Direct links to every SA university's official application portal, a calculator that scores your matric marks the way each university actually does, and a way to check a private college is legit — all free.
Direct, official links to every South African public university, plus well-known private institutions. Free, always.
See the directory →Every university scores your matric marks differently. Pick yours and get an honest estimate, not a generic guess.
Calculate my score →Official application portals for South Africa's public universities. Bookmark this page — you'll be back a few times before results season.
Links go to each university's own website. Application fees, closing dates and course availability are set by the institutions and change often — always confirm on the official page before paying anything.
These are among South Africa's better-known private higher education providers. Before you pay any application fee anywhere private, confirm the institution on the Verify a University tab below — private higher education has real, legitimate players and a lot of scams wearing the same "campus" language.
This is not an endorsement — it's a starting list of well-known brands. Registration status can change, and a well-known name is not proof of registration. Always check the DHET register yourself.
Pick a field, and see which South African universities offer it. This is a starting point, not a full course catalogue — always confirm the exact programme name and requirements on the university's own site.
Every South African university scores your matric marks differently — the same results can be 33/42 at one university and 430/600 at another. Pick your university, enter your marks, and get that university's own version of your score.
Where I've verified a direct, current link, it goes straight to the PDF or prospectus page. For the rest, it goes to the university's admissions page so you can find it yourself. Prospectus links move around every intake, so this list needs a quick check each January — ask me to refresh it any time.
South Africa has 26 public universities — all legitimate by default — plus roughly 145 registered private higher education institutions. Everything else operating as a "university" or "college" outside those lists is illegal, and a qualification from one has no standing.
The Department of Higher Education and Training publishes the full, current list of every legally registered private institution — updated regularly. Search it (Ctrl+F) for the exact name on your acceptance letter before you pay anything.
Open the official DHET register (PDF) →Registration alone isn't enough — the specific qualification also needs to sit on the National Qualifications Framework. If a college can't give you a SAQA ID for your exact course, that's a red flag on its own.
Search the SAQA qualifications database →DHET investigates unregistered institutions directly. If a "college" can't produce a registration certificate, or its registration number doesn't match the official register, report it rather than paying.
Email DHET: PCComplaints1@dhet.gov.za →This page links to official government and SAQA sources rather than listing institutions ourselves — registration status changes often, and the official register is always the accurate, current source. Always verify directly before enrolling or paying.
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme is the South African government's main funding scheme for students who can't afford university or TVET college on their own. If money is the thing standing between you and studying, this is where to start.
NSFAS funds South African citizens and permanent residents with a combined household income of R350,000 or less a year — rising to R600,000 for students living with a disability. SASSA grant recipients qualify automatically without a separate income check.
Full tuition, plus allowances for accommodation, transport, meals, and books — paid directly to your bank account. It applies equally to public universities and public TVET colleges.
Applications typically open around September for the following academic year and close in January — apply as early as you can, since documents (certified ID copies, proof of income) are the most common cause of delays. Funding covers your minimum study duration plus two extra years, so passing your subjects matters for staying funded.
NSFAS funding is separate from applying to a university or TVET college — you need to do both. An NSFAS approval doesn't guarantee a study place, and a study place doesn't guarantee NSFAS funding.
Ask me anything about a course, a deadline, or which route makes sense for you — I read every message.
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