6 Cheapest Universities in South Africa for International Students


Wednesday, 12 August 2020

South Africa is full of breathtakingly beautiful natural destinations, diverse flora and fauna, and a multicultural lifestyle. All of this and more, combined with the quality of education South African universities offer, make the country a perfect destination for students. The cherry on top is the cost: there are various universities in South Africa that have a pocket friendly policy because they believe everyone should have access to education. Discover the cheapest universities in South Africa.




The competitive world we live in nowadays makes higher education of paramount importance. Furthering your education once you obtain a Bachelor’s degree will open many more doors for better job opportunities, higher earning potential and an overall more comfortable living. 

Even though getting a Master’s degree is important and will bring about many benefits for your future, pursuing a master’s degree can be very expensive and not affordable to many students. If this is your case, or you just don’t think it is necessary to break the bank in order to get a quality degree, you should consider pursuing a degree at a university from the following list. These are the pocket friendly universities in South Africa that offer excellent programmes of the highest quality.

Top 6 Cheapest Universities in South Africa

Tuition Fee: Between USD 1,750 and USD 5,400 per academic year.
The University of the Western Cape (UCW) came to life in 1959. It is currently ranked as one of the top 10 universities in South Africa. The University is well-known for its key role in fighting against apartheid. 

African and SADC students pay local fees, which means they’ll pay between ZAR 30,140 (USD 1,750 approx.) and ZAR 58,180 (USD 3,400 approx.) per academic year. International students from other countries will pay between USD 3,800 and USD 5,400 per academic year.

Tuition Fee: From USD 2,100 to USD 7,500 per academic year.
The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), located in Johannesburg, is one of the oldest and best-ranked universities in South Africa. 

Tuition fees for SADC students includes local fees plus a registration fee of USD 400 approx. International students from any other country pay two times the local fees. It will cost between USD 2,100 and USD 7,500 per academic year depending on your degree programme,

Tuition Fee: Between USD 2,500 and USD 6,000 per academic year.
After two technikons merged together in 2002, the Durban University of Technology (DUT) came to life. 

The cost of your studies at DUT will depend on your country of origin. Those that come from countries of the SADC will pay the same tuition fees as local students. International students from any other country must pay twice the local fees. This includes tuition, accommodation, and administrative expenses, but with these expenses, DUT is still a very affordable university.

Tuition fees at DUT are calculated according to the classes you are taking. Each subject has a specific price, which could go from USD 70 to USD 750. Besides this, you’ll have to make a down payment upon enrollment of USD 600 approx. 

Tuition Fee: Between USD 1,900 to USD 4,500 per academic year
In 2005, three higher education institutions (Vista University and the University of Port Elizabeth, and the PE Technikon) merged together giving life to the Nelson Mandela University

Tuition fees for international students go from USD 1,900 to USD 4,100 for the first year of studies making this NMU a very cheap university in South Africa. Non-SADC students also have to pay a foreign administrative fee of USD 379.

Tuition Fee: From USD 1,500 to USD 3,000 per academic year.
Founded in 1982, the University of Venda is considered to be “rural-based” and was created to provide higher education in the region. However, it currently hosts students from all over South Africa and the world.

Tuition fees vary depending on the major and the academic year of the degree program. For the first year of the degree programmes, tuition fees go from ZAR 25,000 to ZAR 50,000. International students must pay an additional registration fee.

Tuition Fee: From USD 3,500 to USD 6,500 per academic year.
Stellenbosch University is, together with the University of Cape town, the oldest university in South Africa. Having acquired university status in 1918, its focus has been in providing its students with the best quality of education from its inception.

In addition to quality education, SU is interested in providing an affordable education so that everyone is able to access it. Tuition fees depend on your country of origin. Tuition fees for students from the SADC are of ZAR 60,000 (South African Rands) per academic year. For those from other African countries, tuition fees are ZAR 83,940, and for everyone else, tuition fees are of ZAR 110,700 per academic year.

All these universities have pocket friendly policies. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t provide you with the best education available. On the contrary, they have been recognized in world rankings because of the quality of their education, the satisfaction their students have shown with the education, the diversity of the university, their outstanding educational environment, among other factors that contribute to their excellence.

What are you waiting for? Your future awaits you. Stop losing your time and invest in yourself.




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