South Africa
Job prospects are limited for non-South African graduates. To enter the country you must already have an offer of employment but this can be difficult to get. Employers have to prove that they have been unable to employ a national for the job before employing a foreigner. There are, however, some occupations that do have a shortage of skilled workers and UK nationals may be able to gain employment that way.
It is common in South Africa to send job applications by email. To begin with, a brief profile is usually sent which is a summarised version of your full CV. This profile should contain concise information on your education and previous jobs as well as your personal contact details. You should emphasise your most relevant experience and state that you can provide a comprehensive CV.
You only really need to send a covering letter if you are applying speculatively or are sending in your comprehensive CV. Keep the covering letter brief and to the point, explaining why you would be good for the job and why you are interested in working for that company and in South Africa.
You should follow up your application with a phone call to express your interest in the position. Due to visa requirements, you will need to apply for jobs before going to the country and so you should make it clear in your application when you would be available for interview.
Some companies do use application forms and in these instances CVs and cover letters are not usually required.
Find out more about applying for jobs and CVs and cover letters.
If you have already sent a brief profile (a summarised version of your full CV), you can then follow this up with a comprehensive CV. This is similar in its format to the UK CV and it should provide the following details:
An average length for a CV in South Africa is one to two pages. However, longer CVs are acceptable for academic roles that require you to list your experience and published work in detail.
The interview process usually takes place either by phone before entering the country or through an interview in the UK (if applying to work for an international company with a base in South Africa). If travelling to South Africa for an interview, expenses may be paid by the company but you should always check this first.
Methods of interviewing and selection typically mirror the UK format. For a face-to-face interview it is best to dress smartly even if the company dress code is casual. Punctuality is important so aim to arrive early. Interviews are likely to be in English and follow a similar format to those in the UK with questions about:
The South African higher education system follows a similar format to that of the UK and as a result UK qualifications are recognised in the country.
If you are planning to live and work in South Africa, check your UK tax and National Insurance position with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to ensure that you are not losing any UK pension rights.
These resources can be used to search for recruitment agencies in South Africa:
Most universities have job fairs. These are usually advertised on the university’s careers service website.
Many jobs are not advertised in South Africa so it is often worth making speculative applications to selected companies. Research the sector you are most interested in and then apply directly to the individual companies. Personal contacts may also be useful in finding work. Membership of relevant professional bodies, for example the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) , the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE) or the South African Institution of Mechanical Engineering (SAIMECHE) , may also be useful in establishing a network of contacts.
Work placements are available through organisations such as Travellers Worldwide . They provide the opportunity to work in a number of sectors, including teaching, drama and sports coaching. Placements need to be funded by the applicant.
The BUNAC Volunteer South Africa programme offers the opportunity to work with children and to assist the teacher or take your own class, preparing classes and marking work. You will also have the opportunity to organise extracurricular activities such as arts and crafts, sports, dance and music.
Global Vision International (GVI) runs a range of volunteer programmes in South Africa including a wildlife conservation expedition, orphanage projects, surfing and sports education, and healthcare and hygiene workshops.
The BUNAC Volunteer South Africa programme offers placements ranging from 5 to 33 weeks in teaching, work with children, HIV/AIDS awareness, community development, care work, and environmental work and conservation. Previous experience and/or an interest in the area of work is preferred, particularly for teaching volunteers.
Other organisations, such as i-to-i , also provide volunteering opportunities. You will usually have to fund yourself.
It is difficult for UK graduates to get casual work due to the job market situation in South Africa. Most casual work opportunities can be found within the hospitality sector, but these jobs should ideally be secured before going to South Africa. The Careerjet South Africa website has a searchable database of casual work. A work visa is required.
Although it is difficult to get short-term jobs in South Africa, there are opportunities available. Short-term jobs can range from au-pair work to language teaching. These jobs should ideally be secured before going to South Africa. A work visa is required.
There are many organisations offering gap years in South Africa. To choose a reputable organisation, you should seek advice from your university careers service or check whether the company is registered with the Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (ATOL) scheme or other similar organisations, such as the Year Out Group .
There are currently 23 public higher education institutions in South Africa, divided into three different types of institution: universities of technology; traditional universities; and comprehensive universities. They all offer a wide range of courses.
Private universities also exist and tend to focus on vocational subjects.
The subject and level of course available depends on the type of institution.
The higher education structure is comparable with the UK system and qualifications are offered at Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral level.
Masters degrees usually require one to two years’ full-time study, while doctoral degrees tend to take three to four years.
Postgraduate courses are typically taught in English and you should contact individual institutions to find out the exact subjects they offer. The University of Cape Town, for example, offers courses in humanities, sciences and engineering.
Universities with the highest proportion of non-South African students are:
A full list of universities in South Africa is available from 4 International Colleges and Universities: South Africa .
International students must have a study permit before they are allowed to enrol onto any course in South Africa. They are available from the South African embassy in your home country.
Course applications are made directly to the university and some have online forms that can be downloaded and sent back. Applications are usually accepted throughout the year for research Masters and PhDs but others may have deadlines and so you should check directly with your chosen institution. It is always a good idea to apply as early as possible (e.g. in the previous year) to increase your chances of securing a place.
It is also necessary to have valid health insurance and to be able to provide proof of this before registering on any course.
UK citizens are required to pay full international fees. The fees that need to be paid can consist of course fees and international term fees. The course fees vary depending on the subject and institution so you should contact your chosen place directly to see what the costs are.
The term fee is levied by the university and again varies. For example, the University of Cape Town charges R11,500 (South African Rands) for a law Masters or PhD, while term fees for other Doctoral or Masters subjects are set at around R22,500 per year.
Scholarships for postgraduate international students are limited but are available at some institutions. They are unlikely to cover the full cost of the programme. You should contact the international office or the relevant faculty at the university to find out if they offer anything.
Exchange programmes are more common at undergraduate level, where it is possible to go to a university in South Africa and study for one or two semesters. There may be a few opportunities to carry out exchanges at postgraduate level but you should check with your own international office to see what is available.
South African university qualifications are internationally recognised. UK NARIC (National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom) provides information about the equivalency of qualifications and skills from overseas to the UK’s national qualifications framework. Visit their website for more information on the services they provide.
UK citizens are able to enter South Africa and stay for a period of up to 90 days without a visa. If you wish to stay for longer than this, or to work or study in the country, you must apply for the relevant visa. The South African High Commission in the UK has details of the different visas and permits that are available.
Non-UK citizens should consult their embassy to find out if a visa is required in order for them to enter South Africa.
Work permits are usually granted for a particular job with a specified company, and any worker wishing to change employers must obtain the approval of the South African Department of Home Affairs.
Students wishing to study for courses longer than three months should apply for a study permit, providing evidence of:
Specific exchange permits are also available for exchange students.
UK citizens can apply for relevant visas through the South African High Commission in the UK. Forms are available online. Various documents need to accompany the application and details of these are included on the High Commission’s website. Required documents may include:
It can take four to six weeks for the application to be processed and no arrangements for travel should be made until the permit has been approved.
If you are not a UK national, contact the South African embassy in the country where you are currently residing about how to obtain visas and work permits. If you are living in the UK, go to the South African High Commission in the UK .
You might also find it helpful to contact your ministry of foreign affairs (or your own embassy if you are not living in your home country) to ask whether there are any issues to be taken into account when considering working in South Africa.
It is possible for a UK citizen to apply for permanent residency in South Africa. The application is made through the South African High Commission in the UK and the relevant forms can be accessed on the Commission’s website. Various documents need to be submitted along with the application, details of which are on the website.
Non-UK citizens should check with the South African embassy in their country to find out whether permanent residency is possible.
These are provided by the South African Department of Labour Offices, which are located throughout the country.
Careers information centres are available in universities in South Africa and some of them offer career development programmes, see for example, University of Cape Town: Careers .
Look on individual institution websites or contact them directly to find out further information on the careers service that may be available. Resources are similar to those in the UK and may include:
Careers services are usually available to international students studying in South Africa.
In an emergency, you should contact your country’s embassy for help. Help for British nationals is available from the British High Commission in South Africa . The Commission has consular offices based in Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth. Visit the website for contact details.
Other emergency contact numbers in South Africa include:
Find the latest travel advice and a traveller’s checklist on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website.
