Universities in South Africa

Study in South Africa

Student Visa Requirements

In order to have your visa for South Africa accepted you will need a conditional offer from the university of your choice. Once you have this you will have to apply for your student visa, along with your application of temporary residence, to your country’s South African embassy or consulate.

The documents you will need include a passport with validity until at least 30 days after the end of your course, proof of payment for visa application, proof of necessary finances to cover tuition fees and proof of medical or health insurance along with several other supporting documents.

The student visa is valid for the duration of the study course, meaning you won’t need to reapply each year if granted.

Student Accommodation in South Africa

South Africa currently has a student housing shortage which has driven up prices for many private accommodation options, with the prices ranging from R3,150-5,000 per month depending on the city of study and type of accommodation required.

South African universities often have halls of residence which are available to international and domestic students at rates which are usually cheaper than private, but the demand for these locations is high.

Applying To South African Universities

There is no centralised system of application for South African universities which means that each application needs to be made to the institution itself.

Each university may have it’s own application requirements, but there is an online assessment that can be done to gauge whether you meet the basic requirements for study in South Africa.

South African Tuition Fees and Finance

The tuition fees vary depending on the course, level of study and institution but as a guideline, you will be looking at around R75,000 for undergraduate degrees and R47,000 for masters and higher levels of study.

Some universities also charge via the module of study, before applying you should investigate the institution’s fee-charging methods to ensure you know what you will be paying and when.

There are plenty of scholarships available in South Africa both for international and domestic students, and there are also certain bursaries available for international students based on need or merit.