Before you look at a private college’s course list, look at its registration. A qualification from an unregistered institution or an unaccredited programme is worthless, and students discover this at the point of applying for a job or for further study — years too late.
This page sets out the checks that decide whether a private college is worth your money, and the entry requirements that generally apply.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
What private higher education study generally requires.
- A National Senior Certificate at the pass level the qualification requires
- The subjects the specific programme requires
- A qualification registered on the National Qualifications Framework with SAQA
- A programme accredited by the Council on Higher Education
- An institution registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training
- A valid South African ID, or a passport with a study permit
- Payment arrangements or approved funding for the fees
- Application by the intake’s closing date
- Proficiency in the language of instruction
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
Run these three checks before paying anything. They take under an hour and they are the difference between a qualification and a receipt.
- Is the institution registered with the DHET? Private higher education institutions must be registered under the Higher Education Act 101 of 1997, and the Department publishes the register. Check the institution’s name on that register, not on its own website.
- Is the specific programme accredited? Accreditation by the Council on Higher Education is granted per qualification. An institution can be registered while a particular course it advertises is not accredited.
- Is the qualification registered with SAQA? A qualification registered on the National Qualifications Framework has an NQF level and a SAQA identification number. Ask for the SAQA ID and verify it directly.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
“Accredited” is used loosely in marketing. Institutions sometimes describe themselves as accredited by a foreign body, a trade association or a professional membership organisation. For South African higher education, what matters is DHET registration, CHE accreditation and SAQA registration. For occupational and trade qualifications, the relevant body is the QCTO or the appropriate SETA.
Ask what the qualification allows you to do next. Whether it permits entry to a public university for further study, and whether it satisfies a professional body’s registration requirements where the field is regulated. Ask the university or the professional body directly, not the college.
Ask for the completion and employment record. How many of the last cohort completed, and what they are doing now. An institution that cannot answer is answering.
Read the fee agreement before signing. Private college contracts frequently make you liable for the full year’s fees regardless of whether you attend or withdraw, and enforce that liability. Under the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008, a consumer generally has rights on cancellation of a fixed-term agreement, but the terms and any reasonable cancellation penalty matter — read them before signing, not after.
Never sign a credit agreement you do not understand to fund study fees. Study finance is credit, regulated by the National Credit Act 34 of 2005, and it must be repaid whether or not you complete.
Check whether NSFAS funds the institution. NSFAS funds public universities and public TVET colleges. Students at private institutions generally cannot rely on it, which changes the affordability question entirely.
Documents and Application Requirements
The application document set.
- Certified copy of your South African ID or passport
- Certified copy of your National Senior Certificate or final Grade 12 results
- Academic transcripts from any previous study
- A SAQA evaluation, for a foreign qualification
- Proof of payment of the application fee, where one applies
- Proof of residence, where required
- A study permit, for international applicants
- Proof of any funding or bursary held
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Compare against public institutions first. Public universities, universities of technology and public TVET colleges are cheaper, NSFAS-fundable and carry no accreditation risk. A private college should win that comparison on something specific — intake timing, location, class size, a particular programme — not simply on being easier to get into.
Do the three checks in person, on the DHET, CHE and SAQA sources, before paying a registration fee or a deposit.
Get every promise in writing — what is accredited, what the total cost is including all fees, what happens if you withdraw, and what the institution does if a programme is discontinued.
Keep every receipt and the signed agreement. Disputes with private colleges are resolved on documents, and they do arise.
Know where to complain. The Department of Higher Education and Training handles complaints about registered private institutions, and the National Consumer Commission and the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud deal with unfair contract terms. Both are free.
If an institution closes mid-course, contact the DHET immediately — registration conditions deal with the protection of enrolled students, and acting early matters.
Never pay in cash to an individual, and never pay to an account that is not the institution’s own verified account.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check a private college?
Three checks: DHET registration of the institution, Council on Higher Education accreditation of the specific programme, and SAQA registration of the qualification. Verify each at the source, not on the college’s site.
The college says it is accredited. Is that enough?
No. Accreditation is granted per qualification, and marketing sometimes cites foreign bodies or trade associations. Ask for the SAQA ID of the qualification and verify it.
Does NSFAS fund private colleges?
NSFAS funds public universities and public TVET colleges. Students at private institutions generally cannot rely on it, which changes the affordability comparison substantially.
Can I cancel if I change my mind?
Read the fee agreement first — many make you liable for the full year. The Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 gives rights on cancelling fixed-term agreements, subject to a reasonable penalty, so the terms matter.
Institutional registration, programme accreditation, qualification registration and entry requirements are administered by the DHET, the Council on Higher Education and SAQA and are revised. Verify any private institution and programme with those bodies before paying.