Study in Cape Town, South Africa

About Cape Town

Cape Town is South Africa's legislative capital and the seat of the national Parliament. It is the capital of the Western Cape, the province at the south-western tip of Africa, which is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Indian Ocean to the south. According to the government's Official Guide to South Africa, based on Stats SA's Census 2022 and its 2024 mid-year estimates, the Western Cape has 7,562,588 inhabitants. Its principal languages are Afrikaans (46.6%), isiXhosa (31.1%) and English (19.6%).

For international students, Cape Town is above all a place to learn English in an English-speaking city, often combined with time to travel. Table Mountain, the Cape winelands, Robben Island and the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are all within reach, and many students plan weekend trips around their classes.

Studying in Cape Town

Our directory lists two schools in Cape Town, both focused on language courses:

• Cape Studies Language School is a privately owned English school in Green Point that has taught English in Cape Town since 1995. Classes have a maximum of 8 students and a lesson lasts 50 minutes. The Standard Course has 20 lessons a week (Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 12:50); the Intensive Course has 30, adding afternoon classes in General or Business English. Business English requires at least a good intermediate level. New students take a writing and speaking test on their first Monday, and a weekly evaluation and course certificate are included. According to the school, most of its students come from Brazil, Germany, Gabon, Mozambique and Angola.
• Berlitz Language & Business Training also appears in our listings with a Cape Town branch for language and business training.

Student visa

Students who need a visa apply to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). A study visa application requires, among other documents, an official letter from the school confirming acceptance and the duration of the course, a medical report, a police clearance certificate for countries where the applicant lived for more than 12 months in the last five years, and proof of medical cover with a registered South African medical scheme. Holders of a study visa may work part time for up to 20 hours a week.

For short stays, the DHA lists study purposes among the reasons for which a visitor's visa may be granted, and citizens of a number of countries need no visa for visits of 90 days or less. The rules differ by nationality, so check with the nearest South African embassy or consulate before booking a course.

Accommodation and costs

Official figures for student rents in Cape Town are not published, so the most reliable information comes from the schools. Cape Studies offers a self-catering residence on its premises in Green Point, a residential area with shops and restaurants, with rooms booked as singles or doubles and shared bathrooms. It also places students in homestays, where they have a single room and share breakfast with the host family. The beach and the V&A Waterfront are about a 15-minute walk from the school.

Transport is a predictable cost. On the MyCiTi bus network, a my connect card costs R40, a Monthly Pass R1500 and a 1-day Day Pass R130, according to the operator's 2026 fare pages. Metered taxis cost about R10 a kilometre.

Getting around

MyCiTi, the City of Cape Town's bus rapid transit system, is paid for with the my connect card, loaded either with distance-based Mover points or with unlimited-travel passes: 1, 3 and 7-day Day Passes (R130, R290 and R420) and the Monthly Pass. MyCiTi connects with Metrorail suburban trains at Cape Town rail station (Civic Centre and Adderley Street stops), Woodstock and Salt River. Minibus taxis run unscheduled services to almost every part of the city and charge by distance, and cyclists may take their bicycles on MyCiTi buses.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cape Town a good place to learn English?

English is one of the main languages of the Western Cape, alongside Afrikaans and isiXhosa. Cape Studies, for example, teaches General and Business English in classes of up to 8 students, with 20 or 30 lessons a week.

Do I need a visa to take an English course in Cape Town?

It depends on your nationality and the length of the course. Citizens of some countries can visit for 90 days or less without a visa; longer studies require a study visa from the Department of Home Affairs, with a letter of acceptance from the school.

Can I work while studying in Cape Town?

Holders of a South African study visa may work part time for up to 20 hours a week, according to the Department of Home Affairs.

How much does public transport cost in Cape Town?

On MyCiTi buses, the my connect card costs R40 and a Monthly Pass R1500 (2026 fares); a 1-day pass costs R130.