All 62 private colleges and private higher education institutions on this site, grouped by province. Each one shows the courses it offers for 2027, its campuses, entry requirements and how to apply. Registration with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) is what separates a real private college from a fly-by-night one, so check the registration number before you pay any fee.
Course data last updated 22 September 202635 private colleges with a campus or head office in Gauteng, listed with the most courses first. Click through for 2027 entry requirements, fees where the college publishes them, and application links. See every course offered in Gauteng.
Varsity College, founded in 1991 and owned by ADvTECH, is now part of Emeris, the brand that since 2026 unites Varsity College, IIE MSA, Vega School and the School...
Brooklyn City College, headquartered in Pretoria with campuses in Polokwane, Rustenburg, Nelspruit and Durban, offers a wide range of occupational certificates...
HFPA, headquartered in Pretoria with campuses in Sunninghill, Stellenbosch and Gqeberha, trains personal trainers, sport coaches and sport industry professionals.
IIE Rosebank College, a brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE), is one of South Africa's largest private higher education providers, with...
MANCOSA is a private, distance-learning focused business school offering accredited undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications across South Africa and Namibia.
CTU Training Solutions is a private college founded in 1987 with 12 campuses across South Africa. It offers higher certificates, diplomas, a BBA degree and QCTO...
Boston City Campus is one of South Africa's largest private higher education institutions, delivering accredited higher certificates, diplomas, degrees and...
Akademia is a private, Afrikaans-medium higher education institution linked to the Solidarity Movement. Registered in 2011, it offers higher certificates...
IIE MSA, formerly Monash South Africa, is the large Ruimsig campus in Roodepoort that became the Emeris Ruimsig Johannesburg campus in 2026. It offers IIE higher...
Lyceum College is a distance learning institution founded in 1917 and registered with DHET. It offers higher certificates, diplomas, degrees and postgraduate...
A private Durban-headquartered business school, part of Honoris United Universities, offering higher certificates through postgraduate qualifications in commerce...
Vega School is the design, brand and business faculty of Emeris, the brand of The Independent Institute of Education (IIE) formed in 2026. It offers IIE...
Inscape Education Group is a private design and business college founded in 1981, with learning hubs in Pretoria, Midrand, Cape Town, Umhlanga and Stellenbosch plus...
A private South African higher education institution with 12 campuses nationwide, offering accredited higher certificates, bachelor's degrees and postgraduate...
A private, Sandton-headquartered business school with a pan-African footprint, whose course book is dominated by postgraduate and executive-education programmes but...
Richfield is a private South African higher education institution offering online and on-campus Higher Certificates, Diplomas, and Bachelor's and postgraduate...
IMM Graduate School is a private higher education institution with roots going back to 1948, specialising in marketing, supply chain management and business. It...
Open Window is a private creative arts and technology institution based in Centurion, with further campuses in Johannesburg (Blairgowrie) and Stellenbosch. It...
Auckland Park Theological Seminary (ATS) is a Pentecostal-rooted, interdenominational seminary in Johannesburg that teaches only by distance. It offers accredited...
AFDA is South Africa's leading private higher education institution dedicated to training students for careers in film, television, live performance, creative...
Capsicum Culinary Studio is a private chef school founded in 2003 and owned by the ADvTECH Group. It trains cooks, chefs, pastry chefs, bakers and hospitality staff...
AAA School of Advertising, with campuses in Johannesburg and Cape Town, is recognised as South Africa's official higher education institution for the advertising...
The Da Vinci Institute, in Modderfontein, Johannesburg, specialises in the management of technology and innovation, offering qualifications from a Higher...
Greenside Design Center, in Randburg and Cape Town, is a design college offering Higher Certificates, BA degrees and BA Honours degrees across graphic design...
The South African Theological Seminary (SATS) is an evangelical, fully online theology school based in Bryanston, Johannesburg. Founded in 1996, it offers...
The Academy for Facilities Management, based in Pretoria, is a specialist private college providing distance learning qualifications in facilities management.
The Academy of Sound Engineering, with campuses in Johannesburg and Cape Town, trains students in audio technology, sound engineering and screen media production.
The Foundation for Professional Development, in Pretoria, offers postgraduate diplomas and certificates in health management, education, monitoring and evaluation...
Boston Media House, with campuses in Sandton and Pretoria, trains students for media careers through a Diploma in Media Practices with eight specialisation streams...
TEE College (Theological Education by Extension College) is an ecumenical distance-learning college in Alberton, Gauteng, founded in 1976. It offers CHE-accredited...
Belgium Campus iTversity, with campuses in Pretoria, Kempton Park and Stellenbosch, was South Africa's first dedicated IT focused higher education institution...
Henley Business School Africa, in Paulshof, Johannesburg, is the South African campus of the University of Reading's Henley Business School, offering management...
Cranefield College is a Pretoria-based private higher education institution that specialises in project and programme management. It offers CHE-accredited...
The Baptist Theological College of Southern Africa (BTC) in Randburg was founded by the Baptist Union in 1951 to train pastors. It welcomes students from all...
The Private Hotel School is a hospitality management school that started in Stellenbosch and opened a Rosebank, Johannesburg campus in 2018. Owned by ADvTECH, its...
37 private colleges with a campus or head office in Western Cape, listed with the most courses first. Click through for 2027 entry requirements, fees where the college publishes them, and application links. See every course offered in Western Cape.
STADIO Higher Education is a large, JSE-listed private university formed from the merger of Southern Business School, Embury Institute, LISOF and Prestige Academy...
Varsity College, founded in 1991 and owned by ADvTECH, is now part of Emeris, the brand that since 2026 unites Varsity College, IIE MSA, Vega School and the School...
Milpark Education is a private higher education institution founded in 1997 that teaches mostly online. It offers accredited higher certificates, degrees...
IIE Rosebank College, a brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE), is one of South Africa's largest private higher education providers, with...
MANCOSA is a private, distance-learning focused business school offering accredited undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications across South Africa and Namibia.
CTU Training Solutions is a private college founded in 1987 with 12 campuses across South Africa. It offers higher certificates, diplomas, a BBA degree and QCTO...
Boston City Campus is one of South Africa's largest private higher education institutions, delivering accredited higher certificates, diplomas, degrees and...
Akademia is a private, Afrikaans-medium higher education institution linked to the Solidarity Movement. Registered in 2011, it offers higher certificates...
A private Durban-headquartered business school, part of Honoris United Universities, offering higher certificates through postgraduate qualifications in commerce...
Vega School is the design, brand and business faculty of Emeris, the brand of The Independent Institute of Education (IIE) formed in 2026. It offers IIE...
eta College trains sport, fitness and exercise science professionals from campuses across South Africa, offering degrees, diplomas and certificates accredited by...
International Hotel School trains hospitality, culinary and events management students from campuses in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Gqeberha, with...
Inscape Education Group is a private design and business college founded in 1981, with learning hubs in Pretoria, Midrand, Cape Town, Umhlanga and Stellenbosch plus...
A private South African higher education institution with 12 campuses nationwide, offering accredited higher certificates, bachelor's degrees and postgraduate...
CTCFD, based in Mowbray, Cape Town, is one of South Africa's oldest fashion design colleges, offering a three year Diploma in Fashion Design plus an Advanced...
Cornerstone Institute is a multi-department private higher education institution in Salt River, Cape Town, offering degrees and diplomas in psychology, theology...
Richfield is a private South African higher education institution offering online and on-campus Higher Certificates, Diplomas, and Bachelor's and postgraduate...
Red & Yellow Creative School of Business, in Salt River, Cape Town, blends business and creative education, offering degrees and diplomas in marketing, brand...
IMM Graduate School is a private higher education institution with roots going back to 1948, specialising in marketing, supply chain management and business. It...
Isa Carstens Academy, with campuses in Stellenbosch and Pretoria, trains health and skin care professionals, and was the first CIDESCO accredited institution in...
Open Window is a private creative arts and technology institution based in Centurion, with further campuses in Johannesburg (Blairgowrie) and Stellenbosch. It...
SACAP trains psychology, social work and social science students at campuses in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban, and online, with a strong emphasis on...
BHC School of Design, based in Woodstock, Cape Town, offers higher education qualifications in interior design and interior decorating, from a one year Higher...
Hugenote Kollege (Huguenot College) is a small Christian higher education college in Wellington, Western Cape, linked to the Dutch Reformed Church tradition. Open...
AFDA is South Africa's leading private higher education institution dedicated to training students for careers in film, television, live performance, creative...
Capsicum Culinary Studio is a private chef school founded in 2003 and owned by the ADvTECH Group. It trains cooks, chefs, pastry chefs, bakers and hospitality staff...
The Animation School, with campuses in Cape Town and Johannesburg, has been ranked among the world's top animation training programmes, offering a three year...
Helderberg College of Higher Education is a Seventh-day Adventist, non-profit private college on a 150-hectare campus in Somerset West, near Cape Town. It offers...
ACT Cape Town is a film acting academy in Pinelands, Cape Town, training students for on-camera performance careers through a two year full-time programme and...
George Whitefield College, based in Muizenberg, Cape Town, is a registered private theological college offering qualifications from a Higher Certificate through to...
Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography is a small private creative college in Techno Park, Stellenbosch, running since 2003. It offers a three-year BA in...
TSIBA Education, based in Ndabeni, Cape Town, is a business school offering a Higher Certificate, a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Postgraduate Diploma...
The Bible Institute of South Africa is a non-denominational evangelical theological college in Kalk Bay, Cape Town, training pastors and Christian workers since...
Cape Audio College, based in Observatory, Cape Town, is one of South Africa's longest established sound engineering schools, offering a three year Diploma in Sound...
Cape Town Baptist Seminary (CTBS) is a non-profit Baptist seminary in Bridgetown, Cape Town. It offers two four-year, honours-level degrees (the BTh and BMin)...
The Academy of Digital Arts, in the Cape Town city centre, trains students for careers in graphic design, web design, game development and concept art, taught by...
The Private Hotel School is a hospitality management school that started in Stellenbosch and opened a Rosebank, Johannesburg campus in 2018. Owned by ADvTECH, its...
18 private colleges with a campus or head office in KwaZulu-Natal, listed with the most courses first. Click through for 2027 entry requirements, fees where the college publishes them, and application links. See every course offered in KwaZulu-Natal.
Varsity College, founded in 1991 and owned by ADvTECH, is now part of Emeris, the brand that since 2026 unites Varsity College, IIE MSA, Vega School and the School...
Berea College of Technology, in central Durban, offers commerce degrees and NATED N-diploma qualifications across accounting, tourism, education, human resources...
IIE Rosebank College, a brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE), is one of South Africa's largest private higher education providers, with...
MANCOSA is a private, distance-learning focused business school offering accredited undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications across South Africa and Namibia.
CTU Training Solutions is a private college founded in 1987 with 12 campuses across South Africa. It offers higher certificates, diplomas, a BBA degree and QCTO...
Boston City Campus is one of South Africa's largest private higher education institutions, delivering accredited higher certificates, diplomas, degrees and...
Lyceum College is a distance learning institution founded in 1917 and registered with DHET. It offers higher certificates, diplomas, degrees and postgraduate...
A private Durban-headquartered business school, part of Honoris United Universities, offering higher certificates through postgraduate qualifications in commerce...
Vega School is the design, brand and business faculty of Emeris, the brand of The Independent Institute of Education (IIE) formed in 2026. It offers IIE...
Inscape Education Group is a private design and business college founded in 1981, with learning hubs in Pretoria, Midrand, Cape Town, Umhlanga and Stellenbosch plus...
A private South African higher education institution with 12 campuses nationwide, offering accredited higher certificates, bachelor's degrees and postgraduate...
Richfield is a private South African higher education institution offering online and on-campus Higher Certificates, Diplomas, and Bachelor's and postgraduate...
IMM Graduate School is a private higher education institution with roots going back to 1948, specialising in marketing, supply chain management and business. It...
AFDA is South Africa's leading private higher education institution dedicated to training students for careers in film, television, live performance, creative...
Capsicum Culinary Studio is a private chef school founded in 2003 and owned by the ADvTECH Group. It trains cooks, chefs, pastry chefs, bakers and hospitality staff...
CCSA, in central Durban, trains students in IT support, networking and business administration through diploma and certificate programmes.
St Joseph's Theological Institute (SJTI) is a Catholic higher education institute at Cedara, near Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal, founded in 1943 by the Oblates...
The Evangelical Seminary of Southern Africa (ESSA) is a small evangelical theological college in Pietermaritzburg, founded in 1980. It offers one CHE-accredited...
10 private colleges with a campus or head office in Eastern Cape, listed with the most courses first. Click through for 2027 entry requirements, fees where the college publishes them, and application links. See every course offered in Eastern Cape.
Varsity College, founded in 1991 and owned by ADvTECH, is now part of Emeris, the brand that since 2026 unites Varsity College, IIE MSA, Vega School and the School...
IIE Rosebank College, a brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE), is one of South Africa's largest private higher education providers, with...
MANCOSA is a private, distance-learning focused business school offering accredited undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications across South Africa and Namibia.
CTU Training Solutions is a private college founded in 1987 with 12 campuses across South Africa. It offers higher certificates, diplomas, a BBA degree and QCTO...
Boston City Campus is one of South Africa's largest private higher education institutions, delivering accredited higher certificates, diplomas, degrees and...
A private Durban-headquartered business school, part of Honoris United Universities, offering higher certificates through postgraduate qualifications in commerce...
A private South African higher education institution with 12 campuses nationwide, offering accredited higher certificates, bachelor's degrees and postgraduate...
AFDA is South Africa's leading private higher education institution dedicated to training students for careers in film, television, live performance, creative...
Capsicum Culinary Studio is a private chef school founded in 2003 and owned by the ADvTECH Group. It trains cooks, chefs, pastry chefs, bakers and hospitality staff...
Stenden South Africa, in Port Alfred, is the South African branch campus of NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, offering degrees in...
5 private colleges with a campus or head office in Free State, listed with the most courses first. Click through for 2027 entry requirements, fees where the college publishes them, and application links. See every course offered in Free State.
IIE Rosebank College, a brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE), is one of South Africa's largest private higher education providers, with...
CTU Training Solutions is a private college founded in 1987 with 12 campuses across South Africa. It offers higher certificates, diplomas, a BBA degree and QCTO...
Boston City Campus is one of South Africa's largest private higher education institutions, delivering accredited higher certificates, diplomas, degrees and...
Akademia is a private, Afrikaans-medium higher education institution linked to the Solidarity Movement. Registered in 2011, it offers higher certificates...
A private South African higher education institution with 12 campuses nationwide, offering accredited higher certificates, bachelor's degrees and postgraduate...
7 private colleges with a campus or head office in Limpopo, listed with the most courses first. Click through for 2027 entry requirements, fees where the college publishes them, and application links. See every course offered in Limpopo.
IIE Rosebank College, a brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE), is one of South Africa's largest private higher education providers, with...
SAWC is a specialist conservation training institution based in the Greater Kruger area, offering nature conservation, natural resource management and field ranger...
MANCOSA is a private, distance-learning focused business school offering accredited undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications across South Africa and Namibia.
CTU Training Solutions is a private college founded in 1987 with 12 campuses across South Africa. It offers higher certificates, diplomas, a BBA degree and QCTO...
Boston City Campus is one of South Africa's largest private higher education institutions, delivering accredited higher certificates, diplomas, degrees and...
Lyceum College is a distance learning institution founded in 1917 and registered with DHET. It offers higher certificates, diplomas, degrees and postgraduate...
Richfield is a private South African higher education institution offering online and on-campus Higher Certificates, Diplomas, and Bachelor's and postgraduate...
4 private colleges with a campus or head office in Mpumalanga, listed with the most courses first. Click through for 2027 entry requirements, fees where the college publishes them, and application links. See every course offered in Mpumalanga.
IIE Rosebank College, a brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE), is one of South Africa's largest private higher education providers, with...
MANCOSA is a private, distance-learning focused business school offering accredited undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications across South Africa and Namibia.
Boston City Campus is one of South Africa's largest private higher education institutions, delivering accredited higher certificates, diplomas, degrees and...
A private South African higher education institution with 12 campuses nationwide, offering accredited higher certificates, bachelor's degrees and postgraduate...
3 private colleges with a campus or head office in North West, listed with the most courses first. Click through for 2027 entry requirements, fees where the college publishes them, and application links. See every course offered in North West.
CTU Training Solutions is a private college founded in 1987 with 12 campuses across South Africa. It offers higher certificates, diplomas, a BBA degree and QCTO...
Boston City Campus is one of South Africa's largest private higher education institutions, delivering accredited higher certificates, diplomas, degrees and...
A private South African higher education institution with 12 campuses nationwide, offering accredited higher certificates, bachelor's degrees and postgraduate...
1 private college with a campus or head office in Northern Cape, listed with the most courses first. Click through for 2027 entry requirements, fees where the college publishes them, and application links. See every course offered in Northern Cape.
Boston City Campus is one of South Africa's largest private higher education institutions, delivering accredited higher certificates, diplomas, degrees and...
Every qualification level on offer, with the number of courses listed on this site right now.
Choose the field you want to work in to see the careers it leads to and the courses that get you there.
In South Africa a private college that offers higher education qualifications must be registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training, and its qualifications must be accredited by the Council on Higher Education and registered on the NQF by SAQA. Four checks take about ten minutes and can save you a year of study and a lot of money.
A registered private higher education institution has a certificate number that looks like 2008/HE07/004. Colleges that only offer trades and occupational qualifications are accredited by the QCTO or a SETA instead. "Provisional registration" is also valid, but it runs to a set date, so check that date.
A college can be registered while a specific course is not accredited. Ask for the SAQA ID of the exact qualification you want to study and confirm the NQF level and credits before you sign anything.
The DHET publishes a register of private higher education institutions, and SAQA publishes every registered qualification. Both are free to search. Anything that is not on either list is a warning sign.
Be careful with a college that asks for cash only, guarantees a job, has no physical address or campus to visit, or pushes you to register the same day. Ask for the fee schedule and the refund policy in writing.
Compare your options before you apply. Every institution on this site lists its courses, entry requirements and how to apply.
The DHET register of private higher education institutions lists a few hundred institutions, many of them small or single-campus. This page lists the 62 private colleges covered on this site, with 1,106 of their courses for 2027.
Yes, as long as the qualification is registered on the NQF. A diploma from a registered private college sits at the same NQF level as the equivalent qualification from a university, and that is what employers and professional bodies check.
NSFAS funds students at public universities and public TVET colleges, not at private colleges. For a private college you normally use a student loan, a bursary from a company or a SETA, an employer, or a payment plan from the college itself.
It depends on the qualification, not the college. A higher certificate usually needs a National Senior Certificate with a higher certificate pass, a diploma needs a diploma pass, and a degree needs a bachelor pass with the right subjects. Each course page on this site lists the exact requirements.
Some colleges admit mature applicants through Recognition of Prior Learning or an age exemption, usually from 23 years old with relevant work experience. Occupational and short courses often have lower entry requirements than higher certificates or degrees.
Most private colleges accept applications all year and run more than one intake, commonly in January and July, so you can still apply after the public university deadlines have closed. Check the college page for its current intake dates.
