Verified admission facts for universities worldwide. Every number carries a date and a source. How we verify
UniversityAdmission
Southern Africa, capital Pretoria

Cost of Studying in South Africa (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
Public tuition, per year
Not listed
international students
Living cost, per month
Not listed
typical range
Work during study
20 h
per week
Post study work
Not listed
after graduation
Intakes
February
main application cycles

University fees, 2026. UCT: course tuition (typical first year ZAR 46,000 to ZAR 113,510) plus an International Term Fee of ZAR 60,300 (non-SADC Africa) or ZAR 80,400 (rest of world) for undergraduates, and a ZAR 5,600 administrative fee. Wits: non-SADC undergraduates pay double local tuition; postgraduates pay local tuition plus an R6,970 International Registration Fee. Stellenbosch: tuition per module plus an International Tuition Fee of R38,260 (Africa beyond SADC) or R76,520 (outside Africa) for bachelor's students.

Visa. Study visa R425 (Home Affairs, August 2026).

Admission. Matriculation Board exemption R1,070 for 2026.

Sources, checked 15 September 2026
  1. https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/types-of-visas
  2. https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/fees
  3. https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/turnaround-times-for-visas-and-permits
  4. https://mb.usaf.ac.za/fees-structure/
  5. https://uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/media/documents/uct_ac_za/49/2026-fees-booklet.pdf
  6. https://www.wits.ac.za/internationalstudents/financial-information/fee-structure/
  7. https://files.su.ac.za/public/students/documents/2025-12/international-student-fee-information-degree-seeking-stellenbosch-campus.pdf