Scholarships to Study 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

Scholarship support for international students at South African universities is limited. Wits states that undergraduate international students are not eligible for university bursaries or financial aid, though honours, master's and PhD students may be eligible for postgraduate merit awards based on academic excellence. UCT offers a limited number of scholarships each year to international and refugee students for postgraduate study; they are supplementary, so applicants must be able to fund their studies, and UCT states the call for 2026 was affected by funding constraints.