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Study in South Africa

How to Apply for a South African Study Permit
Minimum General Entrance Requirements
Evaluation of Foreign Qualifications
Acceptance of Foreign Qualifications
Useful Links

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South Africa is emerging as one of the world's most exciting study destinations. This is demonstrated in the rapidly increasing number of international students. Because of international exchange rates, South Africa offers real educational value for money.

South Africa's entire educational system, from primary schools to tertiary institution, is in the process of being redesigned for the post-apartheid future. The result of this process will be a better, more efficient educational infrastructure. South Africa is a nation at the cutting edge of change. This is why it is one of the world's most exciting places to be a student.

How to Apply for a South African Study Permit

International students should apply for a Study Permit at the South African High Commission, Embassy, Consulate or Trade Mission in their country of origin.

If there is no South African representative, prospective students must apply to the South African High Commission, Embassy, Consulate or Trade Mission nearest to their home country. It is imperative that students await the outcome of this application for a study permit in their own country of residence or origin.

Study permits are issued for a program of study at a specific institution. International students should obtain a new permit only if they wish to change institutions.

Once you have confirmed your acceptance of the formal offer from the university or technikon, you can make your application for a study visa. You should contact the South African Consulate for full details about applying for a study permit.

Prospective international students are advised to submit their study permit documentation as soon as possible. It normally takes six to eight weeks for applications to be processed. The institution (technikon or university) in South Africa cannot register a student until a valid study permit has been produced. Passports with the valid study permit must be presented to the host institution during registration.

Consular Requirements

Minimum General Entrance Requirements

Universities

In terms of the current legislation and regulations, the minimum general admission requirements for first degree studies at the 21 public South African universities are a

senior certificate with a matriculation endorsement issued by the South African Certification Council
or a certificate of complete or conditional exemption from the endorsement requirement issued by the Matriculation Board on behalf of the South African Universities Vice-Chancellors Association (SAUVCA).

The last comprehensive set of regulations was published on November 27, 1997 but the regulations were amended in 1998 and are likely to be amended annually until such time as the transitional phase lapses. Please see Study Permits for more information.

Technikons

The minimum entrance qualification for a technikon course is a National Senior Certificate or equivalent as approved by the Committee of Technikon Principals. However, certain courses require additional entrance qualifications or a specified minimum level of achievement within the general entrance qualification. Technikons are geared to respond to public demand for courses that are needed and will devise short courses specifically to meet such needs. Most technikons in South Africa offer degree programs in various fields of study which have replaced many of the previous Advance Diploma programs. The minimum study period of the BTech is four years although in most cases there are exit points at lower levels enabling students to enter a career at an earlier stage of their study lives. Technikons should be contacted to establish for which courses a National Certificate (after one year) and a National Higher Certificate (after two years) are offered as lower exit levels. The National diploma (after three years) still remains a major exit point in the technikon qualification hierarchy.

Evaluation of Foreign Qualifications

Foreign candidates who wish to study at a South African university for first degree studies have to qualify for either a certificate of complete exemption or a certificate of conditional exemption to satisfy the minimum general admission requirements of the 21 South African public universities.

Download the Evaluation of Foreign Qualifications brochure.

Acceptance of foreign qualifications

Until 3 September 1992 the matriculation exemption regulations of the Joint Matriculation Board (JMB) contained some guidelines on the acceptance of some foreign school qualifications for admission to first degree studies at universities in South Africa.

When the Matriculation Board of the Committee of University Principals (CUP) accepted responsibility for administering the matriculation endorsement and exemption regulations on 4 September 1992, this list was extended in the amended set of regulations that was published on 2 December 1994.

A comprehensive list of foreign qualifications was again published in the latest set of comprehensive matriculation endorsement and exemption regulations in Government Gazette on 28 November 1997. This list is to be supplemented shortly by means of a notice in the Government Gazette and will continue to be supplemented on a regular basis.

The Higher Education Act, Act 101 of 1997, promulgated in December 1997, repealed both the Universities Act and the Technikons Act.

Section 74 of the Higher Education Act, however, determines that those statutory functions performed by the CUP, the Committee for Technikon Principals and the Matriculation Board will be retained for a transitional period.

Towards the end of November 1997 a booklet Foreign Qualifications and their Acceptance for Bachelors Degree Studies at South African Universities was distributed to all universities and a revised version with the same name was circulated subsequently to universities under cover of circular U2/98 of 22 January 1998.

The information presented in the booklet was in tabular format and indicated amongst others the acceptance of foreign qualifications for complete exemption, foreign conditional and mature age conditional exemption or, in some cases, the non-acceptance of certain foreign school leaving qualifications at South African universities.

It should be noted, though, that it was not possible to list all the possible qualifications and combinations of foreign qualifications that could be presented for university admission purposes, but the most general ones are listed according to the country of origin.

For more information, please click here.

Students Returning to South Africa

Guidebook (contact IIE or IIE/South Africa) or iiersa@global.co.za

Study in the US

Funding Opportunities/Agencies

US Resources

Useful Links

Study South African Partners

International Education
Association of South Africa (IESA)
P.O. Box 65099 Reservoir Hills
Durban 4090 South Africa
Tel: +27 31 260 3077 Fax: +27 31 260 2967
Website: www.und.ac.za/und/ieasa

South African Universities
Vice-Chancellor’s Association (SAUVCA)
P.O. Box 27392 Sunnyside 0132
South Africa
Tel: +27 12 481 2842 Fax: +27 12 481 2843
Website: www.sauvca.org.za

Committee of Technikon Principals (CTP)
Private Bag X680 Pretoria 0001
South Africa
Tel: +27 12 326 1066
Website: www.technikons.co.za

Artworks Publishing
30 Steel Rd Morningside
Durban 4000
Tel: +27 31 3036466 Fax: +27 31 3034493
Website: www.artworks.co.za

Government

The South African Government
Private Bag X745 Pretoria 0001
South Africa
Tel: +27 12 314 2377 Fax: +27 12 323 383
Website: www.gov.za

National Department of Education
Private Bag X895 Pretoria 0001
South Africa
Tel: +27 12 312 5911
Website: www.education.pwv.gov.za

National Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152 Pretoria 0001
South Africa
Tel: +27 12 351 1000

Education

South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)
Postnet Suite 248
Private Bag X06 Waterkloof 0145
South Africa
Tel: + 27 12 482 0858/482 0864
Website: www.saqa.org.za

Matriculation Board
P.O. Box 3854 Pretoria 0001
South Africa
Tel: +27 12 481 2847
Website: www.sauvca.org.za/mb

Research

National Research Foundation (NRF)
P.O. Box 2600 Pretoria 0001
South Africa
Tel: + 27 12 481 4000
Website: www.nrf.ac.za

Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
Private Bag X41 Pretoria 0001
South Africa
Tel: + 27 12 3022 999
Website: www.hsrc.ac.za

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
P.O. BOX 395 Pretoria 0001
Tel: + 27 12 841 29 11
Website: www.csir.co.za

Medical Research Council
Private Bag X385 Pretoria 0001
South Africa
Tel: +27 12 339 8500
Website: www.mrc.ac.za

Travel and Tourism

South African Tourism (SATOUR)
Private Bag X10012
Sandton 2146
South Africa
Tel: +27 11 778 8000
Website: www.southafrica.net
www.south-african-tourism.org

Tourism South Africa
www.tourism.org.za

Tourist Information Directory
www.linx.co.za

South African Airways
www.saa.co.za

South African Tourism Services Association
www.satsa.com

Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park www.gkgpark.com

Coast 2 Coast Tourism Initiative
www.africacoast2coast.com

KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Authority
www.zulu.org.za

Directory for tourism in Southern Africa
www.africatravelsearch.com