Study in South Africa: Tuition Fees & Scholarships

Tuition fees in South Africa vary depending on the university, whether it is private or public, the discipline and your citizenship status. Public universities tend to cost less than private institutions and specific types of degrees like MBA degrees cost significantly more. 

Keep in mind that a lot of universities charge on a module or credit basis and also require a registration fee. In some cases, international students are expected to pay double the amount South African students are supposed to pay. 

Students from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) which includes the countries of Angola, Botswana, Comoros, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, pay the exact same tuition fees as the local South African students.

For more detailed information about the credit or program costs, it is recommended to contact the university of your choice, since tuition fees in South Africa vary among institutions. Extra study material and books are not included in the tuition fees. 

For example, Stellenbosch University charges from 44,000-87,000 ZAR for the first year of undergraduate studies. Tuition fees for Bachelor’s of Arts at the University of Cape Town start from 56,000 ZAR and from around 47,000 ZAR for the University of Witwatersrand. 

Unfortunately, there are limited scholarships in South Africa for international students, since financial aid is mostly reserved for South African students. You can, however, contact the South African university of your choice to get to know more about the scholarships they offer. 

A great scholarship opportunity though is the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarship, which is eligible for citizens holding a refugee status and living in Commonwealth countries like Canada, Australia or the United Kingdom.

Other available scholarships in South Africa that you might be eligible for, depending on your citizenship status, can be found here. 

Living costs in South Africa are relatively lower than other study abroad destinations in Europe or North America, a fact that makes studies in South Africa still a viable option for many prospective international students. 

In the guide below you can find various scholarship opportunities for international students!

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