Rhodes University, SA

Not meaning to get ahead of myself, I'm still looking ahead to doctoral work.

I like Rhodes University in South Africa. Does this school rank as high as Univ. of Pretoria, Univ. of Natal, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, and other top SA schools?

 

Thanks, Steve; that's good to know.

I've had some good correspondence in the past with one of their professors.

 

Rhodes is a decent enough university, though perhaps not quite at the level of those that you list. (To nitpick: Wits should also be included in the top tier, and Natal is now renamed.)

 

While I've seen nothing in the thread with which I'd disagree, I would want to point out that when talking about doctoral degree programs the overall reputation of the school may not (necessarily) mean much. A supremely average school might have an acknowledged stellar grad department in some particular discipline and a #1 school might have a grad department that is below par. Of course, you can go deeper still by looking at the specific promoters who might be available to supervise a doctoral thesis. One person might be a great fit for you even if they're not working at the best school. I'd say, apply to them all and then make your best deal.
Jack

 

Hi oxp!

Wits was in my earlier top-tier list, which Michael is using. He also knows the old and new names of UKZN. I told him if he googled UKZN he might want to use the old name as well as the new. The only problem with the poor lad is that he's thunderstruck just now by the splendour of SA universities!

Janko

PS. Michael, "Wits" is secret code for the University of Witwatersrand. And, yes, Rhodes is a very good school (though I loathe the name for any number of reasons). But not on the level of UKZN.

 

Thanks, everybody -- some good points to ponder.

unc, what do you think about Steve's point re American schools versus foreign schools if you're American?

 

I see Steve's point as well as his caution that his point shouldn't be prohibitory.

Given your field (as in mine, too, for that matter) it should not be a problem. The multicultural angle will likely trump the xenophobes. Fear not!

 

I would agree with uncle and Steve. You should not allow the caution to steer you away from these schools. Rather, you should use it to prepare answers for the inevitable questions that will arise.

I once though of starting a thread with the intent of listing these questions and soliciting sincere, well though out answers from other members. Perhaps sometime I will follow through.
Jack

 

Up to this point no one in church or Christian ed contexts has to me questioned the credibility of my SA doc.

 

Do you think some of the biggest names (UNISA, U of London) are a partial exception to the "Americans-explaining-their-degrees-forever" phenomenon? For UNISA and London, I would expect to face all the usual prejudices against DL, but not the prejudice that these big names are diploma mills or somehow not legitimate schools. Some people will never be satisifed with DL, but some will also assume that even DL through a big name school is something of an interesting education, and many will assume that the degree could not be completely DL for all that they really are.

 

If we can have a school named after robber baron Stanford (and Vanderbilt, etc) then why not Rhodes? Though, I'm surprised that that of all the names that have been changed in South Africa, this one has survived!

 

I would expect that there are many, many people who have never heard of these schools in any context. I once had a person say to me (this was a college educated person), "Oh, I didn't know they had colleges in South Africa." Ignorance is everywhere.
Jack