Study in South Africa

A nation celebrated for its rich culture and natural beauty, South Africa's higher education system is emerging as an exciting place to study

The South African education system

There are 23 public universities in South Africa and these are split into:

• comprehensive universities;
• traditional universities;
• universities of technology.

The highest ranked African university, the University of Cape Town, is in South Africa. It lies in 113th position in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2013. Further down the list are the:

• University of Witwatersrand;
• Stellenbosch University;
• University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Entry requirements

To get onto a Masters course you will usually need an undergraduate degree in a related course and a strong academic record. For a specific breakdown of the admissions requirements on a particular course, visit the university website and send them an enquiry.

Courses are typically taught in English, although South Africa is home to 11 official languages, including Afrikaans and Zulu, so it's best to check before you apply.

Course fees

South African course fees are relatively cheap when compared to other destinations, but they do vary, so make sure you enquire at your chosen university.

For example, studying the LLM in Civil Law at the University of Cape Town will cost a UK student R54,200 (£3,832) plus an international fee of R14,605 (£1,032).

UK citizens are classed as international students and are therefore required to pay full international fees.

Living costs

The cost of living in South Africa is relatively cheap in comparison to the UK.

An average person would need around R1,500 (£104.34) for food a month, which breaks down to about R50 (£3.48) per day

A three-course meal at a restaurant may set you back R300 (£20.86) and the average cost of one month's rent in a one-bedroom city centre apartment is R4,500 (£313), according to the world's largest city and country database, Numbeo .

Funding to study in South Africa

Funding for postgraduate international students is limited but some institutions will offer scholarships to cover part of the course fees. The majority of South African institutions offer bursaries and scholarships to South African nationals and students from other African countries.

South African exchanges and placements

Contact your university to see if they have links with a South African institution. For example, the University of Sunderland is one of six UK member institutions that can offer the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) , which lists the University of Johannesburg as a potential destination.

Student visas

UK citizens are allowed to enter South Africa and stay for up to 90 days without a visa. Students wishing to enrol on a course for longer than this must apply for a study permit. South African institutions cannot register an international student without one.

To apply for a study permit, you'll need to provide:

• an official university letter confirming your acceptance and the length of the course;
• details of the person who will act as your guardian and written conformation;
• medical cover and a doctor's certificate;
• proof of financial security.

You should contact your local South African embassy to apply. For a comprehensive list of South African embassies in the UK visit the Department of International Relations and Cooperation - South African Representation Abroad .