Rhodes University Bursaries, Loans and Scholarships 2024-2025

Prizes and Medals awarded by Rhodes University.

Please note: The values of the prizes listed may vary from the amounts indicated because of fluctuating interest rates affecting financial investments.

Rob Antonissen Memorial Award

An award will be made from interest accruing on donations received from the family, colleagues and past students of the late Professor Rob Antonissen, who was a member of the Department of Afrikaans and Nederlands from 1950 and its Head from 1958 to 1970, and Vice Principal of the University from 1971 until his death in 1972.  The award will be made on the recommendation of the Head of the Afrikaans en Nederlands Department to a bona fide student of at least second year status, who intends to major in, or complete, a higher degree in Afrikaans/Nederlands.

Avlynne Bowen Award

This award has been endowed jointly by Mr and Mrs CAA Bowen and Mr SSD Robertson and is intended to perpetuate within the University the memory of Avlynne June Bowen, who graduated in Pharmacy at Rhodes in 1971. The award is payable each year to the student in the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences who obtains the highest mark in the Anatomy and Physiology examination at the end of the second year. The money will be paid by the University into the student’s academic fees’account.

Bill Branford Prize

A prize is awarded to the Linguistics and English Language 3 student who has achieved the most consistently high results for all work throughout the final year of study.

Sydney Cruise Memorial Prize

This prize has been endowed by Mrs E Cruise in memory of her late husband, Professor S.E. Cruise, who was a Professof Pure Mathematics at Rhodes University from 1961 to 1965. It is awarded on the basis of the second year examination results in Mathematics.

Dean of Commerce Prize

This prize is awarded for outstanding academic achievement on the recommendatinon of the Dean of Commerce.

Dr Valentine Cuenod Memorial Prize

This prize has been endowed by the parents, colleagues, students and friends of the late Dr Valentine Cuenod, who was Senior Lecturer in French at Rhodes University from 1963 to 1966. It will be available for award annually to the best third year student in French, on the recommendation of the Head of the French Department.

Heather Drummond Memorial Prize

This prize for English Poetry is endowed in memory of Miss Heather Drummond, a former student of Rhodes University College. It is open for competition annually. All undergraduates of the University, and graduates of the University of not more than one year’s standing, are eligible to compete.

Louis Dubb Prize

This prize has been endowed by Dr Louis Dubb, a former member of the University Council. It is awarded annually, on the recommendation of the Dean of the Faculty of Commerce, to the best final year student in the Curriculum 4 of the BCom degree course or, if there is no suitable candidate in that category, to the best BCom candidate in the final year of study in another curriculum.

Duncan / Whiteley Award

This prize (R600) is awarded on the recommendations of both Professors Duncan & Whiteley to a Rhodes Honours graduate, who is proceeding into a Masters program in Biochemistry at Rhodes University.

John and Audrey Foxcroft Beethoven Prize

This prize of R500 is awarded for the best rendering of a Beethoven piano sonata (or movement thereof) in the final practical exams.

Catherine Foxcroft and Gary Terry Prize

Of R500 is awarded for the most outstanding performance in the October Student Concert of any solo piece for piano.

The Norman Harris Prize

A prize is awarded to the best Taxation student at Rhodes University.

Mavis Hill Prize for Music

A variable monetary prize is awarded on the nomination of the Head of Department of Music as a tribute from Mavis Hill, to the memory of Professor MS Bodmer. The winner will be chosen at an inter-departmental concert. All registered music students may enter but no student may be awarded the prize in two consecutive years.

Jardine Prize

This prize has been endowed by the mother of a Commerce graduate of Rhodes University College. It is awarded annually, on the recommendation of the Dean of the Faculty of Commerce, to the best student in his/her first year of the BCom degree course.

Joe King Mathematics Prize

This prize of R1,750 is awarded to a third year student for the Most Improved Performance in Mathematics.

The KPMG/Len Verster Prize

This prize is awarded to the student who attains the highest marks in Accounting II, having passed all other subjects in the first and second years of study. Len Verster is a former senior partner in KPMG and an Old Rhodian.

Michael Kapelus Memorial Prize

This prize has been endowed by the parents of the late Michael Kapelus, a Pharmacy graduate of the University. The prize will be awarded annually to the best all-round Pharmacy graduate, having regard to academic merit, personality, leadership and sportsmanship.

Alastair Kerr Prize

This prize was established on the retirement of Professor Kerr after 35 years of dedicated and exemplary service to Rhodes University, for the best student in the Law of Contract course.

Steyn Maartens Prize

This prize was instituted by fellow students, members of staff and friends of Steyn Maartens, who was killed in a motor accident when returning to the University in May 1958. The prize will be awarded annually, on the recommendation of the Head of the Afrikaans en Nederlands Department, in consultation with the President of the Afrikaans Studente-Vereniging to a third
year student of outstanding merit in the Department of “Afrikaans en Nederlands”, or to any student who has made an exceptional contribution to Afrikaans cultural activities in the University.

Milner Memorial Prize

This prize is awarded on the recommendation of the Head of the Department of History for an essay on a specified topic in the field of English History.

Ed Mountain Prize

This prize is awarded annually, on the recommendation of the Head of the Department of Geology, to the student who submits the best field report in Geology II, based on the official course which students in that year are required to attend.

FP Muirhead and MB Rosenberg Memorial Prize

This prize has been established from donations received in memory of FP Muirhead and MB Rosenberg, former students of the University, who died in 1968 as a result of a motor accident. It is awarded on the result of the Microbiology III examinations.

Alexander Ogg Prize

This prize was established from a donation received from Professor RW Varder and is awarded to a Physics student.

John O’Meara Memorial Prize

This prize is awarded on the recommendation of the Head of Department of Psychology to the best student in Industrial Psychology III as a tribute to the memory to the late Mr John O’Meara.

DCS Oosthuizen Memorial Prize of Philosophy

This prize has been established from donations in memory of the late Professor DSC Oosthuizen, who was Professor of Philosophy at Rhodes University from 1958 to 1969. It is awarded annually to the best student in the Department of Philosophy.

Purvis Prize

This prize was established through the generosity of the late Mr GC Purvis and is competed for annually by students of the Art School.

BA Putterill Prize

This prize was endowed by the family of Bertram A Putterill who was a foundation member of Rhodes University College. It is awarded to an Honours graduate in the Faculty of Science for study in the fields of Ecology and Conservation in the Eastern Cape. Nominations are received from the Departments of Botany, Geography, Geology, Microbiology and Zoology.

Royal Society of St George Prize

This prize has been endowed by the Royal Society of St George. It is awarded to the student who obtained the highest mark in the third year examination in English.

Rupert-Onderwysstigting Prizes for Music

Two prizes are awarded annually by the Head of the Department of Music and Musicology. The amount of the prize is calculated from interest accruing from the donation.

Dr Adolph Schauder Memorial Prize

This prize is payable from a bequest made by the late Dr Adolph Schauder. It will be awarded annually to the best student who has majored in Sociology and Social Work in the final examinations for the degree of BSocSc, provided that in any year in which no suitable candidate appears in those disciplines, the prize may be awarded to a student who has majored in two other subjects prescribed as major subjects of the degree of BSocSc.

Schwarz Memorial Prize

A book prize is awarded annually on the recommendation of the Professor of Geology , based on the results of third year work in Geology.

Mattie Shuttleworth Speech Prize

This prize is awarded annually to a third year student considered by the staff of the Department of Drama to be the most outstanding student in all the media taught in that Department and whose speech work, both in media work and during practical examinations, is considered to be outstanding.

Spilkin Prize

This prize is awarded to the best third year student in Law, provided there is a student of sufficient merit.

RL Threlfell Memorial Prize

This prize has been endowed by the mother and colleagues of the late Robert Lawrence Threlfell, who was Senior Lecturer in Economics from 1950 to 1956. It is awarded on the recommendation of the Head of the Department of Economics and Economic History to the best third year student in Economics.

JC Van Hille Award

An award will be made from interest accruing on a donation received from the colleagues and past students of Associate Professor JC van Hille, who taught in the Department of Zoology and Entomology from 1941, when he joined the Department as Assistant Lecturer, till his retirement at the end of 1975. The award will be made on the recommendation of the Head of the Department of
Zoology and Entomology, to a bona fide student of at least second year status, who intends to major in, or complete a higher degree in, Zoology or Entomology.

Helmut Weigert Memorial Prize

This prize has been endowed by Professor J Smuts in memory of the late Dr Helmut Weigert, who was a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics for a number of years. It is awarded annually on the recommendation of the Head of the Department of Pure and Applied Mathematics on the results of the Mathematics I examinations.

Ernest Wild Prizes

Two prizes have been endowed by Mrs N Wild in memory of her late husband, Professor EJ Wild, who was the first Professor of Psychology and Head of the Department from 1929 until his death in 1964. These prizes are awarded to second and third year Psychology students respectively, on the results of the examinations.

David Williams Memorial Prize

This prize in Pure Mathematics was endowed by Old Rhodians and other friends of Professor D Williams (Professor Mathematics 1911-31). It is awarded to the student who obtains the highest mark in the third year examination, provided that a sufficient degree of distinction is attained.

A Trevor Williams Prizes

Two prizes have been established from a bequest made from the estate of the late Arthur Trevor Williams to be awarded annually, one to a first year and the other to a second year BSc student who intend majoring in Physics.

AECI Award

This prize is awarded on the recommendation of the Head of the Department of Chemistry for the best first-year BSc Chemistry student.

William Barker Memorial Prize

This prize was endowed by Old Rhodians in memory of Professor William F. Barker, Head of the Department of Chemistry for thirty-four years. The prize is awarded annually by the Old Rhodian Union, on the recommendation of the Head of the Department of Chemistry, on the result of the third year examination in Chemistry. Only students obtaining a first class pass will be eligible for the award.

Lilian Britten Memorial Prize

This prize was endowed by Old Rhodians in memory of Miss Lilian Britten, a former member of the staff of the Botany Department, and first Honorary Secretary of the Old Rhodian Union. The prize is awarded annually by the Old Rhodian Union, on the recommendation of the Professor of Botany, on the result of the third year examination in Botany. Only students obtaining a first class pass will be eligible for the award.

Ashton Chubb Prize

This prize, awarded to the best student in Commercial Law II, was donated by Dr Ashton Chubb, a founder member of Rhodes University in East London.

Beth Cumming Memorial Prize

This prize is to be awarded on the basis of the best third year Zoology research project.

Pretoria Portland Cement Company Award

This prize is awarded on the recommendation of the Head of Department of Chemistry for the best third-year Chemistry student.

Gregorowski Prize

This prize, donated by Aiken and Peat, is awarded to the best student in Auditing I.

Institute for Cost and Management Accounts Prize

A prize is awarded annually, on the recommendation of the Head of Department, by the Institute of Cost and Management Accounts to the student who presents the best year end paper in Cost and Management Accounting.

Johnson & Johnson Award

This prize is awarded on the recommendation of the Head of the Chemistry Department for the best second year Chemistry student.

Matthew Jones Memorial Shield

This shield is to be awarded to the student who achieves the best results in the final examination in Zoology III.

Nestle SA Prize

This prize of R400 is awarded to the best second-year Biochemistry student.

Pretoria Portland Cement Prize for Accounting

A prize of R500 and a silver medal will be awarded each year by the Head of the Department of Accounting to the successful third-year student graduating with a major in Accounting who has made the best contribution to the Department during his/her undergraduate years.

Rapport Prize

Two prizes of R1 000 each, are awarded by Rapport Uitgewers (Edms) Bpk to firstly the best second year student in Afrikaans, who will continue with Afrikaans III the following year and secondly to the best first year student in Afrikaans, who will continue with Afrikaans II the following year.

Rowney Prize for Painting

A prize of R500 is awarded annually on the recommendation of the Head of the Department of Fine Art to the best final year painting student.

Sanlam Prizes

One prize of R600 is awarded on the recommendation of the Head of the Department of Law for the best results in Legal Theory I.

Two prizes of R600 each are awarded on the recommendation of the Head of the Department of Accounting for students proceeding to CTA study in due course who achieve the best results in Accounting I and Accounting II.

SA Breweries Prize

This prize of R600 is awarded to the top third-year Biochemistry student.

SA Teacher’s Association Merit Award

This prize is awarded by the Head of Department of Education for all round achievement and excellence in teaching at primary level.

Sentrachem Award

This prize (R2000) is awarded on the recommendation of the Head of Department of Chemistry to the best Chemistry Honours student.