Money you must show
No single national figure: 'sufficient financial means' to cover fees and living costs
Some missions set their own minimum. The High Commission in Canberra asks for at least ZAR 3,000 a month shown on three months of certified bank statements.
DIRCO: South African High Commission, Canberra, source re-checked 26 Oct 2026
Visa fee
R425 Home Affairs fee inside South Africa, plus R1,750 VFS service fee
VFS fee effective from 22 June 2026. Abroad, missions charge in local currency, for example AUD 37 in Canberra.
University of Cape Town, Visas and immigration, source re-checked 25 Oct 2026
Work while you study
Up to 20 hours a week
You need a job offer and a letter from your institution. Practical training that is part of your qualification is allowed separately.
DIRCO: South African High Commission, Canberra, source re-checked 26 Oct 2026
Stay after you graduate
No dedicated post-study visa
You must qualify for a work visa, such as the critical skills work visa, which now requires a signed employment contract.
Department of Home Affairs, critical skills work visa requirements, checked 24 Sep 2026
Deadlines and intakes
The South African academic year runs February to December, not September to June. That shifts everything:
Plan on nine to twelve months from first application to arrival.
Language you need
Teaching at the major research universities is in English. Stellenbosch and some others historically taught partly in Afrikaans; check the language of instruction for your specific programme.
Universities set their own English requirements. If your previous schooling was not in English, expect to show a test score; the admissions page for your programme is the authority.