Vega School (Vega): Courses, Prospectus and Applications for 2027

Vega School is the creative faculty of Emeris, focused on design, brand and business. Founded in 1999, it was known for many years simply as Vega and later as The IIE's Vega School. In 2026 it became part of Emeris, the new single brand that brings together The IIE's Varsity College, IIE MSA, Vega and the School of Hospitality and Service Management. Emeris is an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE), which belongs to the JSE-listed ADvTECH group.

The name change did not change the qualifications. Every Vega programme is an IIE qualification, accredited by the Council on Higher Education and registered on the NQF by SAQA, and certificates are still issued in the name of The Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd. The IIE is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution (registration number 2007/HE07/002).

What Vega is known for
Vega built its name by training "strategic creatives and creative strategists". Classes are small, projects are team-based and cross-disciplinary, and students work on real briefs for real clients. The best-known example is the annual Brand Challenge, where final-year students from different programmes work together on a live problem for a brand. Portfolio showcases and industry awards are also part of student life.

Study areas
Vega groups its programmes into three areas:
- Design: Higher Certificate in Creative Development, BA in Interior Design, Bachelor of Communication Design, Bachelor of Experience Design, BCIS in Game Design and Development, plus online postgraduate study in UX design, instructional design, design leadership and interior design
- Brand: BA in Strategic Brand Communication, Advanced Diploma in Brand Innovation, Postgraduate Diploma in Brand Building, BA Honours in Strategic Brand Communication, MA in Creative Brand Leadership and a PhD in Brand Leadership
- Business: BCom in Strategic Brand Management, BCom in Digital Marketing, Higher Certificate in Digital Marketing, Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Strategy, BCom Honours in Strategic Brand Management and MCom in Strategic Brand Leadership

Study modes
Undergraduate degrees and the Higher Certificate in Creative Development are taught full-time on campus. Several brand and business qualifications, and all Vega honours, master's and doctoral programmes, are offered online through Emeris Online, with live sessions, tutors and a success navigator. Two nine-week online short courses are also available.

Campuses
Vega programmes are taught on four Emeris campuses:
- Sandton Johannesburg, 112 Grayston Drive, Sandown
- Pretoria Lynnwood, 116 Clearwater Road, Lynnwood Glen
- Durban Umhlanga, The Glades Office Park, La Lucia
- Cape Town City, 130 Strand Street, De Waterkant
Not every degree runs on every campus, so check the programme page.

Fees and funding
For 2027, first-year tuition for on-campus Vega degrees ranges from about R111 000 to R145 000 a year, and the Higher Certificate in Creative Development is R59 160. Online programmes are charged per year or per module and cost much less. Emeris offers upfront discounts, 10-month plans, a 24-month Emeris Extender plan, Capitec education loans, merit scholarships and bursaries.

How to apply
Apply online through the Emeris portal, pay the R500 application fee, then accept your offer and pay a R3 000 pre-registration fee that is deducted from tuition. Applications for 2027 on-campus undergraduate study close on 30 October 2026; after that a R2 000 late fee applies. Online and postgraduate applications do not carry the late fee.

Useful documents (official PDFs):
- emeris fee schedule 2027 dbn cpt pta ruimsig rosebank final: https://www.emeris.ac.za/media/arkoewgi/emeris-fee-schedule-2027-dbn_cpt_pta_ruimsig_rosebank-final.pdf
- emeris fee schedule 2027 sdn final: https://www.emeris.ac.za/media/bfwhs2gi/emeris-fee-schedule-2027-sdn-final.pdf
- emeris fee schedule 2027 postgrad: https://www.emeris.ac.za/media/ypvnsacq/emeris_fee-schedule-2027-postgrad_.pdf
- emeris feeplusscheduleplus2027 pgrc final: https://www.emeris.ac.za/media/oxjarut1/emeris_feeplusscheduleplus2027-pgrc-final_.pdf
- emeris fee schedule 2027 distance final: https://www.emeris.ac.za/media/jivdtdhx/emeris_fee-schedule-2027-distance-final.pdf
- academic calendar 2026 v2: https://www.emeris.ac.za/media/g3wbfvmx/academic-calendar-2026-v2.pdf
- iie higher certificate in creative development 2026: https://www.emeris.ac.za/media/qioftxgy/iie-higher-certificate-in-creative-development_2026.pdf
- iie ba in interior design: https://www.emeris.ac.za/media/guxnahhz/iie-ba-in-interior-design.pdf
- iie ba in strategic brand communication full time: https://www.emeris.ac.za/media/0hgdg1j0/iie-ba-in-strategic-brand-communication-full-time.pdf
- iie ba in strategic brand communication distance 2026: https://www.emeris.ac.za/media/urlk4dra/iie-ba-in-strategic-brand-communication_distance_2026.pdf
- iie bachelor of communication design: https://www.emeris.ac.za/media/jwodlfvw/iie-bachelor-of-communication-design.pdf
- iie bachelor of experience design: https://www.emeris.ac.za/media/njblmqz5/iie-bachelor-of-experience-design.pdf