Study in South Africa: Admission, Cost, Visa and Scholarships (2027)

South Africa's research universities charge international students local tuition plus an international fee: at the University of Cape Town, students from outside Africa pay an International Term Fee of ZAR 80,400 in 2026 on top of course fees, and at Wits non-SADC undergraduates pay double the local tuition. The academic year starts in February, with 2027 undergraduate applications closing between 30 June and 31 July or 30 September 2026. A study visa costs R425, allows 20 hours of work a week and requires South African medical scheme cover.

Verified 15 Sep 2026 Sources

Universities in South Africa such as the University of Cape Town (UCT), the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg and Stellenbosch University, teach mainly in English and admit students from across Africa and beyond. The academic year runs from February to December, so applications for 2027 are made during 2026.

International fees are built from local tuition plus extra charges that depend on where a student comes from. Students from Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries are generally charged like South Africans with an administrative fee. At UCT, non-SADC students pay course tuition plus an International Term Fee of ZAR 60,300 for other African countries or ZAR 80,400 for the rest of the world at undergraduate level in 2026, and an administrative fee of ZAR 5,600; a typical first year costs from ZAR 46,000 to ZAR 113,510 in course fees before those charges. Wits charges non-SADC undergraduates double the local tuition, while postgraduates from anywhere pay local tuition plus an International Registration Fee of R6,970. Stellenbosch adds an International Tuition Fee of R76,520 for bachelor's students from outside Africa in 2026.

Deadlines for 2027 study fall in 2026. UCT's undergraduate applications closed on 31 July and postgraduate applications close on 30 September 2026, with 15 November 2026 the date by which international applicants need an offer to leave time for a visa. Wits closed health sciences and some other programmes on 30 June and closes all other undergraduate programmes on 30 September 2026. Stellenbosch's undergraduate applications close on 31 July.

English requirements at these universities are demanding: IELTS 6.5 at UCT, Wits and Stellenbosch for most applicants, with UCT asking TOEFL iBT 88. Undergraduates with foreign school qualifications also need an exemption certificate from the Matriculation Board of Universities South Africa, which costs R1,070 for 2026 and is applied for through the university; for Bangladeshi applicants the HSC alone is not enough.

A study visa is issued for the length of the course. The Department of Home Affairs lists a R425 fee and requires medical cover with a registered South African medical scheme, and applications made in South Africa are decided within 60 working days. A 2026 directive waived the medical report for visa applications. Study visa holders may work part time for up to 20 hours a week. Home Affairs states that the critical skills work visa is not a work-seekers visa and requires a job offer.