Study in South Africa: the ultimate guide for an Online Programme in 2025

Study in South Africa

A long history of political shifts and changes has made South Africa’s political history complicated, to say the least, but has nevertheless turned it into one of the most multi-ethnic and multicultural nations. The constitution of South Africa recognises 11 official languages, which is the highest number of any country on Earth.

You’ll also notice in South Africa a unique and exciting array of arts, literature, and music. Nadine Gordimer, J.M. Coetzee, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Oliver Schreiner – just to name a few of artists who’ve received global acclaim.

If you're looking to study at a university in South Africa, you will find a variety of study degrees, blending high-quality academics with unique cultural experiences.

Why study in South Africa?

1. Education is very important in South Africa

South African authorities regard education as one of the most important social aspects. This is why many resources, time, and effort have been invested into restructuring and improving the education system at all levels. As a result, South Africa's literacy rate is around 87% — one of the highest in the world.

2. Tuition fees are low

You can pay anywhere between 35 to 19,000 EUR per year for a study programme in South Africa. There are many factors that influence these costs:

type of university (public vs private)
study level (Bachelor's, Master's, PhD)
discipline (Engineering, Medicine, Humanities, etc.)

Even so, you will pay a lot less here then you would at a Western university. Also remember that living costs are affordable (around 550 EUR per month), so you won't need to rob a bank to cover your expenses.

3. Enjoy the unique landscape and climate

South Africa has a beautiful and varied landscape; you can enjoy the beautiful beaches or explore its majestic mountains. We recommend visiting sites like the Kruger National Park, Maclear's Beacon, Cape of Good Hope, the Kirstenbosch National reserve, the Boulders Beach, the Table Mountain National Park, etc.

What it is like to study at a university in South Africa?

The universities in South Africa are separated into different categories depending on what you wish to study. They have traditional universities, for more academic and theoretical subjects; technological, for more job-training and vocational courses; and comprehensive, which blends both theoretical and technical training. So, depending on what you’re aiming for, you’ll be surrounded by like-minded students who are there for the same reason.

Furthermore, there are plenty of places to visit and things to do outside of your classes. You have close access to beautiful coastlines, safaris, and mountains. So, once you leave your classes, you’re immersed in natural beauty and a perfectly relaxing environment.

What to Study in South Africa?

You can find any subject, discipline, or degree you’re interested in if you study in South Africa. Brilliant scholars and scientists, along with successful business leaders, have come from South Africa, and have been educated in their higher education system. So, no matter what your career interests are, or where your curiosities lie, you can find plenty of university options and Master’s and Bachelor’s degree options.

Here are some great subjects to study in South Africa:

Where to study in South Africa?

Throughout South Africa’s naturally beautiful landscape, you’ll also find bustling city life and plenty of places to meet people.

But, for a true, student-oriented experience, we recommend finding your way to Cape Town – a major, multicultural city and named one of the best places to visit in the world.

Which universities and colleges to attend in South Africa?

For the past few decades, South Africa has started expanding its public university system, connecting institutions throughout the country, and de-segregating their courses. As a result, the universities have started to thrive with a unique blend of student populations, classes, and scholars.

Here are some universities to consider enrolling in:

How to apply

Each university in South Africa has its own system on its website that allows future students to apply for and enrol in their degree programmes. So, once you select the university of your choice, you can go through their application and submit your materials there.

Here are some of the basic requirements you’ll need for every university application in South Africa:

A scan of your diploma (high school or Bachelor’s degree)
A transcript/record of your previous courses
A scan of your passport and/or birth certificate
Your CV
Testing scores
Evidence of scholarship or funding
Letters of recommendation (between 2-3)
Portfolio and/or writing samples
Student visa

Helpful ways to make sure you qualify for a university in South Africa

Take Preparation Courses

These kinds of courses enable degree-seeking students to get an extra educational boost just before they start their Master’s degree or other post-graduate degree programmes.

Try a pre-M.B.A., pre-Law, or pre-Medicine programme, as well as any other foundation or preparation courses that will allow you to study in the degree programme of your choice.

Improve your English through an English-language prep course

If you’re attending a degree programme in South Africa you will need to prove that your language skills are good enough to participate in the classes and understand the lectures; some schools will require Afrikaans, while others will require strong English skills. These courses will also prepare you for any of the English-language tests that universities require.

English-language tests

To apply to study in South Africa, you’ll need to provide proof you have a diploma for your English proficiency.

The certificates generally accepted by the universities in South Africa are:

PTE Academic
TOEFL
IELTS
C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency

Still, you should always check on your university’s website, just to be sure what the exact requirements are.

Living in South Africa

Let's take a closer look at the average tuition and living expenses in South Africa:

Tuition fees in South Africa

The cost of studying in South Africa has been a major topic of discussion among students and politicians throughout the country. So, it’s possible we may be able to expect tuition fees to reduce over the years. For now, however, we’ll outline the expected tuition fees in South Africa.

Bachelor's degrees: 36–7,000 EUR per year
Master's degrees: 36–19,000 EUR per year

Living costs in South Africa

In South Africa, prices can vary depending on the city in which you choose to live. But the country is generally known for offering cheap prices, which are affordable for the vast majority of international students. The minimum you need to cover living costs is 550 EUR/month.

Here’s a breakdown of living costs in South Africa:

Rent: 300–730 EUR/month
Utilities: 100–140 EUR/month
Monthly transportation pass (metro, train, bus): 38 EUR
Three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant: 30 EUR
Milk: 0.81 EUR
Eggs: 1.54 EUR
Cappuccino: 1.41 EUR
Loaf of bread: 0.71 EUR

About South Africa

On dry land, going from west to east, South Africa shares long borders with Namibia and Botswana, touches Zimbabwe, has a longitudinal strip of border with Mozambique to the east, and lastly curves in around Swaziland before re-joining Mozambique's southern border.

In the interior, nestled in the curve of the bean-shaped Free State, is the small mountainous country of Lesotho, completely surrounded by South African territory.

South Africa is a medium-sized country, with a total land area of slightly more than 1.2-million square kilometres. South Africa measures about 1 600km from north to south, and roughly the same from east to west.

Interesting facts about South Africa

South Africa is home to one of the oldest mountains on the planet: Table Mountain.
Boulders Beach, Cape Town, is where you can swim with (so-called) Jackass penguins. No, they don’t mind if you call them Jackass penguins.
South Africa is home to the world’s oldest human remains – more than 160,000 years old. Do you think they dined on Table Mountain?
South Africa has the fittest population. 1 in 5 adults attends a gym or health club at least once a month. Do they have to rub it in our faces like that?
Two novel prize winners – Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu – lived on the same street.

Universities, colleges and schools in South Africa

Adelaide

Swiss School Of Business and Management (3 Distance Learning courses)

Bloemfontein

University of the Free State (1 Distance Learning course)

Cape Town

SACAP Global (33 Distance Learning courses)
Cape Peninsula University of Technology (36 Distance Learning courses)
Milpark Business School (1 Distance Learning course)
University of Cape Town (89 Distance Learning courses)
The School of Management at Varsity College (2 Distance Learning courses)

Durban

The Management College of Southern Africa (MANCOSA) (25 Distance Learning courses)
Regent Business School (12 Distance Learning courses)
University of Kwazulu Natal (3 Distance Learning courses)

Grahamstown

Rhodes University (10 Distance Learning courses)

Johannesburg

University of Johannesburg (15 Distance Learning courses)
Stadio Higher Education (4 Distance Learning courses)
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (1 Distance Learning course)
The Da Vinci Business School (17 Distance Learning courses)
South African Theological Seminary (7 Distance Learning courses)
Hospitality Academy (3 Distance Learning courses)

Mankoeng

North-West University (NWU) (16 Distance Learning courses)

Pretoria

University of Pretoria (19 Distance Learning courses)

Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch University (16 Distance Learning courses)

How to Apply to a Master's in South Africa

If you've decided to study a Master's degree at a university in South Africa, you will have to gather the right documents to prove that you fit the university requirements. Provide complete personal information, previous qualifications, financial information, and a personal statement.

What documents do I need to provide to apply in South Africa?

To apply to a university in South Africa you will likely be asked to provide some of the following documents:

birth certificate;
recent photos;
your passport or national identity card;
one or more reference letters from past employers or teachers;
copies of past diplomas or certificates, including your graduated Bachelor's degree;
academic transcripts;
letter of intent;
Curriculum Vitae;
Some form of proof that you can support your stay in the country during your studies.

Depending on the subject or specialization of your chosen Master's, you might also be asked to provide scores for additional tests like the GRE, GMAT or LSAT. Check if your programme requires any of these, or others.

The list of documents depends on the specific requirements of universities in South Africa so you might be asked to include additional documents. It’s also likely you’ll have to provide official English translations of your documents, or translations in the local language.

Prove your English skills

Because you’ll study an international degree in English, you'll have to present a language certificate. Some popular options for international students are IELTS, TOEFL or C1 Advanced language certificates. You’ll have to meet a minimum language score set by the university, and your test scores shouldn’t be older than 1-2 years. If you don’t meet the minimum language requirements, you will have to improve your skills and scores by taking an English preparation course.

Application deadlines for South Africa

The deadlines for applying to a Master's in South Africa are usually during summer (June-July), or in winter (January-February). Keep in mind that some universities don’t have application deadlines, which means you can apply whenever you are ready.

To avoid delays or missed deadlines send your required documents with plenty of time in advance.

Study a master programme from the comfort of your own home. The Studyportals platform offers the largest overview of online and blended study opportunities from all over the world. You now have the possibility to follow your dream study programme at one of the best universities in the world without having to relocate.

Distance education is the perfect solution for professionals looking to further their career. It offers the possibility for additional qualification while keeping the current job. With flexible schedule and resources available online, distance study programmes can be the key to your career development and a job promotion.

Online study is also a money saver, as the student does not have to spend money on moving or on a possibly expensive day to day life in a new country. So if you are in search for the best education, but do not want to relocate, give up your current life style or disrupt the comfort of your family, distance learning is the solution for you.

Looking at a growing demand for these study opportunities, combined with a lack of transparency in this quickly growing and exciting study mode, we decided to open up our portals and to also offer you information about these education options offered globally.

Please note, that for the time being this section does not yet include any on campus programmes offered in these parts of the world.

Learn below about the different countries and choose your online study from a growing selection of online studies offered by accredited institutions.

Distance Learning

Distance learning is a mode of study that allows the student to study most or all of a course without attending at a campus-based institution. The distance can refer to both material and interaction. Distance learning provides access to learning when the source of information and the learners are separated by time and distance, or both.

The programmes often include a computer-based training system and tools to produce a virtual classroom. The tuition fees for distance learning vary from institution to programme to country. It is certain that the student saves expenses related to accommodation and transportation, because you can maintain the current living expenses. Distance learning is also a great solution for people that already have a job, and still want or need further education.