There are two basic fees (tuition and residence) and some additional lesser fees (e.g. for handouts or special examination costs).

1. Tuition fees for undergraduate degrees range from R37 577 to R67 923 .     (refer section (B) for the exact fee for your selected degree) 

• Residence fees range from R73 285 to R76 940 forundergraduate residences and R62 421 – R93 441 for postgraduate residence.

    (refer section (E))

PAYMENT OPTIONS

The payment options that are available follow, but please note carefully the payment due dates if you wish to be accommodated in residence. Registration will not be permitted if none of the options below have been taken up. 

The Initial Fee is required upfront and cannot be paid by payment arrangement unless you opt for a Debit Order.

SOUTH AFRICAN STUDENTS (excluding NSFAS and missing middle) Option 1

Pay an Initial Fee Payment (roughly 10% of tuition fees and where applicable 25% of residence fees), by

 21 January 2026 for returning students and 04 February 2026 for new first year students;

The Initial Fee Payment:

Tuition only:                   R5 890.

Or

Tuition and Residence:  R5 890 + R19 120 = R25 010.

Extras to be paid monthly per student fee statements.

Option 2

Make a direct deposit or internet transfer of the full tuition fee and, if applicable, the full tuition and residence fee, prior to 21 January 2026 for returning students and before 04 February 2026 for new first year students. A 5% discount may be claimed in writing if you opt for this option. The discount cannot be applied to tuition or Residence fee separately they are considered the full fee when taken together.

Option 3

Arrange payment of the full fees by debit order with 11 monthly instalments from 1 February to

1 December. The debit order application form, obtainable from the Student Bureau, the Student Fees Office or on the Rhodes website under Studying, Fees and Financial Aid, must be completed and signed by the person whose bank account is to be debited and returned, together with all other documentation, to the Student Fees Office by 10 January 2026. This may be done via email: debitorders@ru.ac.za or fax: 046 603 7019. Incomplete applications will not be considered and the facility must be approved prior to 21 January 2026.

NSFAS STUDENTS

This applies to all students who have been granted NSFAS funding Option 1:

NSFAS students are not required to pay an Initial Fee Payment.

However please note that those with an own contribution will need to settle, as set out below:

Extras to be paid monthly per student fee statements.

Option 2:

Make a direct deposit or internet transfer of the full own contribution prior to 21 January 2026 for returning students and the 04 February for new first year students. A 5% discount may be claimed in writing if fees are paid in full before due date of the 21 January 2026 for returning students or 04 February 2026 for new first year students.

Option 3: 

Arrange payment of the full own contribution by debit order with 11 monthly instalments from 1 February to 1 December. The debit order application form, obtainable from the Student Bureau, the Student Fees Office or on the Rhodes website under Studying, Fees and Financial Aid, must be completed and signed by the person whose bank account is to be debited and returned, together with all other documentation, to the Student Fees Office by 10 January 2026. This may be done via email: debitorders@ru.ac.za or fax: 046 603 7019. Incomplete applications will not be considered and the facility must be approved prior to 21 January 2026.

FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Option 1

New and returning international students will be required to pay 50% of their tuition and residence fees for the year by 21 January 2026 for returning students and 04 February 2026 for new first year students. The balance of fees to be paid by the 31 May 2026. 

Extras to be paid on receipt of student fee statements.

International Students Initial Fee Payment:

Tuition only                                                                   R28 450 or

Tuition and residence                                                    R68 000 

Option 2

Make a direct deposit or internet transfer of the full tuition fee and, if applicable, the full residence fee, prior to 22 January 2021 for returning students and 27 February 2021 for new first year students. A 5% discount may be claimed in writing if you opt for this option.

Surcharge for International students (compulsory additional charge for all International students)

NOTE:  Master/Visa credit card facilities are available for all payments but ₂     no discounts may be claimed if this method of payment is used.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL STUDENTS  

Due dates

If you do not take up one of the options mentioned above by the payment due date you will be regarded as a “no show” for residence purposes and your room will be allocated to a student on the waiting list. You will thus lose your place in residence and the University will have little chance of assisting you other than to suggest that you move into digs. If you have problems please contact us before 21 January 2026, as we will do whatever we can to assist you in retaining your place in residence, but after that date, there is little we can do.

                   NOTES FOR ALL STUDENTS

1. Banking details

Rhodes University Student Fees Account, First National Bank, Grahamstown branch:

Account number 62145504553 Branch code 210717

NB! Please note: the deposit slip MUST show the student number as the reference number.

2. Penalty charge

Dishonoured debit orders will attract a fee of R225 per transaction.

3. Cash Deposit Limits

Students are discouraged from making large cash deposits at the University Cashier. Cash deposits exceeding 

R5 000 must be made at the First National Bank, Grahamstown (branch code 21 07 17),   account number         6214 550 4553. Please ensure that the student number (which is the only reference number to be used) is clearly visible as beneficiary reference on the deposit slip, which must be submitted to the Student Fees office, or faxed, to (046) 603 7019/ Email: studentfees@ru.ac.za.

4.    Holders of recognised bursaries or scholarships including Rhodes University scholarships and merit awards may offset their bursary/scholarship against the liability for the Initial Fee Payment required prior to registration, but you must inform the University that you are doing so before 21 January 2026 for returning students and 04 February 2026 for new first year students.

5. Fee remissions, concessions and special arrangements (full-time students only)

Where a parent has more than one child attending the University at the same time, as full-time students, an application may be made to the Director of Finance in the year in which it applies for a remission of 30% of the normal tuition fees for each child after the first. The Council may also make any concession or special arrangement regarding the amount of fees paid by a student, or the payment of fees, at its discretion.

6.  Academic Merit Award Scheme (SA students only)

Special merit awards are automatically made by the University to eligible students enrolling for the first time for an undergraduate degree. The awards, ranging from R32 900 to Full tuition fee, are based on the final National Senior Certificate examination results. The awards do not cover the DHET Fee Adjustment Grant so the grant should be applied for, if applicable. Should the student withdraw from Rhodes University during the academic year, the merit award will be reduced on a pro rata basis. In order to qualify for one of these awards a student would have to obtain at least 47 admission points in the National Senior Certificate examination. Please note that International Students are not eligible for merit awards.