What is a Private College?
Private universities and private colleges are institutions of higher education, not operated, owned, or institutionally funded by governments.
They may receive from governments tax breaks, public student loans, and grants. Depending on their location, private universities may be subject to government regulation.
Top Private Colleges In South Africa
Damelin College
The Education Investment Corporation Limited (Educor) group owns Damelin. The college took its name from Benjamin Damelin in 1943. (https://lapress.org) Damelin offers loads of degrees, diplomas, and other higher qualifications.
However, Damelin remains a college because of the South African government’s restriction for tertiary institutions. Damelin has provisional accreditation with Umalusi, the highest possible accreditation obtainable with that particular ETQA.
Schools fit for training students in South Africa must have accreditation from any of the 33 Education & Training Quality Assurance bodies (ETQAs).
Damelin offers its academic programs through face-to-face learning at a campus, online, or flexible distance learning.
This South African private college has seventeen (17) campuses in several locations in South Africa including Benoni, Pretoria City, Vaal, Cape Town City, and Port Elizabeth.
Varsity College
Varsity College began in 1991 and is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). Having accreditation by the Council on Higher Education (CHE), VArsity stands out as one of the best private universities in South Africa.
Meanwhile, The Independent Institute of Education (IIE), a South African private higher education provider, owns Varsity College.
Varsity College has eight campuses across South Africa. These campuses are in Cape Town, Durban North, Durban Westville, Pretoria, Midrand, Sandton, Pietermaritzburg, and Port Elizabeth.
IIE’s Varsity College offers undergraduate higher certificates, diplomas, and degrees; postgraduate degrees; and short learning programs through these locations.
Foundation for Professional Development
The Foundation for Professional Development or FPD started in 1997 and has over 400,000 total student enrollment.
This is one large private higher education facility that not only provides affordable education to postgraduate students but also free HIV testing to South Africans since 2004.
FPD has accreditation by the Council for Higher Education (CHE) and other professional accreditation bodies to offer quality academic programs.
However, this South African Private Higher Education has only one campus, which is located in Pretoria.
Furthermore, FPD offers a wide variety of professional courses through its six (6) schools. These schools are the Business School, School of Health Sciences, School of Education, Nursing School, School of Occupational Health, and School of Information Technology/ FPD also offer free courses and an e-learning platform to their students.
Monash South Africa
Monash University South Africa or MSA used to be a branch campus of Monash University, Australia until it became defunct in 2019. The campus now belongs to The Independent Institute of Education (IIE), so, it now goes by the name IIE MSA.
This private university is located in Gauteng, Johannesburg, South Africa, and has over 4,000 students from over 50 African countries.
Monash South Africa offers IIE Accredited programs which the British Accreditation Council recognizes internationally.
This private South African university offers its students Certificates Diplomas, and Foundation degrees. It also offers undergraduate degrees, postgraduate degrees, and IIE MSA Executive program.
Pearson Institute of Higher Education
Pearson Institute of Higher Education or PIHE used to be the Midrand Graduate Institute until 2019 when Pearson Education acquired 100% of its shares
This South African private university has twelve (12) campuses across South Africa. These campuses are in Bedfordview, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Durbanville, East London, Midrand, Nelspruit, Port Elizabeth, Potchefstroom, Pretoria, and Vanderbijlpark.
PIHE has accreditation by the Council of Higher Education (CHE) as well as other local, professional, and international accreditation bodies.
Also, Pearson Institute offers quality degrees, higher certificates, foundation programs, and certificate programs to its students.
CTU Training Solutions
CTU Training Solution provides Industry Relevant skills to professionals. This South African private university has been running since 1987.
The school has accreditation by The Media, Information, and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA).
CTU consists of four divisions namely; Corporate, which provides corporate training and development solutions; The Career Division, which specializes in 1 – 3 years full-time programs, and The Part-Time short courses and skills development programs.
Cornerstone Institute
Cornerstone Institute is a private, not-for-profit Higher Institution in South Africa. This university began in 1970 and has been offering quality degrees and certificate programs ever since, making it one of the best universities in South Africa.
Cornerstone’s programs have accreditation by the Council of Higher Education.
Furthermore, Cornerstone’s programs are easily accessible as it has several learning communities in Johannesburg, Hatfield, Mbombela, Witbank, Eastern Cape, Hermanus, Helderberg, Plettenberg Bay, and George. However, its main campus is in Cape Town.
Helderberg College of Higher Education
Helderberg College of Higher Education or HCHE is one of the oldest colleges in South Africa. It is the first College the Seventh-day Adventist Church established outside of North America.
Combined with being the oldest Seventh-day Adventist College in Africa, this South African college has a rich history that complements quality education offerings.
All Helderberg College programs have accreditation by the Council on Higher Education. Although this old South African college has a Christian root, it is not a Christian College.
It has three faculties – Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Business, and Faculty of Theology – from which it offers Bachelor’s Diploma, and Higher Certificate programs.
Qualitas Career Academy
Qualitas Career Academy, like the name, provides quality education toward a fulfilling career. Even though this college began its operation in 2008, it stands out as one of the best colleges in South Africa.
This South African college has accreditation by UMALUSI, Services Sectoral Education & Training Authority (SSETA), and MICT SETA.
Qualitas offers undergraduate degrees and certificate programs through its Business & Technology Academy, Hair Academy, Health Academy, School of Architectural Draughtsmanship and Construction, and Wellness Academy.
Also, Qualitas offers its programs as either full-time or part-time, where the full-time program is towards a college degree and part-time is towards a certificate.
How many private colleges are there in South Africa?
There are about 300 recognized private colleges in South Africa
How much does it cost to attend a private college in South Africa?
The average cost at private universities ranges between R6 600 to R50 000 for part-time programs per year and R38 500 to R99 500 for full-time programs per year
Are private colleges in South Africa easier to get into?
Private colleges in SA are more selective in the students it admits. If your grades were not so great in high school, then you may get into a private college.