Costs & Funding in South Africa - Study in South Africa

Costs & Funding for Studying in South Africa

South Africa is one of the most affordable English-medium study destinations in the world — but "affordable" does not mean "free", and international students pay a different rate from South African citizens. Tuition is real, the international student levy is added on top, living costs vary sharply by city, and the Section 11(1)(b) study visa requires you to fund the whole year up front. This guide breaks down tuition by university, living costs by city, scholarships, part-time work, medical insurance, and the proof of funds you need for your visa.

Tuition Fees

Tuition for international students at South African public universities falls in a broad range. The figures below are the foreign-student rate; South African citizens pay much less.

Most fields

Higher-cost fields

Private universities

Private institutions (e.g. IIE MSA, Varsity College for some programs) sit slightly above the public range. Confirm the figure on each program's fees page.

That is the honest figure — tuition is real, and the international levy is mandatory. Exact amounts vary by university and program, so confirm on the official fees page. Many institutions allow per-semester payment rather than a full year upfront. Run a personalised estimate with our cost-of-study calculator, and compare universities in the programs and universities guide.

Monthly Living Costs

Living costs vary sharply by city — Cape Town is the most expensive, the smaller cities are noticeably cheaper.

Cape Town (highest costs)

Johannesburg

Pretoria / Stellenbosch / Durban (cheaper)

Total Cost of a Degree

Realistic totals, tuition plus international levy plus 12 months of living:

Even the Cape Town/UCT scenario — Africa's top university in its most expensive city — typically costs far less than the equivalent in the UK, US, or Australia, where tuition alone can exceed those totals in a single year.

Scholarships

Funding in South Africa is real but competitive. Plan for it as a bonus, not a guarantee.

University scholarships

Most major universities offer merit-based scholarships for international postgraduate students, usually as a partial tuition discount tied to your admission:

• UCT International Scholarships — for outstanding international Master's and PhD students
• Wits International Postgraduate Merit Awards
• Stellenbosch Merit Bursaries
• UP International Tuition Fee Award

Undergraduate scholarships for international students are rarer than postgraduate ones. Apply through the university's scholarship portal alongside or just after your program application.

National and regional scholarships

• Mandela Rhodes Scholarship — supports African postgraduate students at South African universities
• AU Scholarships / SADC schemes — for students from African Union and Southern African Development Community member countries
• DAAD, Erasmus+, Commonwealth and similar — for eligible international students, including some funded options at South African universities

Home-country and external funding

• Home-country government scholarships that fund study abroad
• Private foundations and employer sponsorships in your home country
• Fulbright (for US students), DAAD (for German students), etc.

Strategy: apply for the university scheme and any external funding early — deadlines frequently fall before or with the admission deadline.

Part-Time Work

International students on a valid Section 11(1)(b) study visa may take limited part-time work — generally up to 20 hours per week during semester time, with employer registration. Common student work includes teaching assistantships, tutoring, retail, and hospitality. Pay is modest, so treat part-time work as pocket money, not tuition funding. Confirm the current rules with your university's international office and the student visa guide.

Proof of Funds for the Study Visa

For the Section 11(1)(b) study visa through the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), you must show you can support yourself.

Typical requirements:

• Tuition for the year (paid or provable)
• Annual living allowance as set by DHA (figures change periodically — confirm the current amount)
• Repatriation deposit — a refundable deposit covering your return flight, sometimes required
• Medical insurance with a registered South African medical scheme (see below)

Accepted proof typically includes:

• A bank statement in your name (or your sponsor's) showing the required amount
• An official scholarship confirmation letter
• A combination of the above

Requirements change, so confirm the exact current figure and accepted documents with the DHA or the South African embassy in your country before you apply. Full walkthrough in our student visa guide.

Medical Insurance (Required)

This catches many international students off guard: the Section 11(1)(b) study visa requires you to hold medical insurance with a registered South African medical scheme — not international travel insurance from your home country. Approved schemes include Momentum, Discovery, Bonitas, and similar.

Expect to pay roughly ZAR 700–2,000 per month depending on the plan. Most universities partner with approved schemes and offer student plans that meet the visa requirement. Sort this out before you apply for the visa, and keep your cover valid for the entire study period.

Smart Ways to Cut Costs

South Africa is already affordable, but students trim costs further in predictable ways:

• Choose a cheaper city — Pretoria, Stellenbosch, and Durban are noticeably cheaper than Cape Town
• Use on-campus or university housing — cheaper and safer than the open market
• Share a flat with other students — splits rent and bills
• Cook at home — supermarkets like Pick n Pay, Checkers, and Shoprite are reasonable
• Use a SIM with a prepaid data bundle — competitive on Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom
• Account for load-shedding — a power bank, headlamp, and inverter can save you money on damaged devices and lost work

Together these keep a monthly budget comfortably in the ZAR 10,000–15,000 range in most cities.

Budget Planning Checklist

Before you arrive, confirm:

• Tuition payment schedule (per semester or per year) and first instalment amount
• University and external scholarship applications submitted where relevant (early deadlines)
• Proof of funds secured (tuition + annual living allowance + repatriation deposit)
• Medical insurance with a registered South African medical scheme arranged
• Housing reserved (on-campus or university-arranged where possible)
• Section 11(1)(b) study visa applied for at least 8 weeks before travel
• A settling-in buffer (ZAR 8,000–15,000) for a deposit, transport, and first-week costs

Next Steps

1. Student visa — use your proof of funds to apply for the Section 11(1)(b) study visa
2. Living in South Africa — housing, transport, and daily costs
3. Admissions and application — if you have not applied yet
4. Programs and universities — compare UCT, Wits, Stellenbosch and find your field