Rhodes University - RU
speciality: Psychology

If there would be a time that is irreplaceable filled with life, experiences and growth is my time spent in university at Rhodes. The university is surrounded by rich culture of the Xhosa tribes and the scenary in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The town is small cosy, yet still so vast and rich in the experiences. Not to mention how professional and well organized Rhodes university is. Other than the water supply issues I wouldn’t trade the experiences for the world.

My Review of Rhodes University
As a final-year student at Rhodes University in Grahamstown (Makhanda), I can confidently say that my experience here has been transformative—both academically and personally.

Rhodes is a small university, but that’s part of what makes it special. The class sizes are smaller compared to many other universities, which means more personal attention from lecturers and a stronger sense of academic support. Studying Psychology, Philosophy, isiXhosa (my mother tongue), and Art History and Visual Culture has given me a well-rounded education that encourages critical thinking, creativity, and cultural awareness.

One of the highlights of Rhodes is its strong academic reputation, especially in the Humanities. The lecturers are passionate about their subjects and approachable outside of class. There’s a real focus on developing independent thought, which has helped me grow intellectually and as a person.

Living and studying in Grahamstown has its own charm. It’s a quiet, student-centered town that allows you to focus, but also has a close-knit community feel. While resources can sometimes be limited, especially compared to larger cities, there’s a strong sense of resilience and community support among students and staff.

Rhodes has also challenged me in unexpected ways—whether it’s adapting to university-level academic demands or managing the social and emotional aspects of student life. But through all of it, I’ve come out stronger, more thoughtful, and better prepared for the future.

Overall, I would recommend Rhodes to anyone who values quality education, a supportive learning environment, and the chance to grow as a whole person.

Rhodes University is a prestigious university in South Africa, situated in a small town called Makhanda. I loved my time at Rhodes University because it is a small campus and I could have direct meetings and communication with my lecturers, which enabled me to have a close relationship with them even after I left Rhodes. I liked the small-town living because it provided safety as well as a sense of community with other students. At the same time, small-town living is also what I didn’t like sometimes because there wasn’t the excitement of being in a big city and having different activity options for me to do. The standard of excellence at Rhodes is very high so I learned a lot about managing my time and passing all my modules.

A university that engages with its students on a personal and professional level. An excellent environment for innovative and open-minded individuals. A unique experience that is refined by extremely qualified lecturers.