin and Support. A prominent "Apply to Join Rhodes University" prompt and an "I want to:" selector let you jump directly to common tasks — applying, exploring undergraduate or postgraduate studies, finding financial aid, or learning about giving to Rhodes.

If you are new to the university, the About Rhodes section covers its introduction, orientation, governance, vice-chancellor, divisions, diary and dates, the Rhodes Handbook, and maps and directories.

Applying for Admission

The Studying > Admissions path is where applications begin. From there you can reach:

• Apply Online — the application entry point
• Undergraduate and Postgraduate study routes
• International Students — a separate page for applicants from outside South Africa
• Fees and Financial Aid — cost and funding information
• Registration, Exams, Graduation, and Discipline — once you are enrolled

Expected result: you land on the official application or information page for your applicant type. A common snag is choosing the wrong route — international applicants should use the International Students page rather than the general undergraduate page, since requirements and processes can differ.

Exploring Faculties and Courses

Under Faculties and Departments, the site lists:

Use Departments A-Z when you know the subject but not the faculty, and Institutes and Entities (such as CHERTL) for research and teaching centers.

Student Support and Campus Life

Current students will find the practical services grouped under Student & Admin Support and Studentlife:

• Student Support, Student Services and Development, Student Wellness, and Career Services
• RUconnected — the university's online learning environment
• RU Library, including the Main Library, Cory Library, Margaret Smith Library, SAIAB, and ILAM
• Halls and Residences and the Oppidan (off-campus) system, plus the wardening system
• Safety and Security, Rhodes Rules, and the International Office

If a link seems missing, check Maps and Directories or the Staff Directory — the site's navigation repeats these sections in both the main and footer menus.

Admin, News, and Alumni

The Admin and Support area links to the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Divisions, Services, Conferences, the Rhodes Calendar, RUConnected, Staff Directory, Maps, Safety, and the Intranet. Latest News, Perspective, and Publications cover current updates, while Alumni, the Online Store, and Giving to RU serve graduates and donors. Current Vacancies and Careers at Rhodes are for job seekers.

Quick Navigation Checklist

1. Confirm you are on ru.ac.za — the official domain.
2. Prospective student? Go to Studying > Admissions > Apply Online, then pick Undergraduate, Postgraduate, or International.
3. Need costs? Open Fees and Financial Aid before applying so funding deadlines are clear.
4. Enrolled? Bookmark RUconnected, RU Library, and Student Support.
5. Can't find a page? Use Maps and Directories or the Staff Directory.

The site does not publish prices or login requirements on the pages described here, so treat fee figures and access details as things to confirm on the linked Fees and Financial Aid or Intranet pages rather than assuming they are open or free.