BA or BSS Extended Studies Course Requirements at RU
Rhodes University · Faculty of Humanities
The BA or BSS Extended Studies is a bachelor's Degree offered by RU for 2027 learners, taking 4 years to complete. This page covers the Grade 12 subjects and admission score you need to qualify, what the course involves, where you can study it, the careers it leads to, and how to apply.
Grade 12 Required Subjects to study BA or BSS Extended Studies at RU
English Home Language at 60% or English First Additional Language at 65%. First year follows a limited combination of subjects such as Journalism and Anthropology, or Politics and Sociology.
About this course
The BA or BSS Extended Studies option adds a supportive foundation year for students who narrowly miss the standard entry requirements for the BA or BSS. The first year runs a limited curriculum, for example pairing Journalism with Anthropology, or Politics with Sociology, before students move into the mainstream degree. It is designed to give promising students from disadvantaged schooling backgrounds a stronger chance of academic success.
Possible careers
How to apply for 2027 studies
Apply directly through Rhodes University's online application system at www.ross.ru.ac.za, or via www.ru.ac.za/admissiongateway. Applications typically open 1 April and close 30 September.
Course intelligence for BA or BSS Extended Studies
Data-driven planning insights for this specific course: job market outlook, NSFAS funding, and how competitive admission is likely to be.
Job market outlook
BA or BSS Extended Studies doesn’t currently appear on the national scarce-skills list as a Community Development Officer. That’s not a red flag on its own, most jobs in South Africa aren’t on that list, it just tracks where employers reported the strongest hiring pressure. Your own results, experience and network will matter more here than national demand trends.
NSFAS funding
As a Bachelor's Degree at RU, a public institution, this course generally falls within NSFAS’s undergraduate funding scope. Funding is means-tested and not automatic, so confirm your own eligibility at nsfas.org.za before relying on it.
Admission chances
This course sits in the middle for competitiveness. With its published admission requirements, you have a reasonable chance if you apply in good time, though it’s not a sure thing. Don’t leave your application to the last week.
These insights are estimates generated from South Africa’s National List of Occupations in High Demand (DHET, November 2023 draft), NSFAS’s published funding rules, and this university’s general applicant demand. They’re planning guidance, not a guarantee. Always confirm funding and admission specifics directly with RU and NSFAS.
- Applications for 2027 studies
- Open: 1 April 2026
- Close: 30 September 2026
Exact opening/closing day not yet published by Rhodes for 2026 - month shown is accurate.
View all Courses at RU
- Duration
- 4 years
- NQF Level
- 7
- APS / Points
- 34-37 points
- Campus
- Makhanda Campus, Makhanda
Related courses
FPS approx. 435 (Band A gua…Source: rhodes-university.json, last verified 2026-08-22. Requirements and fees change. Always confirm current details directly with Rhodes University before applying.