Tuition Fees and Living Costs in South Africa

In recent seasons, South Africa has stood as one of the world’s leading educational destinations. In fact, its schools are comparable to other advanced schools in the world.

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List of Universities in South Africa with Affordable Tuition

1. University of KwaZulu-Natal

Established on January 1, 2004, the University of KwaZulu-Natal was formed through a merger between the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville. The university offers a wide range of programs from Agricultural Studies to Finance.

Undergraduate tuition ranges from R24,300 to R53,100, depending on the program selected.

2. University of Cape Town (UCT)

UCT is one of the oldest universities in South Africa, founded in 1829 and located in Cape Town, Western Cape Province. It is also known as one of the most affordable universities in the country.

UCT offers various study programs, including Accounting, Medicine, Anthropology, Language and Literature, and Statistics. Tuition fees average R21,500 for undergraduate students, R75,000 for international students, and R60,000 for postgraduate programs.

3. University of Fort Hare

Founded in 1916, the University of Fort Hare was historically a higher education institution for black Africans until 1959. It provided Western-style education and produced many alumni who played significant roles in African independence movements and governments.

Programs include Education, Science, Agriculture, Social Sciences, Management, and Law. Tuition fees range from R18,620 to R44,374 for domestic undergraduate students and around R26,000 to R45,000 for international students.

4. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Now known as Nelson Mandela University, this institution was founded in 2005 through the merger of Port Elizabeth Technikon and the University of Port Elizabeth. It hosts over 3,000 international students.

Programs include Music, Arts and Design, Languages, Education, IT, and Natural Resource Management. Undergraduate tuition is approximately R93,770, while master’s programs range from R17,940 to R22,460.

5. University of the Witwatersrand

Founded in 1896, the University of the Witwatersrand (or Wits), located in Johannesburg, is a multi-campus public research university. In 1959, it was restricted from admitting black students under apartheid laws, but this was reversed in 1990.

Study programs include Accounting, Management, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Medicine, Mining, Computer Science, and Literature.

Tuition fees are around R44,910 for undergraduate programs, and R65,300 to R151,970 for master’s degrees.

6. Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch is one of the oldest universities in Sub-Saharan Africa, alongside UCT. Founded in 1918, it was the first African university to sign the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities.

Programs include Arts, Social Sciences, Science, Education, AgriSciences, Law, Theology, Economics, Engineering, and Management. Tuition fees for African students range from R20,520 to R21,690, while non-African students pay around R43,380.

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Living Costs in South Africa

If you choose to study in South Africa, you’ll also need to prepare for daily living costs. Compared to many countries, South Africa is relatively affordable, though still considered expensive by Indonesian standards.

All values below are converted into Indonesian Rupiah (IDR):

1. Housing and Accommodation

You can either rent or buy an apartment. Here’s the breakdown:

Monthly Rent:

• 1-bedroom in city centre: IDR 5,009,225
• 1-bedroom outside city centre: IDR 3,991,987
• 3-bedroom in city centre: IDR 10,392,626
• 3-bedroom outside city centre: IDR 8,324,137

Buying Price per m²:

• In the city centre: IDR 12,646,893
• Outside city centre: IDR 10,286,984

2. Utilities

These prices depend on usage, but here are the averages:

• Electricity, water, heating, garbage: IDR 1,089,753
• Local prepaid mobile call (per minute): IDR 1,989
• Internet package (6 Mbps, unlimited, cable/ADSL): IDR 722,169

3. Food and Beverages

Costs may vary depending on lifestyle, but here are average prices:

• Budget restaurant meal: IDR 88,255
• Mid-range restaurant meal: IDR 386,116
• Fast food meal (e.g., McDonald’s): IDR 49,643
• Bottled water (0.33L): IDR 8,491

To save more, it’s better to cook at home and shop at local markets.

4. Transportation

If your university is close to your apartment, walking or cycling is best. For longer distances, you may rely on public transport:

• One-way public transport ticket: IDR 12,135
• Taxi fare (per km): IDR 16,547
• Gasoline: IDR 14,510 per litre (excluding additional costs like driver’s license, insurance, etc.)

5. Entertainment and Fitness

South Africa doesn’t offer as many entertainment venues as some other countries, but here are some sample costs:

• Gym membership (monthly, per adult): IDR 426,160
• Tennis court rental (per hour): IDR 68,476
• Cinema ticket (international films): IDR 55,160

From this overview, we can conclude that tuition and living costs in South Africa are quite affordable, in some cases, comparable to Indonesia. However, please note that prices may fluctuate over time.

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