List of Universities, Colleges and Schools In South Africa

Whether you are South African or not, if you want to study in the country, one of the first things that you need to understand is some South African education system facts. The reason is that once you know how the system works, it becomes easy to get the best of it. Consequently, in this article, we discuss how the system operates, the levels, and state of education in the country and other vital facts that you must note.

Apart from the state-of-the-art amenities and natural resources that South Africa is blessed with, the nation prides itself on having some of her universities among the top-ranking institutions in the world. However, you will also agree to the fact that quality attracts some costs, which is why some people complain about the high demand in the cost of learning, especially at the higher level. But that is not to say that there is no free education in South Africa. What is important is knowing how to go about it, and you will be one of the beneficiaries.

South African Education System History

The beginning of education in South Africa dates back to when colonial experience started in 1652 at the Cape. A few years afterwards, a school was founded to cater for the slave children that were brought to the Cape. While many things were wrong with the education system of that time, the country witnessed a proper system of education when the Britons ruled later.

Then, as the missionary movement started to proliferate, education was provided for black and white children since the slave trade had been abolished. When the Bantu Education Act was introduced, it formally ended the control of the missionaries over the education of black people while instituting a system that encouraged mass learning.

However, since democracy has come to stay in the country, it has ushered in significant reforms in how education was managed. It also impacts on curriculum design and restructuring as well as the method of funding. Before 2009, there was a single Department of Education before it was eventually divided into two national departments. Then, each of the provinces in the country had its education department as well. These ensure proper implementation of the policies made at the national level.

What is the education system in South Africa?

The education system of South Africa works in a way that grants every child access to basic learning. From the age of seven years up to the age of 15, education is made compulsory for children. By implication, every child is expected to get an education from Grade one to Grade nine. More so, based on the Bill of Rights, there is an obligation on the part of the government to continuously ensure that formal learning is available and accessible through reasonable measures.

However, from grades 10 to 12, only interested students can further their learning. Most time, students who want to further at this level have to go to community or private colleges or technical colleges where they have to take a school-leaving examination, otherwise called matric. To help with the development, support for South African schools was a reason for the establishment of the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).

Education levels in South Africa

According to the official grouping by the Department of Basic Education (DBE), there are two bands. These are General Education and Training (GET) and Further Education and Training (FET). GET includes grade 0 and grades 1 to 9 while FET includes grades 10 to 12 and other vocational training facilities that are not considered higher learning.

More so, under the General Education and Training (GET) band, there is a Foundation Phase, which includes grade 0 (kindergarten) and grades 1 to 3, an Intermediate Phase, which includes grade 4 to grade 6. Then, there is the Senior Phase, which includes grade 7 to grade 9. But in terms of administration, the schools are referred to as primary schools, comprising of grade R with grades 1 to 7, and secondary schools: grades 8 to 12. The secondary schools are sometimes called high schools or colleges.

What happens after college?

After college, a student who wishes to further his or her schooling in South Africa can also apply to the higher school or university based on his or her choice of the course to study. And once that is completed, a student gets the National Senior Certificate containing the matriculation endorsements. These endorsements form the minimum requirement that qualifies a student for admission into any university in the country.

“But is Grade R compulsory in South Africa?” You may want to ask. Even though it is not yet compulsory, a few reasons why it is suggested to parents is that the kids will learn the social skills needed for interacting with others. Then, it also lays a foundation for learning numbers, how to read and write, and how to obey instructions, among others.

How Many Universities in South Africa?

Currently There are 26 public universities distributed across all 9 provinces in South Africa. Public universities in South Africa are split into 3 types these are

Traditional Universities: These Universities provide theoretically-oriented university degree programmes.
Universities of Technology (“Technikons”): These Universities provide vocational oriented diploma and degree programmes.
Comprehensive Universities: These Universities provide a combination of both traditional Universities qualifications and Universities of Technology qualifications.

Private Universities and Colleges in South Africa

Studying in a Private or Public university or college is a thing of choice. However, if your preference is to study in a private college in South Africa, there is a wide variety of South African private universities for you. Meanwhile, you may need to attend one of the best private universities or colleges to get the right value for your money.

South Africa has over thirty-five private universities. The beauty of these private universities is that many of them specialize in certain disciplines. Thus, they will be your ideal choice if you plan to study the particular discipline which the South African private college specializes in.

In this section of the article, we will share with you ten of the best private universities and colleges in South Africa. You will also get information about the courses and programs which they offer and a link to visit their official site to discover more about the school.

List of Private Universities in South Africa

If you reside in South Africa or grew up in the country, you may already know that there are myriads of higher educational institutions in the country. However, not many of them are public or comprehensive universities, and several others have gone defunct.

Private universities outnumber public universities in South Africa and more universities are springing up in the country every year. Of course, some of these new universities are private universities. South African Graduate Institute, for example, began in 2016.

Below is a full list of South African Private University based on their types.

Private Higher Education

Akademia,
Akademie Reformatoriese Opleiding en Studies,
Cornerstone Institute,
Centurion Akademie / Academy,
Helderberg College,
Foundation for Professional Development,
Monash South Africa,
Oval Education International,
Pearson Institute of Higher Education (formerly Midrand Graduate Institute & CTI Education Group),
South African College of Applied Psychology (SACAP), and
South African Institute for Heritage Science, and Conservation.

Private College

CTU Training Solutions,
Damelin,
Management College of Southern Africa,
Qualitas Career Academy,
Red & Yellow School,
Rosebank College,
St Augustine College of South Africa,
UniCollege West Rand,
Varsity College, and
Vega.

Hospitality School

Stenden University South Africa

Business Institute/ Marketing

Boston City Campus and Business College,
New World Mission Dunamis International University (Regenesys Business School),
South African Graduate Institute,
Southern Business School,
Milpark Business School, and
IMM Graduate School of Marketing.

Film/Design/Animation

AFDA, The South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance,
BHC School of Design,
Inscape Design College,
The Open Window,
The Design School Southern Africa

Sports & Fitness College

eta College

Best Private Universities in South Africa

To rank the best private university in South Africa out of the list of universities and colleges above is a tricky job. Yet, we have selected ten private universities for you which we think are worth considering.

We ranked these universities simply based on the scope of degree programs they offer, mode of offering these programs, and the number of locations they are situated.

Thus, Regenesys Business school may be the best private business school in the country but it wouldn’t make our list because of its course of study limitation.

However, you can always refer to our comprehensive list of South African Universities and Colleges to compare colleges offering degree programs in a particular area of study.

Meanwhile, here are our top 10 private universities and colleges in South Africa.

Damelin
Varsity College
Foundation for Professional Development
Monash South Africa
Pearson Institute of Higher Education
CTU Training Solutions
Cornerstone Institute
Helderberg College of Higher Education
Vega School
Qualitas Career Academy

TVET Colleges in South Africa

Many people are still unaware of the study opportunities government has provided through public Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges. TVET colleges, previously known as FET Colleges, offer a wide range of courses and training programmes that have been developed to respond to the scarce skills needed by employers. studying at a TVET College will equip you with the skills you need to find employment in South Africa.This is good news for students who are undecided on their career path as studying at a TVET College will equip you with the skills you need to find employment in South Africa.

TVET Colleges can offer courses in industry fields such as agriculture, arts and culture, business, hospitality, commerce and management, education, training and development, engineering, manufacturing and technology, services, building construction and security.

These fields have been identified by government as critical sectors in the country.

While all TVET colleges are funded and supported by government they differ in the amount and variety of training programmes they offer. Some colleges may offer up to 300 different courses.

There is a strong focus on engineering and artisan training in the TVET landscape. This is due to government’s plans to meet skills shortages in the engineering sector.
Study options vary between short courses and formal training programmes of up to three years.

While universities specialize in theoretical training, TVET Colleges are a good choice for students who want practical training. For example students who wish to pursue careers in hospitality would benefit from the hands-on approach of these public colleges.

According to the FET colleges website there are fifty registered and accredited public TVET Colleges in South Africa which operate on more than 264 campuses spread across the rural and urban areas of the country.

If you are looking for practical training and studying CLICK HERE TO FIND A TVET COLLEGE NEAR YOU

Nursing Colleges in South Africa

Nursing is the backbone of the healthcare industry in any country. By definition of Section 31 of the Nursing Act, a nurse supports, cares for, and treats a health care user to achieve and maintain health and live in dignity until death. It is no surprise then that strict checks and measures have been put in place to make sure that nursing colleges and other tertiary training institutions meet the necessary standards in South Africa. There are numerous training programs offered by various institutions. After reading this article, you should be able to choose an institution with an accredited program that would be a suitable match for your area of interest.

There are different categories of nurses who specialize in hospitals or private practice, families, and communities. They must all meet different criteria and therefore undergo different training to achieve a diverse approach to medical practice. All nursing schools in South Africa must be licensed by the SANC- the South African Nursing Council after meeting specific quality standards. Listed below are the universities, colleges, and satellite institutions that offer accredited nurse training programs in South Africa.

If You Are looking for A List of Nursing Colleges in South Africa. Nursing Programmes, Nursing Degrees, Nursing Certificate, Registered Nursing Colleges in South Africa CLICK HERE TO FIND A NURSING SCHOOL NEAR YOU.