Study and find schools in South Africa

Studying in South Africa

South Africa is a large, multilingual country at the southern tip of Africa and one of the continent's main destinations for higher education. Students come for its public universities, for English-taught degrees and for English language courses in cities such as Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth. English is the usual language of teaching at universities; the University of KwaZulu-Natal, for example, describes itself as an English-medium university.

The public university sector is compact and national. According to Universities South Africa (USAf), the country has 26 public universities, distributed across nine provinces. The number grew from 23 when Mpumalanga University and Sol Plaatje University (Northern Cape) opened in 2014, and most universities are in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.

The education system

Post-school education is overseen by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), which is responsible for universities, TVET colleges, community education and training (CET) colleges, the sector education and training authorities (SETAs) and private education providers. The Higher Education Act of 1997 provides for a single national system of higher education.

• Public universities: 26 institutions, including traditional universities, comprehensive universities and universities of technology
• TVET colleges: 50 registered and accredited public colleges on about 364 campuses, open to anyone aged 16 or older
• Private higher education institutions: registered with the DHET; check registration before enrolling
• Language schools: private English schools, mainly in coastal cities

University degrees follow the bachelor's, honours, master's and doctorate sequence. An honours degree is a separate postgraduate year after the first degree, and postgraduate diplomas also exist. Quality is assured by the Council on Higher Education (CHE), an independent statutory body set up in May 1998 that also acts as the Quality Council for Higher Education.

The academic year follows the calendar year. At the University of KwaZulu-Natal, for example, the first semester of 2027 runs from Monday 8 February to Thursday 24 June and the second semester starts on Monday 19 July.

Admission and recognition of qualifications

Each university sets its own admission rules, but international applicants to a first degree usually need an exemption certificate from the Matriculation Board of Universities South Africa. The board assesses whether a foreign school-leaving qualification is suitable for South African universities. The exemption fee for 2026 is R1,070, and documents in a language other than English must come with a sworn translation.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal shows how this works in practice:

• Undergraduate applicants send a USAf evaluation stating that their foreign school qualification is equivalent to the South African school-leaving certificate
• Postgraduate applicants send an evaluation from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) of their foreign degree
• Applicants must meet the university's English requirements
• The application fee for 2027 is R490 for applicants from the SADC region and the rest of Africa and US$153 for applicants from outside Africa
• Admitted students receive the letters they need to apply for a study visa

SAQA is also the body that evaluates foreign qualifications for work and further study in South Africa.

Student visa

Students from abroad need a study visa for a full degree. Visas are not issued at South African ports of entry, so apply in advance through the South African embassy or consulate; applications inside South Africa are handled by VFS Global. According to the Department of Home Affairs (checked October 2026), the requirements include:

• An official letter of acceptance or provisional acceptance from the institution, with the duration of the course
• A medical report signed by a medical practitioner
• A police clearance certificate from each country where you lived for more than 12 months in the last 5 years
• A yellow fever vaccination certificate if you travel from or through a yellow fever area
• Medical cover with a registered South African medical scheme
• An undertaking by the institution's registrar to report your registration and progress to Home Affairs

The holder of a study visa may work part-time for up to 20 hours per week.

Costs and funding

Tuition fees are set by each university and differ between programmes and between South African and international students, so check the fee schedule of the university you are applying to. Budget for application and evaluation fees (such as the Matriculation Board and university application fees above), for the compulsory South African medical cover and for accommodation. Many universities and language schools offer housing: Cape Studies in Cape Town, for example, offers on-site accommodation and stays with host families.

Where to study

Our directory lists schools in several South African cities:

• Cape Town: English language schools, among them Cape Studies Language School in Green Point, which runs a standard course of 20 lessons per week and an intensive course of 30, with at most 8 students per class, and Berlitz
• Durban: the University of KwaZulu-Natal, formed on 1 January 2004 from the merger of the University of Durban-Westville and the University of Natal, whose roots go back to the Natal University College founded in Pietermaritzburg in 1910
• Port Elizabeth: Bay Language Institute, an English school

Several schools in the directory also teach English online.

Practical life

South Africa is in the southern hemisphere, so summer runs from December to February and the academic year starts in late summer. Health cover is compulsory for study visa holders and must be with a registered South African medical scheme. If you travel from a yellow fever area, carry your vaccination certificate. Distances between cities are long, so domestic flights and long-distance buses are common.

Frequently asked questions

How many public universities does South Africa have?

According to Universities South Africa, there are 26 public universities, spread across all nine provinces. There are also 50 public TVET colleges for vocational training.

Can I study in South Africa in English?

Yes. English is the usual language of university teaching, and universities such as the University of KwaZulu-Natal ask international applicants to meet their English requirements.

Is my school-leaving certificate accepted?

For a first degree you usually need an exemption certificate from the Matriculation Board of Universities South Africa, which assesses foreign school qualifications. The fee in 2026 is R1,070.

Can I work while studying in South Africa?

Yes, within limits. The Department of Home Affairs allows study visa holders to work part-time for up to 20 hours per week.

When does the academic year start?

The academic year follows the calendar year. At the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the first semester of 2027 starts on 8 February.